King Kong (2005 film): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:50, 29 January 2006

Latest revision as of 06:45, 24 August 2025

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{{Short description|2005 film by Peter Jackson}}

{{Infobox Film |

{{Redirect|King Kong (2005)|the tie-in video game|King Kong (2005 video game){{!}}''King Kong'' (2005 video game)}}

name = King Kong |

{{Good article}}

image = Kingkong bigfinal1.jpg|

{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}

caption = Promotional poster for ''King Kong'' |

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}

imdb_id = 0360717 |

{{Infobox film

writer = [[Merian C. Cooper]] (story)<br>[[Edgar Wallace]] (story) <br>[[Peter Jackson]]<br>[[Fran Walsh]]<br>[[Philippa Boyens]] |

| image = Kingkong bigfinal1.jpg

starring = [[Adrien Brody]]<br>[[Naomi Watts]]<br>[[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] |

| alt = In a jungle landscape, a woman stands in front of a giant ape-like creature.

director = [[Peter Jackson]] |

| caption = Theatrical release poster

producer = [[Peter Jackson]]<br>[[Fran Walsh]] |

| music director = [[JamesPeter Newton HowardJackson]] |

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

distributor = [[Universal Studios]] |

* [[Fran Walsh]]

released = [[December 14]], [[2005]] |

* [[Philippa Boyens]]

runtime = 187 minutes |

* Peter Jackson

language = English |

}}

rating = [[Image:MPAARatingPG13.svg|PG-13]] |

| based_on = {{Based on|''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''|[[Merian C. Cooper]]|[[Edgar Wallace]]}}

budget = $207,000,000 |

| producer = {{Plainlist|

mpaa_rating = [[PG-13]] |

* Jan Blenkin

* [[Carolynne Cunningham]]

* Fran Walsh

* Peter Jackson

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Naomi Watts]]

* [[Jack Black]]

* [[Adrien Brody]]

* [[Thomas Kretschmann]]

* [[Colin Hanks]]

* [[Jamie Bell]]

* [[Andy Serkis]]

<!--Per poster billing block.-->

}}

| cinematography = [[Andrew Lesnie]]

| editing = [[Jamie Selkirk]]

| music = [[James Newton Howard]]

| studio = {{Plainlist|

* [[Universal Pictures]]

* [[WingNut Films]]

}}

| distributor = Universal Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2005|12|05|[[New York City]]|2005|12|13|New Zealand|2005|12|14|United States}}

| runtime = {{Plainlist|

* 187 minutes {{small|(Theatrical cut)}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/king-kong-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mdy5mtk | title=''KING KONG'' (12A) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | access-date=November 8, 2014 | archive-date=March 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317172127/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/king-kong-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mdy5mtk | url-status=live }}</ref>

* 200 minutes {{small|(Extended cut)}}

}}

| country = {{Plainlist|

* New Zealand

* United States

}}

| language = English

| budget = $207 million<ref name=mojo/>

| gross = $556.9 million<ref name=mojo/>

}}

'''''King Kong''''' is a 2005 [[fantasy film|fantasy]]-[[adventure film|adventure]] [[film|movie]]. It is a [[remake]] of the [[King Kong (1933 film)|original 1933 ''King Kong'' movie]] about a giant ape named [[King Kong|Kong]], which was [[writer|written]] by [[Merian C. Cooper]] and [[Edgar Wallace]]. The film was [[film director|directed]] by [[Peter Jackson]], [[Film producer|produced]] by Jackson and [[Fran Walsh]], and written by Jackson, Walsh and [[Philippa Boyens]]. The cast includes [[Naomi Watts]] in the role of [[Ann Darrow]], [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] as [[Carl Denham]], [[Adrien Brody]] as [[Jack Driscoll]], and, through [[performance capture]], [[Andy Serkis]] as Kong. Much of the crew had previously worked on Jackson's ''[[The Lord of the Rings (movies)|Lord of the Rings]]'' trilogy, with the exception of the composer [[James Newton Howard]], who replaced Jackson's Lord of the Rings collaborator [[Howard Shore]] due to "differing creative aspirations for the score of ''King Kong''."

'''''King Kong''''' is a 2005 [[Epic film|epic]] [[Adventure film|adventure]] [[monster film]] co-written, produced, and directed by [[Peter Jackson]]. It is the ninth entry in the [[King Kong (franchise)|''King Kong'' franchise]] and the second [[remake]] of the [[King Kong (1933 film)|1933 film of the same title]], the first being the [[King Kong (1976 film)|1976 remake]]. The film stars [[Naomi Watts]], [[Jack Black]], and [[Adrien Brody]]. Set in 1933, it follows the story of an ambitious filmmaker who coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious [[Skull Island (King Kong)|Skull Island]]. There they encounter various prehistoric creatures and a legendary giant [[gorilla]] known as [[King Kong|Kong]], whom they capture and take to [[New York City]].

Filming was done in [[Miramar, New Zealand]], and the film was released on [[December 14]], [[2005]]. It was rated [[PG-13]] in the US, and [[British Board of Film Classification|12A]] in the U.K. for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images.

Development began in early 1995, when [[Universal Pictures]] approached Jackson to direct the remake of the original 1933 film. The project stalled in early 1997, as several ape and giant monster-related films were under production at the time and Jackson planned to direct [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]]. As the first two films in the ''Rings'' trilogy became commercially successful, Universal went back to Jackson in early 2003, expressing interest in restarting development on the project, to which Jackson eventually agreed. Filming for ''King Kong'' took place in New Zealand from September 2004 to March 2005. It was the [[List of most expensive films|most expensive film ever produced]] at the time of its release, as its budget climbed from an initial $150 million to a then record-breaking $207 million.

* '''[[Tagline]]''': ''The Eighth Wonder of the World''

''King Kong'' premiered at [[New York City]] on December 5, 2005,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-07 |title='King Kong' receives a giant-sized premiere |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-07-et-kong7-story.html |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630115439/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-07-et-kong7-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was theatrically released in New Zealand on December 13 and in the United States on December 14. The film received critical acclaim, and eventually appeared in several top ten lists for 2005; it was praised for the special effects, performances, sense of spectacle and comparison to the 1933 original, though some criticisms were raised over its 3-hour runtime. It was a commercial success, grossing over $556.9 million, and became the fourth-highest-grossing film in Universal Pictures history at that time and the [[2005 in film#Highest-grossing films|fifth-highest-grossing film of 2005]].<ref name="mojo">{{cite web| title = ''King Kong''| publisher = BoxOfficeMojo.com| url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=kingkong05.htm| access-date = 2006-10-12| archive-date = February 23, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090223221149/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=kingkong05.htm| url-status = live}}</ref> It also generated $100 million in DVD sales upon its home video release in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=''King Kong'' – DVD sales |publisher=BlogCritics.org |url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/04/04/122953.php |access-date=2007-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014181227/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/04/04/122953.php |archive-date=October 14, 2007}}</ref> It won three [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound Mixing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]. A [[King Kong (2005 video game)|tie-in video game]] was released alongside the film, which also became a commercial and critical success.

== Story ==

{{spoiler}}

[[Image:KingKong1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Denham ([[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]]) speaks with Captain Englehorn of the SS Venture ([[Thomas Kretschmann]]).]]

Carl Denham is a [[documentary film|documentary filmmaker]] whose penchant for "safari films" does not go over well with his studio bosses who prefer to see him turn in a [[romance film]] for a change. When he discovers that they would rather sell his films off as [[stock footage]] than fund his latest movie, Denham steals the film and quickly organises to leave for his next shoot immediately. Still in need of a leading lady, along the way he meets Ann Darrow, an unemployed [[vaudeville]] actress whose theatre was recently closed down due to lack of money. He convinces Ann to join him in his latest movie endeavour and boards a [[tramp steamer]] with her; [[Jack Driscoll]] - a hapless playwright who has written part of the screenplay - is tricked by Denham into joining the journey in order to finish the story. The ship leaves just in time for Denham to escape the police, who have been sent by Denham's angry studio bosses, and sets off on a voyage to what Ann and Jack believe to be [[Singapore]].

==Plot==

Along the way, Denham reveals they're actually heading for [[Skull Island]], a place unknown to the outside world that Denham believes will make for some spectacular footage for his production. Although the captain of the steamer voices his concerns about their destination, he sets out to find the island anyway. Meanwhile Ann, a fan of Jack's plays, falls in love with the playwright.

