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Action thriller

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) movie poster

Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 action thriller starring Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes, Kyle Chandler and Millie Bobby Brown. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $470.1 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Film Special / Visual Effects at the Saturn Awards 2022. Critics gave it 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
76%
worldwide gross
$470.1M
award won
1
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Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$200M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Godzilla vs. Kong About?

The premise of Godzilla vs. Kong without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A clash of the titans unfolds as Godzilla and Kong, legendary monsters of immense power, face off in an epic battle. A team of explorers embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the origins of these colossal beings, delving into a shared, ancient past. Their investigation reveals a hidden threat that endangers not only the monsters but also the future of humankind, forcing them to confront a sinister force.

Godzilla vs. Kong Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • monster versus monster
  • kaiju
  • godzilla character
  • king kong character
  • monsterverse
  • giant monster
  • monster
  • creature
  • giant animal
  • giant ape
  • giant gorilla
  • creature feature
+38 more
  • shared universe
  • sea monster
  • sequel
  • monster movie
  • versus in title
  • giant creature
  • monster fight
  • destruction
  • deaf mute girl
  • skull island
  • evil corporation
  • hong kong
  • simian fiction
  • disaster film
  • sign language
  • villain
  • pensacola florida
  • sedative
  • tasman sea
  • bipedal monster
  • giant robot
  • child
  • monster attack
  • naval warship
  • monster versus robot
  • winged monster
  • robot
  • hollow earth
  • conspiracy theorist
  • giant lizard
  • high tech
  • mass destruction
  • psychotronic film
  • dinosaur
  • disaster
  • explosion
  • altered version of studio logo
  • violence
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Cast & crew

Godzilla vs. Kong Cast & Characters

Brian Tyree Henry leads the cast as Bernie Hayes, with Kyle Chandler as Mark Russell and Millie Bobby Brown as Madison Russell.

Ratings

Godzilla vs. Kong Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Godzilla vs. Kong 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in character & emotion (30).

66 /100

Godzilla vs. Kong Echo Score Breakdown

In Godzilla vs. Kong, the film excels in delivering large-scale monster action and visual spectacle while its narrative framework struggles to engage consistently. Reviewers highlight the film’s energetic pacing during the creature confrontations and the impressive technical execution but cite underdeveloped human subplots and intermittent lapses in coherence. The balance of thrilling set pieces against a thin storyline results in an overall experience that is entertaining yet uneven.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of Art & Craft, Godzilla vs. Kong delivers a striking visual presentation and polished technical execution. The film’s cinematography and production design provide commanding panoramas for the monster battles, while editing sustains momentum throughout the action sequences. However, some observers note a lack of distinctive stylistic vision and occasional scaling issues in the wider environment. Overall, the craft support enhances spectacle even when creative direction feels familiar.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, Godzilla vs. Kong offers limited depth in its human roles and uneven emotional resonance. The performances deliver basic clarity, but reviewers frequently point to one-dimensional dialogue and a reliance on archetypal traits that diminish audience investment. Even the creatures’ brief moments of personality cannot fully offset the underwritten human interactions. Consequently, the film’s emotional core remains underdeveloped and lacks sustained engagement.

  • Story & Flow 35

    In terms of Story & Flow, the film prioritizes spectacle over narrative coherence, resulting in underexplained motivations and uneven pacing. Observers note that plot developments unfold with minimal suspense and original ideas are overshadowed by familiar franchise beats. While the lean runtime keeps sequences brisk, the lack of meaningful buildup and clarity can hinder overall engagement. The net result is an action-driven structure that often feels thin and mechanically plotted.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When considering Sensory Experience, Godzilla vs. Kong delivers impactful sound design and a dynamic soundtrack that enhance the on-screen spectacle. The thunderous roars, explosive effects, and audio cues immerse viewers in each collision, while visual style coherence supports the thematic intensity. Some critiques note a standard blockbuster aesthetic, but the robust audio mixing and polished visuals consistently sustain audience engagement.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film’s energetic monster confrontations and visual excitement drive substantial replay appeal despite narrative shortcomings. Viewers appreciative of spectacle report enjoyment on subsequent viewings, citing the clarity of action choreography and set-piece intensity as compelling draws. Even so, the lack of deeper emotional layers and conversational depth can limit long-term immersion. Overall, the film remains a gratifying revisit for fans of creature-based spectacle.

Plot

Godzilla vs. Kong Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Godzilla vs. Kong from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Five years after Godzilla triumphed over King Ghidorah, Kong finds himself observed by Monarch within a colossal dome situated on Skull Island. Amongst his visitors is Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last surviving Iwi native and the adopted daughter of Kong’s expert, Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), who is also deaf. Jia uses sign language to communicate with Kong, who is growing too large for the electronic confines of the dome. Ilene realizes that Kong cannot remain there for much longer, but she is aware that if he escapes the island, Godzilla will inevitably come after him, as there cannot be two alphas in this world.

Full summary

The whole story of Godzilla vs. Kong, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Godzilla vs. Kong Box Office & Budget

Godzilla vs. Kong grossed $470.1 million worldwide on a $200 million budget, 2.4 times what it cost. $100.9 million came from the US and Canada and $369.2 million (79%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$470.1M

2.4× its budget

US & Canada
$100.9M
International
$369.2M
Budget
$200M
US & Canada 21% Rest of the world 79%
Awards

Godzilla vs. Kong Awards & Nominations

Godzilla vs. Kong won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Film Special / Visual Effects at the Saturn Awards 2022.

1 win2 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

Godzilla vs. Kong Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers, 4 clips and 1 featurette.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Home
  • Teaser Salvation
  • Clip Throne Room Skirmish
  • Clip Kong and Jia Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Godzilla vs. Kong?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the Monarch anthropological linguist that studies Kong?

Cars

Cars in Godzilla vs. Kong

19 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV M1044 and the 1985 Chevrolet Chevy Van.

All 19 cars
  • AM General HMMWV M1044 in Godzilla vs. Kong AM General HMMWV M1044 Minor role
  • 1985 Chevrolet Chevy Van in Godzilla vs. Kong 1985 Chevrolet Chevy Van Minor role
  • 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in Godzilla vs. Kong 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Minor role
  • 2002 Buick Rendezvous in Godzilla vs. Kong 2002 Buick Rendezvous Background role

Seen Godzilla vs. Kong?

FAQ

Godzilla vs. Kong FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Godzilla vs. Kong, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Godzilla vs. Kong?

Godzilla vs. Kong runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Godzilla vs. Kong released?

Godzilla vs. Kong was released on March 31, 2021.

Who is in the cast of Godzilla vs. Kong?

Godzilla vs. Kong stars Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes, Kyle Chandler as Mark Russell and Millie Bobby Brown as Madison Russell, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Godzilla vs. Kong make at the box office?

Godzilla vs. Kong grossed $470.1 million worldwide ($100.9 million domestic, $369.2 million international) on a budget of $200 million.

How is Godzilla vs. Kong rated?

Godzilla vs. Kong has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.

What awards did Godzilla vs. Kong win?

Godzilla vs. Kong won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Film Special / Visual Effects at the Saturn Awards 2022.

Does Godzilla vs. Kong have a post-credit scene?

No. Godzilla vs. Kong has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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