monsterverse

All the Godzilla: King of the Monsters Easter Eggs, Explained — Including That Post-Credits Scene

Photograph: Daniel McFadden/Daniel McFadden

By the fourth dimension Charles Dance walks dorsum into frame in Godzilla: King of the Monsters'southward post-credits scene, kaiju fans will no doubt have picked up on the plethora of Easter eggs and other nods to the longstanding lizard franchise sprinkled throughout the movie. Only Trip the light fantastic toe's last appearance as the villainous Alan Jonah provides the biggest hint of what's side by side — a glimpse of a plot signal that might bulldoze the next MonsterVerse picture. In those closing moments, we learn that one of King Ghidorah's severed heads is notwithstanding out there and Alan has plans for it.

What does the surviving head signify? People have theories. (Looking at you, Mecha-King Ghidorah fans.) But to sympathize the Mecha-Easter egg, you must first catch up on your foundational Monarch history. (If you don't know what Monarch is, this might exist tough.) The 3rd film in Legendary's MonsterVerse (joining 2014's Godzilla and to 2017's Kong: Skull Island) begins with an homage to 1964's Ghidorah, the Iii-Headed Monster (the movie that marked Ghidorah's debut appearance in the Toho franchise and cemented Mothra's and Rodan'southward roles as archetype Godzilla monsters) — and so it's all-time to get-go there. Here, our fittingly titan-size list of all of the Easter eggs that follow, ending with our best theories on what that mail-credits scene means.

Simply as Monarch — the secret scientific organization dedicated to studying massive unidentified terrestrial organisms (MUTOs) around the world — designated Godzilla "Titanus Gojira" as a nod to the character's original Japanese proper name, "Titus Mosura" is a nod to the giant moth Mothra's original Japanese name.

A brief glimpse of a screen in the Monarch base shows an paradigm of Mothra's egg that appears to look quite a chip similar the yellow-and-blue encasement out of which the giant moth has hatched in earlier movies. In fact, the pastel-colored egg looks like a literal Easter egg.

A protester early in the film holds up a sign that says "Destroy All Monsters," the name of a 1968 film that was basically The Avengers of Godzilla, as it featured eleven kaiju, many of which had never appeared in a proper Godzilla movie earlier.

The Orca device — which is named after the whales but could just as hands exist a petty nod to the transport from Jaws, some other classic monster pic — can control kaiju to a limited extent. The Godzilla franchise earlier King of the Monsters is full of diverse methods of controlling or communicating with giant monsters, ranging from various alien inventions to a squadron of psychics.

Composer Bear McCreary is responsible for King of the Monsters's music, having taken over for Alexandre Desplat, who scored the 2014 movie. McCreary's score features two classic themes from the original Japanese series, which he weaves into sure parts of his score. The first is Mothra's theme song, which Yuji Koseki kickoff composed for the kaiju's 1962 debut and the legendary Godzilla composer Akira Ifukube perfected once the two monsters met in 1964's Mothra vs. Godzilla.

At several points throughout the movie, there are mentions of Skull Island and Kong, a reference to Kong: Skull Isle, which is also office of the MonsterVerse. The next movie in the serial is Godzilla vs. King Kong, and so there's probably a reason why King of the Monsters keeps reminding you that Kong is out there.

Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah are the only classic kaiju from the Japanese films to appear in King of the Monsters, equally all the other Titans are original creations. That said, Scylla, a spider with some squidlike aspects, is fairly like to Kumonga, a giant spider who first appeared in 1967'south Son of Godzilla. There'southward another connection between the two: Scylla first appears in Arizona, and Kumonga attacks the country in 2004'due south Godzilla: Final Wars.

None of the other monsters in King of the Monsters fifty-fifty remotely resemble existing kaiju. Behemoth is a novel apelike woolly mammoth, and while there was initially some suspicion that the mountainlike Methuselah could be Anguirus, a popular Ankylosaurus kaiju, that did not appear to be the case upon viewing. Eventually, we do run across another MUTOs in this MosnterVerse edition, indicating that Godzilla didn't kill all of them in the 2014 motion-picture show.

