Apple TV+ sci-fi drama Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, based on Legendary’s Monsterverse — Godzilla, y’all — debuted at New York Comic Con on Friday morning and the streamer released a full trailer. Along with the release, Apple invited critics to post their early reviews of the series that features Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell starring as Army officer Lee Shaw at different points in his life.
Following the devastating battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation to humanity that monsters are real, the series tracks two siblings, Cate (Anna Sawai) and Kentaro (Ren Watabe), who discover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and to Shaw. Taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows, the dramatic saga spans three generations, revealing buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
The 10-episode season also stars Kiersey Clemons, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski. The Legendary Television production is co-developed and executive produced by Chris Black and Matt Fraction. Matt Shakman directs the first two episodes and serves as executive producer alongside Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, Andy Goddard, Brad Van Arragon, and Andrew Colville. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character.
Here’s what critics are saying about Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1:
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 poster
(Photo by Apple TV+)
Click image to view full poster in a new tab.
Kurt Russell is perhaps the best thing about the entire show. The actor is so breezy, so charming, that he lights up the screen whenever he appears. His son does well too, but it’s the older Russell who holds our attention … This may be a streaming TV series, but Russell is an old-school movie star, and that lends “Monarch” some much-needed juice.
—Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
While the story can often feel thin and overstretched, the return of thick Godzilla plus the addition of Kurt Russell is a largely winning combo.
—Chase Hutchinson, Collider
While Monarch: Legacy of Monsters does have some thrilling titan fights, the show doesn’t present itself as a kaiju free-for-all. This sci-fi series is a human drama through and through.
—Megan Peters, ComicBook.com
We get actual character intrigue and development — the best of this comes from the trio of Sawai’s Cate, Ren Watabe as Kentaro, and Kiersey Clemons as May. The time we spend with them uncovering the mysteries of Monarch (and their own families) is the backbone of the show … And while contained in a sci-fi plot, it’s pretty relatable to what one imagines an Earth-wide siege by kaiju to be.
—Daniel Dockery, Polygon
While its occasional deep-cut references demand a familiarity with a franchise most audiences are ambivalent about — who really remembers the nuances of Godzilla: King Of The Monsters? — its ambitious time- and globe-trotting storytelling makes the most of the series’ giant canvas, even in a smaller screen size.
—John Nugent, Empire
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 poster (Photo by Apple TV+)
Click image to view full poster in a new tab.
With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the MonsterVerse heads down the same road to ruin that has plagued (and is still plaguing) Marvel: Trying and failing to port the big-budget spectacle of Godzilla to TV.
—Clint Worthington, Consequence
As improbable as it sounds, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ focus on individual people spurred to action by the emergence of Godzilla and his fellow Titans is exactly what makes the show a surprise delight — one that feels like it has potential to be both a proper hit for Apple TV Plus and a strong step forward for the MonsterVerse franchise as a whole.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge
Splitting its narrative across two different time periods – one of which follows scientist Keiko (Mari Yamamoto), explorer Bill (Anders Holm) and soldier Lee (Wyatt Russell) in the 1950s as they work to establish Monarch in a post-nuclear world…Through the first gang, Monarch develops a trio that have a believable chemistry and consistently fun back-and-forth, with the comedic talents of Holm perfectly complementing the dramatic chops of Yamamoto, and Wyatt Russell bringing things home with his effortless charm.
—George White, Radio Times
Do we care what secrets Monarch may unearth? Not especially. But it’s to the show’s credit that we do care what happens to the characters, and what the hell the missing Hiroshi was thinking. That, the grand scale, and the fact that the direction is occasionally allowed to get weird is enough of a hook so far.
—Luke Y. Thompson, SuperHeroHype
Once Monarch actually starts producing the monster-heavy set pieces promised by its title, the series becomes significantly more fun. Its third episode, which follows the show’s heroes as they travel from Japan to South Korea and then to Alaska, is such a rip-roaring, breezy blockbuster adventure that it manages to achieve a big-screen, cinematic quality that still feels relatively elusive on television. The best version of Monarch is, in other words, the one that most resembles a massive monster movie.
—Alex Welch, Inverse
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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters: Season 1
(2023)
premieres on Friday, November 17 on Apple TV+.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
This is the showdown we’ve all been waiting for, whether it’s been for the 59 years since the release of the cheesy old King Kong vs. Godzilla movie, through the three previous installments of the MonsterVerse franchise (particularly the divisive Godzilla: King of the Monsters), or just over the past year, hoping for a big blockbuster spectacle again.