In 1933, during the [[Great Depression]], struggling New York City vaudeville performer Ann Darrow is hired by financially troubled filmmaker [[Carl Denham]] to star in a film with actor Bruce Baxter. Ann is hesitant to join the picture until she learns her favorite playwright, [[Jack Driscoll (character)|Jack Driscoll]], is the screenwriter. Filming takes place on the ''SS Venture'', a small cargo ship belonging to the [[Dutch East Indies|Dutch East Indies colony]], anchored in [[Surabaya]] under Captain Englehorn. Carl claims the ''Venture'' will sail to [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]], but in truth, he intends to film the mysterious [[Skull Island (King Kong)|Skull Island]]. Captain Englehorn reconsiders the voyage, prompted by his crew's speculation of trouble ahead. During the voyage, Ann and Jack fall in love.

The ''Venture'' receives a radio message informing Englehorn there is a warrant for Carl's arrest due to his defiance of the studio's orders to cease production, and instructing Englehorn to divert to [[Rangoon]], but the ship becomes lost in fog and runs aground on Skull Island. Carl and others, including his film crew consisting of cameraman Herb, assistant Preston and boom operator Mike, explore the island and are attacked by natives who kill Mike and a crewman. Englehorn rescues Carl's group, but as they all prepare to leave, the natives secretly abduct Ann to offer her as a sacrifice to [[King Kong|Kong]], a {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} [[ape]]. Jack notices Ann's disappearance, and the crew returns to the island, but Kong flees with Ann into the jungle. Carl catches a glimpse of Kong and becomes determined to film him.

Eventually the ship's captain discovers Denham has an [[arrest warrant]] out for him and decides to change course and head to [[Rangoon]] for the sake of his crew. However, a thick fog sets in and they find themselves at the island, crashing the boat into massive rocks.

[[Image:Kingkong20051.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Jack ([[Adrien Brody]]) comforts Ann ([[Naomi Watts]]).]]

As the steamer's crew try to fix the ship, Denham, Ann, Jack and the film crew go ashore where they are ambushed by a mob of angry natives. Some of the crew are killed, but Denham and the rest of the landing party are saved by the ship's captain. They return to the boat and make preparations to leave, but a native slips on board and kidnaps Ann. She is soon tied up and strapped to a wooden frame that juts across the other side of a massive wall which separates the natives from the rest of the island. The ship's crew arm themselves and attempt a rescue mission, but are too late as Carl watches Ann get taken away by a giant [[ape]].

Ann wins Kong over with her dancing and juggling skills, and begins to grasp his intelligence and capacity for emotion. Englehorn organizes a rescue party, led by his first mate Hayes and Jack, and accompanied by Carl, Herb, Baxter and Preston. The party gets caught between a herd of ''[[Brontosaurus]] baxteri'' and a pack of [[Utahraptor]]-like ''Venatosaurus saevidicus'' hunting them, with Herb and several other men killed in the resulting stampede. Baxter and others return to the ship.

The crew discover that the ape, named "Kong" by the natives, lives in a massive [[jungle]] where [[prehistoric]] creatures have been protected and hidden for millions of years. After some discussion, the captain allows Denham and Jack to go look for her, with 15 armed crewmen as bodyguards. As they trek through the jungle, the crew has a number of dangerous encounters with the local fauna, escaping from a [[Brontosaurus]] [[stampede]] and a (raptor) attack, but 4 of them are killed, including Denham's cameraman. When they are crossing a log bridge, Kong arrives and knocks the bridge down a ravine. Several crewmen are killed by the fall, and the survivors find themselves trapped in a ravine with giant insects, including giant maggot-like earthworms (who kill Lumpy, the ship's cook), crickets, praying mantists, and several things that look like a cross between a spider and a scorpion (''See [[spider pit sequence]]''). Most of the remaining crew are killed, but the survivors are rescued by Captain Englehorn. Alone, Jack continues his

determined search for Ann whilst Denham (whose camera and film were destroyed in the fall down the ravine), decides to capture Kong and bring him back to [[New York City]].

[[Image:Annkkvr.jpg|thumb|right|300px|As a Vastatosaurus Rex is about to attack Ann, Kong comes to her rescue.]]

The remaining party members continue through the jungle when Kong attacks, making them fall into a ravine where Carl loses his camera. Kong rescues Ann from three [[Tyrannosaurus]]-like ''Vastatosaurus rex'', and brings her to his den in the mountains. The remaining rescue party are attacked by giant insects in the ravine, resulting in the death of Hayes and most of the rescue party, but Preston, Carl, Jack, and Hayes' apprentice Jimmy are rescued by Baxter and Englehorn. Jack searches for Ann alone, while Carl decides to capture Kong. Jack finds Kong's lair and accidentally awakens him, but escapes with Ann to where the crew is waiting to capture the pursuing Kong. As Ann begs the crew not to harm him, Kong kills several sailors, but is subdued when Carl knocks him out with [[chloroform]].

Meanwhile, Kong brings Ann to his home high up on a cliff. In an attempt to keep Kong from killing her, Ann dances and does tricks, which amuses Kong, but when Ann stops, Kong becomes angry, and after failing to intimidate her, he leaves. Ann takes the opportunity to escape, but is attacked by three huge '''Vastatosaurus Rex''' dinosaurs (which resemble Tyrannosaurs but are creations of the film). Kong shows up and defeats the creatures, protecting Ann from being eaten alive. Tired, Kong carries Ann back to his cliff and falls asleep with her in his hand.

In New York City, around the [[Christmas and holiday season|Christmas season]], Carl presents "Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World" on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], starring Baxter and an imprisoned Kong. Ann, who refused to take part in the performance, is played by an anonymous chorus girl. Agitated by the chorus girl not being Ann and flashes from cameras, Kong breaks free from the chains, wrecks the theater, and bursts out into the streets of New York in search of Ann, chasing Jack before encountering her again. The U.S. Army attacks, and Kong tries getting Ann and himself to safety by climbing to the top of the [[Empire State Building]].

Eventually, Jack finds Ann and they escape while Kong is busy defending himself from an attack by giant bats. Kong catches up to them, but Denham and the surviving crew members are waiting and attempt to capture Kong, but Kong breaks free of the trap. At the last minute, Denham successfully captures Kong by smashing a bottle of [[chloroform]] across his face. He announces his plans to parade Kong as 'the eighth wonder of the world'.

Six [[United States Navy]] [[Curtiss Falcon|biplanes]] arrive; Kong downs three of them, but is mortally wounded from the planes' gunfire and falls from the building after he dies. As Jack reaches the top of the building to comfort and embrace Ann, civilians, policemen, and soldiers gather around the beast's corpse in the street, one bystander commenting the airplanes got him. Carl makes his way through the crowd, takes one last look at the lifeless Kong and, before walking away, says sadly, "[[It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast]]".

Months later in New York City, Ann is an anonymous [[chorus line]] dancer, while the lovelorn Jack watches a comedy he wrote whose lead role was meant for her. Denham puts the shackled and captive Kong on display in front of a large audience on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], insisting that the chains holding him are "made of [[chrome steel]]". Intimidated by the attention and frightened by the press flashbulbs, Kong breaks free from his chains, charges into the crowd, and runs amok through the city searching for Ann. After finding her, Kong calms down and takes her to [[Central Park]] where he slides around with her on the ice in a brief moment of happiness. Moments later, they are ambushed by the [[United States Army|Army]], who attack Kong with [[machine gun]] fire and [[artillery]] rounds. Reminiscent of his cliff-dwelling, Kong escapes to the [[Empire State Building]], which he proceeds to climb, with one hand, holding Ann gently in the other.

[[Image:Beau-ti-ful.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Ann and Kong share one last moment atop the Empire State Building while the warplanes circle around them.]]

Kong and Ann take in the sunrise at the top of the building but soon enough, six [[United States Navy|Navy]] [[biplane]]s appear and fire at Kong. Ann wants to stay with him but Kong puts her down, climbing to the top of the skyscraper as the planes attack. Ann tries to climb higher to save him, waving at the biplanes to stop. Above her, Kong manages to destroy three of the planes, but is repeatedly strafed and machine-gunned by them. Mortally wounded, Kong eventually succumbs to his injuries, and falls, riddled with bullets, to his death.

