How to watch

Godzilla MonsterVerse Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Godzilla MonsterVerse movies and shows in order

Last updated: April 15 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

The MonsterVerse is Legendary Entertainment's shared cinematic universe featuring Godzilla, Kong, and a host of titanic creatures locked in an eternal struggle for dominance. With multiple blockbuster films and a hit TV series, the watch order can get surprisingly complex.

Launched in 2014 with Gareth Edwards' moody Godzilla reboot, the MonsterVerse has grown into one of Hollywood's most ambitious monster franchises. Spanning five films and the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the shared universe weaves together the histories of Godzilla, Kong, and the secret organization Monarch across multiple eras. Whether you're a lifelong kaiju fan or a newcomer drawn in by the jaw-dropping monster battles, knowing the watch order helps you get the most out of every film and keep the surprisingly intricate lore straight.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is the recommended starting point — it follows the intended storytelling progression and ensures each big reveal and twist lands as the filmmakers intended.

  1. Godzilla (2014)
  2. Kong: Skull Island (2017)
  3. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
  4. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
  5. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Season 1 (2023)
  6. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

If you'd prefer to experience the franchise through the lens of in-universe history — which stretches back to the 1950s nuclear tests and the Cold War — the chronological order offers a fascinating alternative that recontextualizes many key events.

📖 Story Chronology

Chronologically, Kong: Skull Island is set in the 1970s and predates the modern-day Godzilla films. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters interweaves 1950s flashbacks with a 2015 storyline that picks up after Godzilla (2014), so it slots naturally after that film in terms of viewing experience.

  1. Kong: Skull Island (2017) — set in 1973
  2. Godzilla (2014) — set in 2014
  3. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Season 1 (2023) — spans 1950s and 2015
  4. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) — set in 2019
  5. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) — set in 2024
  6. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) — set shortly after GvK

Which Order Should You Choose?

For a first watch, go with release order — it's how the universe was built and how each film's surprises were designed to be discovered. Save the chronological order for a rewatch once you're already familiar with the lore. If you're a fan of the TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, note that it's best watched after Godzilla (2014) regardless of order, as it directly references and expands on that film's events.

🔗 Related Guides

  • Pacific Rim Watch OrderGuide
  • Alien Watch OrderGuide
  • Predator Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!