The Monsterverse has quietly and without much fanfare become the new Marvel Cinematic Universe. All the movies —and series— that Legendary releases about this world inhabited by Godzilla and King Kong manage to be great successes, while Marvel superheroes find themselves at a point of no return after several box office stumbles.
After the premiere of Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire, it is clear that the Monsterverse has become a delight for fans of monster movies. There has been nothing like it in cinema until now, and it doesn’t seem like the formula will be repeated in the future. That’s why we are in a very sweet, and probably unique, moment to immerse ourselves in such a universe.
In this way, we bring you a complete guide to delve into the Monsterverse. We have ordered the movies and series in release order —which is the ideal way to watch them—, but we also clarify in each one what is their chronological order in case you are one of those who prefer to watch everything in chronological order. Let’s get started.
1. Godzilla (2014, Gareth Edwards)
The great universes always start with a great director, and in this case it was Gareth Edwards who kicked off this franchise that has been rocking Hollywood for ten years. Godzilla was the new interpretation of the monster that we had already seen so many times both in Hollywood and in Japan, and without a doubt its arrival in the 21st century was spectacular.
Godzilla puts us in the shoes of Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a marine expert who has to go to Japan to rescue his father. Soon, the two men find themselves trapped in chaos when Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, appears after spending decades underwater. The monster confronts evil creatures that, fueled by human scientific arrogance, threaten to destroy the entire human race.
Although in this first Godzilla movie it was already clear that the monsters were going to be at the center and the battles between them as well, a lot of importance was still given to the human plot… which has gradually been diluted. However, in this case it is done in a sublime way. Without a doubt, a perfect introduction to a world like the Monsterverse.
Chronologically, Godzilla is set in 2014, the same year of its release.
2. Kong: Skull Island (2017, Jordan Vogt-Roberts)
Three years after the success of Godzilla, the film that is still considered one of the best monster movies of all time was released. Directed by an unknown Jordan Vogt-Roberts who is now involved in the adaptation of Metal Gear, a unique story of the classic ape was presented, focusing on its natural habitat: Skull Island.
The movie takes us back to the 70s, where a diverse group of explorers and soldiers is recruited to travel to a mysterious island in the Pacific. Among them are Captain James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston), Lieutenant Colonel Packard (Samuel L. Jackson), and a photojournalist (Brie Larson). But as they venture into this beautiful yet treacherous island, the explorers will find something absolutely surprising. Unbeknownst to them, they will be invading the domain of the legendary Kong, the giant gorilla king of this island.
Chronologically, Kong: Skull Island takes place in 1973.
3. Godzilla 2: The King of the Monsters (2019, Michael Dougherty)
With the cover letters done, the most anticipated sequel has arrived. Godzilla: King of the Monsters was no longer hiding when it came to presenting the lore of the Monsterverse, which made it clear that there were many more monsters on Earth than we expected, and it was heading straight into a much more monstrous than human adventure.
In this movie, the cryptozoologists from the Monarch agency (Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown) try to confront a group of enormous monsters, including Godzilla himself. Together, they try to resist the attacks of Mothra, Rodan, or humanity’s latest nemesis: King Ghidorah. These ancient creatures will do everything possible to survive, putting the existence of human beings on the planet at risk.
Undoubtedly, King of the Monsters is the perfect introduction to what was to come: a universe where monsters are paramount and humans are becoming less and less important.
Chronologically, Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is set in 2019, the same year of its release.
4. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021, Adam Wingard)
And finally, the most anticipated moment arrives. After introducing Godzilla, Kong, and the complete lore of the Monsterverse, it’s time for the most awaited battle between the two most popular titans in the history of cinema. Godzilla vs. Kong was everything the audience was waiting for since the previous films were released: an unprecedented colossal battle.
The movie describes how Godzilla and Kong, two of the most powerful forces on a planet inhabited by all kinds of terrifying creatures, face off in a spectacular battle that shakes the foundations of humanity. Kong and his protectors embark on a dangerous journey to find their true home. With them is Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a young orphan with whom the giant has a unique and powerful bond. Along the way, they unexpectedly cross paths with an enraged Godzilla who is causing destruction wherever he goes. The epic clash between the two titans – caused by invisible forces – is only the beginning of the mystery that lies in the depths of the Earth’s core.
With this film, now directed by Adam Wingard, it became clear that the Monsterverse was much more than what we had seen. It is a world full of possibilities… and it is clear that, judging by the box office numbers, Hollywood would do everything possible to exploit it to the fullest.
Chronologically, Godzilla vs. Kong is set in 2024.
5. Skull Island (2023, Netflix)
After the success of Godzilla vs. Kong, the Monsterverse began to expand its universe with different series. The first one to be released was Skull Island, an original animated series from Netflix that is more suitable for all audiences than the original movies.
In the series we see the adventures of some castaways who try to escape from the mysterious island, home to prehistoric monsters, including the titan Mr. Kong. Without a doubt, it is a perfect series to complement the Monsterverse and to take a little break.
Chronologically, Skull Island is set in the nineties.
6. Monarch: The Legacy of Monsters (2023, Apple TV+)
We arrive at a series that is just as worthwhile, if not more so, than the previous movies. Monarch: The Legacy of Monsters is an Apple TV+ exclusive fiction that expands the Monsterverse like never before and provides context to everything we can see in the Kong and Godzilla movies.
After surviving the attack of Godzilla in San Francisco, a chilling secret once again overwhelms Cate (Anna Sawai). Amid monstrous threats, she embarks on a worldwide adventure to uncover the truth about her family and the mysterious organization known as Monarch.
Chronologically, Monarch: The Legacy of the Monsters is set between the fifties and 2015.
7. Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire (2024, Adam Wingard)
And we arrive at The New Empire, the last movie on the list and the one that has just been released in theaters with incredible box office results. Without a doubt, it is the perfect movie to fully immerse yourself in the lore of the Monsterverse and the one that marks a before and after. After all the prologue they have told us, it’s time for the monsters like we’ve never seen them before.
Godzilla vs Kong: The new empire delves into the stories of these titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythical battle that helped shape these extraordinary beings and forever connected them to humanity.
Chronologically, Godzilla vs. Kong is set in 2024.