==Cast==

Jack rushes up to the building to comfort Ann after Kong falls, while Carl Denham arrives at the scene where reporters, police, soldiers, and bystanders crowd around Kong's body. Gazing upon Kong's corpse, he notes that it wasn't the planes that killed Kong, but rather "It was beauty killed the beast".

{{Multiple image

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| footer = Top to bottom: [[Naomi Watts]], [[Jack Black]], and [[Adrien Brody]] star in the film as [[Ann Darrow]], [[Carl Denham]] and [[Jack Driscoll (character)|Jack Driscoll]] respectively.

| image1 = Naomi_Watts_(36037832511)_(cropped).jpg

| alt1 =

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| image2 = Jack_Black_2_2011.jpg

| alt2 =

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| image3 = Adrien_Brody_2011_Shankbone_(2).jpg

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}}

{{div col}}

* [[Naomi Watts]] as [[Ann Darrow]], a struggling vaudeville actress who is desperate for work. Carl first meets her when she tries to steal an apple from a fruit stand. Further into the voyage, she falls in love with Jack and forms a special relationship with Kong.

* [[Jack Black]] as [[Carl Denham]], a film director who obtained the map to Skull Island. Due to his debts, Carl starts to lose his moral compass and obsesses over his film to the point that he disregards safety.

* [[Adrien Brody]] as [[Jack Driscoll (character)|Jack Driscoll]], a screenwriter who falls in love with Ann. He unwittingly becomes part of the voyage when, while delivering a script to Denham, he is deliberately delayed by the latter before he can get off the ''Venture''. He is the only member of the crew who agrees with Ann that Kong should be left alone.

* [[Thomas Kretschmann]] as Captain Englehorn, the German captain of the ''Venture''. Englehorn shows a dislike for Denham, presumably because of his obsessive nature.

* [[Colin Hanks]] as Preston, Denham's neurotic but honest personal assistant.

* [[Jamie Bell]] as Jimmy, a naive teenager who was found on the ''Venture'', wild and abandoned.

* [[Evan Parke]] as Benjamin "Ben" Hayes, Englehorn's first mate and a mentor to Jimmy, who leads Ann's rescue mission because of his army training and combat experience gained during [[World War I]].

* [[Lobo Chan]] as Choy, Lumpy's best friend and a janitor on the ''Venture''.

* [[Kyle Chandler]] as Bruce Baxter, an actor who specializes in adventure films. He abandons Ann's rescue mission but brings Englehorn to rescue the search party from the insect pit, and is given credit for rescuing Ann during the Broadway display of Kong.

* [[Andy Serkis]] as [[King Kong|Kong]] ([[motion capture]]), a {{convert|25|ft|adj=on}} tall [[prehistoric]] [[ape]] resembling that of a [[silverback]] [[mountain gorilla]] who is around 100–150 years old.<ref name="Konga">{{cite web| author=Wloszczyna, Susan| date=June 26, 2005| title=''King Kong'' goes digital| work=USA Today| url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-26-king-kong_x.htm| access-date=2006-06-14| archive-date=October 20, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020042523/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-26-king-kong_x.htm| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=King Kong- Building a Shrewder Ape| website=Urbancinefile.com| url=http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=11264&s=Features| access-date=March 20, 2021| archive-date=June 29, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629194803/http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=11264&s=Features| url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the last of his species, ''[[Megaprimatus kong]]'',<ref name="The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island">{{cite book|title=The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtdI-BuTEhgC&pg=PP1|access-date=16 June 2013|year=2005|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=978-1-4165-0519-8|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317172057/https://books.google.com/books?id=JtdI-BuTEhgC&pg=PP1|url-status=live}}</ref> and the possible descendant of both the [[Chororapithecus]] and the [[Gigantopithecus]].

** Serkis also plays Lumpy, the ship's cook, barber, and surgeon. A brave sailor, he warns Denham about rumors he has heard about Skull Island and Kong.

* John Sumner as Herb, Denham's loyal cameraman.

* [[Craig Hall (actor)|Craig Hall]] as Mike, Denham's soundman for the journey.

* William Johnson as Manny, an elderly vaudevillian actor and colleague of Darrow.

* [[Mark Hadlow]] as Harry, a struggling vaudevillian actor.

* [[Jed Brophy]] and Todd Rippon appeared in the film as crew members.

{{div col end}}

In addition, director Jackson appears with makeup artist [[Rick Baker]] (who had portrayed Kong and designed makeup for the 1976 version) as the pilot and gunner on the airplane that kills the title character, his children appear as New York children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' co-producer and [[second unit director]] [[Rick Porras]] and ''The Shawshank Redemption'' director [[Frank Darabont]] appear as a gunners in the other airplanes, and [[Bob Burns III|Bob Burns]] and his wife appear as New York bystanders. Frequent Jackson collaborator [[Howard Shore]] makes a [[cameo appearance]] as the conductor of the New York theater from where Kong escapes. Shore was initially set to compose for the film before his exit.

{{endspoiler}}

Watts, Black, and Brody were the first choices for their respective roles with no other actors considered.<ref name=skull>Sibley, pp. 526-542</ref> In preparation for her role, Watts met with the original Ann Darrow, [[Fay Wray]].<ref name=fi>{{cite news|first=Ian |last=Spelling |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue452/interview.html |title=Peter Jackson proves with King Kong that the director, not the beast, is the true eighth wonder of the world |work=[[Science Fiction Weekly]] |date=December 2005 |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619091002/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue452/interview.html |archive-date=June 19, 2006}}</ref> Jackson wanted Wray to make a cameo appearance and say the final line of dialogue, but she died during pre-production at 96 years old.<ref name=Ray>{{cite book | first = Paul A. | last = Woods | title = Peter Jackson: From Gore to Mordor | publisher = Plexus Books | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-85965-356-0 | pages = 176–187 | chapter = Kong Cometh! | ___location = London}}</ref> Black was cast as Carl Denham based on his performance in the 2000 film ''[[High Fidelity (film)|High Fidelity]]'', which had impressed Jackson.<ref>{{cite news | first = Gabriel | last = Snyder | url = https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/black-joins-watts-for-king-kong-1117902512/ | title = Black joins Watts for 'King Kong' | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2004-03-29 | access-date = 2009-05-28 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124146/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117902512 | url-status = live }}</ref> For inspiration, Black studied [[P. T. Barnum]]<ref>{{cite magazine | first = Liane | last = Bornin | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,702507,00.html | title = King' of the World | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2004-09-27 | access-date = 2009-05-29 | archive-date = November 9, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109082955/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,702507,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> and [[Orson Welles]]. "I didn't study [Welles] move for move. It was just to capture the spirit. Very reckless guy. I had tapes of him drunk off his ass."<ref name=Lexi>{{cite magazine | first = Steve | last = Daly | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1141374,00.html | title = LexiKong | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2005-12-23 | access-date = 2009-05-31 | archive-date = November 9, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109082958/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1141374,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> The native extras on Skull Island were portrayed by a mix of Asian, African, Maori and Polynesian actors sprayed with dark makeup to achieve a consistent pigmentation.<ref name=Lexi/>

== Finance & box-office ==

The budget climbed from an initial $150 million to a record-breaking $207 million, making it, by a small margin, the [[List of most expensive films|most-expensive film ever made in actual dollars spent]] (US Dollar equivalent) and the [[List of most expensive films adjusted for inflation|sixth-most expensive film adjusted for inflation]]. Universal Studios only agreed to such an outlay after seeing a screening of the unfinished film, to which executives responded enthusiastically. In addition, it is estimated that marketing and promotion costs exceeded $100 million. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,178983,00.html]

==Production==

With a rather modest 9.7 million dollars on its opening day and worse box office performance than was expected, King Kong failed to live up to its pre-release hype, and did not meet expectations of [[Universal Studios]] executives. Kong was beaten in the box office by its only serious challenger, [[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe]]. As of [[23 January]] 2006, the film had grossed over $210,000,000 in the United States (putting it in the top 5 grossing films of 2005 domestically [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm]) and approximately an additional $309,000,000 outside North America, leading to a worldwide total of around $519,000,000. Typically a Hollywood film must make at least twice its budget, including marketing and promotion ($600,000,000), to break even for the studio. Current box office figures can be found at the [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=kingkong05.htm Box Office Mojo] website.

