If Godzilla (2014) is successful.....

@Ratedrex

I don't know what being a 20 year marketing executive for a major movie studio has to do with classifying the genres of "blank vs. blank" movies, but as a current marketing executive, I can say it doesn't take being in that position to point out that you're splitting hairs.

You continue saying that the monster vs. monster template has never done well, but refuse to acknowledge King Kong vs. Godzilla was not only the most highly attended Godzilla movie in history, but one of the most highly attended international films of 1963. The Godzilla franchise thrived overseas throughout the 1960s and it wasn't until late 60s/70s it pittered off the grid due to leaps in effects with films like 1968's 2001: A Space Odessey.

Now if you wish to revise your position and claim that monster vs. monster films have not been successful since [blank] that would be more believable and true. But like or not Freddy vs. Jason and Alien vs. Predator (not Predator vs. Alien) are considered monster bounts and are typically lumped in the same category as movies like King Kong vs. Godzilla, Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman...etc...etc... Monster vs. monster does not mean "giant creature vs. giant creature". You might want to revise that as well if you mean otherwise.

Meanwhile, Godzilla 1985 got 40% less attendance than Godzilla 2000. That's a 15 year gap and an obvious rise in appreciation for the Japanese franchise even though the latter had a monster vs. monster rumble in it.

GINO made chump change in profit in 1998 and in a very smart ploy to avoid everything that movie did the Legendary film is adding what it lacked: A monster battle.

Man vs. monster may or may not be a more compelling template, but there is absolutely zero proof the the "majority public" want to see it.

@GMAN2887

"King Kong vs Godzilla" made $1.25 million dollars.  Considering inflation, that would be about $10 million in today's market.  Ten million in today's market would be considered a flop. 

I hope Godzilla 2014 does record box-office.  But I'm afraid that the monster vs monster thing, if overdone, will turn some moviegoers off.  I hope I'm wrong

BTW, I'm still in marketing.  I do it now for my own business.

Fuck all you guys! You guys are nothing but nay Sayers and realist. Grow some balls and hope! Godzilla will do good! It will make a shit load of money and be noticed! Their has been only 4 fucking movies shown in the us! And most were by or made by toho using suits! This godzilla is something great! And people keep doubting it! I'm sick of it! I'm going to see this film as a step toward some thing new! You can't compare it to horor films! Cause it's a monster movie! It's going to take off like a rocket this movie will! So watch out! And stop your wining and bitching I'm out!

@RatedRex In general, this is more of a three-way between Humanity, the Mutos, and Godzilla. Audiences got a taste of mech-vs-monster action with Pacific Rim, and it satisfied, but was only half of why people like daikaiju films. The other is the struggle of humans against giant monsters in general, whether or not they're fighting each other. No matter what, you can never make humans win without it not making logical sense in the perspective of the movie logic.

It's not a question of making it monster-vs-monster exclusively with a few humans thrown in. The movie is about humans thrown into the mash-up between forces they can't control, but still heavily involved when they shouldn't be. If it were a stand-alone Godzilla flick with no other adversaries of equal power, it'd be a pretty bad Godzilla movie to start off since it's been established that humans can't do a damn thing.

Basically, if you don't have really powerful superweapons or other equally powerful independent forces like other monsters, it's just humans losing to Godzilla without him having any challenge for him to struggle through as well as the characters, or the character being ruined by "realistic damage logistics" like the 1998 film. It's Godzilla. If he's not fighitng something worthy of a challenge, it's not really gonna work either way.

"Ooh Zaffzilla, what horrible language" (from the twins in "Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster"). 

Hey man, lighten up.  Its just conversation.  Don't take it personal.  Nobody's doubting Godzilla.  I said that it will gross $800-$1 billion.  How is that doubting it?  In a couple of weeks we all will be telling happy stories about how great the movie was.  Even my 82 year-old-old father is going to go with me to see it.

