The Importance of Godzilla vs. Kong

When GODZILLA VS. KONG smashed its way into our homes and theaters earlier this year, it wasn’t just round two for the behemoths or even the grandiose realization of many a schoolyard (and social media platform) debate over who would win. As YouTuber Up From The Depths points out in their excellent video essay below, the original battle royale between the Skull Island avenger and the beast from the east was a pivotal moment in Godzilla’s history and had major ramifications that echoed outward into all of Japanese media and thus global media for almost 60 years after.

While it can be debated whether or not the Adam Wingard update was entertaining or successful, it didn’t have the cultural impact of its predecessor. But how could it? The video essay charts the origins of the first slobber knocker and how the movie altered the future of kaiju stories and films as a whole.

Up From The Depths offers the following description:

After almost 60 years, the long-awaited rematch between the two most famous giant monsters of cinema is here! But what exactly makes GODZILLA VS. KONG such a major milestone for both franchises, and why does it generate so much excitement with both hardcore kaiju fans and casual moviegoers alike? To answer this, we must take a trip to the past, into the complex and fascinating ways in which Godzilla and Kong have affected and influenced one another.