2024’s Best Kaiju Movie Was Not Godzilla x Kong And Desperately Needs A Sequel

The Netflix movie sometimes has a similar tone to Son of Godzilla, as the reluctant Ken Sato a.k.a. Ultraman finds himself in charge of a mischievous baby kaiju. The Ultraman franchise has fans of all ages and Ultraman: Rising is a great pick for younger fans. That said, Ultraman: Rising is still the kind of movie that people of all ages can watch and enjoy, with some rave reviews even claiming that Ultraman: Rising does better than the Monsterverse in terms of human characters. While the animated film references the extensive Ultraman franchise, it also works as a standalone film for new viewers.

Netflix's Ultraman: Rising Was A Very Fun Movie Not Only For Ultraman Fans

Ultraman: Rising Works For Everyone

Ultraman: Rising puts a modern superhero spin on a familiar storyline that has been popular for decades, in which a reluctant person finds themselves responsible for a baby or animal. In this case, Ken Sato becomes an accidental parent to a cute and mischievous bird-like kaiju who goes on some mini-rampages around Tokyo. This story can appeal to audiences of all kinds, including people unfamiliar with the Ultraman franchise. The movie's fun scenes, comedy moments, and happy ending make it perfect for a sequel, and a mid-credits scene suggests this is in the cards.

One of the big mysteries in Ultraman: Rising is what happened to Ken Sato's mother, Emiko, who has recently gone missing. Ken was contending with his mixed feelings about being Ultraman and his concern for Emiko, but while he came to terms with his role as Ultraman by the end of the movie, Emiko had not reappeared. However, a mid-credits scene solved the mystery, showing Emiko calling Ken from Ultraman's home planet, where she is trapped. This Ultraman: Rising mid-credits cliffhanger perfectly sets up a sequel, with a potential trip to the famous Ultraman location Nebula M78.

Ultraman: Rising Not Getting A Sequel Would Be A Shame For How Good It Was

The Director Of Ultraman: Rising Has Already Mapped Out A Sequel

Ultraman: Rising has attracted excellent reviews and has a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 86% critics rating. The movie dealt with themes like legacy, family, and responsibility while being extremely fun to watch. It feels like Ultraman: Rising needs a sequel after the mid-credits cliffhanger scene. Ultraman: Rising 2 could have Emiko playing a greater role, Ken settling into his role as Ultraman, and even a new kaiju to wreak havoc and mischief. A sequel could also continue to explore the themes in Ultraman: Rising in an exciting new setting.

One of the Ultraman: Rising directors, Shannon Tindle, revealed that a sequel had already been mapped out. To Comic Book, Tindle revealed he had given the sequel the working title "Ultraman: Fallen." He also indicated it would focus on Emiko and tackle some tough topics. While he did not confirm what the tough topics could be, it is possible that the movie could contain a theme of independence and fear, if Ken sets off alone on a rescue mission. Ultraman: Fallen has yet to be confirmed, but Ultraman: Rising deserves a sequel.

Source: Comic Book