GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Test Screening Reactions Drop And Godzilla Fans May Not Be Happy

GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE Test Screening Reactions Drop And Godzilla Fans May Not Be Happy

Rumour has it that test screenings for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have begun, and while reactions are largely positive, it seems King Kong overshadows Legendary's King of the Monsters, Godzilla...

By JoshWilding - Oct 25, 2023 09:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Godzilla vs. Kong
Source: SFFGazette.com

Legendary's Monsterverse movies have largely been met with a positive response, with only Godzilla: King of the Monsters deemed a true disappointment. While reviews for Godzilla vs. Kong weren't glowing, Kaiju fans didn't care what critics said and took great delight in watching the iconic Titans brawl on screen. 

Next up for the duo is a team-up in Adam Wingard's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire next year. Plot details have been largely kept under wraps but test screenings have reportedly begun and, while spoilers have not followed thus far, some very early reactions have (via SFFGazette.com). 

It sounds like the movie is very comedic, no great surprise given the humour injected into Godzilla vs. Kong's human cast in 2021. It sounds like Wingard has continued to embrace the franchise's silliness across the board as the plot is described as very Showa-esque and heavy on sci-fi. 

While Gareth Edwards' Godzilla was firmly grounded in reality, this is the direction the Monsterverse has been heading in for a while now...and, for the most part, it seems to work for it.

However, even though the overall consensus is that the movie is good, it does sound like this cut was overlong and that Kong once again gets more screen time than Godzilla. One viewer went so far as to say, "I enjoved every aspect of Kong's plot but was very annoyed that Godzilla was sidelined once more. I feel Wingard doesn't treat Goji with the same respect as Kong."

Still, they went on to add that "you'll get a kaiju fight every 20 min and half of those fights are in daytime," describing the movie as "very much entertaining."

The whole point of test screenings is to get feedback like this so, with any luck, that will lead to Godzilla getting a little more of the spotlight in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's final cut.

According to the synopsis, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will pit "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."

The cast, meanwhile, is led by Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will be released in theaters on March 15, 2024.

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MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 10/25/2023, 9:42 AM
Yikes. I don't trust test screenings but, if Godzilla is sidelined in his own movie i'm guna be rip shit. I actually really liked Godzilla KOTM as it was exactly what i wanted and didnt care about the humans. I hope the sillyness is not true, the first Godzilla and Kong Skull Island were not funny and the best 2 entries so far. I wasnt a fan of the silly Showa-era movies.... Idk, i will 100% still be seeing this but not a fan of this direction if true.

At least Godzilla Minus One looks amazing
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 10/25/2023, 9:43 AM
Sounds like they're gonna double down on the worst aspects of the previous films. As disappointing as it is that they aren't continuing with Shin, I'm more interested in Toho's take over Legendary's films which have just devolved into Roland Emmerich / Michael Bay level movies.
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 10/25/2023, 9:47 AM
@HashTagSwagg - THIS.
dragon316
dragon316 - 10/25/2023, 2:46 PM
@HashTagSwagg - I’m glad shin Godzilla is over that was worst zombiezilla look I can accept fighting like transformer trypticon shooting lasers from tail and it’s fins then in sequel director wanted Godzilla to fly with wings on his back I’m all for changes for Godzilla I like shin Godzilla look up to point he was shooting lasers at ever body part of its body then read how director wanted Godzilla fly with wings that’s something I don’t like
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 10/25/2023, 9:44 AM
In before the dumb "plot and chatacters dont matter, kaiju movies cannot be good" comments.
Bokis
Bokis - 10/25/2023, 9:45 AM
I really liked the grounded nature of 2014 Godzilla and the style of Kong: Skull Island but could not connect at all with Godzilla v Kong. It felt really empty and bland. No sense of scale or impact to any of it...
McMurdo
McMurdo - 10/25/2023, 3:19 PM
@Bokis - the 2014 film will go down as heavily underrated. Skull Island was like pop....it was fun if not the beginning of dumb. The dumb has now gone full tilt.
Bokis
Bokis - 10/30/2023, 10:32 AM
@McMurdo - Skull Island is definitely pop, but I think it has enough style to make it better than it should be. The director Jordan Vought Roberts also directed "The Kings of Summer" which was one of my favorite movies growing up, and you can see that he has an eye for style
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 10/25/2023, 9:45 AM
to win back fans, godzilla will need a dance number
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 10/25/2023, 9:51 AM
I enjoy Godzilla but i perfect Kong so I’m fine with the latter getting more focus it seems in this if true haha..

