Honestly, it is kinda wild that a giant gorilla falling off a building in 1933 is still the blueprint for blockbusters nearly a century later. You've seen the posters, you know the roar, and you definitely know the tragic ending on top of the Empire State Building. But if you think there are only three or four all King Kong movies out there, you are missing out on some of the weirdest, most ambitious, and flat-out bizarre cinema ever made.
We aren't just talking about Peter Jackson’s three-hour epic or the recent smash-ups with Godzilla. The history of Kong is a messy, beautiful sprawl of stop-motion masterpieces, guys in sweaty rubber suits, and even a robot doppelgänger.
The Birth of a Legend: The RKO Years
It all started with Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. In 1933, they gave us the original King Kong. For the time, the special effects were basically black magic. Willis O'Brien used stop-motion animation to make a small model look like a towering god. It wasn't just a monster movie; it was a technical revolution.
What most people forget is that RKO didn't wait around. They released Son of Kong a mere nine months later in late 1933. It’s a bit of a tonal whiplash. While the first was a dark, survivalist horror-adventure, the sequel featured "Little Kong," a friendly, albino giant who actually helps the humans. It's shorter, lighter, and kinda feels like a rush job because, well, it was.
When Tokyo Met Skull Island: The Toho Era
Fast forward to the 1960s. The Japanese studio Toho, the same folks who gave us Godzilla, decided they wanted a piece of the ape. This is where things get really fun and a little bit goofy.
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962): This was the first time either monster appeared in color and widescreen. It’s a classic "man in suit" (suitmation) flick. There’s a persistent urban legend that there were two endings—one where Kong wins and one where Godzilla wins. That’s actually false. Kong wins in both versions, though the American edit added some "news report" footage that changed the vibe.
- King Kong Escapes (1967): If you like 60s spy aesthetics and giant robots, this is your movie. Kong fights Mechani-Kong, a giant robot ape built by the villainous Dr. Who (no, not that one). It was actually a co-production with Rankin/Bass, the people famous for those claymation Christmas specials.
The Modern Remakes: From Oil Riggers to Peter Jackson
In 1976, producer Dino De Laurentiis decided the world needed a "modern" Kong. This version swapped the Empire State Building for the World Trade Center. It’s a very 70s movie—there’s an oil crisis subplot, Jeff Bridges is a hippie scientist, and Jessica Lange makes her debut. The effects were a mix of a giant mechanical arm and Rick Baker in a very expensive ape suit.
It actually got a sequel a decade later called King Kong Lives (1986). It is... not great. Kong gets an artificial heart and meets a "Lady Kong." It’s the kind of movie you watch with friends specifically to laugh at how weird it gets.
Then came 2005. Peter Jackson, fresh off Lord of the Rings, went back to the 1933 roots. He made a massive, 187-minute love letter to the original. Andy Serkis provided the motion capture, making Kong feel like a real animal for the first time. It was a huge hit, even if some people complained about the hour-long buildup before we even see the island.
The MonsterVerse: Kong Becomes a Hero
The version of Kong we have today is different. He’s not a tragic victim anymore; he’s a protector. Legendary Pictures launched the MonsterVerse with Kong: Skull Island in 2017. Set in the 70s with a killer rock soundtrack, it reimagined Kong as a massive "Alpha Titan."
Since then, he’s moved into the "Hollow Earth" and become a permanent rival/ally to Godzilla. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) have leaned hard into the sci-fi fantasy elements. We’re talking ancient civilizations, gravity-defying landscapes, and even a "Suko" (Mini-Kong) character that mirrors the 1933 sequel.
What Really Matters: The Order to Watch Them
If you're looking to dive into all King Kong movies, you shouldn't just watch them chronologically by release date. It’s better to group them by "universe" to keep the story straight:
- The Original Timeline: King Kong (1933) followed by Son of Kong (1933).
- The Toho Crossovers: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and King Kong Escapes (1967).
- The 70s/80s Era: King Kong (1976) and King Kong Lives (1986).
- The Standalone Masterpiece: King Kong (2005).
- The MonsterVerse: Kong: Skull Island (2017), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024).
There are also animated series like The King Kong Show and Netflix’s Skull Island anime, but for the big screen experience, these five eras are the meat of the franchise.
The character has endured because he’s the ultimate underdog. Even when he’s 300 feet tall, he’s always the last of his kind, looking for a home. Whether he’s swatting biplanes or punch-fighting a radioactive lizard, Kong remains the king of the box office for a reason.
If you want to experience the evolution of special effects, start with the 1933 original—it still holds up better than you’d expect. From there, jump to Kong: Skull Island for the modern take. Skip King Kong Lives unless you're a completionist with a high tolerance for 80s cheese.
Next Steps for Kong Fans
- Track Down the Lost Film: Try searching for info on The King Kong That Appeared in Edo (1938). It's a lost Japanese silent film that RKO sued into oblivion.
- Check the Extras: If you own the 2005 Peter Jackson DVD, watch the "Production Diaries." It’s a masterclass in how modern creature effects are built.
- Visit the Empire State: If you’re ever in NYC, the building has a permanent Kong exhibit on the 86th floor where you can take photos in his "grip."