King Kong
1933
Fantasy, Action
1h 40m
A film crew goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal giant gorilla who takes a shine to their female blonde star. (imdb)
Your probable score
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King Kong
1933
Fantasy, Action
1h 40m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 62.72% from 3038 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(3038)
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Rated 03 May 2012
81
90th
When I was younger, I would bawl like a baby when the movie came to its conclusion. Of course, I was pretty immature for a twenty-nine year old.
Rated 03 May 2012
Rated 30 Jun 2007
100
98th
This is it -- the gargantuan, all-powerful classic that tramples everything in its path! Even when it was available only in a bowdlerized, darkened state it was still a giant among movies. Now that it's been fully restored, it takes its place as the King of Depression-era Hollywood. A great, full-blooded circus sideshow of a movie.
Rated 30 Jun 2007
Rated 07 Sep 2009
2
21st
Not a very good story and the film moves too quickly to establish any of the characters for you to root for and then when you do see them they are quite boring. They were clearly just trying to get to the action but even that was dull. Very overrated
Rated 07 Sep 2009
Rated 18 May 2014
98
99th
Sure it's dated, the dialogue is clunky and the acting questionable. But when you consider this came out six years after the first talking picture, it's pretty amazing, not only visually but also in sound and music score. Now in 2014 (as of this writing), consider what advances we've made in the past six years; Seth Rogan: not funny, Angelina Jolie: not an actress and Kung Fu Panda: not a movie.
Rated 18 May 2014
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
98th
I really can't wrap my head around how much time, dedication and effort this film must have taken to make. A truly astounding achievement that stomps the crap out of the remake.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 12 May 2013
96
92nd
King Kong was a groundbreaking achievement. I cannot even begin to describe what went into these effects, because many of them are a complete mystery to me. But with that said, King Kong is more than just being important. It's an ageless story, and an unforgettable film.
Rated 12 May 2013
Rated 02 Nov 2016
95
97th
Despite aging quite poorly, King Kong is still one of the tensest, most classic pieces of cinema ever put together. It's story is tight with intense pacing, and it contains some of the most classic cinematography ever shot. King Kong is a classic in every right.
Rated 02 Nov 2016
Rated 17 Jan 2007
71
37th
It's entertaining and iconic and has some wonderful elements to it, but the effects are too outdated now to take seriously as the spectacle they're meant to be (although of course they would have been amazing at the time). Also, the movie brings up a lot of unanswered questions.
Rated 17 Jan 2007
Rated 01 Nov 2009
70
54th
It's absolutely shocking that they were able to pull off these special effects back in 1933; it's recommended watching just for its historical significance. The theory that there is a subtext about slavery is pretty mind-boggling to me. It loses points for the herbivorous Brontasaurus eating a human.
Rated 01 Nov 2009
Rated 25 Jul 2010
95
88th
King Kong overcomes the limited and dated visuals because of the greatness of the film itself
Rated 25 Jul 2010
Rated 25 Sep 2010
92
98th
Definitely outdated in virtually every aspect but if you are capable of taking that into consideration, it is a really good time.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
Rated 13 Apr 2016
6
43rd
The stop-motion animation-remarkable for its time-remains effective even now; at the very least, its spectacular ambition must be lauded, as three battles with fellow animal giants are added to Kong's famed New York escapades (the panorama of him climbing the Empire State building is a standout shot), though it prevents the story's intriguing themes of greed and anthropocentrism from fully developing (Denham's ambition is captured well but his foolishness is dismissed in an "all's well" ending).
Rated 13 Apr 2016
Rated 03 Feb 2007
70
39th
Well, it's better than the Jackson remake, but to be honest I'm just not all that enamored with the whole giant ape on a remote island concept. It's pretty cool, though.
Rated 03 Feb 2007
Rated 01 Mar 2007
70
82nd
Classic.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
Rated 05 May 2007
100
93rd
Classic... To this day stands the test of time.
Rated 05 May 2007
Rated 12 May 2007
79
72nd
The whole thing is pretty silly, but it's a well done adventure flick. The pacing of the original is MUCH better than Jackson's remake, and though the effects and the racism make it a bit dated, it still manages to be entertaining. Kong's sympathetic features, while here, aren't shoved down your throat like in the Jackson version, which I think makes it more dramatically interesting.