[[File:KingKongModel.jpg|thumb|Model used in the production of the 2005 adaption of the King Kong series]]

===Development===

==Critical reaction==

King Kong received a generally favorable critical response, garnering an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong/]. The most common criticisms of the film were: excessive length, poorly constructed narrative, over-use of slow motion, overly sentimental scenes, and several moments where the audience was aware of [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] effects. Positive critical reviews regarded it as one of the few good epics and all-round best movies of 2005. Similarly, King Kong has been included in some critics' [http://www.moviecitynews.com/awards/2006/top_tens/critics_01.html Top Ten of 2005] lists.

====Earlier attempts and 1990s====

== Marketing Campaign ==

[[Peter Jackson]] was nine years old when he first saw [[King Kong (1933 film)|the 1933 film]], and was in tears in front of the television when Kong was shot and fell off the Empire State Building. At age 12, he attempted to recreate the film using his parents' [[Super 8 mm film]] camera and a model of Kong made of wire and rubber with his mother's fur coat for the hair, but eventually gave up on the project.<ref name=Ian>{{cite book | first = Ian | last = Pryor | title = Peter Jackson: From Prince of Splatter to Lord of the Rings - An Unauthorized Biography | publisher = [[Thomas Dunne Books]] | pages = [https://archive.org/details/peterjacksonfrom0000pryo/page/209 209–210] | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-312-32294-1 | ___location = New York City | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/peterjacksonfrom0000pryo/page/209 }}</ref> ''King Kong'' eventually became his favorite film and was the primary inspiration for his decision to become a filmmaker as a teenager.<ref name=Morton/> He read books about the making of ''King Kong'' and collected memorabilia, as well as articles from ''[[Famous Monsters of Filmland]]''.<ref name=beg/> Jackson paid tribute to the 1933 film by including [[Skull Island (King Kong)|Skull Island]] as the origin of the zombie plague in his 1992 film ''[[Braindead (film)|Braindead]]''.<ref name=Ray/>

[[Image:King_kong_peter_jackson_brisbane.PNG|thumb|right|250px|A massive advertisement on Turbot St. in [[Brisbane]] in [[Australia]]]]

The marketing campaign for ''King Kong'' started in full swing on [[28 June]] [[2005]], when the [[teaser trailer]] made its debut, first online at the official [[Volkswagen]] [http://www.vw.com website] at 8:45 pm EST, then 8:55 pm EST across media outlets owned by [[NBC-Universal]], including [[NBC]], [[Bravo!]], [[CNBC]] and [[MSNBC]]. That trailer appeared in theatres attached to ''[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]]'', which opened on [[29 June]].

During the filming of Jackson's 1996 film ''[[The Frighteners]]'', [[Universal Pictures]] was impressed with Jackson's [[dailies]] and early visual effects footage. The studio was adamant to work with Jackson on his next project<ref name=Morton>{{cite book | first = Ray | last = Morton | title = King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon - From Fay Wray to Peter Jackson | publisher = Applause: Theatre & Cinema Books | pages = 316–329 | year = 2005 | isbn = 1-55783-669-8 | ___location = New York City}}</ref> and, in late 1995,<ref name=beg/> offered him the chance to direct a remake of the 1954 film ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]''. He turned down the offer, but Universal became aware of Jackson's obsession with ''King Kong'' and subsequently offered him the opportunity to direct that remake.<ref name=Morton/> The studio did not have to worry about lawsuits concerning the [[film rights]] from [[RKO Pictures]] (the studio behind the 1933 film) because the King Kong character is held in the [[public ___domain]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Gabriel | last = Snyder | url = https://variety.com/2005/digital/features/it-s-a-jungle-out-there-2-1117923293/ | title = It's a jungle out there | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2005-05-22 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = August 26, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220826010145/https://variety.com/2005/digital/features/it-s-a-jungle-out-there-2-1117923293/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Jackson initially turned down the ''King Kong'' offer, but he "quickly became disturbed by the fact that someone else would take it over," Jackson continued, "and make it into a terrible film; that haunted me and I eventually said yes to Universal."<ref name=Ian/>

Jackson regularly published a series of 'Production Diaries', which chronicled the making of the film. The diaries started shortly after the [[DVD]] release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (film)|The Return of the King]]'' as a way to give Jackson's ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' fans a glimpse of his next project. These diaries are edited into broadband-friendly installments of three or four minutes each. They consist of features that would normally be seen in a making-of documentary: a tour of the set, a roving camera introducing key players behind the scene, a peek inside the sound booth during last-minute dubbing, or [[Andy Serkis]] doing his ape movements in a motion capture studio.

At the same time, Jackson was working with [[Harvey Weinstein]] and [[Miramax Films]] to purchase the film rights of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', while [[20th Century Fox]] was trying to hire him for the [[Planet of the Apes (2001 film)|2001 remake of ''Planet of the Apes'']]. Jackson turned down ''Planet of the Apes'' and because Weinstein was taking longer than expected to buy ''The Lord of the Rings'' rights, Jackson decided to move forward on ''King Kong''. Weinstein was furious, and, as a result, Jackson proposed a deal between Universal and Miramax Films that the two studios would equally finance ''King Kong'' with Jackson's production company [[WingNut Films]]. Universal would receive distribution rights in the United States, while Miramax Films would cover foreign territories. Jackson was also warranted the right of [[final cut privilege]], a percentage of the gross profits,<ref name=beg/> as well as [[artistic control]]; Universal allowed all filming and visual effects to be handled entirely in New Zealand.<ref name=Morton/> The deal was settled in April 1996, and Jackson, along with wife [[Fran Walsh]], began working on the ''King Kong'' script.<ref name=beg/> In the original draft, Ann was the daughter of famed English archaeologist Lord Linwood Darrow exploring ancient ruins in [[Sumatra]]. They would come into conflict with Denham during his filming, and they would uncover a hidden Kong statue and the map of Skull Island. This would indicate that the island natives were the last remnants of a cult religion that had once thrived on Asia's mainland. Instead of a playwright, Jack was the first mate and an ex-[[World War I]] fighter pilot still struggling with the loss of his best friend, who had been killed in battle during a World War I prologue. The camera-man Herb is the only supporting character in the original draft who made it to the final version. The fight between Kong and the three ''V. rex'' also changed from the original draft. In the draft, Ann is actually caught in the ''V. rex''{{'s}} jaws, where she becomes wedged, and slashed by the teeth; after the fight, Kong gets her out but she is suffering from a fever, from which she then recovers.<ref name=Morton/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/kingkong.txt |title=King Kong 1996 script |publisher=Scifiscripts.com |date=1996 |access-date=July 28, 2024 }}</ref>

The production diaries were released on DVD on [[December 13]], one day before the U.S. release of the film.

Universal approved of the script with [[Robert Zemeckis]] as executive producer, and pre-production for ''King Kong'' commenced. The plan was to begin filming sometime in 1997 for a summer 1998 release date. [[Weta Digital]] and [[Weta Workshop]], under the supervision of [[Richard Taylor (filmmaker)|Richard Taylor]] and [[Christian Rivers]], began work on early visual effects tests,<ref name=Morton/> specifically the complex task of building a [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]] version of New York City circa 1933. Jackson and Walsh progressed with a second draft script, sets were being designed and ___location scouting commenced in Sumatra and New Zealand.<ref name=beg>{{cite book | first = Brian | last = Sibley | author-link = Brian Sibley | title = Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | pages = 201, 316–339 | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-00-717558-2 | ___location = London}}</ref> In late 1996, Jackson flew to production of the 1997 film ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' in Mexico to discuss the part of Ann Darrow with [[Kate Winslet]], with whom he previously worked with on his 1994 film ''[[Heavenly Creatures]]''. [[Minnie Driver]] was also being reportedly considered.<ref name=Ian/> Jackson's choices for Jack Driscoll and Carl Denham included [[George Clooney]] and [[Robert De Niro]].<ref name=Ray/><ref>{{cite web | title=King Kong Casting Buzz | date=December 8, 2003 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/08/king-kong-casting-buzz }}</ref> However, development for ''King Kong'' was stalled in January 1997 when Universal became concerned over the upcoming release of the 1998 film ''[[Godzilla (1998 film)|Godzilla]]'', as well as other ape-related remakes with the 1998 film ''[[Mighty Joe Young (1998 film)|Mighty Joe Young]]''<ref name=going>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Fleming | url = https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/universal-going-ape-for-kong-1117883851/ | title = Universal going ape for 'Kong' | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2003-03-30 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = August 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220805042133/https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/universal-going-ape-for-kong-1117883851/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and the 2001 film ''Planet of the Apes''. Universal abandoned ''King Kong'' in February 1997<ref name=Ian/> after Weta Workshop and Weta Digital had already designed six months' worth of pre-production.<ref name=Ray/> Jackson then decided to start work on [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]].<ref name=Ian/>

In a unique co-promotion, [[New York State]] held a special [[King Kong]] lottery game in which tickets were sold for a one time drawing to be held on [[December 5]], [[2005]] offered a grand prize of $50 million and several second prizes of $1 million.

