We all love giant monsters! These big boys give us all a lot of joy when they duke it out. That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming Godzilla Vs. Kong movie that’s headed our way next year. Following on from the legendary events of Kong Skull Island and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the showdown between the two titans will be an epic one. But seeing as we still have to wait until next year to see it we thought we’d celebrate some of the pair’s greatest moments right here!
From their very first solo appearances (Kong in 1933 and Gojira! in 1933), Godzilla and Kong have a monstrous movie history we love to explore.
King Kong vs. Godzilla
Seeing as this is a celebration of both these towering monster movie icons there’s only one place to start. In 1962 Toho, the studio behind Godzilla, took on one of the greatest battles of all time. In their final fight the pair showcase just how cool classic Toho movies can be. While in this iteration of the story they don’t team up, they also don’t bow to the will of the shadowy organizations who want them to kill each other. Looking at the modern Monsterverse, we may see the two good boys rub each other the wrong way before teaming up to save the day… maybe against some of the new Titans that we met in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Kong in the Big Apple
One of the most memorable moments in Hollywood history comes from the original 1933 King Kong film. As Kong tries to flee from his captors he scales the side of the Empire State building. Fay Wray in hand, the stop-motion work here is some of the most brilliant and impactful in cinema. You really can’t top this for an awesome King Kong moment.
Godzilla Emerges
The original and arguably still the best, Ishirō Honda’s masterpiece was the one that started it all. Born out of the horrors of nuclear testing, this dark, dramatic, and powerful film is a must watch. But the moment we see Godzilla emerge from the waters and attack Tokyo still stands as one of the greatest cinematic monster moments of all time.
Kong vs. T-Rexes
For many of us, Kong is defined by his penchant for fighting dinosaurs. It’s also what makes his match up with Godzilla so great. In the 2005 King Kong movie he takes on a triple threat of T-Rex’s in order to save his love, Ann Darrow. This is the ultimate monster match up and truly delivers on the promise of Kong’s favorite hobby: beating up prehistoric creatures.
Godzilla Takes on the King
The Heisei era of Godzilla can be overlooked but to those of us who grew up in the ’90s it’s nostalgia fuel. Godzilla vs King Ghidorah pits the scaly star against the gold three-headed monster of our nightmares and it’s still stunning to watch. This fight set the stage for the rivals’ more recent showdown in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Kong Takes Down the Army
There are three moments from Kong: Skull Island on here for a reason. Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ gorgeous period movie is filled with stunning monster moments, including this awe-inspiring entrance for the Monsterverse’s Kong. Towering over the jungle he calls home, Kong devastates the explorers who have been sent to find him. It’s a massive show of power and immediately sets the creature up as a foe to be reckoned with. Even if he eventually becomes an ally.
Godzilla Meets the Queen of the Monsters
Mothra is the undisputed queen of the monsters and she was recently introduced into the Monsterverse in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. But decades before in 1964 she took on the monster monarch during Mothra Vs. Godzilla and it still stands as one of the coolest battles in Kaiju movie history!
Kong Enjoys a Delightful Sashimi Lunch
Another instantly memorable moment from Kong: Skull Island. Kong fights a giant squid only to enjoy it as a delectable snack. The perfect mix of horror, humor, and monster madness. In a movie filled with perfect Kong sequences this one really stands out.
Godzilla and son vs. a Giant Spider
Son of Godzilla might not be at the top of your fave kaiju list but it’s worth watching just for this awesome Godzilla family team up. The titular tiny terror teams up with his “dad” to battle the giant spider kaiju known as Kumonga. Even though they’re on a tropical island the three-way match takes place in the snow… because why not??? An underrated and brilliant Godzilla moment.
Kong Escapes (and Fights the Kong of Steel!)
This whole 1968 Toho and Rankin/Bass monster mash is a classic. Kong returns to the Japanese monster franchise, this time taking down the Kong of Steel (aka Mechani-Kong)! He also fights a good number of monsters and smashes up a respectable amount of the city, which is just what we need in a Kong flick. A great choice for those of you who might think you’ve seen every iteration of King Kong.
Godzilla Raids Again
This 1955 sequel to the original Godzilla introduced another amazing kaiju in the guise of Anguirus. During their incredible clash the two mammoth monsters demolish a base as the horrified soldiers look on. While we often think of Godzilla movies as campy or cute, this is a great reminder of just how scary and brutal they can really be.
Kong Knocks Out a Skull Crawler
Kong: Skull Island is full of jaw-droppingly epic Kong moments but this one has to take the cake. The Monsterverse has introduced us to a ton of new Titans and terrifying creatures but the Skull Crawlers are some of the most viscerally scary. Luckily, we don’t need to worry as Kong is here to protect us, demolishing the prehistoric terror in this radical battle.
Godzilla Attacks
Shin Godzilla gave us a new look for the monstrous hero but also a darker feel. This stunning moment utilizes his powerful new blast for one of the coolest set pieces in the franchise. It’s also one of the scariest. If you haven’t seen this late stage Godzilla movie rectify that now!!
Kong Puts a Snake in a Sleeperhold
In 1976 King Kong took on Hollywood once again, as well as a giant snake. John Guillermin directs and Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange star alongside the ape-king. In one of the most exciting moments of the flick that showcases that delightful ’70s practical effects work, Kong takes on a huge snake and of course, defeats the scaly foe. Basically, if we’re going exploring in the jungle we always want Kong on our side.
Godzilla Saves the Day
Even though the thought of a giant lizard monster rampaging through cities feels terrifying, Godzilla often ends up as a hero and in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, he saves the day once again. After an emotional sacrifice from Dr. Ishirō Serizawa, Godzilla returns to protect Madison and Boston from the wrath of the unleashed Titans. Hail the hero we need but don’t deserve!
This post is sponsored by PlayMates.