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King Kong

  • 2005
  • PG-13
  • 3h 7m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
459K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,428
388
Andy Serkis and Naomi Watts in King Kong (2005)
A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives.
Play trailer2:56
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Adventure EpicDark RomanceDinosaur AdventureGlobetrotting AdventureJungle AdventurePeriod DramaPsychological DramaTragedyUrban AdventureAction

A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives.A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives.A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives.

  • Director
    • Peter Jackson
  • Writers
    • Fran Walsh
    • Philippa Boyens
    • Peter Jackson
  • Stars
    • Naomi Watts
    • Jack Black
    • Adrien Brody
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    459K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,428
    388
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh
      • Philippa Boyens
      • Peter Jackson
    • Stars
      • Naomi Watts
      • Jack Black
      • Adrien Brody
    • 2.8KUser reviews
    • 250Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 47 wins & 104 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:56
    Official Trailer
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    Clip 1:33
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    Clip 1:33
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    What Roles Was Jack Black Considered For?
    Video 2:37
    What Roles Was Jack Black Considered For?

    Photos365

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    + 359
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Ann Darrow
    Jack Black
    Jack Black
    • Carl Denham
    Adrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    • Jack Driscoll
    Thomas Kretschmann
    Thomas Kretschmann
    • Captain Englehorn
    Colin Hanks
    Colin Hanks
    • Preston
    Andy Serkis
    Andy Serkis
    • Kong…
    Evan Parke
    Evan Parke
    • Hayes
    Jamie Bell
    Jamie Bell
    • Jimmy
    Lobo Chan
    Lobo Chan
    • Choy
    John Sumner
    John Sumner
    • Herb
    Craig Hall
    Craig Hall
    • Mike
    Kyle Chandler
    Kyle Chandler
    • Bruce Baxter
    William Johnson
    • Manny
    Mark Hadlow
    Mark Hadlow
    • Harry
    Geraldine Brophy
    Geraldine Brophy
    • Maude
    David Dennis
    • Taps
    • (as David Denis)
    David Pittu
    David Pittu
    • Weston
    Pip Mushin
    • Zelman
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh
      • Philippa Boyens
      • Peter Jackson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2.8K

    7.2459.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8bossplw

    More Kong Than King

    OK, I haven't seen the 1933 version of King Kong, but this quite impressed me. The beginning is a little slow but and a bit ironic the way things fit together, but many films do this. When they eventually get to Skull Island I was a little bit confused with Kong and the natives, I thought to myself how is a little child suppose to understand this. I must admit I was very impressed on the visual graphics but not with the story line, it was a little stretched out and quite frustrating since the fight scenes were missing a little "kick" to make them more dramatic.

    I don't mean to put people off but pointing out the bad points, all in all I was quite fulfilled when the credits came up and the performance of Jack Black, I am a big fan of his, but I had to re-think if I liked him through the plot since I didn't think he would play a character like that, I must admit he is the person who kept me watching though.

    I gave this film a 8/10 since I enjoy it, its one of those films where is borderline with peoples liking, but personally I recommend it.
    BigHardcoreRed

    Truly A Masterpiece!

    Let me just say that with all of the remakes that have been coming out, King Kong may have been the most deserving and the most in need of being remade. I could not think of a better director for this type of film than Peter Jackson.

    King Kong stays pretty true to the original. Naomi Watts plays Fay Wray's Ann Darrow perfectly. Right down to her emotional connection with Kong, which is helped by the fact that Kong is pretty darn lovable when he is not ripping apart dinosaurs.

    Adrien Brody plays a great Jack Driscoll as well. Brody is truly a gifted actor and plays a good hero.

    Even Jack Black did a good job as the rebellious director Carl Denham. Usually I am annoyed by Black's performances, even though they are mostly in comedies. Surprisingly, Black kept his character serious and the movie is better for it. I though for sure he would be the one to ruin this movie for me but, again, I stand corrected. The comedy seemed to be reserved for Kong, himself, and did a wonderful job.

