MonsterVerse movies in order
Legendary's Godzilla and Kong universe was released badly out of order. Chronological order genuinely fixes it.
Updated 4 August 2026 · 8 titles tracked
The MonsterVerse is one of the better arguments for chronological order on this site. Kong: Skull Island is set in 1973 but was released second, four decades after the film before it. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters reaches back to 1952 while being one of the most recent entries.
Watched by in-universe date, a scattered release history becomes a clean seventy-year record of one organisation discovering these creatures.
The MonsterVerse in chronological order
By in-universe date, from 1952 to 2027. Note that Monarch — one of the newest entries — comes first.
- 1Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Season 1)2023 · Television
- 2Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Season 2)2026 · Television
- 3Kong: Skull Island2017 · The First Films · Essential
- 4Godzilla2014 · The First Films · Essential
- 5Godzilla: King of the Monsters2019 · The First Films · Essential
- 6Godzilla vs. Kong2021 · The Team-Ups · Essential
- 7Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire2024 · The Team-Ups · Essential
- 8Godzilla x Kong: Supernova2027 · The Team-Ups
The chronological order
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (from 1952), Kong: Skull Island (1973), Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), Godzilla vs. Kong (2024), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2027).
Monarch cuts between the 1950s and 2015 across its run, so it overlaps several films rather than sitting neatly before them — but its earliest thread is the earliest story in the universe.
Or just watch the films
If the series is not for you, the four core films work in release order too: Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong. Nothing is spoiled, and Skull Island being a flashback is obvious from its first scene.
Monarch is genuinely optional. It adds texture and a few connections, but no film depends on it.
Which are worth it
Godzilla (2014) is the most restrained and the best directed. Kong: Skull Island is the most purely enjoyable. Godzilla vs. Kong is the one the whole universe was built to deliver, and it does. King of the Monsters and The New Empire are for people who want more of the same, which is a perfectly reasonable thing to want.
Common questions
What order should I watch the MonsterVerse movies?
Chronological order works well: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Kong: Skull Island (1973), Godzilla (2014), King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, then Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Is Kong: Skull Island a prequel?
Effectively yes. It is set in 1973, forty years before the 2014 Godzilla film, despite being released three years after it.
Do I need to watch Monarch: Legacy of Monsters?
No. It adds background on the organisation behind the films, but none of the films depend on it.
How many MonsterVerse movies are there?
Five released so far, with Godzilla x Kong: Supernova dated for March 2027, plus the Monarch television series.