====Revival 3D version inof the making? project====

With the financial and critical success of the 2001 film ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' and the 2002 film ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'',<ref name=going/> Universal approached Jackson in early 2003,<ref name=skull/> during the post-production of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]'', concerning his interest in restarting development on ''King Kong''. In March 2003, Universal set a target December 2005 release date and Jackson and Walsh brought ''The Lord of the Rings'' co-writer [[Philippa Boyens]] on to help rewrite their 1996 script. Jackson offered [[New Line Cinema]] the opportunity to co-finance with Universal, but they declined.<ref name=skull/> Universal and Jackson originally projected a $150 million budget,<ref name=never>{{cite news | first = Don | last = Groves | url = https://variety.com/2005/film/news/u-peeks-at-primo-primate-1117918907/ | title = U peeks at primo primate | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2005-03-06 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = September 15, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220915052209/https://variety.com/2005/film/news/u-peeks-at-primo-primate-1117918907/ | url-status = live }}</ref> which eventually rose to $175 million.<ref name=max>{{cite news | first = Sharon | last = Waxman | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/movies/a-big-gorilla-weighs-in.html | url-access = subscription | title = A Big Gorilla Weighs In | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 2005-10-27 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = May 19, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150519051105/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/movies/27film.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Jackson made a deal with Universal whereby he would be paid a $20 million salary against 20% of the box office gross for directing, producing and co-writing. He shared that fee with co-writers Walsh (which also covered her producing credit) and Boyens.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Fleming | url = https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/rings-team-nabs-a-king-s-ransom-1117890743/ | title = 'Rings' team nabs a 'King's' ransom | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2003-08-11 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = September 4, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220904060835/https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/rings-team-nabs-a-king-s-ransom-1117890743/ | url-status = live }}</ref> However, if ''King Kong'' were to go over its $175 million budget, the penalties would be covered by Jackson.<ref name=deal>{{cite news | first = Gabriel | last = Snyder | url = https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/primates-getting-pricier-1117931769/ | title = Primates getting pricier | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2005-10-26 | access-date = 2022-09-27 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131509/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117931769 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The BBC and Hollywood Reporter disclosed in late November that a 3D version of the film was proceeding on a test basis, with a spring or summer release planned. This has been officially disclaimed by Universal Studios, however, it is a fact that both

''[[Shrek]]'' and ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' had short 3D versions made for the Studio as theme park attractions. With 7 animation features coming out in 2006 in 3D, it is somewhat likely that a 3D version might be created. The film is more than 90% CGI mastered, so converting the scene to 3D is largely a software exercise, with some creative work required for the closer shots of actors. All the face shots of Kong can be "3D-ised" from the original animation files. It is estimated that the conversion will cost about 10 million dollars, due to the great length of the movie. (3 hours 7 minutes)

Immediately after the completion of ''The Return of the King'', Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, supervised by Taylor, Rivers, and Joe Letteri, started pre-production on ''King Kong''.<ref name=Ray/> Jackson brought back most of the crew he had on ''The Lord of the Rings'' series, including cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, production designer [[Grant Major]], art directors [[Simon Bright]] and [[Dan Hennah]], conceptual designer Alan Lee, and editor Jamie Selkirk.<ref name=Morton/> Jackson, Walsh and Boyens began to write a new script in late October 2003.<ref name=going/> Jackson acknowledged that he was highly unsatisfied with the original 1996 script.<ref name=skull/> "That was actually just Fran and Peter very hurriedly getting something down on paper", Boyens explained. "It was more one of many possible ways the story could go."<ref name=Ray/> The writers chose to base the new screenplay on the 1933 film rather than the 1996 script.<ref name=Ray/> They also included scenes from [[James Ashmore Creelman]]'s screenplay that were either abandoned or omitted during production of the original film.<ref name=Morton/> In the scene where Kong shakes the surviving sailors pursuing Ann and himself from a log into the ravine, for example, directors Merian Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack originally intended to depict giant spiders emerging from the rock to devour their bodies. This was cut from the original release print, and remains known to ''Kong'' fans only via a rare still that appeared in ''Famous Monsters of Filmland''. Jackson included this scene and elaborated upon it.<ref name=Ray/> Jackson, Walsh and Boyens also cited [[Delos W. Lovelace]]'s 1932 [[novelisation]] of ''King Kong'' as inspiration,<ref name=beg/> which included the character Lumpy (Andy Serkis).<ref name=skull/> To make the relationship between Ann Darrow and Kong plausible, the writers studied hours of gorilla footage.<ref>{{cite news | author = Daniel Robert Epstein | url = http://kingkong.ugo.com/features/philippa_boyens/default.asp# | title = Philippa Boyens Interview | work = [[UGO Networks]] | access-date = 2009-06-06 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081005103157/http://kingkong.ugo.com/features/philippa_boyens/default.asp | archive-date = October 5, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Jackson also optioned ''Early Havoc'', a memoir written by [[vaudeville]] performer [[June Havoc]]<ref name=skull/> to help Walsh and Boyens flesh out Ann Darrow's characterisation.<ref name=Lexi/> [[Carl Denham]] was intentionally modeled after and inspired by [[Orson Welles]].<ref name=skull/> Their new draft was finished in February 2004.<ref name=Ray/>

==Comparison to the 1933 film==

The 2005 version follows the overall pattern of the original film closely, but changes some details and adds considerably more background and depth to the characters:

===Filming===

*Unlike the original, the existence of Kong is unknown to Carl Denham before he reaches Skull Island; his reasons to look for the island is to film a land unknown to modern eyes. Along with his desire for fame, fortune and acceptance by his peers, his motivation to capture Kong later in the film is also linked to the deaths of his cameraman and sound recordist, and the destruction of the footage he had already shot.

[[Principal photography]] started on September 6, 2004, at Camperdown Studios in [[Miramar, New Zealand]]. Camperdown housed the native village and the Great Wall, while the streets of New York City were constructed on its backlot and at Gracefield in [[Lower Hutt]], New Zealand. The majority of the SS ''Venture'' scenes were shot aboard a full-scale deck constructed in the parking lot at Camperdown Studio and then were backed with a green screen, with the ocean digitally added in post. Scenes set in the Broadway theater from which King Kong makes his escape were filmed in [[Wellington]]'s [[Opera House, Wellington|Opera House]] and at the [[Auckland Civic Theatre]].<ref name=Morton/> Filming also took place at Stone Street Studios, where a new [[sound stage]] was constructed to accommodate one of the sets.<ref>{{cite news | author = Staff | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000443007 | title = Peter Jackson, filmmaker | date = 2004-02-24 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date = 2009-06-06 | archive-date = January 28, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180128074657/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/search?vnu_content_id=1000443007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Over the course of filming the budget went from $175 million to $207 million over additional visual effects work needed, and Jackson extending the film's running time by thirty minutes. Jackson covered most of the $32 million surplus himself<ref name=deal/> and finished filming in March 2005.<ref name=Morton/>

*While the natives kidnap Ann in both versions, in the 2005 version they are violent towards Denham's team from the start, biting, impaling and striking the visitors; in the 1933 version, the natives had at first attempted to communicate with the visitors and had asked if they could purchase Ann - one of the visitors was familiar with the type of language of the island natives and was able to translate. The language they spoke was akin to [[Indonesian]] and they looked rather like [[Papua]]s. The natives in the New Zealand movie are more of a fantasy creation.