Rated 12 May 2007
Rated 04 Jan 2008
80
60th
Classic hollywood horror although now very very tame. The animation may be stuttering and the backdrops may wobble from time to time but it's easy to see why people were so enthralled in the 30's. Not a brilliant story but as films about Giant gorillas go it's not bad. The ending still tugs at you though.
Rated 04 Jan 2008
Rated 12 Feb 2008
84
62nd
Don't dismiss this earliest/first version of the story--it's the best of the three. It's only hampered by the sheer ludicrousness of the basic story ("skull island"? c'mon....) But once you suspend disbelief, this one outshines the '76 and '05 remakes because it stays true to the original story and doesn't get mired down in special effects or grandiosity, but sticks to its roots in the humanity of the story. A great rainy Saturday afternoon popcorn flick.
Rated 12 Feb 2008
Rated 11 Aug 2008
50
21st
I didn't like it that much, though the stop-motion animation impressed me.
Rated 11 Aug 2008
Rated 16 Nov 2008
3
61st
Good fantasy film, ugly racism. This was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid, until my outspoken, black nationalist uncle sat me down for a "chat" at Thanksgiving. That sure was eye-opening... thank you Sci-Fi Channel for running a Thanksgiving Day movie marathon, and thank you Uncle David for blowing the mind of an eight year-old.
Rated 16 Nov 2008
Rated 25 Dec 2008
80
71st
Classic American cinema with all the racism one can handle.
Rated 25 Dec 2008
Rated 22 Mar 2009
100
97th
One of Hollywood's truly towering achievements, crammed with powerful iconic imagery, breakthrough special effects, seat-squirming scares, and more subtexts than you can shake a banana at.
Rated 22 Mar 2009
Rated 10 Sep 2009
58
61st
It has several great parts, but let's be honest for a second. As good and important as this was when it came out, it is really, really dated today.
Rated 10 Sep 2009
Rated 19 Jan 2011
100
98th
I could go on and on about how good this movie is, but we all know why "King Kong" is one of the greatest movies of all time. An incredible and timeless story, good characters, exceptional special effects, and the greatest movie monster of all time, Kong himself. It is a legend of American Cinema; a milestone in film-making history that will, most likely, live on forever. The day "King Kong" ceases to amaze is the day where we mark the death of cinema.
Rated 19 Jan 2011
Rated 20 Jul 2011
72
41st
Astounding early stop motion work, but the plot is simplistic and neglected. Like too many movies of today, it relies to heavily on special effects to really culminate in anything memorable, if I were a producer I'd have told the writer to come back with a better script, and would have spent more time worrying about the quality of the acting rather than how good the gorilla head looks.
Rated 20 Jul 2011
Rated 06 Feb 2013
100
99th
Amazing! And to consider that it was done in 1933 when high-end special effects wasn't the norm makes this production unbelievable! I did feel it started a bit too slow. Took it's time to establish the parts and what was going to happen. The mystery of the island and the first look at Kong. But once Kong was loose.... IT WAS ON!!! From then on it was non-stop action! And the end scene of the Empire State Building..... LEGENDARY!!!
Rated 06 Feb 2013
Rated 25 Aug 2013
85
92nd
The only thing I could think while (finally) watching this genre-bending classic is how violent and sexy it looks -- Fay's legs and shoulders visible, people being chewed by Kong, bodies hitting the ground, blood coming out of T-Rex neck, and some pretty fierce giant monster fights agains a snake and a pterodactylus. King Kong is filled with maybe the greatest classic frames per second in the history of cinema. The film itself is the eighth wonder of the world.
Rated 25 Aug 2013
Rated 08 Mar 2017
98
99th
The definitive classic monster movie. "King Kong"(1933) was revolutionary in the art of film making, and remains today a huge piece of cinematic history. Although much of the film feels its age, some parts of the amazing special effects are still spectacular even today. The film's iconic nature aside the movie still serves as a fun action packed adventure full of awe inspiriting thrills.
Rated 08 Mar 2017
Rated 10 May 2017
85
87th
Kong goes on a sexy New York adventure where he finds fame, love, loss, and learns a little something along the way.
