15 King Kong movies and series listed chronologically that celebrate mighty ape’s cinematic journey

Here is a carefully curated list of King Kong movies ranked according to their year of release. Scroll on to celebrate the mighty ape’s cinematic journey.

By Ayushi Balani

Updated on Aug 10, 2023 | 07:52 PM IST | 6M

King Kong Movies Ranked

Ever since the success of the King Kong movie in the early 1930s, there have been plenty of movies featuring the misunderstood rampaging ape. While some of the movies were the epitome of success, others had a limited fan base. Regardless, King Kong movies went on to become a niche that you simply cannot miss out on. That is precisely why, this time we have curated a list of the top 15 King Kong movies ranked in accordance to their year of release.

While King Kong is usually featured as an anti-hero or a heartless beast, every movie listed below paints a brilliant cinematic landscape that simply makes your jaws drop. So, without further adieu, go on and find, the first ever King Kong movie in 1933 to Godzilla vs. Kong released in 2021, to everything in between in order to track the elaborated cinematic legacy of the mighty King Kong.

15 King Kong movies ranked according to their year of release

1. King Kong (1933)

Movie Genre: Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi, Drama
Running Time: 100 min
Movie Star Cast: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher
Directors: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Writer: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose, Merian C. Cooper
Year of release: 1933
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV or Vudu
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

The first of the King Kong franchise, this adventure drama features the best of horror and science fiction. The movie was released back in 1933 and is certainly a classic work of entertainment that’s relevant even in 2023. The movie features the best of Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, and Frank Reicher. It revolves around a plot where a film crew visits a tropical island for a shoot where they come across an ape that they bring back to New York City to unintentionally start havoc. It is written by James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose, and Merian C. Cooper.

2. Son of Kong (1933)

Movie Genre: Adventure, Family, Horror
Running Time: 70 min
Movie Star Cast: Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, John Marston
Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Writer: Ruth Rose
Year of release: 1933
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Another iconic King Kong movie ranked second on our list is the 1933 movie titled The Son of Kong. The adventure drama features the best of actors including Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, and John Marston among others. When it comes to the plot, it’s written by Ruth Rose and showcases a showman who brings Kong to New York City from Skull Island. Soon, he finds Kong's son. Watch the movie and witness its winning personality. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video to stream.

3. The King Kong That Appeared in Edo (1938)

The King Kong That Appeared in Edo (1938)

Movie Genre: Adventure, Drama, Horror
Running Time: 50 min
Movie Star Cast: Eizaburô Matsumoto, Fuminori Ôhashi, Reizaburo Ichikawa, Reiko Mishima
Director: Sôya Kumagai
Writer: Daijô Aoyama
Year of release: 1938
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Channel
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

The 1937 adventure drama titled The King Kong That Appeared in Edo is a two-part film that features a mighty ape named King Kong. Watch the movie to witness what happens after the daughter of a moneyed man is kidnapped as a part of a revenge plot. Don’t forget to watch the second part titled also titled King Kong Appears in Edo: The Episode of Gold to watch how the movie ends. The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

4. King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Running Time: 91 min
Movie Star Cast: Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yû Fujiki, Michael Keith
Director: Ishirô Honda, Tom Montgomery
Writer: Shin'ichi Sekizawa, Paul Mason, Bruce Howard
Year of release: 1963
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: MX Player
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10

Another King Kong movie that features the best of action, adventure, and fantasy. Watch the movie on MX player to witness how a UN reporter broadcasts that what seems like a prehistoric monster has arisen from hibernation. Amidst this chaos, a renowned pharmaceutical company pursues to gain publicity with a monster to compete the King Kong.

5. King Kong (1966– )

King Kong (1966– )

Movie Genre: Animation
Running Time: 30 min
Movie Star Cast: Billie Mae Richards, Carl Banas, Paul Soles, Alfie Scopp
Writer: Bernard Cowan, Ron Levy, Lew Lewis
Year of release: 1966
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Vudu
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

This animated version of King Kong was released back in 1966, it features the best of Billie Mae Richards, Carl Banas, Paul Soles, and Alfie Scopp. The plot of the animated drama features the experiences of King Kong along with his young companion named Bobby Bond. The movie is available on Vudu to stream.