*Ann Darrow becomes a struggling [[vaudeville]] actress who charms Kong by entertaining him with her acrobatic skills.

*Jack Driscoll is changed from the ship's first mate to a playwright and screenwriter.

*Both films have the character of Weston, the theatrical agent. In the original film, Weston represents Denham, while in the 2005 film, Weston has no connection to Denham, but is consulted by Ann for an audition in Driscoll's play.

*The 2005 film emphasises the poverty of [[Great Depression|Depression]]-era New York more than the original.

*Rather than gas bombs, as seen in [[King Kong (1933 film)]], bottled [[chloroform]] is used to knock Kong unconscious. (Though in the original film, Denham mentions the gas bombs containing "trichlorate", which might be a distortion of "[[trichloromethane]]", an alternative name for [[chloroform]].)

*Kong destroys three [[Boeing Stearman|biplanes]] in the 2005 film, while in the original he only destroys one.

*The 2005 film includes a sequence in which the explorers are attacked by insects after Kong makes them fall into a chasm: this is based on a sequence that was cut from the original film (as it was felt to distract from the battle between Kong and the Tyrannosaurus) and has since been lost (though some who worked on the film's creation say it was never actually shot). As a result, the 1933 film gave no explanation for what happened to the men who fell, a gap in the story the 2005 film fills.

*In the 1933 film, Ann Darrow was simply terrified of Kong. In the remake, she comes to sympathise with him and even feel affection, to the extent that she tries to save his life upon leaving the island and in New York. (She was in tears when Kong fell off the Empire State Building and was knocked-out by Carl Denham in Skull Island)

*During Kong's rampage he wrecks a street [[trolley]] rather than the [[elevated]] subway he destroys in the original.

*Kong is seen overtly killing fewer people in the 2005 film, however the fates of the many he has put in harm's way (such as the women he mistakes for Ann or the numerous automobile accidents he causes) are not disclosed to the audience.

*In the original, Denham -- unlike Ann and Driscoll -- is never seen making any physical contact with Kong in the entire movie, even when he gets close enough to do so. Peter Jackson's movie kids around with this by having Denham going, "Look, I am touching the beast! I am actually touching the 25 foot gorilla!"

The film's budget climbed from an initial US$150 million to a then-record-breaking $207 million and received a subsidy of $34 million from New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/fnz-doip_20150414.pdf|title=A Decade of International Production|website=Nzfilm.co.nz|access-date=2022-03-12|archive-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124142710/https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/fnz-doip_20150414.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date=October 28, 2005 | title=''King Kong'' 'goes $32m over budget' | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4384458.stm | access-date=2006-06-14 | ___location=London | archive-date=November 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114084556/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4384458.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> making it at one point the [[List of most expensive films|most expensive film]] yet made. Universal only agreed to such an outlay after seeing a screening of the unfinished film, to which executives responded enthusiastically. Marketing and promotion costs were an estimated $60 million. The film's length also grew; originally set to be 135 minutes, it soon grew to 200, prompting Universal executives to fly to New Zealand to view a rough cut, but they liked it so their concerns were addressed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Colley, Ed |date=December 8, 2005 |title=Jackson: ''King Kong'' is why I'm here |work=The Evening Standard |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/film/article-21146885-details/Jackson%3A+King+Kong+is+why+I%27m+here/article.do |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717010639/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/film/article-21146885-details/Jackson%3A%2BKing%2BKong%2Bis%2Bwhy%2BI%27m%2Bhere/article.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2007 |access-date=2006-06-14}}</ref>

===References to the 1933 version===

* When Denham is considering who to play the part, before he meets Ann, he suggests [[Fay Wray]], but his assistant replies, "Fay...no, she's working for RKO". Denham mutters, "Cooper...I should have known," under his breath. Max Steiner's original score then comes on briefly. In 1933, Wray would have been filming the original ''King Kong'' at RKO with Merian C. Cooper directing.

*The name of the boat Denham and his crew take to Skull Island is "the Venture," just as in the original film.

*Both versions have the story about the [[Norwegian]] ship finding a [[castaway]] from [[Skull Island]], but is done very differently in each film.

* During the ship voyage, Denham films a conversation between his stars Ann Darrow and Bruce Baxter. The dialogue used is from the meeting between Ann Darrow and Jack Driscoll in the original 1933 film.

* The first line of the 1933 film, "Is this the moving picture ship?" is included in this version, spoken this time by Ann.

* The original [[Max Steiner]] score can be heard peppered throughout the movie, with the most notable cue accompanying the "Kong on Stage" scene.

* In the scene where Ann and Denham discuss his film, Naomi Watts is wearing an identical hat to Fay Wray's in the diner scene in the original film.

* The scene in which Ann tries to steal an apple and a deleted scene in which Denham tells Ann to scream at an unseen monster are identical to scenes in the original film.

* At the diner, Denham assures Ann "I'm on the level; no funny-business." this line was in the 1933 movie.

* Kong's New York stage appearance looks very much like a re-enactment of the sacrifice scene of the 1933 film, including the posts the 'beauty' is tied to and the nearly identical performance and costumes of the dancers.

* The line before Kong breaks his chains, "Aw, let him roar! It makes a swell picture," is in both films, but is spoken by Denham in the remake.

* [[Elevated]] subways are shown during Kong's rampage, but unlike the original and the 1976 remake, Kong ignores them this time.

* The [[Pepsodent]], [[Chevrolet]], and [[Coca Cola]] advertisements in New York's [[Times Square]] are present in both films.

* Grenade-type bombs are glimpsed among the bottles of [[chloroform]] in the Venture's hold. The bombs are identical to the "gas bombs" from the 1933 movie, and were reported to be original 1933 Kong props in Peter Jackson's own collection.

* The scene in which Kong breaks the V-Rex's jaw and then plays with it mimics a similar moment in the original 1933 film.

* After the crew captures Kong on the beach, Denham speaks the line: '"We're millionaires, boys! The whole world will pay to see this! I'll share it with all of you. In a few months, his name will be up in lights! KONG, THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD!"' The same line is in the original 'Kong.'

* The background under the main titles at the beginning and end of the movie is the same as the background of the 1933 RKO film.

* The Bruce Baxter character is based on the actor [[Bruce Cabot]], who played Jack Driscoll in the original 1933 film. In an interview Peter Jackson did with Fay Wray when preparing for making the movie, she described Cabot as a vain ladies man, more interested in chasing women than acting. The actor portraying Bruce Baxter, [[Kyle Chandler]], is a spitting image of Cabot.

*As in the 1933 film, the [[Tyrannosaurus rex]]-like dinosaurs have three fingers rather than two.

* In the finale atop the [[Empire State Building]], [[Peter Jackson]] has a small role as one of the pilots who shoots down Kong. This is a reference to the original, in which Merian C. Cooper has a similar cameo as a pilot.

*The last line, in which Carl Denham reflects that 'it was beauty killed the beast', remains the same in both versions (though unlike the original, he does not say it to anyone in particular, and nobody in the entire crowd actually hears him).

Other difficulties included Peter Jackson's decision to change composers from [[Howard Shore]] to [[James Newton Howard]] seven weeks before the film opened.<ref>{{cite news| date=October 18, 2005| title=Jackson drops ''King Kong'' composer| work=BBC| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4352072.stm| access-date=2006-06-14| ___location=London| archive-date=March 9, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309131206/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4352072.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Comparisons to the [[King Kong (1976 film)|1976 remake]]==

* The 1933 original gives no explanation why Kong climbs the [[Empire State Building]]. Both remakes provide explanations for why Kong climbs up their respective buildings.

* The elaborate stage show featuring a re-enactment of the offering of a woman to Kong, complete with an adventurer in safari helmet, is not in the original version, but is seen in the 1976 version and the 2005 version.

* The relationship between Ann and Kong in the 2005 remake is closer to the relationship of Dwan and Kong in the 1976 film than to the original. In the 1933 film, Ann is deathly afraid of Kong, cannot wait to be rescued, and joins in the gawking at him on Broadway. In 1976, as in 2005, Kong is intrigued by his fair-haired captive because she stands up to him. She, in return, ends up with an affection for the beast and is sad at his death. In both remakes, she uses his fascination for her as a way to calm him down with her mere appearance.