Rated 10 May 2017
Rated 21 May 2017
60
60th
Pre-Code Hollywood is amazing as it allowed Fay Wray to be both gorgeous and sexy in her scantily-dressed damsel in distress depiction in King Kong. Also the film. Is. Gory. Men falling down to their death, T-Rex chewing a person, Kong ripping the jaws of T-Rex. Brilliant. The build-up of tension and mystery is sublime, even more so than The Lost World's. As with the latter, the second half of the film has lost much in time, although the visual effects are a notable step up. Entertaining.
Rated 21 May 2017
Rated 25 Aug 2017
60
44th
Definitely a big achievement in movie-making and a good watch to this day. Personally though I found the first half (before Kong's appearance, that is) to be the strongest one: tense, intriguing and with a charming turn by Fay Wray. As far as the second half goes, as much as I respect and appreciate the talent and effort involved, I had a hard time ignoring the fact that the visual effects don't really cut it that much anymore. The Empire State Building finale is pretty iconic though.
Rated 25 Aug 2017
Rated 07 Mar 2018
90
95th
KING KONG is the granddaddy of all blockbusters, combining technical wizardry and nearly nonstop action (along with questionable acting and a dull romance). It perfectly positions Kong as an elemental force of nature--terrifying, unstoppable, and totally fucking rad. Simply put, it's essential in establishing and sustaining the lexicon of cinema.
Rated 07 Mar 2018
Rated 16 Mar 2018
82
77th
Obviously it's dated and the acting is bad, but the film deserves praise for engaging and impressive effects 85 years later. Seriously, the effects are better than many that have been made in the last 40 years, and I'll still take the stop-motion over a lot of crappy CGI. Generally the story is good as well and Kong is sympathetic at the end, but what gets me is Denham's rampant irresponsibility never being brought to account.
Rated 16 Mar 2018
Rated 30 Oct 2018
75
53rd
It was incredibly ambitious but sometimes when you try to do so much it can age pretty poorly and like others have noted, this is really outdated. It's a little off-putting sometimes but underneath it you still have an entertaining adventure movie with some heart and some really cool scenes. I quite enjoyed it but I can't say I loved it; would have been a different story back in 1933.
Rated 30 Oct 2018
Rated 27 Feb 2020
85
75th
It's impossible to grade this fairly since I've seen both remakes, as well as this version when I was a child. So, it's hard not to find alot of this repetitious. Some of the anachronisms like how abruptly Driscoll falls in love are also very silly. However it's easy to see why this had such an impact. It feels like the Star Wars of its time w/ its relentless spectacle & what must've been groundbreaking efx. All of the non-stop action sequences that better efx can improve are already here.
Rated 27 Feb 2020
Rated 16 Jul 2021
70
82nd
As much a spectacle in 2021 as it was nearly 90 years ago, this is rightly referred to as a cinematic all-timer & probably always will be. The sheer amount of expression and emotion that Kong displays here is remarkable, as is the endearingly choppy animation in general. What it lacks in character development for Kong or Ann Darrow it makes up for in pure entertainment value, & while it glosses over its own subtext quite a bit it's still a heap of fun. Regrettably racist & sexist fun, but fun.
Rated 16 Jul 2021
Rated 20 Aug 2023
85
93rd
We live in an age in which the ‘magic of movies’ is effectively dead, and so we have to look to the past for such experiences. This is particularly the case for ‘monster movies’ that these days are mostly vacuous CGI nonsense. Not only are the special effects, that is both mechanical effects and optical effects, stunning in their service of the narrative in this definitive 'King Kong' film, but it is infused with such pathos that the viewer is emotionally entranced. A proper monster film.
Rated 20 Aug 2023
Rated 01 Mar 2007
100
96th
I guess. You kind of have to give it a perfect score, though I think its pretty boring.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
Rated 04 Mar 2007
4
70th
A fascinating piece of iconic film history, but inevitably dated in some of its attitudes and effects. However, the dated effects add to the mood and work in a weird way.
Rated 04 Mar 2007
Rated 06 Mar 2007
2
21st
Its high concept scenario is the making of a fun adventure, but the original Kong is a primitive beast, not only with regard to effects but also its misogynist and racist attitudes.
