How to Watch The Monsterverse in Chronological Order

The MonsterVerse is an American multimedia franchise and shared fictional universe featuring Godzilla, King Kong, and other characters owned and created by Toho Co., Ltd. The franchise is produced by Legendary Pictures and co-produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and consists of five films and two television series till now. The franchise updates two iconic movie monsters, Godzilla, and King Kong, and has created its mythology and recurring characters. Different directors have come in and put their stamp on these characters, and audiences have embraced this franchise. The franchise has expanded from motion pictures to television shows and animated programs.

MonsterVerse in Order of Release

1.Godzilla — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -----— — — — — May 16, 2014

2. Kong: Skull Island — — — — — — — — — —-- — —- — — -March 17, 2017

3. Godzilla: King of the Monsters — — — — —------- — — — — May 31, 2019

4. Godzilla vs. Kong — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -March 31, 2021

5. Skull Island — — — — — — — — — — — — — —- — — - — -June 22, 2023

6. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — — — — -— — — — -November 17, 2023

7. Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire — — — -------— - — — April 12, 2024

MonsterVerse in Chronological Order

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Chronologically, the first film in the franchise is the second film released, Kong: Skull Island. In 1973, an enigmatic government organization known as Monarch recruited a team of scientists and soldiers to explore the mysterious Skull Island. Led by the seasoned tracker James Conrad and the war photographer Mason Weaver, the team ventures into uncharted territory in the Pacific, unaware of the dangerous creatures that inhabit the island. As they delve deeper into the island, they encounter Kong, a colossal ape who serves as the protector of the island and its inhabitants. As the team tries to survive and find a way off the island, they also come face-to-face with other monstrous creatures and discover a sinister plot that involves Monarch and its plans for Skull Island.

Skull Island (2023)

The first animated offering in the MonsterVerse, Skull Island, is an 8-part series currently streaming on Netflix. The series is set in the early 1990s, which means it takes place roughly 20 years after the events of Kong: Skull Island and several years before the canon comic book series Skull Island: Birth of Kong, set in 1995. While both of those entries include excursions planned by Monarch, the events of Skull Island center around an accidental shipwreck of a crew searching for answers to a long-standing mystery by the team’s patriarch. It’s largely a stand-alone installment that fills in a bit more detail about Kong’s activity before he leaves the island to square off against the mighty Godzilla.

Godzilla (2014)

It’s a reboot of the Godzilla franchise. The story centers on Ford, an American soldier. He finds himself amid a conflict between Godzilla and two monsters known as MUTOs, which feed on radiation. The narrative begins with the mysterious destruction of a nuclear plant in 1999, leading to the death of Ford’s mother. Years later, Ford, now a US Navy officer, travels to Japan to assist his father, Joe, who is seeking the truth behind the incident. Their investigation reveals that the disaster was caused by a MUTO trapped underground. The MUTO escapes, leading to the awakening of Godzilla. This film’s biggest contribution to the MonsterVerse is the full introduction of Project Monarch, which has been watching the monsters since the events of Skull Island.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)

It’s a 2023 American monster series and the sixth installment in the MonsterVerse franchise. The series takes place in two separate timelines — one that occurs directly after the events of 2014’s Godzilla and another that occurs in the 1950s, before Kong: Skull Island. (It’s best to use the more modern timeline as your guide and fit this one in after Godzilla.) The story revolves around two half-siblings, Cate and Kentaro Randa. They’re trying to uncover their missing father Hiroshi’s ties to Monarch, a secret organization that keeps tabs on these giant monsters known as Titans. Interestingly, their grandparents, Bill Randa, and Keiko Miura, were part of Monarch’s early days. There’s also this character, Lee Shaw, a former Army officer who becomes a close ally to the Randa family.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Flash forward five years later Godzilla: King of the Monsters blows the door open on the franchise with more monsters and expands the mythology of the world. The monsters are now theorized to be the legendary titans of myths, the world has now learned more about their existence, and the Monarch has become a more public organization. The film follows the efforts of a crypto-zoological agency, Monarch, to stop a group of eco-terrorists from unleashing the most powerful Titan, King Ghidorah, who threatens to destroy humanity and the natural balance. Along the way, Godzilla allies with Mothra and Rodan to face his ultimate nemesis in a climactic showdown. The film is a sequel to Godzilla (2014) and a prequel to Godzilla vs. Kong

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Finally, the fight we’d been waiting for. Godzilla vs. Kong brings the MonsterVerse’s two biggest names together for one epic throw-down that takes place five years after Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The film also explores the origin of the Titans and the secret of the Hollow Earth, a hidden world within the planet. A group of human characters, some of whom are trying to stop a sinister plot that threatens the balance of nature, join the adventure. Who cares about the humans though? As the title promises, Godzilla and Kong do go at each other several times, including in one epic middle-of-the-ocean fracas, but it’s the surprise third monster, Mechagodzilla, who proves to be the movie’s true antagonist.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

After dabbling in small-screen entertainment, the MonsterVerse comes roaring back into theaters next year with Godzilla x Kong. According to the official synopsis, it seems as if Kong and Godzilla’s newfound friendship will continue to grow as they take on a brand-new enemy: “This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence — and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.