It’s a great time to be a Godzilla fan.
The MonsterVerse aka Legendary Entertainment’s version of the MCU, but featuring giant monsters has been bringing together a mix of original monster characters and reimagined versions of classic monsters from film history, most notably those from the Godzilla and King Kong franchises.
For instance, a new series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, is airing on Apple TV. A new movie, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is also released in March 2024.
And that creates a problem for some fans. Which movie are you supposed to watch first? What’s the correct watch order for everything? Let’s find out.
Note: This article only focuses on the Hollywood version of Godzilla and Kong’s MonsterVerse. Here’s the complete watch order if you want to watch the entire lore (including the original Japanese adaptations).
1. How do you watch the Godzilla movies in order?
- Monsterverse Godzilla Movies and Shows as per Release Order
- Godzilla (May 16, 2014)
- Kong: The Skull Island (March 10, 2017)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (May 31, 2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (March 24, 2021)
- Godzilla: Minus One (November 3, 2023)
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (November 17, 2023)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (April 12, 2024)
- Monsterverse Godzilla Movies and Shows in Chronological Order of Events
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)
- Kong: Skull Island (2017)
- Godzilla (2014)
- Godzilla: King of Monsters (2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Note: Godzilla Minus One is a retelling of Godzilla’s origin story. In terms of where it fits chronologically, it doesn’t go with the MonsterVerse plotline.
But Godzilla Minus One would work as a new jumping-off point for the original Godzilla films since it’s set 10 years before the first film, and its portrayal of Godzilla as the antagonist aligns more with the earliest Godzilla films.
2. Entire Monsterverse Timeline Explained
I. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
- Years in the MonsterVerse: 1950s and 2015
Monarch: The Legacy of Monsters premiered in November 2023; four episodes have aired.
This is the most challenging entry in the MonsterVerse because it shifts between the creation of Monarch in the 1950s and a survivor of Godzilla’s attack on San Francisco in 2014.
We’re placing it first in our order because the 1950s scenes provide the backstory for the Monarch organization that’s present throughout the rest of the films. The series also shows how the US military attempted to kill Godzilla in 1952, which led to him staying dormant until 2014.
II. Kong: Skull Island
- Year in the MonsterVerse: 1973
In 1973, we are introduced to Bill Randa (John Goodman), now the head of Monarch, as he assembles a team for a daring mission to the mysterious Skull Island.
Randa has a bold vision to prove his hollow Earth theory and enlists a team consisting of a Vietnam veteran, played by Tom Hiddleston, a skilled tracker, and an anti-war photographer, portrayed by Brie Larson.
To ensure success, Randa also brings a small army under the command of Samuel L. Jackson’s Preston Packard. Upon arriving on the island, the group’s plans are quickly thwarted when they cross paths with the colossal Kong, turning their expedition into a frantic fight for survival.
The brilliant screenwriter Max Borenstein, known for his work on films such as 2014’s Godzilla and the highly anticipated Godzilla vs. Kong, played a significant role in crafting this thrilling adventure.
III. Godzilla
- Year in the MonsterVerse: 2014
This is the film that started the MonsterVerse.
It sees a global race against time erupt when two insects-like monsters emerge and begin stomping toward one another. Making matters a little more destructive, Godzilla is on their trail.
This film has a little bit more of a somber tone than the later films in the series, as it follows Bryan Cranston’s Joe Brady search for the cause of the nuclear accident that took his wife’s life, but it was still a huge success that grossed $529 million.
IV. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
- Year in the Multiverse: 2019
In the thrilling new film “King of the Monsters,” we witness the reluctant return of Dr. Mark Russel (played by Kyle Chandler) to Monarch, the organization dedicated to studying titans. After eco-terrorists abduct his wife and daughter, Dr. Russel must join forces with Monarch to rescue his family and save the world.
However, their mission turns dangerous when the eco-terrorists awaken King Ghidorah, a formidable three-headed monster from another planet with plans to take over the Earth. As the other titans fall under Ghidorah’s control, it’s up to Godzilla to stand alone against this mighty adversary.
V. Godzilla vs. Kong
- Year in the multiverse: 2021
This globe-trotting sequel is set 5 years after the events of King of the Monsters, with the gigantic titans now a fact of life for humanity. Half of this film follows scientists working with Kong to find a power source inside the hollow Earth.
The other half follows Millie Bobby Brown’s Madison Russell, who returns from the previous film, as she works to uncover a conspiracy involving Godzilla within a corporation called Apex. The storylines come together to set up a showdown between the two titans.
VI. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Year in the multiverse: 2024
The next film in the MonsterVerse is slated to hit theaters on April 12, 2024. It’ll see Godzilla and Kong teaming up to take on a new threat from the hollow Earth known as the Skar King. He’s a giant ape-like Kong who appears to be ruling over the hollow Earth.
Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle will all reprise their roles from Godzilla vs. Kong, while Adam Wingard is also returning to direct.
Special Mention: Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Despite calling itself Godzilla Minus One, the film is not a sequel or a prequel. While it takes inspiration from many prior Godzilla films, including the original 1954 film and the 2016 reboot Shin Godzilla, it does not occur in a previously established timeline. This effectively makes it a reboot, a new story being told with the character of Godzilla.
It is also entirely disconnected from the Monsterverse films produced by Warner Bros., meaning this Godzilla won’t be facing off against King Kong or the other Kaiju soon.
3. Where to watch the Monsterverse Godzilla Movies/Series?
| Title | Streaming Service | Subscription Fee |
| Godzilla (2014) | Apple TV, Prime Video | $4.99 – $14.99/month |
| Kong: Skull Island (2017) | Apple TV, Prime Video | $4.99 – $14.99/month |
| Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) | Apple TV, Prime Video | $4.99 – $14.99/month |
| Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) | Netflix | $9.99/month |
| Monarch: Legacy of the Monsters (2023) | Apple TV+ | $4.99/month (after 7-day free trial) |
| Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) | Theaters | Varies depending on theater and location |
| Godzilla Minus One | Not Available for Streaming Yet |
4. What Godzilla Movies and TV Shows can you choose to skip?
- Godzilla: Singular Point” (2021)
Although it offers intriguing nods to Monarch, Kong, and Godzilla, its storyline can stand alone.
The show is skippable if your main focus is only the Monsterverse Timeline.
- Godzilla: Minus One
As discussed above, Godzilla Minus One is not a part of the Monsterverse Timeline. It exists in an entirely different timeline and a separate universe with its continuity.
Hence, you can skip this, and it won’t hamper the Monsterverse timeline.
5. About Godzilla Movies
The Godzilla (Japanese: ゴジラ, Hepburn: Gojira) franchise is a Japanese media franchise created and owned by Toho, centered on the fictional kaiju character Godzilla.
It is the longest-running film franchise, having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths.
The film franchise consists of 38 films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co. Ltd and five American films, the first of which was produced by TriStar Pictures and the remaining ones by Legendary Pictures, with the latest being set for release in April 2024.
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