Apple Celebrates 50 Years of Drone Shows with Godzilla Spectacle

The tech giant partners with Legendary to create a record-breaking aerial display for the new season of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters".

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Apple and Legendary Entertainment collaborated on a drone light show in Los Angeles to promote the second season of the Apple TV series "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". The display featured 3,000 drones forming various iconic movie monsters, including Godzilla, which set a new Guinness World Record for the "Tallest aerial display of a fictional character formed by multirotors/drones" at 457 feet, 8.126 inches.

Why it matters

The drone show highlights Apple's continued investment in immersive experiences and partnerships with major entertainment franchises to drive viewership for its streaming platform. It also showcases the company's technical capabilities in large-scale aerial displays, which could have applications beyond entertainment.

The details

The 12-minute drone show took place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with the drones flying as high as 500 feet to create the various monster silhouettes. This was the latest in a series of record-breaking drone displays commissioned by Apple, which has been exploring the technology as a way to create unique brand experiences.

  • The drone show was held on February 20, 2026 to promote the second season of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters".
  • Apple and Legendary have been collaborating on the "Monarch" series since the first season premiered on Apple TV in 2024.

The players

Apple

The tech giant that commissioned the drone show as part of its partnership with Legendary Entertainment to promote the "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" series on Apple TV.

Legendary Entertainment

The production company behind the "Monarch" series, which collaborated with Apple on the drone show featuring iconic movie monsters like Godzilla.

Godzilla

The famous Japanese movie monster that was featured prominently in the record-breaking drone display, with the drones forming a 457-foot tall silhouette of the iconic kaiju.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in the world of drone shows, especially with the way the technology has evolved over the years.”

— Gordon Yates, Drone Show Producer (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

Apple and Legendary are expected to continue their partnership on the "Monarch" series, with potential for more immersive brand experiences like the record-breaking drone show to promote future seasons.

The takeaway

Apple's investment in large-scale drone displays showcases the company's technical prowess and commitment to creating unique brand experiences. The Godzilla drone show not only set a new world record, but also highlighted Apple's ability to leverage partnerships with major entertainment franchises to drive engagement with its streaming platform.