List of the King Kong film franchise
Posted: July 2025
List of the 10 King Kong films released theatrically, beginning with the Merian C. Cooper film of 1933. Since 1998, three other direct-to-animation King Kong films have been released. Description, dates and cast sourced from rottentomatoes.com and the Internet Movie Database:
1933: King Kong — Approved, 1 hour, 40 minutes, directed by Merian C. Cooper, starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot; distributed by RKO Pictures
1933: Son of Kong — Passed, 1 hour, 10 minutes, directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, John Marston, distributed by RKO Pictures
1962: King Kong vs. Godzilla — 1 hour, 37 minutes, directed by Ishirô Honda, starring Tadao Takashima, Yû Fujiki, Kenji Sahara, Ichirô Arishima, Mie Hama, distributed by Toho
1967: King Kong Escapes — G, 1 hour, 36 minutes, directed by Ishirô Honda, starring Rhodes Reason, Mie Hama, Linda Miller, Akira Takarada, distributed by Toho, Universal Pictures
1976: King Kong — PG, 2 hours, 14 minutes, directed by John Guillermin, starring Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, John Randolph, with Rick Baker performing in Kong suit; produced by Dino De Laurentiis; John Barry, composer; distributed by Paramount Pictures; Oscar nominee, Best Cinematography (Richard H. Kline); Oscar nominee, Best Sound (Harry W. Tetrick, William L. McCaughey, Aaron Rochin, Jack Solomon); Oscar winner, Special Achievement Award, for visual effects (Carlo Rambaldi, Glen Robinson, Frank Van der Veer)
1986: King Kong Lives — PG-13, 1 hour, 45 minutes, directed by John Guillermin, Charles McCracken, starring Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, Peter Elliot; distributed by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
2005: King Kong — PG-13, 3 hours, 7 minutes, directed by Peter Jackson, starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody; distributed by Universal Pictures; Oscar winner for Visual Effects (Joe Letteri, Brian Van’t Hul, Christian Rivers, Richard Taylor); Oscar winner for Sound Mixing (Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek); Oscar winner for Sound Editing (Mike Hopkins, Ethan Van der Ryn); Oscar nominee for Art Direction (Grant Major, Dan Hennah, Simon Bright)
2017: Kong: Skull Island — PG-13, 1 hour, 58 minutes, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Warner Bros. Pictures Oscar nominee, Best Visual Effects (Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza, Michael Meinardus)
2021: Godzilla vs. Kong — PG-13, 1 hour, 53 minutes, directed by Adam Wingard, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Eiza González, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
2024: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire — PG-13, 1 hour, 55 minutes, directed by Adam Wingard, starring Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures