King Kong

PG

Released Dec 17, 1976

2 hr. 14 min.

Adventure

Fantasy

List

54%

50 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Rich A

Jessica as Fay classic waterfall scene needs to be seen Jeff Bridges classic performance! I call this squirrel Kong must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

Ethan G

The 1976 remake of "King Kong" is the original redone but without the necessary ingredients which made the 1933 classic a classic in the first place.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

Full Review

Steve M

Respectful remake with modern(70's) touches. Kong remains sympathetic and Rick Baker did a great job as the king.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

RobHorror240

This is the greatest movie (say it with me now) OF ALL TIME! I love the visual effects, and the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Zinjx W

The best King film, according to my taste, the effects are a bit primitive, but I think it's better than the old and the new ones. John Barry's music is just perfect

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

NiB Y

Extremely underrated movie, Kong is the scariest he has ever been, and just realistic in general, with the whole dark and gothic ambience and atmosphere in this version of Skull Island, plus King Kong's suit is very well made; The whole sequence of him rampaging through New York is impressive and really adds more to King Kong's brutal personality in this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/24

Full Review

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John Guillermin

Director

Jeff Bridges

Jack Prescott

Jessica Lange

Dwan

Charles Grodin

Fred Wilson

John Randolph

Captain Ross

Rene Auberjonois

Bagley

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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

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Pauline Kael

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

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

The special effects are marvelous, the good-humored script is comic-bookish without being excessively campy, and there are two excellent performances

Mar 14, 2017

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

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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
Executive Producer: Christian Ferry, Federico 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

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