Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Confirms Who is The Better Hero

• Kong proves to be the more compassionate hero in Godzilla x Kong, showing empathy and understanding towards both allies and foes.
• Unlike Godzilla, Kong values communication and diplomacy over brute force, seeking peaceful resolutions in conflict situations.
• Kong’s humility and belief in love and unity make him the true leader Earth needs, contrasting with Godzilla’s arrogant and entitled behavior.

The following contains spoilers for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, now playing in theaters.

When 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong took place, fans weren’t that shocked to see Godzilla triumph. The giant lizard was vastly more experienced, and over-powered with his atomic breath. However, that didn’t necessarily mean Godzilla was the better hero.

Godzilla has, overall all, been causing a lot more chaos, as opposed to Kong, who just wants everyone to co-exist. From the moment Adam Wingard’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was announced, loyalists knew this team-up would confirm who was the more selfless Titan humanity could count on. That debate can be put to bed as Kong officially takes up that title of the MonsterVerse’s best hero.

Kong Is More Compassionate in Godzilla x Kong

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Kong watches his robotic gauntlet hand in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

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Throughout Godzilla x Kong, Kong shows he prefers to be kind than king. Kong is a lot more understanding, displaying empathy off the bat. He doesn’t mind sharing his meals with Doug (another reptilian) in the Hollow Earth. When he similarly ventures around the lush realm, he even shows compassion towards his enemies. The first instance occurs when Kong tries to save one of the apes that attacked him.

Unfortunately, Kong reneges on trying to stop him from falling off a cliff. Self-preservation comes first, and his generosity is repaid with hatred. That doesn’t stop Kong from showing sympathy towards the rest of the legion that Godzilla x Kong’s Skar King has in play. Most of them want Kong dead, but he wants to free them. He understands how oppressed, subjugated and enslaved they are. Even after Suko (the Mini Kong) tries to kill Kong, he keeps being a big brother to the young ape. Kong knows that Suko is being manipulated as part of this heartbreaking system that Kong wants to liberate as soon as possible.

Kong showers this same love on the ice Titan, Shimo. While Shimo damages one of Kong’s hands, forcing him to wear the Kong gauntlet, Kong forgives the monster in the end. He adopts Shimo and escorts him and Suko back to the caves to let the other apes know they are free. Kong patting Shimo on the head like a pet is one of the MonsterVerse’s most wholesome moments. He is a lot warmer and more caring than Godzilla as he transitions from protector of all into a friend to all.

When juxtaposed to what Godzilla does, it’s hard to deny Kong his flowers. In most of the scenes in the first half of Godzilla x Kong, the lizard stomps around countries to feed on nuclear power, not giving thought about the cities he levels and the mass casualties. This collateral damage leaves humanity on edge, whereas Monarch knows Kong is a lot more of a pacifist until threatened. Throughout the film, Kong looks out for everyone — humans and Titans alike — compared to a Godzilla that looks out for himself by making tacit assumptions. Godzilla smashes everything around to reiterate that he still sits atop the food chain. It’s quite the spectacle, but selfish and animalistic behavior at a time when Kong and Monarch expect more from Godzilla.

Kong Is More Communicative in Godzilla x Kong

Godzilla X Kong New Empire

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The mark of a hero isn’t just about someone who uses their fists. Heroes can use words to calm situations down. Fans saw how important communication was when the Marvel Cinematic Heroes fought each other, and when Zack Snyder’s Batman and Superman clashed. Only for them to realize the cure was a civil discussion rather than trying to flex power and be an alpha.

Kong doesn’t care about being right or an apex predator in authority. He is all about communicating first before throwing and grinding out blows. It’s seen with him and Suko, the Skar King’s foot-soldiers, and even when he first meets the Skar King. Kong believes in diplomacy first, showing hope, optimism and belief in even the most sordid of characters. Godzilla, however, hits first and can’t even ask questions later because his opponents are usually dead. It’s evident in how Godzilla invaded Tiamat’s lair, killed the serpent and absorbed all the radiation around.

It’s quite villainous when stacked up to Kong, who wants to work on peaceful solutions in all scenarios he encounters. The best example comes when Kong comes up to the surface, realizing he needs Godzilla’s help to go back down and fight the Skar King’s legion. Sadly, Godzilla perceives Kong’s presence as a threat and starts a brawl. Godzilla is shown to be quite aggressive, which forces Kong to fight back. However, at different intervals, Kong’s gestures, grimaces and screams are him literally begging Godzilla to chill, take a beat and listen.

It leads to a revived Mothra arriving and literally smacking some sense into Godzilla — the efficacy of which has Godzilla cooling down. Mothra doesn’t even fight Kong; she knows Kong is the level-headed hero, while Godzilla is the brash, hasty one flying off the handle. Mothra is obviously witnessing a Godzilla who hasn’t matured from their fight against King Ghidorah in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Kong acknowledges and respects Godzilla, yet all Godzilla does is look down on everyone without logic or rationale.

Kong Is More Humble in Godzilla x Kong

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Throughout the film, Godzilla comes off arrogant and egotistical, versus a Kong who believes in humility. Kong isn’t arrogant at all; in fact, he begs Dr. Ilene Andrews and Jia for help after the first Shimo fight. He espouses that sense of trust and family more, while Godzilla’s arrogance is so obtuse and caustic, mankind still has jets firing on him because they can’t predict if he is going to kill people. They just don’t know when he will send a harsh warning to stay in line.

This affirms that Kong is indeed the one Earth should be looking to as a leader. He might not be as physically strong as Godzilla, but he is stronger mentally. He understands that the way to build a better world on the surface and down in the core is through love and unity. The key to the future is peace, not power. Godzilla has not learned this lesson yet, which may well be why other Titans are rising up again and challenging him. If anything, Godzilla x Kong has Godzilla behaving more like Ghidorah, Rodan and the MUTOs: self-driven, obsessed and entitled.

That mentality can be seen with how Godzilla keeps invading Rome and napping in the coliseum like a cat in Godzilla x Kong’s ending. It’s a fun, cute scene, but the principle stands: Godzilla is more of a boss than a friend at a time he doesn’t need to be. Humanity fears him. Some even worship him. Kong, however, doesn’t care about plaudits, adulation or intimidation. Kong wants to work with all comers, always standing on the moral high ground and exuding the energy of an ambassador. Ultimately, patience, benevolence and understanding are traits of a true king, as opposed to the hot-headed, obstinate Titan that Godzilla has become.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now playing in theaters.

Godzilla X Kong The New Empire 2024 New Film Poster

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

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Get ready to witness the ultimate brawl as Godzilla and Kong collide once more in a battle for supremacy in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” This explosive sequel throws open the doors to the Hollow Earth, unleashing an ancient threat that challenges the very existence of both Titans and humanity.

DirectorAdam WingardRelease DateMarch 29, 2024CastDan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Rachel House, Brian Tyree HenryWritersSimon Barrett, Jeremy Slater, Terry RossioMain GenreActionGenres Sci-Fi, Thriller, AdventureProduction CompanyLegendary Entertainment, Screen Queensland, Warner Bros.