6. King Kong Escapes (1967)

King Kong Escapes (1967)

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Family
Running Time: 96 min
Movie Star Cast: Rhodes Reason, Mie Hama, Linda Miller, Akira Takarada
Director: Ishirô Honda
Writer: Takeshi Kimura, Edgar Wallace
Year of release: 1967
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Chanel
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10

King Kong Escapes is a 1967 movie that features the best of an esteemed star cast that includes, Rhodes Reason, Mie Hama, Linda Miller, and Akira Takarada among others. The plot of the movie revolves around an evil doctor who seizes King Kong and aims to find Element X when he is unable to get the same from Kong’s unnatural doppelganger, Mechani-Kong. The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

7. King Kong (1976)

Movie Genre: Adventure, Horror, Drama
Running Time: 134 min
Movie Star Cast: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, John Randolph
Director: John Guillermin
Writer: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose, Merian C. Cooper
Year of release: 1976
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Apple TV
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10

Another iconic King Kong movie that features the best of adventure, horror, and drama is the 1976’s King Kong. Starring Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, and John Randolph, the movie is directed by John Guillermin. When it comes to the plot it revolves around how a petroleum exploration expedition on an isolated island leads to an encounter with a gigantic gorilla. The movie is available on Apple TV to stream.

8. Queen Kong (1976)

Queen Kong (1976)

Movie Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Running Time: 87 min
Movie Star Cast: Robin Askwith, Rula Lenska, Valerie Leon, Roger Hammond
Director: Frank Agrama
Writer: Frank Agrama, Ronald Dobrin, Fabio Piccioni
Year of release: 1976
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Channel
IMDb Rating: 3.2/10

Although the movie isn't one of the most highly rated King movies ranked on this list, the movie features the best of adventure comedy and fantasy. We highly recommend this movie to witness an unconventional love story. The plot of the movie actually revolves around a story where a film crew travels to Africa where Queen Kong falls for one of the crew's male stars.The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

9. King Kong Lives (1986)

King Kong Lives (1986)

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Running Time: 105 min
Movie Star Cast: Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, Peter Elliott, George Antoni
Director: John Guillermin, Charles McCracken
Writer: Ronald Shusett, Steven Pressfield, Merian C. Cooper
Year of release: 1986
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Channel
IMDb Rating: 3.9/10

Another King Kong movie ranked on this list is the 1989 action-adventure drama titled King Kong Lives. The movie features the best of the star cast, including Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, Peter Elliott, and George Antoni amongst others. When it comes to the plot, the movie features a fantasy tale where the mighty ape falls from the twin towers but still manages to live but with a heart failure. The movie features how its heart is replaced with an artificial heart. The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

10. The Mighty Kong (1998)

Movie Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Running Time: 71 min
Movie Star Cast: Dudley Moore, Jodi Benson, Randy Hamilton, William Sage
Director: Art Scott
Writer: William J. Keenan, Merian C. Cooper, James Ashmore Creelman
Year of release: 1998
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Plex
IMDb Rating: 3.9/10

This King Kong movie is titled The Might Kong and is available on Plex to stream. The movie features the best of Dudley Moore, Jodi Benson, Randy Hamilton, and William Sage among others. Watch the family drama to witness an Art Scott directorial that revolves around the mighty creature. The movie is actually a toned-down version of the 1933 King Kong movie. The animated movie is certainly a must-watch.

