WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Godzilla vs. Kong, now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
In the lead-up to Godzilla vs. Kong's premiere, filmmaker Adam Wingard promised the long-awaited kaiju showdown would indeed have a definitive winner reigning supreme with the title of King of the Monsters by the movie's end. Wingard felt the 1962 King Kong vs. Godzilla failed to live up to that expectation in its depiction of the two Titans coming to blows and actively sought to rectify this in his own film. And with Godzilla vs. Kong now out in the world and thrilling audiences worldwide, let's spotlight the true winner of the MonsterVerse film in both of the movie's explosive confrontations.
The first battle between the two titular Titans is the sea battle that has appeared in much of the film's marketing campaign. As Kong is escorted via naval armada across the Pacific Ocean, Godzilla detects his rival's presence and attacks it, leading the two monsters to fight on top of warships and in the surrounding waters. While Kong certainly gets some epic hits in, he is at a clear disadvantage from the outset, nearly perishing every time Godzilla plunges him into the ocean. As the fleet of ships is steadily annihilated in the crossfire, the remaining ships and Kong opt to feign defeat, with a satisfied Godzilla leaving the survivors alone before Kong is airlifted to Antarctica with a team of scientists and Apex personnel to investigate theories of a Hollow Earth.
The second fight takes place in a neon-soaked Hong Kong, coming under attack as Apex moves to activate its MechaGodzilla after drawing from energies within the Hollow Earth as a new power source. Now armed with an axe forged from the dorsal fin of one of Godzilla's apparent ancestors, Kong arrives in Hong Kong in time for a rematch. He initially holds the upper hand due to his new weapon's ability to absorb Godzilla's atomic breath. However, while the humans begin to assume Kong the winner, an enraged Godzilla quickly turns the tide and forces Kong to submit after dislocating one of his shoulders.
In both of their fights, Godzilla comes out as the clear victor but Kong isn't without his own tricks up his sleeve, even after his defeat in Hong Kong. As MechaGodzilla comes online and launches his own devastating attack on Godzilla, Kong realizes the mechanical kaiju is an even greater mutual threat and the true enemy all along. Fighting his robotic opponent alone, Godzilla is overpowered but the timely assistance of Kong saves him. Kong delivers the killing stroke by decapitating MechaGodzilla with his ancient axe.
Against one another, Godzilla retains his claim to the title of King of the Monsters by besting Kong in both of their fight. Kong certainly provides a good fight and nearly comes out on top in Hong Kong but, at the end of the day, Godzilla is just too strong and has far more abilities that give him an inherent edge against the ape. Kong survives to fight another day but it is unlikely he will challenge Godzilla for the throne any time soon.
Directed by Adam Wingard and written by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein, Godzilla vs. Kong stars Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry. The film is in theaters and on HBO Max now.