Genre distinctions can be tricky, especially when examining big-budget blockbusters. Most of the massive tentpole projects have a lot of action, a bit of comedy, a romantic subplot, and room for several other elements. Horror often stands on its own, but the grim realities of the genre often push it out of mass market appeal. The natural trajectory of horror franchises is to take on more action or comedy notes as they develop. Godzilla movies exist primarily as the action blockbusters of the Monsterverse, but the alternative could still emerge.
Though it isn't as big as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Monsterverse remains one of cinema's most successful brands. Its most recent entry, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, quickly became the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. This will likely be a double-edged sword. That level of profit will practically guarantee sequels, but it may also lock those future outings into familiar routines.
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The Monsterverse movies are action blockbusters
The Monsterverse began with Godzilla in 2014. Fresh off the success of Guillermo del Toro's spectacular Pacific Rim in 2013, Legendary Pictures snapped up the rights to Godzilla, King Kong, and several other kaiju characters. The eventual shared universe developed over time. The American reboot of Godzilla stood on its own, attempting a project that flopped hard in the 90s. The film featured some small elements of classic kaiju horror, but its primary direction remained massive and action-heavy. It made money, prompting a crack at King Kong with Kong: Skull Island. Legendary CEO Thomas Tull imagined a future clash between the two kings, eventually getting his wish after Godzilla: King of the Monsters paved the way for Godzilla vs. Kong. That epic confrontation felt like the Monsterverse's towering finale, but it's proven to be the new normal for a series that shows no sign of slowing down.
Godzilla vs. Kong remains one of the biggest critical hits of the franchise. While King of the Monsters and Godzilla x Kong languish with low scores on Rotten Tomatoes, Godzilla vs. Kong ties with Godzilla (2014) for the franchise's first-place slot. Most go out of their way to applaud the film's simplicity. It eschews most of the human drama and narrative dead ends of the previous entries to focus almost entirely on the big monkey punching the big lizard. That straightforward appeal is laudable, and it motivated Godzilla x Kong to spend even more time on monster violence. Its non-stop action met diminishing returns from a critical perspective, though the money continues to flow. It seems clear that the Monsterverse could stand to freshen things up. One of its chief creative voices could provide that new direction.
Adam Wingard used to direct horror
Before he stepped into Legendary's massive monster franchise, director Adam Wingard directed several well-received horror films. His early work, including Pop Skull and A Horrible Way to Die, established him as a fascinating talent in the low-budget space. Wingard exploded onto the scene with You're Next in 2011, making his name notable to a much wider audience. His best horror outing is arguably The Guest, which sees Dan Stevens terrorize a grieving family with a fascinating pro-violence philosophy. The director then made two substantial missteps. His take on Blair Witch failed to recapture the original's appeal, despite ripping off most of its memorable moments. The less said about his abysmal Death Note, the better. Wingard has worked exclusively on Monsterverse movies since then. Godzilla and Kong might be his best path back into horror.
Godzilla and Kong could do horror again
When Godzilla isn't appearing in spectacular brawls between monsters, he stars in the occasional existential horror epic. Shin Godzillaand Godzilla Minus One are inarguably two of the best kaiju films ever made. The release of Minus One likely negatively impacted the critical consensus around Godzilla x Kong. Most critics took space out of their review to compare it against Minus One, finding the silly slapstick violence lacking next to the stunning beauty of Takashi Yamazaki's entry. The slow loss of interest in the Monsterverse's brand of action comedy and increased excitement for horror projects like Shin Godzilla and Minus One could lead to a new horizon for the franchise.
The Monsterverse likely can't pull off the elegant, sweeping, moving horror of Minus One. It could, however, find a new home in something stranger. Adam Wingard can lean into the strange, scary, alien appearance of several of the existing kaiju. He can develop horror films about the struggles of regular people trying to survive under a world of Titans. An exploration of the Hollow Earth will undoubtedly provide tons of nightmarish narratives. The human characters in Monsterverse movies tend to be wastes of time, but leaning into their experience could have fascinating results. Look up at Godzilla and Kong to see what they're capable of. Introduce new kaiju to serve as villains. Depict humanity struggling against the Titans they've awakened without the help of their defenders. The difference can be subtle, but the Monsterverse could deliver monsters worth screaming over.
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