PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   It’s hard to remember now, but five years ago, there were genuine fears about the survival of movie theaters following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, cinemas were shut down for months, and when Christopher Nolan’s *Tenet* became the first major blockbuster released during that time, it failed to succeed despite having no competition at all.

This is why the March 31, 2021, release of *Godzilla vs. Kong* served as a crucial test for the future of cinema. As vaccines became available and chains like AMC and Regal reopened, there was a question of whether the large-scale audience turnout required for a Hollywood blockbuster could ever return.

Respectfully to *Tenet* and *The New Mutants*, *GvK* was the first major event film with a real chance to earn significant revenue as vaccinations increased and prospects improved. The clash of two iconic titans within Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse was destined to be the industry’s indicator of recovery.

Helmed by Adam Wingard, *Godzilla vs. Kong* continued the MonsterVerse story after 2019’s polarizing *Godzilla: King of the Monsters*. The key change was that Kong and Godzilla were set for a direct confrontation. While not considered high art, after months of lockdowns, it was the ideal film to draw audiences back. Its premise was straightforward and required no prior knowledge, offering a large-scale popcorn film featuring two legendary monsters battling for entertainment.

However, the film’s success was not assured. The competition among streaming services intensified in 2021, with the industry aggressively pursuing a post-pandemic strategy. Warner Bros. notably angered top talent by deciding to release all its 2021 films in theaters and on HBO Max on the same day, which threatened the box office potential of a $160 million franchise cornerstone.

For perspective, the domestic box office generated a minimum of $11 billion from 2015 to 2019, having reached at least $10 billion each year since 2009. In 2020, that figure plummeted to $2.1 billion. The situation was dire, and streaming appeared to be the definitive future, especially with premium video-on-demand services offering new releases at home for a fee similar to a theater ticket.

Reports also indicated that Netflix made a $250 million offer for *Godzilla vs. Kong* (according to Variety), a deal that might have occurred if Legendary had its way. But Warner Bros. stood its ground, and Wingard’s epic was released in cinemas. Despite the challenging circumstances, *Godzilla vs. Kong* was an immediate hit, debuting with $123 million internationally—a record for that point in the pandemic. Even with the concurrent HBO Max release, *GvK* also became only the second film during the pandemic to gross $100 million domestically, after *A Quiet Place Part II*. These figures were undeniably strong.

Personally, this film holds a unique significance for me. My friends and I booked a private theater screening to see Godzilla and Kong fight on the big screen, and I was moved to tears upon entering the Cinemark after a year of only sporadic drive-in visits. It was the perfect return to a beloved pastime, and my feelings were shared by many.

*Godzilla vs. Kong* went on to earn $470 million globally, a clear and definitive success. It provided the first evidence that mass moviegoing could persist in the emerging “new normal.” Furthermore, it expanded the MonsterVerse, setting the stage for *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* and Apple’s *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters*. The franchise is now possibly more robust than ever.

The box office today is still uncertain and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The media environment is constantly evolving, but when a film captures public interest, people will gladly go to the cinema. This has been demonstrated repeatedly over the past five years with films like *Barbie, Oppenheimer, Spider-Man: No Way Home,* and *Top Gun: Maverick*. The trend continues, and it was *GvK* that initially demonstrated this potential was still alive.

Looking back, this massive, vibrant, and unapologetically extravagant monster spectacle is a surprisingly significant chapter in film history. To echo Millie Bobby Brown’s character Madison Russell, “Godzilla saved us… how could you doubt him?”

Godzilla Vs. Kong is available to rent on Prime Video and other services.