A big, sentimental, old-school adventure epic with spectacular creature work, strong emotional beats, and enough monster-movie mayhem to justify its huge runtime for fans of maximalist blockbusters.
52% ★★★☆☆ (922,795)
King Kong
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Drama · PG-13
2005 · 3h 8m · ★ 52% (922.8K)
The eighth wonder of the world.
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black
Overview
In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with the leading lady.
Director
Peter Jackson
Production
Universal Pictures, WingNut Films, Big Primate Pictures, MFPV Film
Cast
Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black, Andy Serkis, Colin Hanks, Thomas Kretschmann, Jamie Bell, Kyle Chandler, Evan Parke, Lobo Chan, John Sumner, Craig Hall, Peter McKenzie, William Johnson, David Pittu, Mark Hadlow, Geraldine Brophy, David Dennis, Pip Mushin, Jim Knobeloch
Curator Review
Verdict
A big, sentimental, old-school adventure epic with spectacular creature work, strong emotional beats, and enough monster-movie mayhem to justify its huge runtime for fans of maximalist blockbusters.
Best for
Viewers who like sweeping adventure romances
Fans of large-scale practical/CG creature effects
People who enjoy melancholy monster stories
Audiences open to long, indulgent studio epics
Skip if
You want a tight runtime with no digressions
You dislike melodrama or earnest romance
You prefer subtle, restrained action films
You have little patience for extended spectacle sequences
Overview
Peter Jackson turns a familiar myth into a lavish, bruised, and deeply sincere adventure. The movie is at its best when it balances wonder and dread: Kong’s introduction, the Skull Island set pieces, and the quieter moments between beast and heroine all feel huge in scale but surprisingly tender in feeling.
Worth noting
It is also unapologetically excessive. The runtime is long, the detours are plentiful, and Jackson clearly wants to savor every creature attack, every period detail, and every emotional swell. For some viewers that bloat will be part of the charm; for others it will feel like the movie is constantly trying to outgrow itself.
Bottom line
What makes it endure is the craftsmanship. The visual effects, production design, and sense of movement are still impressive, and the film has a rare old-fashioned blockbuster sincerity that gives it a distinct identity. It is a monster movie, a romance, and a tragedy all at once, and that combination is what makes it memorable.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Karsten (3.5★) · 3012 likes
monkey mondays #52 hits pretty hard as the final film of a yearlong monkey movie challenge. very happy and a little sad to wrap up one of the dumbest things i’ve ever committed to
mia lee vicino (3.5★) · 1876 likes
naomi watts: bitch, it’s king kong king kong: yes, i’m king kong adrien brody: this is king kong? jack black: yes, miss king kong!! kyle chandler: and i’m kyle chandler :)
Josh Lewis (4★) · 1216 likes
Perfect merging of Jackson's love of 30s adventure romances & monster movies, the technological advances of Spielberg and Cameron, and the nasty genre movie playfulness he got growing up on Romero and Raimi. Has to be one the most beautiful, sentimental, and old-fashioned blockbusters (me every time there's a close-up on the big monke's eyes 🥺) that also happens to feature this many crushed skulls, decapitations, and a man getting viscously eaten alive by a giant worm. Still kinda crazy to me that the man who made Bad Taste and Braindead was ever trusted with this much money.