Does Godzilla vs. Kong live up to expectations? For the most part, yes, according to the first reviews tied to the movie’s international release. It delivers on its title, and if you expect more than that, you probably shouldn’t. Still, this crossover sequel is said to pay off with great-looking action, if the cost is just a goofy plot and uninteresting scenes with puny humans.
Here’s what critics are saying about Godzilla vs. Kong:
When it comes to the promise of its title, Godzilla vs Kong delivers immensely.
– Kshitij Rawat, The Indian Express
If you’re going into this movie to watch Godzilla and Kong exchange blows and public property be destroyed in creative ways, you will get your money’s worth.
– Prahlad Srihari, Firstpost
The kind of gloriously silly blockbuster we haven’t seen in over a year, Godzilla vs. Kong revels in its own outlandish premise and delivers everything you paid for.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
[It’s] the best monster movie in years… It is everything you would want in this face-off.
– Jonathan Roberts, The New Paper
With its entertainment factor turned up to 11, Godzilla vs. Kong lives up to its promise of a monster good time.
– Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews
[It] never cuts loose the way a film titled Godzilla vs Kong should.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
The two Titans cross paths several times in this chaotic spectacle and the results are nothing short of breathtaking… Its action and thrills are immaculate.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
[It] will appeal to anyone who knows how much joy can be sparked watching a giant monkey lay the boot into an enormous, laser-breathing lizard.
– Anthony O’Connor, FILMINK
Once the two CGI titans take their swings on one another – the sequence itself is glorious in its stupidity.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
The final clash (which takes place in an urban setting) could have had a bit more variety as far as the visuals go.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
(Photo by )
Unlike in King of the Monsters, the colors here don’t overwhelm the frame to such an extent it becomes hard to see the action… It features some of the most seamless mayhem there ever was.
– Prahlad Srihari, Firstpost
Unlike the previous Godzilla film, the action sequences aren’t hidden by a haze of clouds, smoke, or dust. Wingard showcases every move in the open.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Responding to earlier criticisms, Godzilla vs. Kong is stuffed with inventively staged action, most of which now takes place in broad daylight.
– James Marsh, South China Morning Post
If King of the Monsters tickled you, then this monstrous battle should suffice. If not, and you want your mindless action to have a little more ironic intelligence, this is one fight not worth the spectator fee.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
The storyline’s silliness might be a deal-breaker for those who appreciated the 2014 iteration’s more sombre storytelling.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
Wingard proves to be the right director for the job. He clearly knows what the fans and audiences alike want and for that, he delivers.
– Casey Chong, Casey’s Movie Mania
Adam Wingard knows exactly what you came to Godzilla vs. Kong to see and he’s happy to serve it up in absolute spades.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Director Adam Wingard… treats Godzilla and Kong as action stars.
– Jonathan Roberts, The New Paper
He has solid timing regarding being sincere and tongue-in-cheek with the story. It makes the time spent on the cast increasingly palatable.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
Wingard has previously focused on smaller scale horror, which may explain why this really lacks the (occasional) sense of awe the earlier films had for these giant monsters.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
There will be fans of director Adam Wingard’s all-action, total-carnage approach, but I certainly wasn’t one of them.
– James Croot, Stuff.co.nz
(Photo by Vince Valitutti/©Legendary and Warner Bros. Entertainment)
One of the most visually spectacular films of the year.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
What did catch me off-guard was how richly cinematic the film looks and how spatialized the action feels.
– Luke Buckmaster, Flicks.com.au
Visually, there’s really nothing here that we haven’t seen before.
– Jim Schembri, jimschembri.com
The bright lighting robs the VFX of heft.
– Jamie Graham, Total Film
The plot takes a turn for the better (and weirder)… [and] it gets even more bull goose loony in the third act.
– Anthony O’Connor, FILMINK
Godzilla vs. Kong is an incredibly illogical yet unashamedly gonzo piece of work… that bring[s] the lore to new heights of ridiculousness and delirium that is truly entertaining.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
The plot is unnecessarily complicated… Best to turn your brain off and ignore the temptation to apply logic and reason to such a piece of cinema.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
If you’re going to hype such a film as Godzilla vs. Kong as the battle of all battles, you better not waste our time with overblown exposition.
– Peter Gray, The AU Review
There are hints of a more intriguing film. One (literal) deep-dive into hard science-fiction world-building is a welcome shot of weirdness, if never fully explored.
– John Nugent, Empire Magazine
So much is going on that the film’s running time feels scarcely enough to contain its threads.
– John Lui, The Straits Times
(Photo by Chuck Zlotnick/©Legendary and Warner Bros. Entertainment)
The film’s human characters… are an upgrade compared to previous films.
– Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews
Finally, they have realized we do not care about humans… we thankfully do not have to spend much time with their problems and feelings.
– Jonathan Roberts, The New Paper
They are enjoyably broad enough for the cast to play with and they are all game and know exactly the movie in which they are participating.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
Any time the monsters are not on screen, in fact, is draining. Every MonsterVerse movie… has struggled to know what to do with the human characters on the ground, and in some ways, this is the worst offender yet for it
– John Nugent, Empire Magazine
Unfortunately well over half the movie focuses on the humans, who are either boring, comedy relief, an occasional infodump, [or] utterly irrelevant.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
Jia is the one human who makes the film an emotional, sincere, and rousing spectacle. She is played beautifully by Kaylee Hottle.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
The star human is Kaylee Hottle as Jia, the young girl who has a connection to the giant gorilla, which gives this movie the right amount of heart.
– Jonathan Roberts, The New Paper
Hottle steals focus at every turn with her mute performance that’s the film true heart.
– Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects
(Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures)
Godzilla is reduced to a rampaging reptile for much of the film that feels out of step with his characterization in earlier movies.
– James Marsh, South China Morning Post
When it comes to the acting showdown, there’s no contest… [Godzilla] has the voice, and the presence, but he doesn’t have the range.
– Jake Wilson, The Age
Godzilla fans may feel irked that Kong gets more screen time.
– Jonathan Roberts, The New Paper
The film dissolves Godzilla’s presence through its allegiance to Kong.
– Harris Dang, Impulse Gamer
Kong isn’t quite rendered as sensitively as Andy Serkis’s mo-cap version in the Peter Jackson film. But his eyes still convey so much emotion.
– Prahlad Srihari, Firstpost
Aside from a few early scenes that really stress his size, he’s nothing to be afraid of.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
(Photo by Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures)
No matter which Titan you wanted to win, you would likely feel satisfied with the outcome.
– Kshitij Rawat, The Indian Express
Those involved have clearly thought — a lot — about how to end things in a way that’s going to keep everyone happy.
– Anthony Morris, It’s Better in the Dark
Godzilla vs. Kong releases in the U.S. in theaters and on HBO Max on March 31, 2021.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
Depending on what you want out of a Godzilla movie, you may either love Godzilla: King of the Monsters or hate it. The sequel to 2014’s reboot is sharply dividing critics, some of whom are calling this at least the best of the franchise made this side of the Pacific. Others can’t get over the almost-unanimously panned script among other cited problems with this latest MonsterVerse installment, which also follows up 2017’s Kong: Skull Island. To quote Ken Watanabe’s character from the last Godzilla movie, “Let them fight.” Or just balance each other out on the Tomatometer.
Here’s what critics are saying about Godzilla: King of the Monsters:
It delivers far more satisfying thrills and terrific spectacle when it comes to what fans expect from these kinds of films.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
King of the Monsters course corrects from the 2014 film by giving audiences an abundance of monster action, proving that Hollywood can do right by Godzilla.
– Scott Collura, IGN
2014’s Godzilla made us wait too long for the monster-movie money shots… [this one has] a constant stream of the kind of rock-em-sock-em action that makes you want to see a film like this in the first place.
– Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
It’s like Warner Bros. heard our collective complaints about Godzilla (2014) and unloaded three sequels worth of monster fights into one follow-up.
– William Bibbiani, Bloody Disgusting
This movie feels more prosaic and less magical.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
Hollywood finally gets kaiju big battles right in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
–Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Easily the most satisfying of his Hollywood-produced adventures and a respectable cousin to the long string of Japanese ones.
– John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter
This is a Godzilla movie, and what we’re really here for is to see him kick some serious monster butt. And King of the Monsters pays off in that regard time and again.
– Scott Collura, IGN
If you go to these things to see cities flambéed and flattened, you won’t leave disappointed.
– Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out
If not for 1998’s atrocious Matthew Broderick-starring Godzilla, this would be the dumbest English language version to date.
– Benjamin Lee, Guardian
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is now the worst American Godzilla movie.
– Fred Topel, We Live Entertainment
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is not a good movie. In fact, it’s a pretty terrible one.
– Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
The summer’s first inarguably bad blockbuster.
– Benjamin Lee, Guardian
I’m having a hard time remembering a recent movie I disliked as much as Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
– Mike Ryan, Uproxx
The last movie this big saddled with a story and characters this bad was Independence Day: Resurgence.
– Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
It’s just filled with a lot of stupid characters who all do stupid things to the point that the ‘plot’ is just some crazy afterthought of nonsense. What a mess.
