Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Beasts, brawls, and boring humans.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 6, 2024

I finally got to watch a really good monster movie just the other day, one that pairs relatable human characters with a solid story and copious amounts of beastly destruction. I'm talking, course, about Godzilla Minus One, the much talked-about import that casually made back ten times its modest ~$12M budget, walked away with an Oscar for Best Visual Effects back in March, and quietly debuted on Netflix just last weekend. What we got on this side of the pond instead was Adam Wingard's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a substantially different but still fairly enjoyable extension to Legendary Picture's ever-growing "Monsterverse". Flippant intros aside, there's room in the world for both.

For both a full synopsis and a sporadically sarcastic review of the main feature, please see either my recent coverage of Warner Bros.' separate Blu-ray edition or Brian Orndorf's similarly mostly positive theatrical review.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from the separately-available Blu-ray edition.

Previous Monsterverse films have brought the goods on 4K (most recently, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong), so it's no surprise that GxK follows suit with a wonderfully detailed and precise 2160p/HDR10 (Dolby Vision compatible) transfer that runs at a consistently high bit rate on this triple-layered (100GB) disc. In comparison to those previous two films, GxK has an overall brighter and more colorful appearance in keeping with its generally lighter tone, with the HDR enhancement bringing its typical brand of appeal to bolster color depth, bright whites, and deep blacks. Extraordinary elements like Godzilla's atomic breath and natural wonders, such as bioluminescent material and glowing crystals deep within Hollow Earth, push all three of these extremes as far as I've seen in a film of this type, and overall fine detail and textures are likewise hugely impressive in close-ups and wide shots alike. Both separate franchises are no stranger to international vistas and most of not all of these scenes were shot on location; they stand in contrast to the fully CGI and slightly "massaged" real-world backdrops where Kong and company travel, yet both extremes are equally impressive and almost equally convincing. All things considered, GxK a great-looking film that -- and I almost hate to say it -- actually looks like almost all of its sizeable $135M budget actually made it to screen... so from that perspective, I might even be underselling this 4K disc when I say it looks like a million bucks.

For those interested in more detailed technical specifics, the official forum thread includes some interesting information about Godzilla x Kong's analog intermediate process. Simply put, it looks great for a reason.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The outstanding Dolby Atmos audio mix is identical to the separately available Blu-ray edition, reviewed here.

Optional subtitles are limited to English (SDH), French, and Spanish, available during the film and all extras.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork; a matching glossy slipcover and Digital Copy slip are also included. Bonus features include a full-length commentary and just over an hour of behind-the-scenes featurettes, which are identical to those found on the separate Blu-ray edition, reviewed here.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Adam Wingard's Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire is mostly big, dumb fun that's predictably dragged down by its flavorless and exposition-dumping human characters. (What else is new in the Monsterverse?) For what it's worth, I've given earlier entries more or less the same star rating but this one feels like it has a bit more replay value... and while that doesn't necessarily make it the best film in the (probably ongoing) franchise, it might be the most entertaining. Warner Bros.' UHD edition offers outstanding A/V merits and a soild collection of lightweight extras, making it the preferred home video choice and just one more reason to finally by a 4K player. Firmly Recommended.