Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Seen it?

1962 | 97 min | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but a box office flop and middling reviews (52% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for sci-fi fans, fantasy fans and action fans. If you loved Godzilla vs. Kong, start here.
The mood
Exciting.
The pace
Fast-moving, at 1 hr 37 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1962: an older pace and style.

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    52% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.9 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $13 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 122K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Ishirō Honda

  • Tadao TakashimaOsamu Sakurai
  • Kenji SaharaKazuo Fujita
  • Yū FujikiKinzaburo Furue
  • Ichirō ArishimaDirector Tako
  • Jun TazakiGeneral of the JSDF Eastern Army
  • Akihiko HirataDr. Shosuke Shigezawa
  • Mie HamaFumiko Sakurai
  • Akiko WakabayashiTamiye
  • Akemi NegishiChikiro's Mother
  • Yoshio KosugiChief of Faro Island