A Godzilla x Kong sequel is possible amid the Monsterverse box office boom

'Godzilla x Kong'

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Jazz Legendary and Warner Bros Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was opened $80 million in North America over the Easter weekend despite being shredded by critics. That's not double what the monitoring services predicted, but close enough. And by the 10th day, its worldwide accumulation reached $361.1 million as it topped the charts.

So what's next? „It's certainly an exciting decision,” said Mary Parent, head of global production for Josh Grodin's Legendary. The Hill: Part Two. “We are in a good position to continue the journey but we will see how Godzilla x Kong „It's early days, but we're definitely feeling better.”

Godzilla x Kong This week will be a busy one at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of cinema operators and Hollywood studios in Las Vegas.

While critics largely derided the film, general audiences — and families — embraced director Adam Wingard's vision of what would happen if Godzilla and Kong teamed up to prevent the destruction of the planet, a stark contrast to his 2021 film. Godzilla vs. KongIt saw two wars.

Wingard spoke THR About the possibility of making a third film in mid-March. „There's always the temptation to make a trilogy out of it, and I think there are some untapped parts,” Wingard said. „There are ways to continue to innovate the stylistic approach to the Monsterverse, and what's great about the Monsterverse is that it allows for different directors to approach it with their own unique style and color palette.”

The film's domestic release marked the second biggest opening in five titles for Legendary and Warner Bros. MonsterVerse series, which debuted in 2014 Godzilla. Any studio would give their eye to that kind of rise at a time when franchise fatigue is high. Just a week ago, Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire Opened at $45 million, only $1 million before 2021 Ghostbusters: RehabFaced challenges due to pandemic. Godzilla vs. KongDay and Date was released to HBO Max amid the pandemic, opening to $48.5 million in five days, which was considered a strong start.

Godzilla x Kong Widely expected to be the highest-grossing film domestically (current record holder Godzilla with $200.6 million). Box office insiders believe the new film will make $230 million domestically and north of $500 million worldwide, but it remains to be seen if it can set a new MonsterVerse record and surpass its $568 million in 2017. Kong: Skull Island.

„Obviously, I won't make this decision until we see how New Empire doing at the box office, but I would definitely be interested in doing another one of these,” Wingard said THR Last month. „There's a way to keep innovating, and as a director, that's going to be exciting because next time I'll take a different approach. But regardless, yes, there's a lot of potential and hopefully there will be a demand.

The film – starring Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens – succeeded in appealing to mainstream fans and a new, younger generation. Warner Bros. Head of domestic production Jeff Goldstein said attendance spread throughout every part of the day, and families also came in larger numbers this time around. “It's unusual for any fourth or fifth consecutive film to do this kind of business. In the past Godzilla attracted a more general audience. „It's an amazing movie, an amazing marketing campaign and an amazing date,” says Goldstein.

The parent adds, “Everyone took this film out of love. We have spent more on this film than any other film.

This is yet another shocking piece of news, given that manufacturing costs typically go up, not down. New Empire Net $135 million, compared to north of $150-$175 million net for other installments.

Hollywood's latest Godzilla franchise is also booming overseas. MonsterVerse has always done well in Latin America and Asia Godzilla x Kong It has earned just north of $92 million in China. (Legendary East deals with the movie in the Middle Kingdom).

Warners and Legendary got early Easter gifts Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire It decided to celebrate Easter and shifted its release by a week from March 29 to March 22. New Empire Quickly changed course and jumped into the Easter weekend, where he had no problem finding more eggs than expected. Parent says, „I think these characters permeate the culture.”