– Mike Ryan, Uproxx
What complicates matters are the characters themselves…their interpersonal family dynamics are not particularly interesting or engaging.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
The script, by Dougherty and Zach Shields, has no idea what to do with any of these people.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
These characters feel about as detachable as Raymond Burr did in the Americanized Gojira.
– Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out
It sometimes seems as if, in their attempt to focus on monster action, the filmmakers have cut out material that might have enriched the human side of the tale.
– John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter
The dialogue ends up being unintentionally funny more often than intentionally so.
– Katie Rife, AV Club
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
The material is there, and the actors are good enough to handle it, however shallow the characters may seem.
– Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment
[The] family story [is] made all the more heartfelt thanks to committed performances by Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga and Kyle Chandler.
– Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Vera Farmiga, per usual, is fantastic and Millie Bobby Brown kills it in her feature film debut…the cast as a whole does a tremendous job.
– Shannon McGrew, Nightmarish Conjurings
Vera Farmiga is too level-headed an actress to deliver this stuff as if she believes it, so it just sounds like nutcake raving.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The main cast struggles…at least Millie Bobby Brown emerges unscathed.
– William Bibbiani, Bloody Disgusting
Whitford is the only cast member able to make any of the film’s stale, clunky jokes work, and Watanabe brings a remarkable amount of gravitas to his role.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
The monsters are the stars of the show, and they don’t disappoint…King Ghidorah, with his regenerating heads and electricity-based powers, is often downright terrifying.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
I was particularly impressed with the work done with Ghidorah. What was once a wacky three-headed puppet is now a real menace.
– Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment
[They’re] all realized with designs that call back to their Toho origins while also looking fresh and, basically, fantastic…each monster feels like they have their own, distinct personality.
– Scott Collura, IGN
Godzilla barely appears onscreen until the final act, and doesn’t appear at all for the first 45 minutes.
– Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
The monster action in this movie is top-notch across the board, whether it’s creatures being born, creatures battling humans, or creatures battling other creatures.
– Scott Collura, IGN
Unlike other CG-fests, this Godzilla gives us a good look at these iconic monsters and shows us what they’re capable of in battle.
– Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
A cornucopia of eye candy that’ll shake your seat and make you cheer…it features some of the most impressive monster fights you’ve ever seen.
– William Bibbiani, Bloody Disgusting
The ultimate kaiju smack-down shouldn’t be this boring.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
When a movie is just nonstop monster action, guess what happens? It all becomes the new ‘normal’ and it becomes boring.
– Mike Ryan, Uproxx
The action is pretty legible, all things considered, and the compositions are often beautiful, with a strong element of chiaroscuro.
– Katie Rife, AV Club
Dougherty and cinematographer Lawrence Sher capture all of this destruction with a painter’s eye…the awe and majesty of these massive, god-like beings is rendered perfectly.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
Awe-inspiring widescreen visuals…the fire-and-brimstone aesthetic assigns a gritty gravitas to the gorgeous imagery, as it augments the narrative’s ecological overtones.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Most impressive was by far the visuals and the CGI. The special effects used in the creation of Godzilla and the Titans looked positively seamless and beautiful.
– Shannon McGrew, Nightmarish Conjurings
The monsters are too darkly shot and edited too frenetically as if he’s trying to hide something.
– Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
Prepare thyself for an entire film built on the concept that, when giant monsters battle each other, they actually create tropical storms, gusting rain, and a baffling amount of cloud cover.
– Kate Erbland, IndieWire
You may start to long for some daylight clarity — for those moments when you can sit back and gawk at Godzilla and just sort of behold him.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures)
Like [2018’s] Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, it also feels like it could have been released in the mid-to-late-90s.
– Benjamin Lee, Guardian
The human cast seems like they’re trapped in a 1990s disaster movie.
– William Bibbiani, Bloody Disgusting
The film blends bombastic excess and deadpan silliness in a way that recalls late ’90s action films of the Michael Bay/Roland Emmerich school.
– Katie Rife, AV Club
Godzilla: King of the Monsters never met a sci-fi film it didn’t want to rip off — brace yourself for a dramatic sequence that pulls so liberally from Armageddon that we can only assume Michael Bay is readying a lawsuit.
– Kate Erbland, IndieWire
We’re now all set up for Godzilla vs. Kong, coming in 2020, but if you told me that the next film in the franchise was Party with Megalon, it would make about as much sense.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
We shouldn’t wake him up again until there’s a better movie.
– Mike Ryan, Uproxx
Godzilla: King of the Monsters opens in theaters May 31, 2019.
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