Aliens vs Predator films was not well-received by the fans and critics. Neither the first one or the second one. Sure, the concept could have worked with a more talented director (Paul Anderson is lousy director in my opinion, he should stick to his Resident Evil genres). But thanks to how they ruined it, I don't think we'll see a AVP film in a long while, a decent one anyway.

Godzilla vs KingKong worked not because it was a cross-over but because the story had appeal.

You can just automatically say "cross-over" and expect the film to work.

Aliens vs Predator films was not well-received by the fans and critics. Neither the first one or the second one. Sure, the concept could have worked with a more talented director (Paul Anderson is lousy director in my opinion, he should stick to his Resident Evil genres). But thanks to how they ruined it, I don't think we'll see a AVP film in a long while, a decent one anyway.

Godzilla vs KingKong worked not because it was a cross-over but because the story had appeal.

You can't just automatically say "cross-over" and expect the film to work.

@RatedRex

Sorry to say this, but you seem to be crapping when you say: "King Kong vs Godzilla" made $1.25 million dollars.  Considering inflation, that would be about $10 million in today's market.  Ten million in today's market would be considered a flop. "

No offence, but are you sure ur a marketing person or even marketing for a movie production studio in the first place? Or are you just inflating yourself to appear more credible in your argument? cos if u are then perhaps you did badly doing marketing for other companies and ended up working for yourself? 

As far as movie production budgets versus box office takings are concerned, in order for a movie to be considered a commercial success today, it would have to at least generate twice the amount of money spent on producing and marketing the movie. 

If you haven't realized, King Kong vs Godzilla was produced in Japan at a budget of 5 Million Yen and its box-office takings in Japan was 350 Million Yen, which is 70 times over the budget. It was then produced in an English version which was distributed by Universal at the cost of $200,000 in America, where it earned $1.25 million dollars (6.25 times over the budget). So since when is King Kong vs Godzilla a flop ? So please get your facts right Mr Marketing Guy. 

And as for a different take in terms of marketing the trailers to the Asian region, you do realize that American audiences and Asians have different tastes? While Pacific Rim generated slightly over $110 million in the States, Asians pretty much favoured the movie which pushed the box-office takings for Pacific Rim well past $400 million. This is an indication that Asians are indeed warming up to the idea of monsters battling each other despite being unfamiliar with the characters in Pacific Rim.

And when Legendary takes Godzilla (a household name in the league of monsters) and does a marketing push for the movie, you can be sure they are going to concentrate more resources to the region because Asia is going to be the key to ensuring a huge box-office success for Godzilla 2014. 

Never mind what you think whether its Godzilla vs Man or Godzilla vs any other monster that's going to make a difference in the box-office earnings. The Asians love such monster movies. Period. And that's the region that would make or break Godzilla, forget the States. 

@Ratedrex and @Destroyah-X

King Kong vs. Godzilla made more than $1.25 million. The $1.25 million number is the result for the movie's theater rentals, not gross.

@Zaffzilla

This is the second time you've flown off the rails and used offensive language because you can't handle someone's differing opinion. If you do it again the consequences will be unpleasant. I promise. Play nice or you won't be playing at all. Capiche?

@Destroyah-X

Boy o boy, I must have really hit some nerves.  I didn't mean to upset you and Zaffzilla.  All I was doing was giving you my opinion on why I didn't think that there would be any cross-over, or sequels any time soon.  But I could be wrong.  If the Transformer movies can make $800 million, then, in theory, KK v G could do the same, if not better.  The problem is: it would be hard to come up with a script for KK v G that wouldn't morph into camp.  Would the public be ok with a campy KK v G?  That a chance the studios may not want to take, especially since it would cost around $200 million to make (break even for a $200 million dollar movie is about $400 million due to various reason).  I will say this:  If Godzilla 2014 does kick-ass numbers, then the idea of a KK v G remake (or any kind of sequel) is definitely enhanced.