Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Giant monster battles fun, humans meh in mega fight-fest.
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Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 30 kid reviews
Kids say this movie offers thrilling monster battles and impressive visual effects, though opinions are divided on its plot and character development. While many enjoyed the fun and action, some found it lacking a solid storyline and criticized the human elements, suggesting it caters mostly to younger viewers.
- fun battles
- impressive visuals
- lacking plot
- targeted audience
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, peace has been established, with Kong living in the subterranean realm of Hollow Earth and Godzilla roaming the surface world. Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) keeps tabs on them both while raising young Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last surviving Iwi from Skull Island. Suddenly, Kong returns to the surface with a toothache, and Dr. Andrews calls in veterinarian Trapper (Dan Stevens) to help. Meanwhile, Godzilla stirs and starts traveling the world, absorbing enormous amounts of power. Dr. Andrews, Jia, Trapper, monster podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry), and pilot Mikael (Alex Ferns) accompany Kong back to Hollow Earth. There, Kong finally discovers a tribe of apes like himself, while the humans stumble upon evidence of an ancient civilization of Iwi. Everything leads up to a major showdown against an evil ape leader; to defeat him, Godzilla and Kong must bury the hatchet and work together.
Is It Any Good?
Par for the course for the MonsterVerse series, the monsters have more personality than the humans, but at least watching them battle and smash things has some visceral entertainment value. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has to find some way to get the two big guys to join forces, and it's a convoluted process, with so many steps—including a "chosen one" and a prophecy—that the humans are mostly just there as exposition machines who must keep explaining the plot every time the camera points at them. As a result, they're reduced to familiar cardboard cutout types. Brian Tyree Henry has the hardest job, whipping back and forth between being a nerd who's both excited about discovering all this monster stuff and a whimpering coward, like something right out of an old Abbott & Costello movie.
That said, the Hollow Earth design is truly gorgeous, and the monster fights (which include some new guest stars) land with a concrete impact. Truthfully, the computer-generated characters are so much better at telling the story, with their wordless gestures and expressions, that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire might have been better without any humans in it at all. But its biggest challenge may be that it's being released just months after the Oscar-winning Godzilla: Minus One, which was made for around a 10th of the cost of this one and is certainly 10 times better. There's more to monster movies than smashing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How does the movie convey the importance of empathy, courage, and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
Some of the characters use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. What makes that a form of positive representation?
The first Japanese Godzilla filmmakers used monster suits and miniatures to create their special effects, not CGI. If you've seen the 1954 original (or its imitators), which do you prefer: low-tech practical effects, or something more realistic and high-tech? Which usually works better in movies?
Why do you think Godzilla has been remade so many times? What do you think filmmakers hope to achieve by remaking a classic?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 29, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : May 14, 2024
- Cast : Rebecca Hall , Brian Tyree Henry , Dan Stevens
- Director : Adam Wingard
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros. Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 115 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : creature violence and action
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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