Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a science fiction action-adventure film, serving as the fifth installment in Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse franchise. The movie continues the epic saga of giant Titans, pitting an uneasy alliance between Godzilla and Kong against a formidable, undiscovered threat lurking within the Hollow Earth. This installment expands the mythology of the MonsterVerse, introducing new creatures and ancient civilizations as the Titans battle for supremacy and the fate of both their world and humanity hangs in the balance. The film targets an audience that enjoys large-scale monster battles and high-octane action, generally being appropriate for teenagers and adults due to its intense creature violence and action sequences.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe movie is packed with continuous and intense creature violence, characteristic of the MonsterVerse franchise. Battles feature powerful impacts, biting, clawing, and explosions. While the 'blood and guts' are often depicted in bright, 'cartoonish' colors like green or yellow, some scenes are quite graphic, showing dismemberment and explicit monster injuries. Humans are also in perilous situations, with some brief, non-graphic depictions of human casualties.
Kong rips a 'Wartdog' creature in half, resulting in 'green guts and slime' pouring over him. During a battle in Rome, Godzilla blasts an alien-like monster, causing it to explode into 'yellow goo'. A portion of a dead human body, specifically a 'severed leg,' is shown in the wreckage of an attacked outpost, accompanied by a 'gigantic, bloody handprint' on a cliff.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film features frequent scary and intense sequences, driven by continuous monster battles, loud roars, and menacing creature designs. Jump scares are present, and moments of emotional distress, particularly surrounding themes of loneliness and danger for characters like Kong and Jia, contribute to the intensity. The scale of destruction and the formidable nature of antagonist Titans like Skar King and Shimo can be frightening.
Many of the creatures from Hollow Earth, such as an 'alien-like spider monster attacking Rome' and a 'gigantic eel that nearly kills Kong,' are visually menacing. There is a 'jump scare' when a character is 'suddenly and violently snatched from his companions and eaten by a tree'. The Skar King is portrayed as a 'sinister-looking' antagonist with 'evil, glowing, yellow eyes,' who enslaves other creatures and wields a whip made from a creature's spine.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film does not explicitly feature LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its main narrative. However, fan communities and some commentators have noted implied 'gay energy' in character interactions and visual elements, such as Pride flags displayed in one scene. One review mentioned a perceived romantic interest between two male human characters, Bernie Hayes and Trapper, noting a 'love triangle' with Dr. Ilene Andrews where the men were more interested in each other. Additionally, Godzilla's pink-hued form has been humorously interpreted by some as a 'gay' aesthetic in online discourse, and Pride flags are visible in Rio de Janeiro before the monster attack. The director, Adam Wingard, is openly gay, and the actor for Trapper, Dan Stevens, reportedly alluded to 'bisexual lighting' in an interview. These elements are primarily interpretive or subtle rather than explicit.
The interaction between human characters Bernie Hayes and Trapper has been noted by some viewers as having implied romantic overtones, with a source suggesting they were 'way more interested in each other' than in Dr. Ilene Andrews. In one scene set in Rio de Janeiro, Pride flags are visibly displayed before the monsters emerge to battle, which some audiences interpret as a subtle nod to LGBTQ+ representation.
Profanity
MediumThe film includes some coarse language, generally falling into the mild to moderate category. Common expletives like 'shit,' 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'ass' are present. The Australian Classification Board specifically noted a single instance of the 'f-word,' which was bleeped and pixelated.
Words such as 'shit,' 'ass,' 'damn,' and 'hell' are used by characters in various situations. The Australian Classification Board identified a 'singular use of the word "fuck" which is fully bleeped and pixelated' within the film.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe movie incorporates elements of ancient mysticism and prophecy, primarily through the Iwi tribe in Hollow Earth. These involve telepathic communication and the foretelling of events related to Titans like Mothra. However, these themes are presented within a science-fiction/fantasy context and do not depict explicit witchcraft, dark rituals, or occult practices linked to real-world religious systems.
The Iwi tribe communicates telepathically and possesses ancient prophecies, including one concerning Jia being 'the key to reawakening Mothra'. Hieroglyphics within an Iwi temple depict an ancient war between the tyrannical Skar King and Godzilla's species, detailing a past event and a prophecy of future conflicts.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowRomantic and sexual content in the film is very minimal and non-graphic. It is limited to brief verbal innuendos or suggestive comments. There is no depiction of nudity or explicit sexual activity.
A character makes a passing comment suggesting that Kong 'could be looking for a date' or that 'interspecies romance' might be a possibility. There is also a verbal reference made to 'mating season' in the dialogue.
Substance Use
LowDirect depiction of substance use is largely absent from the film. The Australian Classification Board noted a 'very mild impact' for drug use, citing a single verbal reference in behind-the-scenes material. However, no in-film examples of characters actively engaging in drug or alcohol consumption are prominently featured.
The Australian Classification Board documentation mentions a 'verbal reference in behind the scene material to a film set being "trippy"'. The film's primary content review sites, such as Raising Children Network, state 'no use of substances in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire', while Christian Spotlight notes 'Minor alcohol use' without specific examples.
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowThe movie contains some instances of minor defiance and conflict, particularly in the interactions between different ape species and between Kong and Suko. These are generally part of establishing character dynamics or narrative tension rather than promoting disrespect towards established authority. No significant acts of human rebellion against legitimate authority figures are central to the plot.
Kong has an 'initial confrontation' with a juvenile ape named Suko and other apes in Hollow Earth who attempt to capture him; Suko later tries to trick Kong into a dangerous situation with a giant eel. The Skar King leads an army of 'evil apes' who 'bash, smash and try to kill Kong,' demonstrating defiance against Kong and his allies.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery of Christian beliefs, or negative portrayals of Christian symbols or practices were found in the content analysis. The film focuses on a fictional 'MonsterVerse' mythology and its own established lore, without engaging with real-world religious critique.
The narrative centers on ancient Titans, a hidden Iwi tribe, and their unique belief system and prophecies, which are distinct from Christian theology and are not presented in a derogatory manner. There are no characters in the film who openly mock, insult, or critique Christian beliefs or figures.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
12+ with parental guidance. The Motion Picture Association rated the film PG-13 for creature violence and action. Intense and frequent monster battles, including some graphic depictions of monster injuries and peril, may be too frightening for younger children. The film also contains some coarse language and scary sequences that necessitate a recommendation for a more mature audience.
Additional Notes
The film's tone is notably more 'cartoonish' than previous MonsterVerse entries, emphasizing spectacle and action over deep character drama for the human protagonists. Viewers sensitive to loud noises or flashing lights may find certain scenes overwhelming. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes, and no information regarding extended or director's cuts was found.
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