King Kong

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King Kong

Released Mar 2, 1933

1h 40m

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

116 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and director Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) travel to the Indian Ocean to do location shoots for Denham's new jungle picture. Along the way, the actress meets and falls for rugged First Mate John Driscoll (Bruce Cabot). Upon arriving at a mysterious island, Ann is taken hostage by natives who prepare her as a sacrifice to the enormous ape Kong who rules over their jungle. But when Ann is rescued and Kong is captured, the real trouble begins.

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Critics Consensus

King Kong explores the soul of a monster -- making audiences scream and cry throughout the film -- in large part due to Kong's breakthrough special effects.

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

King Kong is one of the most original, thrilling and mammoth novelties to emerge from a movie studio. A great show! But don't take nervous children to see it.

Nov 10, 2022

Full Review

Len G. Shaw

Detroit Free Press

Trickery? Nothing else, of course. But it is so ingenious, and on such a stupendous scale as the studios seldom if ever before yielded. It doesn't matter how the "shots" were made. You will be too busy wondering what is to happen next to Fay Wray.

Nov 10, 2022

Full Review

Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

This is a great circus show. And it outdoes circuses, because it has its own menagerie. The kind that a paleontologist would rave about, and the sort that will make you believe that the screen has grown up overnight scientifically.

Nov 10, 2022

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

King Kong might seem dated because of the 1930s visual effects but the pioneering effects are a primary reason why this film is a classic and still discussed today.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 6, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

In the days of modern special effects, the stop-motion giant gorilla Kong may not be realistic to contemporary eyes, but he is a fully realized character in his own right, brought to life with personality and passion.

Aug 19, 2023

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Zita Short

InSession Film

At its core, this is about the fragile, complicated relationship between King Kong, a giant ape living on Skull Island, and Ann Darrow...

Feb 2, 2023

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Eric B

Films such as this, when watching it today you must put yourself in the time that it was made. This was a perfect film in 1933 and changed the film industry forever. As long as you are able to put yourself into a 1930’s mindset, this film still stands up today, and forever will. King Kong is a cult classic that has spawned so many classic monster flicks. If you’re a Monster fan, and you can appreciate old films, this is a must see. King Kong is incredible. The dinosaurs and other monsters are incredible. The human characters are fine, they play the role they’re meant to. This is a perfect 10/10 film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Kenny A

An American classic in its purest form! No one can escape the cultural phenomenon that is King Kong!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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E K

Without this film, cinema would never exist the way it is right now. Especially for the time period it was in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Kim H

A classic, which need no introduction at all. Everyone knows King Kong.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 2/3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

David F

Pioneering special effects, a great desert island plot, and an early appearance of The Empire State Building in film, this old black and white film has it all.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

Full Review

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Merian C. Cooper

Director

Ernest B. Schoedsack

Director

Fay Wray

Ann Darrow

Bruce Cabot

John Driscoll

Robert Armstrong

Carl Denham

Frank Reicher

Captain Englehorn

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King Kong: Trailer 1

1:31

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Synopsis

Actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and director Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) travel to the Indian Ocean to do location shoots for Denham's new jungle picture. Along the way, the actress meets and falls for rugged First Mate John Driscoll (Bruce Cabot). Upon arriving at a mysterious island, Ann is taken hostage by natives who prepare her as a sacrifice to the enormous ape Kong who rules over their jungle. But when Ann is rescued and Kong is captured, the real trouble begins.

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Producer: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Screenwriter: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 1933, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 28, 2008
Runtime: 1h 40m

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