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King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Science Fiction · Fantasy · Action · 1962

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

Movie details

King Kong vs. Godzilla

“Will you win, Godzilla? Will you win, Kong? The battle of the century!”

1962 Science Fiction · Fantasy · Action 1h 37m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over King Kong vs. Godzilla?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Sci-fi · 1964

After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and Rodan to battle the extraterrestrial threat.

Gamera vs. Barugon

Gamera vs. Barugon

Fantasy · 1966

Gamera escapes from his rocket enclosure and makes his way back to Earth as a giant opal from New Guinea is brought back to Japan. The opal is discovered to have been an egg that births a new monster called Barugon. The creature attacks the city of Osaka by emitting a destructive rainbow ray from his back, along with a freezing spray capable of incapacitating Gamera.

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Sci-fi · 1966

Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster. Finding a sleeping Godzilla, they decide to awaken him to defeat the terrorists and liberate the natives.

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Sci-fi · 1965

Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn investigates, he develops a romance with Miss Namikawa and uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Sci-fi · 1971

An ever evolving alien life-form arrives on a comet from the Dark Gaseous Nebula and proceeds to consume pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity nor Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.

Shin Godzilla

Shin Godzilla

Action · 2016

When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

Godzilla vs. Biollante

Godzilla vs. Biollante

Action · 1989

After the previous Godzilla attack, a miniature arms race ensues to collect his cells. Concerned over Godzilla's possible return, the Japanese government uses the cells to create a new bio-weapon, ANEB (Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria). They seeks the aid of geneticist Genshiro Shiragami, who's experiments result in a new mutation.

The War of the Gargantuas

The War of the Gargantuas

Action · 1966

Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle between good and evil ensues, leaving brothers divided and a city in ruins.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Action · 1974

An Okinawan prophecy that foretells the destruction of the Earth is seeming fulfilled when Godzilla emerges to return to his destructive roots. But not all is what it seems after Godzilla breaks his ally Anguirus's jaw. Matters are further complicated when a second Godzilla emerges, revealing the doppelgänger as a mechanical weapon.

Godzilla 2000: Millennium

Godzilla 2000: Millennium

Action · 1999

An independent group of researchers called the Godzilla Prediction Network (GPN) actively track Godzilla as he makes landfall in Nemuro. Matters are further complicated when a giant meteor is discovered in the Ibaragi Prefecture. The mysterious rock begins to levitate as it's true intentions for the world and Godzilla are revealed.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ishirō Honda

Written by

Shinichi Sekizawa

Tadao Takashima

Tadao Takashima

Osamu Sakurai

Kenji Sahara

Kenji Sahara

Kazuo Fujita

Yū Fujiki

Yū Fujiki

Kinzaburo Furue

Ichirō Arishima

Ichirō Arishima

Director Tako

Jun Tazaki

Jun Tazaki

General of the JSDF Eastern Army

Akihiko Hirata

Akihiko Hirata

Dr. Shosuke Shigezawa

Mie Hama

Mie Hama

Fumiko Sakurai

Court is in session

Put King Kong vs. Godzilla on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Its refusal to behave is the point.”

The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Oddness is not depth.”

A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.