The Monsterverse Can Take Lessons From Other Cinematic Universes

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The Monsterverse Can Take Lessons From Other Cinematic Universes

As a lifelong kaiju enthusiast who’s seen more than a few Godzilla films under the moonlight, I can confidently say that the Monsterverse is thriving like never before! The latest installment, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” has proven to be a massive financial success, even outshining some of Marvel’s offerings. Despite the occasional criticism from the critics, it’s clear that audiences can’t get enough of these titanic battles.

In the world of cinema, the Monsterverse often takes a backseat to discussions about the cinematic universe. Marvel continues to shine brightly as the leading player, with DC’s revamped efforts serving as a formidable runner-up. Godzilla’s franchise is the sole one that has managed to emulate the Marvel approach effectively. It’s grown at a more leisurely pace over the last decade, releasing fewer movies and featuring fewer primary characters compared to Marvel. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is six years older than the Monsterverse, and it has moved faster throughout its existence. As Marvel looks towards its future, its past challenges might provide some insight for the Monsterverse as it enters the next stage of its development.

To put it simply, Godzilla films actually predated the cinematic universe concept that Marvel later popularized. Toho, unlike Disney, didn’t approach the genre as seriously but churned out giant monster movies with various skilled directors. These monsters often fought alongside or against Godzilla, creating such a strong association that their individual works sometimes went overlooked. Contrarily, when it comes to the Monsterverse, they seem to have been inspired more by Marvel’s approach.

The Monsterverse is thriving

Enthusiasts of giant monster films are on a roll this year! The blockbuster movie “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” released in March, has become the most financially successful Godzilla or King Kong film to date. Initially ranking as the second-highest grossing film of 2024, it later slipped down to fifth place after a couple of children’s movies and the new Marvel production bumped it off. Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences have embraced this movie wholeheartedly. It serves as an intriguing contrast to “Godzilla Minus One.” Interestingly, if not for the pandemic, “Godzilla vs. Kong” might have amassed a comparable fortune.

Most Cinematic Universes are struggling

As a gamer, I’d say diving into a detailed analysis of various cinematic universes isn’t yielding much fruit these days. Many have kicked the bucket before they could truly claim life, and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is hanging on by a thread, being the punchline in the industry. Each new release seems to bring diminishing returns.

Marvel Shows That Invention is Everything

One significant reason for the perceived decline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is its tendency to become too self-referential and rely excessively on established characters. Instead of embracing fresh concepts, it seems to be leaning heavily on familiar fan favorites such as Robert Downey Jr., who reappears in a new role to rekindle interest among disengaged fans. At its peak, Marvel benefited from a team of innovative filmmakers who skillfully blended the essence of the original source material with a myriad of cinematic influences, creating something captivating. The Monsterverse should strive to maintain this level of creativity to avoid falling into a repetitive pattern that could make it seem outdated. Keep introducing new ideas to keep the franchise vibrant and prevent it from becoming as muddled as Marvel might become if it continues along its current path.

DC Shows That Giving Up Must Always Be An Option

The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) was a cinematic catastrophe, a lesson in what not to do in filmmaking. It linked some of the most dismal superhero films ever made into a gloomy, dark, and uncomfortable amalgamation. Despite occasional glimmers of quality that slipped through Zack Snyder’s tight grip, they didn’t outweigh the overall disappointing output. Fortunately, after viewing The Flash, wiser minds intervened, and the franchise decided to reboot. The upcoming DC films will thankfully be liberated from the DCEU’s burden. However, things are currently thriving in the Monsterverse, but that doesn’t ensure future success. If problems arise and the Monsterverse becomes overly complex, Legendary should be prepared to restart the series.

Every Failed Cinematic Universe Teaches the Same Lesson

These movie universes, such as The Dark Universe, Bloodshot, Robin Hood, and others that didn’t make it past the starting point, all faced the same issue. They were so eager to replicate Marvel’s success after The Avengers that they rushed their plans. On the other hand, the Monsterverse has done a better job so far by taking things one step at a time and focusing on each film individually rather than racing towards an end goal like Endgame. For now, it feels more like a series of films, but with careful planning, it could evolve into a full-fledged cinematic universe.

The Monsterverse is thriving at the moment, but it may not last indefinitely. It’s challenging to envision discussions about the Monsterverse in future years being similar to those currently surrounding the MCU. Godzilla and Kong are iconic figures in pop-culture lore, and they are currently experiencing their peak profitability. For now, it appears that kaiju enthusiasts have plenty of enjoyable times ahead, as long as the Monsterverse remains vigilant about its rivals.

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2024-08-07 23:03