Rated 06 Mar 2007
Rated 16 Mar 2007
95
97th
Everyone knows what this movie is about so it suffices to say that none of the remakes are as good as this original, particularly if you run across the uncut version. (Look for the shipboard sequence where Fay Wray plays with the monkey.)
Rated 16 Mar 2007
Rated 20 Mar 2007
80
60th
This is a classic fantasy film that is more dated than a lot of people like to admit. It's still worth seeing for the history side of things, but both of the remakes are better by today's standards.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
Rated 17 Apr 2007
90
92nd
# 96
Rated 17 Apr 2007
Rated 03 Jul 2007
90
91st
Amazing movie, especially if you put yourself in the mindframe of seeing it in the 1930's. Set the bar phenomenally high.
Rated 03 Jul 2007
Rated 08 Jul 2007
95
98th
Twas beauty killed the beast. Instant classic.
Rated 08 Jul 2007
Rated 25 Jul 2007
95
85th
Lost most of it's realism but none of it's charm.
Rated 25 Jul 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
92nd
Great, great, great classic adventure film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
40th
action scenes are great and its technically impressive and overall pretty good just kinda boring nowadays :) especially the first half
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
89th
A tremendously exciting and timeless adventure.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
96
99th
An overwhelming experience. Fay Wray is a scream. King King kicks some T-Rex ass. Too Perfect.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
81st
The iconic original is the purest form of early film. A must see for fans of the new one or conesuers of classic scinema.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
82nd
He he he! Best stop motion ever, acting and script that range from good to bad, but the star is Kong and his Dinosaur enemies. A must see!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
8
93rd
You'll go BANANAS for seeing the history of special effects MONKEY OUT before your eyes! Also, King Kong is much more evil in this one than the Jackson remake.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 19 Aug 2007
70
39th
It's a classic, it's cheesy. But you gotta love it.
Rated 19 Aug 2007
Rated 30 Aug 2007
83
79th
The original classic. Still better than both of the remakes.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
Rated 01 Sep 2007
80
84th
The first special effects/adventure film block buster
Rated 01 Sep 2007
Rated 30 Oct 2007
9
90th
Although King Kong's script is pretty shallow, the story remains beautiful; The visual look, one that was way ahead of its time, deserves a lot of praise. A true classic!
Rated 30 Oct 2007
Rated 30 Oct 2007
84
76th
I started watching it mainly out of historical curiosity and was totally pulled in. It really is a classic, and actually surprisingly violent (although I probably shouldn't be surprised - it's just that we here in the present tend to think we're so much more prepared to handle stuff like that than previous generations)
Rated 30 Oct 2007
Rated 01 Mar 2008
95
92nd
# 106
Rated 01 Mar 2008
Rated 13 Mar 2008
80
62nd
Though the special effects are silly by modern standards, they have a charming sincerity about them. When you look at the film from the perspective of what had and had not been accomplished at that point in film history, the stop motion ape climbing the empire state building is actually quite impressive. King Kong helped write the book on cinematic spectacles.
Rated 13 Mar 2008
Rated 21 Mar 2008
83
67th
This is such a great blockbuster for its time. It's still fun to watch, even today.
Rated 21 Mar 2008
Rated 27 Apr 2008
94
99th
One of my favorite movies as a child. And I grew up in the eighties. It's got that much lasting power.
Rated 27 Apr 2008
Rated 25 Sep 2008
85
91st
tidy little piece of Pop culure history with some neato (if dated) Animation. Still, 70 years later it still scrubs up well and shits all over the remake
Rated 25 Sep 2008
Rated 01 Dec 2008
53
50th
Good action scenes, great music and nice effects. But the film was boring (especially the first hour). Why didn't Ann love Kong? It was obvious that he loved her. That was an unrealistic thing in the film. And why the slow beginning? Btw, the stop-motion animation was impressive.
Rated 01 Dec 2008
Rated 19 Dec 2008
94
88th
115
Rated 19 Dec 2008
Rated 02 Mar 2009
100
97th
The definitive monster-on-a-rampage movie, this is a classic not only of the horror film but of the cinema itself. Rarely has there been so convincing a fantasy creation on the screen as Kong -- ET being one of the few exceptions -- with Willis O'Brien's dated but still effective, not to mention charming, animation giving the great gorilla and his fellow monsters the sort of life and personality sadly lacking from today's multi-million dollar special effects extravaganzas.