    I can not express how much more I enjoyed this movie without the "guy in the suit" special effects. Kong was very appealing visually, as well as the other dinosaurs. I do not say this too much in reviews. In fact, I doubt I have ever said it but King Kong has turned out to be a masterpiece which will raise the bar for many years to come. 10/10
    8dennis-maroney

    King Kong 2005

    I was rather sad to see they had cut so many scenes on the DVD that were actually in the movie. The scream on the shore that first caught Kong's attention. The writer stopping the actress in the passage way, and saying "I have something to show you", this was one of many scenes left out. Suddenly they were in his room? My wife had not seen the original movie, she thought the movie was sort of jumpy. You can't deny the special effects, wonderful. I know that they are planning on releasing a 2nd copy within the next 6 months and calling it extra scenes for the director. It's a shame to cut such a fine film for the sake of making more money.
    9MikeWindgren

    A Great Adventure

    I agree, some scenes maybe are a bit too long. But what do you expect from a 3 hour movie? That it is short?

    You know how the duration before you start watching.

    I was thinking give it an eight or a nine. I chose nine. Because overall this still is a great adventure movie for sure.

    The more recent Kong: Skull Island is a fun watch as well, but more like a fast paced action movie of it's time.

    This Peter Jackson version has it's fair amount of action and still pretty good effects and tells a better and more complete story.
    10pugheaven

    Not the recognition it deserves!!!

    Typical Peter Jackson, however gonna watch the even longer extended 3 hours 20 minutes edition in 4k, not watched in years but the picture is epic apart from it being too warm for my liking. The sound is the unusual DTS-X high def sound and already is gorgeous!

    However enough of the technical borefest hahaha... this film for me is stunningly shot... some of the shots of the city are incredible. It really is a grand film and for me better than his LOTR trilogy which I may well resist soon.

    However its the cinematography and sets that set this film apart from most films... integrated so well with XGI which even in 4k is holding up well... stunning is all I can say, actually old school filming with modern techniques!

    Classic tale and story that recreates the original for the modern era. Even Jack Black is watchable but the stunning Naomi Watts is very very watchable hahaha.

    This film doesn't get the recognition it deserves!!! As an achievement in cinema alone its a 10/10. You want blockbusters that have a story and a smidge of empathy with the characters with possibly the greatest ending of all monster films ever... this is how you do it.

    Marvel and DC and all the other nonsense need to take a step back!!! This is how you combine live action, real sets and CGI into an epic tale...

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It took 18 months to craft the CGI version of the Empire State Building. The real thing was built in 14 months.
    • Goofs
      The way Kong shakes and throws Ann around while carrying her would almost certainly snap her neck or spine.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Carl Denham: It wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits are set against an art deco backdrop rather than the traditional black screen. The backdrop is an exact replica, in Technicolor, of the same backdrop that was used for the opening credits in the 1933 version of "King Kong".
    • Alternate versions
      On November 14, 2006, an extended edition DVD was released with 13 minutes of additional scenes edited back into the film. Denham's party is attacked both by a Ceratops immediately upon entering the jungle to rescue Ann and by a giant fish while on rafts on a river, after which they kill a giant bird while firing blindly into the jungle (the longest addition by far). Baxter's rescue of the party is extended and finishes with Jimmy's farewell to Hayes. Kong's pursuit of the party on Skull Island and his pursuit of Driscoll in NYC are slightly extended, and there are two brief additional encounters between Kong and the military in NYC. A complete breakdown is at http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3550.
    • Connections
      Edited into It's All Gone King Kong (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Sitting on Top of the World
      Written by Ray Henderson, Joe Young, Sam Lewis (as Sam M. Lewis)

      Performed by Al Jolson

      Courtesy of Geffen Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

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    FAQ31

    • How long is King Kong?Powered by Alexa
    • What happened to the natives after they hid?
    • What is 'King Kong' about?
    • Is "King Kong" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • New Zealand
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Peter Jackson's King Kong
    • Filming locations
      • Shelly Bay, Wellington, New Zealand(Skull Island)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • WingNut Films
      • Big Primate Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $207,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $218,080,025
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $50,130,145
      • Dec 18, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $556,906,378
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
      • SDDS
      • DTS-ES
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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