King Kong

Play trailer

King Kong

PG

Released Dec 17, 1976

2h 14m

Adventure

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When a research ship is sent to explore an island thought to be rich in oil, paleontologist Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) sneaks aboard, having heard strange rumors about the island. En route, the crew rescues Dwan (Jessica Lange), the sole survivor of a shipwreck. When they arrive, they find native people living in fear of a monster called Kong. The natives kidnap Dwan and sacrifice her to what turns out to be an enormous ape. Dwan is eventually rescued, and the ape captured for a gala exhibit.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

King Kong represents a significant visual upgrade over the original, but falls short of its classic predecessor in virtually every other respect.

Read Critics Reviews

Rocco T. Thompson

Slant Magazine

The Dino De Laurentiis-produced remake of King Kong is a beautifully aged 1970s gem, uniting old-fashioned spectacle and contemporary concerns.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 17, 2024

Full Review

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

It's a romantic adventure fantasy -- colossal, silly, touching, a marvelous classics-comics movie.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Kong is attacked with flame throwers and military helicopters, evoking Vietnam War imagery that had been playing out on America’s small screens till its end in 1975 – and that had divided audiences in their sympathies for ‘our side’ and ‘the Other’.

Dec 13, 2022

Full Review

Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

The funny thing is, the love story works! What isn't funny is that all the horror has gone out of it; to make Kong lovable, they've made him too human, the most three-dimensional character in the story.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an excessively erratic blockbuster...

Rated: 2/4

Jul 24, 2022

Full Review

David Reddish

Queerty

Lange shouting Good monkey and Chauvinist ape will have viewers in stitches.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 13, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

anders j

While visually/technically more impressive than the 1933 original, this film falls short in most other places. Easily a half hour too long; many scenes feel slow, bogged down and out of place. A somber but at times thoughtful remake take that lacks the fun of the original adventure.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

Full Review

Justin T

It is a remake but they have refined and improved every aspect so, in my opinion, much better than the original. It really is beautifully made although some themes and language have dated badly. This is almost certainly my favourite Kong movie. My only big complaint is that they could have taken 20 minutes out, mostly from the boat journey there and back which offered very little interest. Much as I love it there are some silly moments like when Kong finds them in the bar which was way too coincidental and a bit predictable. There are some truly excellent scenes and it all looks amazing, my favourite bit of the whole movie was the subway train. Well worth watching for kaiju lovers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

Laura B

One of the worst remakes of all time. While the music and effects are actually pretty decent, the acting, story, and ending are all screwed up.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

This Old G

The movie has its moments. Some great ones and some laughable ones. The campiness doesn't help.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

Full Review

Pamela A

I was young 18, first time I saw this, remember Liking until sad end! Watched again, for 1970’s this was well made, didn’t like Grodin, bad acting, Jessica Lange beautiful, for first film I thought she was A+, don’t Understand Negative reviews. Jeff Bridges also A+, handsome even with Beard (Not a Beard Fan)! The movie is so heartbreaking/sad can’t watch some. Had to keep telling myself it’s not a real animal, his face eyes looked alive. In reality man is stupid and would do exactly what they did to him. I like that the movie is clean enough for older children. Jeff Bridges/Jack Character is a Gentleman. If you can live with some of the stupid dialogue, and the sadness, I would recommend. Jessica is WOW ps how did her hair get CURLS LOL

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

Full Review

Rob A

I'm sorry, but I liked it. Charles Grodin is hilarious, Jessica Lange is gorgeous and a young Jeff Bridges stirs the pot. An upright walking Kong gets trapped atop the World Trade Center in this version. I used to own the VCR tape and would pop it in late at night; campy fun from back in the day.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Guillermin

Director

Jeff Bridges

Jack Prescott

Jessica Lange

Dwan

Charles Grodin

Fred Wilson

John Randolph

Captain Ross

Rene Auberjonois

Bagley

King Kong: Official Clip - Don't Kill Him!

2:04

King Kong: Official Clip - An Escape-Proof Cage

2:13

King Kong: Official Clip - The Ape Had the Right Idea

1:14

King Kong: Official Clip - Trapping the Beast

2:12

King Kong: Official Clip - A Violent Encounter

2:13

King Kong: Official Clip - Snake vs. Kong

1:24

King Kong: Official Clip - Showering Dwan

1:59

King Kong: Official Clip - An Offering

2:11

King Kong: Official Clip - Put Me Down!

2:13

View more videos

Dragonslayer

84%

63%

Dragonslayer

Watchlist

Hercules

22%

27%

Hercules

Watchlist

Krull

35%

52%

Krull

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Krull

The BeastMaster

50%

54%

The BeastMaster

Watchlist

At the Earth's Core

33%

33%

At the Earth's Core

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Character Face-Off: The Best Version of 15 Mega Popular Movie and TV Characters

Exclusive: Oscar Nominee Jeff Bridges on Crazy Heart – The RT Interview

Jet Li Named in "Fearless" Lawsuit

View more photos

Synopsis

When a research ship is sent to explore an island thought to be rich in oil, paleontologist Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) sneaks aboard, having heard strange rumors about the island. En route, the crew rescues Dwan (Jessica Lange), the sole survivor of a shipwreck. When they arrive, they find native people living in fear of a monster called Kong. The natives kidnap Dwan and sacrifice her to what turns out to be an enormous ape. Dwan is eventually rescued, and the ape captured for a gala exhibit.

Director: John Guillermin
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, De Laurentiis
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 20, 2007
Runtime: 2h 14m

Most Popular at Home Now