Pacific Rim (2013)

In 2013, legions of monstrous creatures from another universe known as Kaiju rise from the seas, when a wormhole to another dimension labelled as "The Breach" opened at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. As the human race fought their advances, the races of the planet form a resistance and become involved in an all-out war. To thwart the monsters' advances, mankind built giant robots named Jaegers, equipped with the technology and weaponry to fight back. Controlled by two pilots linked together via a neural connection to the machines, the human forces have attempted to regain control of the planet called the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. Under the direction of a Jaeger pilot-turned Lead of the combined military named Marshal Stacker Pentecost, the Earth's civilizations withhold complete extinction.

In 2020, years after their initial attack, brothers Yancy and Raleigh Beckett co-pilot a Jaeger to defend Anchorage Alaska from the attack of a powerful Kaiju codenamed "Knifehead". During the battle the creature kills Yancy, while Raleigh takes sole control of the machine and ultimately defeats the monster. Traumatized from the experience and saddened at the passing of his older brother, Raleigh quits the Jaeger program. Now in 2025, humanity is on the verge of defeat. In one last stand against the Kaiju, the future of the human race rests in the hands of Raleigh, and an untested trainee named Mako Mori, who must work together after being recruited by Pentecost to pilot an older model Jaeger of a bygone era. Together, the pair must overcome their differences, in a combined effort close "The Breach" and stop the advances to save the planet.^[7][8][9]

Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)

In 2035, ten years after the Battle of the Breach successfully closed the portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean through which an alien race called the Precursors sent beasts from another dimension to conquer the planet, Jake Pentecost makes a career out of stealing and selling parts of the old Jaeger machines on the Black Market. The once-promising pilot, whose heroic father gave his life to secure the victory against the gigantic Kaiju, abandoned his training only to become involved in the criminal underworld. Despite his efforts to turn away from his upbringing, Pentecost soon finds that he is pulled back into his military position when a new and unstoppable threat begins to rip through cities. With civilization again threatened on the brink of complete obliteration, he seeks to mend broken relationships and reunites with his adoptive sister Mako Mori. Together with the combined forces of the human race, Jake must rise to the occasion and live up to his legendary father's legacy.^[10][11][12]

Future

In October 2017, DeKnight stated that the plot to a third movie had been written, though its development is dependent on the critical and financial success of Pacific Rim Uprising. The filmmaker stated that plans include expanding the fictional universe into sequels and spin-offs directly tied to previous installments, as well as standalone releases as well; comparing plans to Star Wars and Star Trek.^[6] DeKnight later talked about his interest in having the franchise crossover with the MonsterVerse.^[13]

Box office and financial performance

Critical and public response