HBO's Colossal Monster Movie Is a Streaming Sensation as TV Spin-Off Dominates Apple TV

1 week ago 15

Published Feb 17, 2026, 3:24 PM EST

Lade Omotade is a News and Feature Author at Collider with a passion for exploring the ever-evolving world of the Film & TV industry. Her work centers on covering the latest news, from casting announcements and franchise scoops to streaming updates and behind-the-scenes shifts that shape the way stories are told.

Omotade approaches storytelling with both professional insight and unapologetic fandom; digging into what makes a franchise successful, spotlighting rising voices in Hollywood, and asking the questions fans are already buzzing about. Her writing reflects that mix: part industry analysis, part fan excitement, and always grounded in a love for the craft of storytelling.

Over the past few weeks, a couple of science fiction sequels have been garnering attention on multiple streamers globally, and that won’t be stopping anytime soon. Speaking of which, another sci-fi sequel has been revived on streaming platforms almost two years after its theatrical debut, despite being a critical flop. As part of a major sci-fi franchise, the film was released in March 2024 to commercial success and already has a follow-up scheduled for 2027, which is now in production.

In anticipation of its supercharged sequel, audiences appear to be flocking to this phenomenal monster movie, the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise. Titled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, it is the sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, the 38th film of the Godzilla franchise, as well as the 13th in the King Kong franchise. For the past two days and counting, the sci-fi favorite has been silently trending on HBO Max in the US via Amazon channels as part of the ten most-watched titles. Additionally, it is gaining traction on the Apple TV store in Latvia and Zimbabwe. Speaking of Apple TV, the timing is fortuitous as the smash-hit MonsterVerse spin-off series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, is continuing a strong streaming run on the platform ahead of its Season 2 debut.

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' Was A Box Office Hit

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen, with Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprising their roles from the previous film. Upon its release, it received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, with many comparing it unfavorably to the near-perfect Godzilla Minus One, which had been released several months earlier. It also holds a disappointing 54% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while its Popcornmeter rating is an impressive 89%, as viewers clearly couldn’t get enough of the monster gem.

Still, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’s critical misfire didn’t stop it from being a box office hit as it grossed $572.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $135–150 million, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2024. The sci-fi hit also became the highest-grossing film in the MonsterVerse and in the Godzilla and King Kong franchises, a streak that continues with another sequel, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, planned for March 26, 2027. Supernova stars Kaitlyn Dever, Dan Stevens, Jack O'Connell, Matthew Modine, Delroy Lindo, Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Sam Neill.