11. Kong: The Animated Series (2000–2001)

Movie Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Running Time: 30 min
Movie Star Cast: Kirby Morrow, Scott McNeil, Saffron Henderson, Daphne Goldrick
Director: Stéphane Roux, Marc Boréal, Chuck Patton, Joe Pearson
Writer: Multiple writers
Year of release: 2000
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Channel
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10

Featuring the best of actors including Kirby Morrow, Scott McNeil, Saffron Henderson, and Daphne Goldrick among others, this animated series features the best of action and adventure. The plot of the movie revolves around the gloomy demise of King Kong after falling from the Empire State Building. The movie takes an interesting turn when a scientist named Dr. Lorna Jenkins cloned the creature. The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

12. Kong: King of Atlantis (2005 Video)

Movie Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Running Time: 69 min
Movie Star Cast: Daphne Goldrick, Saffron Henderson, David Kaye, Scott McNeil
Director: Patrick Archibald
Writer: Patrick Archibald, Merian C. Cooper, Sean Catherine Derek
Year of release: 2005
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: The Roku Channel
IMDb Rating: 4/10

This King Kong animated drama features the best of Daphne Goldrick, Saffron Henderson, David Kaye, and Scott McNeil. Written and directed by Patrick Archibald, along with Merian C. Cooper, and Sean Catherine Derek, the plot of the movie revolves around how the ancient empire Atlantis returns to Earth and how a wicked ruler named Queen Reptilla, tricks Kong into agreeing to become the King of Atlantis. The movie is available on The Roku Channel to stream.

13. King Kong (2005)

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance
Running Time: 187 min
Movie Star Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann
Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Year of release: 2005
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Watch this 2005 King Kong movie to witness a grabby film producer who assembles a crew of talented moviemakers and leaves for the notorious Skull Island. The place is famous for cannibalistic natives. The movie is directed by Peter Jackson and features the best of Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, and Thomas Kretschmann. Watch the highly rated movie on Amazon Prime Video for complete entertainment.

14. Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Running Time: 118 min
Movie Star Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Writers: Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly
Year of release: 2017
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

The movie features a plot that’s set post-Vietnam War. The story revolves around a group of scientists that set out on an exploratory trip to an unknown island located in the Pacific. The group comes across the mighty Kong. Featuring the best of Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, and John C. Reilly, the movie is available on Amazon Prime Video to stream. We highly recommend to watch this movie right away.

15. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Movie Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Running Time: 113 min
Movie Star Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry
Director: Adam Wingard
Writer: Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields
Year of release: 2021
Where to Watch / OTT Platform: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10

Last but not least, Godzilla vs. Kong is indeed one of the best King Kong movies ranked on our list. The movie features Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, and Brian Tyree Henry among others. When it comes to the plot, the movie features a brilliant tale of the menacing Godzilla and the powerful Kong. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video to stream.

King Kong movies probably aren't for everyone, and arguably one of the strangest anti-hero movies ever created. But if you have watched even one King Kong movie listed above, you already know why King Kong is Hollywood’s most famed monster. We highly recommend you bookmark this page to get a perfect list of all the King Kong movies ranked in one place for the next time you are in the mood for an adrenaline rush.

A bonus list of animal attack movies along with their IMDb ratings

If you liked the above list of Kong Kong movies, you will definitely love the enlisted assortment of best animal attack movies listed according to their popularity. The movies are listed with their IMDb ratings for a comprehensive understanding. Right from The Meg to Black Water, the list is made up all the best animal attack movies for an adrenaline rush just like shark movies.

1. The Meg (2018) - IMDb rating: 5.6

2. The Revenant (2015) - IMDb rating: 8

3. Deep Blue Sea (1999) - IMDb rating: 5.9

4. The Shallows (2016) - IMDb rating: 6.3

5. Piranha 3D (2010) - IMDb rating: 5.5

6. 47 Meters Down (2017) - IMDb rating: 5.6

7. Beast (2022) - IMDb rating: 5.6

8. Bait (2012) - IMDb rating: 5.2

9. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019) - IMDb rating: 5

10. Crawl (2019) - IMDb rating: 6.1

11. Great White (2021) - IMDb rating: 4.1

12. Lake Placid (1999) - IMDb rating: 5.8