Monarch's underwater headquarters is chosen Castle Bravo, which is i of the film's darkest Easter eggs. In real life, Castle Bravo was the name of the start U.S. thermonuclear-weapon test on the Bikini Atoll in 1954. A Japanese tuna-fishing vessel, the Daigo Fukuryū Maru (or "Lucky Dragon No. five" in English), was defenseless in the fallout, and several of members of the 23-man crew experienced severe burns and radiation poisoning as a issue. In the finish, one crew fellow member died. The incident served as direct inspiration for the original Godzilla, which opens with Godzilla sinking and irradiating a fishing ship.

Godzilla in activity. Photo: Warner Bros.

Ghidorah's pinnacle-secret Monarch designation is "Monster Zero," a nod to the second film in which the kaiju appeared, 1965's Invasion of the Astro-Monster. In that film, aliens from Planet X "borrow" Godzilla and Rodan to defend them from Ghidorah, who they call Monster Zero. It was a trick, though, as Ghidorah was under the aliens' control the whole fourth dimension. The aliens make all iii kaiju attack Globe, merely they're somewhen defeated.

The weapons on Castle Bravo are labeled "Maser Turrets," an allusion to a mostly fictional laser-ray weapon humans used to fight kaiju throughout many of the previous Japanese Godzilla films.

Bradley Whitford's character, Dr. Rick Stanton, mentions "Dr. Brooks's Hollow World theory," a reference to Dr. Houston Brooks, the graphic symbol Corey Hawkins played in Kong: Skull Island. We really see Dr. Brooks subsequently in Rex of the Monsters, when Mothra emerges from her coccoon, this time played by Joe Morton.

When Godzilla emerges from below the ice to do boxing with King Ghidorah in Antarctica, the 2d of the ii archetype Godzilla music cues plays. Akira Ifukube originally composed the song for 1954's Godzilla, and while at the time it was meant to be associated with the heroic Japanese Cocky-Defence force Strength trying to defeat Godzilla, information technology speedily became "Godzilla's Theme." King of the Monsters marks the first time that it has been heard in an American Godzilla moving picture.

Rodan emerges from a Volcano, a nod to the kaiju's outset appearance in 1956, when two Rodans hatched from eggs that were cached near Mount Aso, Japan's largest agile Volcano. Ultimately, the armed forces defeats the 2 monsters by tricking them into flying into the volcano'southward eruption, where they seemingly perish. One of them does reemerge from the Volcano in Ghidorah, the Iii-Headed Monster.

In 1993's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla Ii, Rodan is powered up by atomic energy and becomes Fire Rodan. Legendary's version of the kaiju doesn't accept that monster's radioactive-breath powers, but it does seem to draw influences from Rodan's volcanic origins and fiery nature.

During their 2nd fight, the military unleashes a powerful new weapon called the Oxygen Destroyer in an attempt to defeat Godzilla and Male monarch Ghidorah. Information technology doesn't work, merely the name should bring chills to any longtime Godzilla fan. In the kickoff moving picture, the Oxygen Destroyer was the name of a horribly powerful weapon invented by Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (whom Ken Watanabe'southward Ishiro Serizawa is named later on). The weapon killed Godzilla when nothing else could, simply Serizawa was and then upset about his creation, and so worried that it might be used for greater destruction, that he let himself die while deploying it. That manner, it could never exist used over again. It was all very grave and solemn, kind of a sharp dissimilarity to the casual way it was deployed in King of the Monsters.

