Godzilla vs. Kong has unfortunately been pushed back to May 2021, to open up 2021's blockbuster season. As fans eagerly await the next installment in Legendary's MonsterVerse series, they can look back on the 1962 Toho film King Kong vs. Godzilla. Revisiting the movie now makes it clear that Godzilla should've won this iconic first showdown.
Despite an urban legend that Godzilla came out victorious in the Japanese version of the film, King Kong was actually victorious in both versions of the movie. Although Kong holds a canonical victory, his triumph over the kaiju was largely due to luck.
During the climax of the film, Kong is dropped off via air lift to the summit of Mt. Fuji, where Godzilla went after fleeing Tokyo. The two engage in battle, with Godzilla first gaining the upper hand thanks to his atomic heat-ray and impressive strength.
Kong manages to get on top thanks to a deus ex machina: A freak storm happens to take place over Mt. Fuji at exactly the right time, which shocks Kong with a blast of lightning. The film previously revealed that Kong gains strength through high voltage electricity, which allows him to narrowly defeat Godzilla as they fall off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. At the end of the movie, Kong swims away, while Godzilla goes into hiding, signaling Kong's victory.
King Kong vs. Godzilla clearly shows how Godzilla is more powerful. During their climax battle, Godzilla is able to take down the massive creature by the pure strength of his tail alone. His atomic heat-ray is another notable advantage, as it nearly kills Kong.
Kong is also aware of Godzilla's superior strength. During their first confrontation in the film, Kong flees the battle after failing to counter Godzilla's atomic heat-ray. These advantages make Godzilla better equipped to take down Kong in both close-range and long-distance battles.
Kong also has several weaknesses that put him at a disadvantage. Both King Kong vs. Godzilla and the 1933 King Kong show he is easily distracted, as Kong abducts a human woman in the midst of his rampage during both films. The 1933 film also makes it clear Kong is no match for human artillery, while Godzilla is able to take on tanks, military jets and anti-aircraft artillery shells with relative ease in 1954's Godzilla and King Kong vs. Godzilla.
Godzilla is also aware of his weaknesses compared to Kong, despite the latter's supposed intelligence. Although the scientists in the movie claim Kong is more intelligent than Godzilla, the latter is able to avoid harm from the high voltage electricity traps that are set for him. This gives Godzilla another leg up, as Kong's weakness to the red berries on Faro Island is easily exploited during the film. The berry juice created by the island's natives allow them to subdue the beast, while the Japanese military weaponize the juice to knockout Kong in the midst of his kidnapping.
Kong will surely be a formidable foe in the upcoming Godzilla vs. King Kong movie, but it's safe to say Godzilla should've won their original confrontation. If it wasn't for a lucky thunderstorm, King Kong vs. Godzilla would've ended with Godzilla on top.
King Kong vs. Godzilla is directed by Ishirō Honda, starring Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yū Fujiki, Ichirō Arishima, Mie Hama, Shoichi Hirose and Haruo Nakajim. Godzilla vs. Kong is directed by Adam Wingard, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. Godzilla vs. Kong will be out on May 21, 2021.