* The sympathetic depiction of Kong in the 2005 version is more similar to the 1976 remake than the 1933 original. In the 1933 film, Kong is arguably depicted as a simple monster justly destroyed by the machines of civilized man (although many viewers find him sympathetic despite the upbeat tone of the film's ending). By contrast, in the 1976 film, Kong's fate is linked to 'civilisation's exploitation of the natural world, personified by the Denham equivalent, Wilson, who is killed by Kong, a comeuppance to be expected in a pro-environment film; in addition, the "good" characters of the 1976 version end up rooting for Kong on the basis that he was plucked from his natural environment against his will. Similar themes are found in the 2005 remake, which makes the audience sympathise with Kong's plight (although Denham does not die at the end).

* As in the 1976 version, reporters/photographers stand on the fallen Kong's chest.

* In both versions it is Jack who discovers that the natives have kidnapped the girl.

* Both versions have the first mate killed during the "Log Scene".

* In both versions chloroform is used to subdue Kong.

===Visual Bestiary effects===

[[File:Andy Serkis - King Kong.jpg|350px|thumb|[[Andy Serkis]] in his Kong bodysuit]]

{{spoiler}}

Jackson saw ''King Kong'' as opportunity for technical innovations in [[motion capture]], commissioning [[Christian Rivers]] of [[Wētā FX|Weta Digital]] to supervise all aspects of Kong's performance.<ref name=captures>{{cite news | first = David S. | last = Cohen | url = https://variety.com/2005/digital/news/kong-captures-actor-1117933929/ | title = Kong captures actor | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 2005-12-04 | access-date = 2009-05-29 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124405/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117933929 | url-status = live }}</ref> Jackson decided early on that he did not want Kong to behave like a human, and so he and his team studied hours of gorilla footage.<ref>{{cite web| author=Epstein, Daniel Robert| year=2005| title=Philippa Boyens Interview| work=Kong UGO| url=http://kingkong.ugo.com/features/philippa_boyens/default.asp#| access-date=2006-06-14| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604201936/http://kingkong.ugo.com/features/philippa_boyens/default.asp| archive-date=June 4, 2006| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Serkis was cast in the title role in April 2003<ref name=skull/> and prepared himself by working with gorillas at the [[London Zoo]]. He then traveled to [[Rwanda]], observing the actions and behaviors of gorillas in the wild.<ref name=fi/> Rivers explained that the detailed facial performance capture with Serkis was accomplished because of the similarities between human and gorilla faces. "Gorillas have such a similar looking set of eyes and brows, you can look at those expressions and transpose your own interpretation onto them."<ref name=captures/> Photos of silverback gorillas were also superimposed on Kong's image in the early stages of animation.<ref>{{cite news | first = Susan | last = Wloszczyna | url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-26-king-kong_x.htm | title = 'King Kong' goes digital | date = 2005-06-26 | work = [[USA Today]] | access-date = 2009-06-06 | archive-date = October 20, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111020042523/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-26-king-kong_x.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> Serkis had to go through two hours of motion capture makeup every day, having 135 small markers attached to different spots on his face.<ref name=captures/> Following principal photography, Serkis had to spend an additional two months on a motion capture stage, miming Kong's movements for the film's digital animators.<ref name=Josh>{{cite magazine | first = Josh | last = Rottenberg | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1128298,00.html | title = Cover Story: The Return of the King | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = 2005-11-10 | access-date = 2009-05-31 | archive-date = January 6, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160106163845/http://www.ew.com/article/2005/11/11/king-kong-making-ape-and-more | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Apart from Kong, [[Skull Island]] is also inhabited by [[dinosaurs]] and other large fauna. However, though they may look similar, they are not the familiar species. Inspired by the works of [[Dougal Dixon]], the designers have imagined what 65 million years or more of [[evolution]] would have done to the dinosaurs. Naturally, the creatures are presented as more scientifically accurate than those portrayed in the 1933 version. The names are taken from those given to them on the official website.

Apart from Kong, [[Skull Island (King Kong)|Skull Island]] is inhabited by [[dinosaur]]s and other large [[fauna]]. Inspired by [[Dougal Dixon]]'s works, the designers imagined what 65 million years or more of isolated [[evolution]] might have done to dinosaurs and the other creatures.<ref name="EE doc">''Recreating the Eighth Wonder: The Making of'' King Kong (DVD). Universal. 2006.</ref>

=== Dinosaurs and other reptiles ===

* ''Venatosaurus saevidicus'': 16-24 feet (5-7 m) long. The name means "furious hunter-lizard". This is the carnivorous creature that causes the brontosaur stampede. It appears to be descended from [[dromaeosaurus]] such as [[Velociraptor]].

* ''Foetodon ferreus'': 15-20 feet (5-7 m) long. Its name means "stink tooth"; originally called "Wetasaurus" in reference to WETA Digital. This is the smaller carnivorous creature that attempted to kill Ann after she escaped from Kong. One was killed by a V-rex. Quite possibly evolved from a crocodilean ancestor rather than a dinosaur ancestor.

*''Brontosaurus baxteri'' (not to be confused with [[Apatosaurus]]): 80-120 feet (24-36 m) long.

* ''Ligocristus innocens'': 26-34 feet (7-10 m) long. A [[Hadrosaurid]] (dinosaur with a "duck-bill" shaped snout), likely the dead carcass being eaten by the Foetodon that Ann encounters. The name and description is found on the official website.

* ''Vastatosaurus rex'': 40-50 feet (12-15 m) long. The name means "Ravager Lizard King". It resembles its [[ancestor]], ''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' very closely, except that ''V-rex'' has three fingers instead of two, and is far more massive than its predecessor (approximately 10 feet taller than the T-Rex), with modified teeth, an armoured skull and reptilian scales, and particularly large feet. ''Vastatosaurus'' is a common enemy of King Kong, who fiercely defends his territory on the island.

* ''Ferrucutus cerastes'': A cerotopsian dinosaur only seem for a brief part in the movie (it is also silhouetted). The name was obtainable from the official website.

==Music==

=== Arachnids, insects, and annelids ===

{{Main|King Kong (soundtrack)}}

* Moonspider: 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long.

The original score was initially set to be composed by [[Howard Shore]], who had written several cues for the film.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2005-10-18 |title=Shore leaves Jackson's King Kong |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/oct/18/news1 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628161850/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/oct/18/news1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to creative differences with Jackson, Shore opted out of the project in October 2005 and subsequently [[James Newton Howard]] replaced him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Howard Shore Leaves Kong |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/howard-shore-leaves-kong/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Empire |date=October 17, 2005 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628161854/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/howard-shore-leaves-kong/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=B |first=Brian |date=2005-10-15 |title=James Newton Howard to Score King Kong |url=https://movieweb.com/james-newton-howard-to-score-king-kong/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=MovieWeb |language=en-US |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628161851/https://movieweb.com/james-newton-howard-to-score-king-kong/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With scoring beginning by late-October 2005, Howard had only five weeks to work on the film, as a result, he found the film "hardest to compose".<ref name="Burlingame">{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=2005-11-30 |title=Behind the curtain: 'Kong's' dueling scores |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/awards/behind-the-curtain-kong-s-dueling-scores-1117933728/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630105716/https://variety.com/2005/scene/awards/behind-the-curtain-kong-s-dueling-scores-1117933728/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Recording sessions took place at the [[Sony Pictures Studios|Sony Scoring Stage]], [[California]] and [[Todd-AO]], [[Los Angeles]], consisting of 108-piece orchestra and 40-member choir, and a varied range of instruments used.<ref name="Burlingame"/>

* Decarnocimex: 5-10 feet (150-300 cm) long.

* Arachno-Claw: 4-6 feet (120-180 cm) long.

* Deplector: 4-8 feet (12-24 cm) long.

* Carnictis: 7-13 feet (210-390 cm) long.

* Weta-Rex: 2-3 feet (61-90 cm) long.

The film's soundtrack includes [[Al Jolson]]'s recording of "[[I'm Sitting on Top of the World]]", [[Peggy Lee]]'s "[[Bye Bye Blackbird]]", and some themes from [[Max Steiner]]'s soundtrack for the original 1933 film. The score was released on December 7, 2005, by [[Decca Records]] to positive response. Howard's score was later nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/24379 |title=HFPA - Awards Search (King Kong) |access-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312105852/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/24379 |archive-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref>

=== Centipedes of the jungle floor and canopy ===

* ''Gyas gyas'': 20-30 inches (50-75 cm) long.