Rated 02 Mar 2009
Rated 08 Mar 2009
75
64th
It has not aged well, but it's undeniably a classic and a lot of fun to watch as a glimpse of why that era of filmmaking is called the golden age of Hollywood.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
Rated 25 Mar 2009
75
46th
Campy and dated. But it must have been cool to watch this way back in 1933 in the theaters.
Rated 25 Mar 2009
Rated 27 Mar 2009
93
85th
A definite classic, and still better than all the subsequent reincarnations. Highly recommended.
Rated 27 Mar 2009
Rated 09 Apr 2009
100
93rd
The greatest monster movie of all, a miracle of trick work and suspense, with some of the most memorable moments in film history.
Rated 09 Apr 2009
Rated 22 Jun 2009
70
50th
Classic tale of a giant ape that falls in love with a beautiful woman, and rampages through a metropolis to find her.
Rated 22 Jun 2009
Rated 01 Aug 2009
68
63rd
A classic and important movie. Still good fun to watch, even if it is seriously dated in all ways.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
Rated 18 Aug 2009
90
89th
A truly universally nostalgic film. How can you not look back on the first time you saw this film and smile?
Rated 18 Aug 2009
Rated 20 Aug 2009
68
51st
BUMPA-BUMPA KONG! Pretty dang good for the 30s.
Rated 20 Aug 2009
Rated 25 Sep 2009
80
33rd
The original monster movie might be dated but can still charm the audience with a sympathetic main character and with the famous end scene on top of Empire State Building. If find it impossible to dislike this film, which must have been nearly impossible effort to film on it's creation time.
Rated 25 Sep 2009
Rated 30 Sep 2009
98
89th
Once agian the classics never die. I loved it.
Rated 30 Sep 2009
Rated 01 Dec 2009
100
99th
Simply one of the most important and iconic films in the history of cinema.
Rated 01 Dec 2009
Rated 13 Jan 2010
95
90th
110
Rated 13 Jan 2010
Rated 14 Jan 2010
80
80th
This must have been one of the first popcorn movie. It is really impressive for the time it was produced. Obviously its special effects are now outdated, but it is a true classic. It was beauty killed the beast ...
Rated 14 Jan 2010
Rated 25 Jan 2010
90
82nd
Stunning. It rockets along, the effects are still awesome, weak acting is easily glossed over.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
Rated 09 Apr 2010
90
97th
I was obsessed with this film when I was little. In fact, it reminds me that I need to rewatch this soon!
Rated 09 Apr 2010
Rated 04 May 2010
100
97th
At the age of 7 I saw this on TV and cried when Kong died.
Rated 04 May 2010
Rated 30 May 2010
85
66th
Thought this was going to be corny... ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Best scene is king Kong fighting t-rex
Rated 30 May 2010
Rated 11 Oct 2010
77
63rd
Most of the stop-motion sequences on the island were pretty shitty, but the rest of the film was almost surprisingly good.
Rated 11 Oct 2010
Rated 21 Oct 2010
80
80th
Don't kid yourself into thinking it isn't essentially unforgivably dated, but that in mind I think it says it all that the Jackson remake basically didn't add anything to the tragic demise of King K.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
Rated 12 Dec 2010
80
74th
"It wasn't the air planes. It was..." well you know the rest and that's what I would say in general about the movie. I know it from start to finish, but it is a great story. It may not be as appealing to watch for modern audiences as Jackson's down to the frame remake due to its shabby effects and, let's face it, it's not excactly new. Despite that it's still a joy to watch. Just wished that Jackson would have learned something by its short running time. Really no need to make it twice as long.
Rated 12 Dec 2010
Rated 13 Dec 2010
9
93rd
Dated adventurer with rudimentary but somewhat endearing effects -you won't believe the feelings it arises by the time this is over-, features brilliant and wonderful moments and non-stop action once it introduces its monster. Empire state finale a classic, unforgettable moment of cinema.
Rated 13 Dec 2010
Rated 21 Jan 2011
85
73rd
The special effects are... well... dated. But the character of Kong is still one of the best ever.
Rated 21 Jan 2011
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