Before the Oxygen Destroyer breaks upwardly the fight, Godzilla is able to sever one of Ghidorah'south three heads. Godzilla also decapitates Ghidorah in 1991'south Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, simply in that example he severed the kaiju's eye head. Ghidorah was resurrected equally Mecha-King Ghidorah in that film, whereas in King of the Monsters Ghidorah simply regenerates the missing head. However, the post-credits scene suggests a similar cybernetic fate might be in shop …

When Mothra emerges from her cocoon, we learn that Zhang Ziyi'southward character, Dr. Ilene Chen, has a twin sister, Dr. Ling, who watches when Mothra spreads her wings. Twins are a big deal in the Mothra mythos, as the kaiju has traditionally been accompanied by the Shobijin, two tiny twin fairies who speak for her. It doesn't seem similar Dr. Chen is meant to be a fairy, but the fact that she and her sis are the latest in a line of three generations of twins who have a deep connexion to Mothra is a pretty big Easter egg.

A shot of a barely visible Mothra. Photo: Warner Bros.

I of the pictures nosotros see of Dr. Chen'south family lists their location every bit "Infant Island," where Mothra and the Shobijin lived in their first advent in 1961.

After taking a submarine into the depths of the ocean with the hope of strengthening Godzilla with a nuclear explosion (itself a plot point that occurred in 1991'south Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah), our heroes find themselves in an ancient sunken city that Godzilla calls home. Underwater civilizations have appeared in Toho movies before, similar in 1963'southward Atragon, which involves the Atlantis-like lost continent of Mu, and 1973's Godzilla vs. Megalon, the goofiest moving-picture show in the whole franchise, which features villains from "Seatopia."

Echoing the ending of the original film, Dr. Serizawa sacrifices himself, though the circumstances couldn't be more unlike. Godzilla's Daisuke Serizawa kills himself to defeat Godzilla and prevent his powerful weapon from ever being used, while Rex of the Monsters'south Ishiro Serizawa dies saving Godzilla, using a powerful weapon to make him stronger.

Before he dies, Serizawa looks at his stopped pocket scout, which we know from the 2014 Godzilla survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Kinda weird that an icon of the horror of nuclear weapons is looked at fondly while some other flop blowing upward saves the day, simply whatsoever!

Subsequently Serizawa'south death, Dr. Sam Coleman (Thomas Middleditch), says his iconic and much-memed line from the 2014 movie, a little wink at how popular "Permit Them Fight" became in the existent world.

After Serizawa'south nuke fires him upwardly, Godzilla is just bursting with radioactive energy — perhaps too much energy, really. Godzilla is headed toward a thermonuclear explosion, and he starts glowing red. Longtime Godzilla fans will recognize "Burning Godzilla," a version of the kaiju that appeared in 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. Godzilla was headed toward a meltdown in that moving picture, and while it fabricated him super-powerful, it as well probably would've rendered the world uninhabitable had Godzilla been immune to blow. The adventure of nuclear death is downplayed in Male monarch of the Monsters.

Mothra has allied herself with Godzilla several times in the history of the franchise (when Godzilla is a skilful guy, that is. When he's evil, Mothra typically opposes him). The same holds true in King of the Monsters, where Mothra ultimately sacrifices herself to give Godzilla her ability.

Like things take happened in past movies, but not quite like this. In 2001'due south Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Assault, Mothra gives upward her life force to ability up not Godzilla but Ghidorah. In an unusual twist, Ghidorah was a good guy in this movie, while Godzilla was evil. In 1993'south Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, Rodan sacrifices itself to give Godzilla the power to defeat Mechagodzilla. And so, What happens in Male monarch of the Monsters is a fun remix of things nosotros've seen before.

Right later Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) says, "Long live the rex," in that location'south a very cursory shot of Godzilla stepping on an entrance to Boston'due south Franklin Park Zoo. At that place'southward a film of a lion on the gatehouse, the implication being that the King of the Monsters is mode tougher than the Rex of the Jungle. Accept that, Disney's Lion King remake.

Ghidorah before he lost one of his heads. Photo: Warner Bros.

