Everybody loves a monster movie. After all, what’s not to love? Heroes facing off against massive, otherworldly creatures, explosions, mayhem, and sometimes (if we’re lucky) the monsters are on our side. But whether they’re for us or against us, we just love films which provide thrills, excitement, and really big creatures which utterly defy the laws of nature. And we also love curling up on the couch for a movie marathon. So we thought… why not curate the ultimate monster-sized movie marathon to help you out?
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Our monstrous lineup begins with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which is finally landing on your screens after rampaging cross cinemas the world over. We’re massive (get it?) fans of the gargantuan Monsterverse franchise, and this is the fifth instalment in the series, seeing Kong chilling after his victory over Mechagodzilla in the caves beneath the earth, and Godzilla stopping various monstrous baddies from wrecking humanity’s chances at survival. Basically, they’re both on our side (thank goodness). But when a new threat emerges, it’s time for a team-up we’ve been hanging for, for years. This is an absolute barn-stormer, folks, and a hell of a way to kick off your marathon.
Rampage
People often say monster movies feel a little bit like really great, action-packed video games. Well, in the case of Rampage, that’s the highest compliment you could pay: it’s loosely based on the beloved arcade game of the same name! Rampage follows two huge talents: Dwayne Johnson’s Davis Okoye, an ex-US Army Special Forces soldier, primatologist, and the boss of an elite anti-poaching unit. The other hero? George, an albino western lowland gorilla. When George mutates and becomes kaiju-sized, he and Davis team up to fight two other mutated bad guy monsters from wrecking Chicago. Rampage is a whole lot of fun - we always love when humans and monsters finally learn to work together.
Meg 2: The Trench
Just in case you think we’re getting soft and are only showing you movies where monsters and humans are too much up in their feelings… how about a hot piping mug of nightmare fuel? In the colossal sequel to The Meg, Jason Statham is back as Jonas Taylor, the man who bested the world’s biggest megalodon in the previous film. The Meg 2: The Trench offers even more monstrous thrills, but it also boasts even more shark-heavy action. When a malevolent mining company throws its hat in the ring, Taylor finds himself staring down the barrel (well, staring down the many-toothed mouth) of a life-or-death adventure.
Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island instantly became a cult classic. Feeling more like a campy war film at times, it takes place in 1973 and follows an all-star cast (seriously: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, and that’s just a few) as they investigate the home of everyone’s favourite hairy hero: Kong. At this point, Kong isn’t exactly open to making new friends, but Skull Island is a strange, lethal place, and there’s more here to endanger our cast of heroes than just an iconic Kong. Kong: Skull Island was a smash hit, and helped kick-start the Monsterverse. You’re gonna love it.
Godzilla: King of The Monsters
Taking place right after Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of The Monsters is one of our favourites. Why? Well, so many reasons. It cements Monarch as key players in the monsterverse - the organisation dedicated to understanding, and eventually working with, the good-guy monsters. It has Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown front and centre. Oh! And it has our fave kaiju ever, Mothra, a staple of the Japanese Godzilla films. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is technically the 35th Godzilla feature film, yet it still manages to whip up a slew of terrifying surprises, and it sets the table for all of the amazing films to come, particularly the brutally good time that is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Well, there it is! A five-film monster movie marathon lineup for the ages. Let us know how you go!