The real king of the monsters Kong has a royal title, but Godzilla’s got the pedigree (2024)

FAQs

Who is the true king, Godzilla or Kong? ›

For director Adam Wingard, the answer is a simple one: “Godzilla is the King of the Monsters!” But that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's been watching his entries in the Legendary MonsterVerse. “I've done two movies now with Godzilla and Kong.

It's no secret that Godzilla and King Kong are rivals; the iconic Titans have faced off in two separate continuities, including the MonsterVerse film Godzilla vs Kong.

Although Kong eventually does make his existence known to mankind, it's after Godzilla has already been unleashed upon the world during the events of Gareth Edwards' 2014 film. Since he's no longer the only giant monster in this universe, Kong is not immediately given a title that would suggest his dominance.

Godzilla remains the King of the Monsters on the surface, while Kong is now the King of the Hollow Earth in the subterranean world. This way, they can both coexist as Alpha Titans in separate worlds.

THE VERDICT: Godzilla wins

No matter how strong or good at using tools you are, you're in danger of being fried or tail-slapped to death even when at reasonable distance. It just has to be Godzilla. Sorry, Kong.

Instead, Godzilla acknowledged Kong as an equal and he returned to the sea. While it's impossible to know for sure what's in the hearts and minds of giant monsters, Kong apparently earned Godzilla's respect so the lizard left him alone.

Godzilla, being the territorial and aggressive Titan that he is, attacked Kong in the sea and in Hong Kong to protect his territory since he sensed that he was another alpha who could be primed for a takeover. This is on top of the long rivalry between them.

Over 2 million of years ago, there was a great war between Kong's ancestors and Godzilla's species, a war for dominance over the Earth.

The Alpha Titans of the Monsterverse are Godzilla, King Kong, King Ghidorah, and Mothra. King Kong was the ruler of Skull Island, although he was really meant to be the ruler of the hollow earth.

Why is Kong so small in Godzilla vs. Kong? ›

While the skeletons of Kong's parents in Skull Island suggest 100ft is roughly their species' genetic limit, the producers of the series have retconned the franchise by explaining that Kong is an adolescent in that film, leaving room for him to grow into a worthy opponent for Godzilla some 40 years down the movie ...

But responds by roaring back at him to show he bows to no one. Godzilla respected Kong for not backing down. He still new he had won, and he had secured his title as “King” and it would never belong to Kong since he was defeated. He had no need to kill him.

Intelligence. Being a primate, Kong is comparatively more intelligent than the reptilian Godzilla. Whereas Godzilla relies primarily on brute force in his encounters with Kong, Kong tends to use strategy and planning in combat.

The two are certainly comparable strength-wise, no one seems to have hit Godzilla in the same way Kong did but in physical clashes, Godzilla repeatedly out strengthened Kong. Otherwise, Kong would have won once he had Godzilla in the various holds he got him in.

German-Dutch paleontologist G.H.R. von Koenigswald first identified Gigantopithecus blacki about a century ago from large teeth sold as medicinal “dragon bones” at a Hong Kong apothecary. Some 2,000 fossilized teeth and four jawbones from the extinct species have since been unearthed in caves in southern China.

Toho's Kong lost his title as the largest version of the monster to grace the big screen. Kong is taller than ever at an impressive 335 feet. He is still shorter than the 394-foot-tall Godzilla, but it's a huge change from his first MonsterVerse appearance in Skull Island.

In 1962, King Kong won its first cinematic smackdown against Godzilla in the iconic film King Kong vs.