The terminate credits are total of picayune hints of what's next for the MonsterVerse, too as possible allusions to Godzilla history. One news headline that flashes on the screen reveals that Rodan has taken upwardly residence in a volcano near Mount Fuji. This brings Rodan dorsum home to where he first appeared, though Mount Aso is on a totally different island than Fuji.

In that location'due south mention of some other Mothra egg, suggesting that Mothra volition be reborn. This happens quite a bit in the movies.

Some Godzilla fans recollect at that place's a reference to Manda, a Chinese dragonlike kaiju who first appeared in 1963'south Atragon, later making minor appearances in 1968's Destroy All Monsters and 2004's Godzilla: Last Wars. It'southward a stretch, given that Manda is a very modest kaiju, and the serpentlike creature we see the briefest glimpse of could exist anything. Information technology almost certainly isn't really Manda, since Legendary would've needed to get the official rights from Toho.

Some headlines reveal that there'due south a mass kaiju migration toward Skull Island, where Kong lives. If Kong is another "Blastoff" kaiju, like Godzilla and King Ghidorah, this might be what sparks the 2 titans' battle in adjacent year'south Godzilla vs. King Kong.

One of the bylines on a news article reads "Steve Martin," but it's not Steve Martin the comedy legend. Instead, it's a very subtle reference to the character Raymond Burr played in the American reedit of the original Godzilla, which was as well subtitled Rex of the Monsters. Burr played an American journalist who was visiting Tokyo when Godzilla attacked, and he reprised the role in the American reedit of Godzilla Returns, which was titled Godzilla 1985 in the U.Southward. In that moving-picture show, though, the character was only ever referred to equally "Steve" or "Mr. Martin," considering by that fourth dimension, Steve Martin the comedian had get quite famous.

The terminate credits are set to comprehend of Blue Öyster Cult's 1997 song "Godzilla," which isn't at all that subtle, but it does rock.

The end credits cheekily note that the four main monsters were all played by "themselves." This is kinda funny, because kaiju in the Japanese films were famously played by men or women wearing suits, while Rex of the Monsters's beasts were CGI. Still, even in this flick, the monsters were technically played by people. Three different actors provided the motion-capture for King Ghidorah's three heads, for instance.

The credits really include a touching remembrance of Haruo Nakajima, the thespian who played Godzilla in the original 1954 film and 11 subsequent movies. Nakajima died in 2017. In that location'south also an "In Memoriam" to Yoshimitsu Banno, who also died in 2017 and directed and co-wrote 1971'due south Godzilla vs. Hedorah, i of the near bizarre Godzilla movies, which went on to get a cult archetype. Banno was a co–executive producer on Legendary's 2014 Godzilla.

The mail-credits scene returns to Isla de Mara, where Rodan emerged from a volcano and Godzilla and Male monarch Ghidorah had their 2d battle. Alan Jonah (Charles Dance) appears and agrees to buy the severed King Ghidorah caput that Godzilla ripped off during their earlier see.

Clearly, this is a setup for the side by side pic, just what kind of setup? Some Godzilla fans speculate that he'll build some sort of Mecha-King Ghidorah, every bit seen in the 1991 picture. He would have to build a lot more than cybernetic parts, though, equally Mecha-King Ghidorah had a robotic replacement head, not a whole body.

Other theories advise that the lingering effects of the Oxygen Destroyer might come into play, as the weapon's after-effects created Destroyah in 1995's Godzilla vs. Destroyah. The most intriguing possibility, though, is that the severed head volition be used to create Bagan, a kaiju who was almost the villain in a bunch of different Godzilla or Mothra movies merely ultimately ended up on the cut-room floor. Bagan's simply major appearance was every bit the final boss of the SNES video game Super Godzilla, where he appeared equally an ancient Chinese monster that had been strengthened by the alien infusion of Godzilla and Male monarch Ghidorah's cells. Hmm …

Godzilla: Rex of the Monsters Post-Credits Scene, Explained