Anyway , I thought GvK was ok but I’m still somewhat looking forward to this!!.

Vigor
Vigor - 10/25/2023, 9:51 AM
Sounds like they are Transformer'ing the godzilla and kong franchise. I personally don't have a problem with that
Rpendo
Rpendo - 10/25/2023, 9:54 AM
Less is more. Godzilla is cooler than Kong, and as such, shouldn’t have as much screen time. Overexposure makes the cool less cool.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 10/25/2023, 9:54 AM
Monsterverse ranking (favorite to least)

1. Kong:Skull Island
2. Godzilla (2014)/GvK
3. Godzilla:KOTM

bobevanz
bobevanz - 10/25/2023, 10:18 AM
This sounds terrible, at least we have Minus One
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 10/25/2023, 10:33 AM
Well to be fair Godzilla fans have a lot of content to look forward to so I don't have any issue with it as long as it makes sense besides Kong is a much better main character you can follow throughout the movie while Godzilla can have an unseen ever presence that shows up when shit goes down.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 10/25/2023, 11:01 AM
I just hope they cut the human parts down. They’re the worst parts of these movies.
BeNice123
BeNice123 - 10/25/2023, 11:23 AM
@AnthonyVonGeek - exactly.
bobbo68
bobbo68 - 10/25/2023, 11:07 AM
If the king is not in most of the movie, that’s gonna pretty much suck for me. Why is he getting top Billing if he’s gonna be sideline majority of the film?
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 10/25/2023, 12:20 PM
@bobbo68 - because they put the names in alphabetical order
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 10/25/2023, 11:19 AM
As a Godzilla fan, none of the Monsterverse movies featuring the character have made me particularly happy.
BeNice123
BeNice123 - 10/25/2023, 11:21 AM
@FinnishDude - you know it.
BeNice123
BeNice123 - 10/25/2023, 11:31 AM
Test screenings or Critics??? Personally, IDGAF what they think… ill watch and judge myself.
LSHF
LSHF - 10/25/2023, 11:54 AM
Many people didn't like others, so this isn't news.
ThorArms
ThorArms - 10/25/2023, 11:57 AM
I mean, this film is still 7 months away, so any "reaction" will get a big ol' grain of salt from me
knomad
knomad - 10/25/2023, 12:05 PM
They need a giant samurai robot
dragon316
dragon316 - 10/25/2023, 2:49 PM
Godzilla was sidle lined in shin Godzilla mostly showed humans ,
DarthNihilus
DarthNihilus - 10/25/2023, 3:15 PM
Can't wait for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/25/2023, 3:31 PM
@RevanOfKrypton - That show looks fantastic.
thomashilfiger
thomashilfiger - 10/25/2023, 4:26 PM
Well, Kong slays every time and Godzilla is kind of meh so hell yeah bring in the monke vibes from season 3 of the pandemic, march 2021!!!
LegendaryOutlaw
LegendaryOutlaw - 10/25/2023, 5:41 PM
Damn, did people really not like King of the Monsters? I thought I remember it doing better and being received better than 2014 Godzilla but now it seems like every time I hear about it, people talk about being disappointed.
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 10/26/2023, 6:38 AM
@LegendaryOutlaw - I loved it and have seen it many times. There are places on the internet, like this site, where everyone will say they didn't like it and other places where people will say they all loved it.
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