* ''Idolon illotus'': 10-14 inches (25-30 cm) long.

* ''Idolon venefaucus'': 20-24 inches (50-60 cm) long.

* ''Megapede dereponecis'': 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) long.

* ''Megapede horridus'': 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) long.

* ''Megapede humus'': 26-40 inches (65-80 cm) long.

* ''Omnimatercimex harpeforceps'': 30-35 inches (75-82 cm) long.

=== Mammals =Marketing==

The marketing campaign started in full swing on June 27, 2005, when the teaser trailer made its debut, first online at the official [[Volkswagen]] website at 8:45&nbsp;p.m. EDT, then 8:55&nbsp;p.m. EDT across media outlets owned by [[NBCUniversal]] (the parent of Universal Studios), including [[NBC]], [[CTV Drama Channel|Bravo!]], [[CNBC]], and [[MSNBC]]. That trailer appeared in theatres attached to ''[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]]'', which opened on June 29.<ref name="Konga"/>

* Terapusmordax (bat-like flying rodent): 8-10-foot (160-300 cm) wingspan.

* [[Sumatran Rat-Monkey]] (carniverous rodent/primate crossbreed): 3 feet (90 cm) long.

Jackson also regularly published a series of 'Production Diaries', which chronicled the film's production. The diaries started shortly after the [[DVD-Video|DVD]] release of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]'' as a way to give Jackson's ''The Lord of the Rings'' fans a glimpse of his next project. These diaries are edited into broadband-friendly installments of three or four minutes each. They consist of features that would normally be seen in a making-of documentary: a tour of the set, a roving camera introducing key players behind the scene, a peek inside the sound booth during last-minute dubbing, or [[Andy Serkis]] doing his ape movements in a motion capture studio.<ref>{{cite web | author=Abel, Glenn| date= December 19, 2005| title=''King Kong'': Peter Jackson's Production Diaries| work=Hollywood Reporter| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001700175|access-date=2006-06-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060513134323/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001700175 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-05-13}}</ref>

==Trivia==

* When Kong is revealed to the public for the first time, it is [[Howard Shore]], whose score was dropped from the film, conducting the orchaestra as the curtain goes up. He ends up being crushed by Kong, as the gorilla leaps from the stage.

* [[Peter Jackson]] was paid $20 million [[USD]] to direct this film. This is the highest salary Hollywood ever paid a director.

* For the character of Kong, [[Andy Serkis]], who modelled its movement, went to London Zoo to watch the gorillas, but was unsatisfied. He ended up going to [[Rwanda]] to observe mountain gorillas in the wild, with a company called Rainbow Tours.

* [[Peter Jackson]] was a nine-year-old in the [[New Zealand]] town of [[Pukerua Bay]] when he first saw the 1933 version of [[King Kong]]. He was in tears in front of the [[TV]] when the big [[gorilla]] slipped off the [[Empire State Building]].

*[[Fay Wray]], the actress who played Ann in the original movie, was originally planned to say the movie's final line ("It was beauty killed the beast.") However, when she passed away before doing the scene the line went back to the character of Carl Denham (played by [[Jack Black]]).

[[Image:15939121_full.jpg|250px|thumb|[[2005]] stamp set issued by [[New Zealand]] commemorating the film.]]

* [[Forbes Magazine]] asked a small sample of scientists who would win in a battle between [[King Kong]] and a [[Tyrannosaurus Rex]]. The consensus named Kong as the probable victor.

* Cinematographer [[Andrew Lesnie]] suggested shooting the movie in black and white at one point during pre-production..

* An ad for [[Universal Pictures]] is visible while Kong is tearing up [[Times Square]]. In actuality, an ad for [[Columbia Pictures]] was in the same spot in the 1933 film, but the studio refused to allow its name to be used, so effects artists replaced it.

* In the scene where Jack Driscoll is searching for a place to sleep in the animal storage hold, a box behind him reads '[[Sumatran Rat Monkey]] - Beware the bite!' - a reference to the creature that causes all the mayhem in [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[film]] ''[[Braindead (1992 film)|Braindead]]'' (and is also, according to the [[1992]] [[film]], only found on [[Skull Island]]).

*In Peter Jackson's original 1996 draft of the script, Ann was the daughter of famed English archaeologist Lord Linwood Darrow exploring ancient ruins in [[Sumatra.]] They would come into conflict with Denham during his filming, and they would uncover a hidden Kong statue and the map of Skull Island. This would indicate that the island natives were a cult religion that once thrived on the mainland of Asia, and all trace of the cult was wiped out, except for the few on the island. Instead of a playwright, Jack was the first mate and an ex-World War I fighter pilot still struggling with the loss of his best friend, who was killed in battle. Of all the supporting characters in the film, only Herb the camera-man was the only one in the original draft who made it to the final version.

*In the 1933 original, the ship-cook's name was originally to be "Lumpy", and was changed to "Charlie" in the movie, possibly because a [[Chinese-American]] actor, Victor Wong, was cast in the part. However, theater programs at the film's premiere screenings at [[Grauman's Chinese Theater]] (and maybe other theaters) gave the character's name as "Lumpy" next to Victor Wong's name. (The 1933 film's DVD -- in the keepsake tin -- includes a reproduction of that Graumann's program.) In the 2005 movie, "Lumpy" and "Choy" (changed from "Charlie") are seperate characters this time. Lumpy is the cook, and Choy is probably his assistant, and they might be best friends also, as revealed (spoiler) by Lumpy's extreme grief and rage at Choy's death after the fall from the log bridge.

*In the film, (spoiler) Herb the camera-man is killed when he tries to save the film and camera, before being torn apart by the raptors. In the 1996 draft, he crawls into the belly of a supposedly dead aqautic dinosaur to retrieve the camera it swallowed, but it was temporarily stunned and swallows him alive. Peter Jackson thought this version would be too graphic to show audiences.

* [[Peter Jackson]] has a cameo as one of the pilots who shoots at Kong during his last stand on the [[Empire State Building]]. This is somewhat similar to the 1933 original, where Merian Cooper is one of the pilots who kills Kong.

*An unintentional, but nevertheless obvious parallel was made by countless moviegoers between the appearance of the "Carnictus" worms and an uncircumcized penis. The topic overwhelmed many online message boards relating to the film. The design of the worms was in fact based on the common [[Glycera|bloodworm]].

*The scene on the beach where Denham tells Ann to scream during a film test and Kong is heard roaring upon hearing her was subsequently cut from the film, despite being shown all around the world via Internet.

*Peter Jackson took the character of burly, gruff, lovesick sailor Jack and split him into three characters: Bruce Baxter, the vain yet kind-to-Ann actor, Ben Hayes, the grim, tough first mate of the ship, and Jack Driscoll the shy and lovesick playwright.

* In the film, King Kong is displayed at the [[Palace Theatre, New York|Palace Theatre]] in New York City. Along with the film itself, the marquee makes references to the folktale of "[[Beauty and the Beast]]". Interestingly enough, the Palace is the same theatre that Disney's ''[[Beauty and the Beast (theatrical production)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' opened at in [[1994]] (and ran here until [[1999]]). On a side note, by 1933, the Palace had become a full-fledged movie house no longer running stage acts.

*The two scenes in the trailer contain music from this film's composer, [[James Newton Howard]]'s, earlier work, ''[[Batman Begins]]'', which was just released Summer 2005.The scenes:

*# The scene in which the crew is searching for Ann has music from the scene in ''[[Batman Begins]]'' in which Bruce Wayne rescues Henri Ducard from the burning building.

*#The sequence after we see Kong and the dinosaur battle has music from the scene where Bruce and Ra's al Ghul swordfight. Both extracts are taken from the track "Myotis" in the official soundtrack.

* When this film was in development in 1996 and in 2003, the first choice for Ann Darrow was [[Kate Winslet]].

* The 1933 movie features a sexual subtext with the scene wherein King Kong examines Darrow's clothes. The new movie instead presents Darrow (now played by Naomi Watts) as an acrobatic juggler instead of a simple object of lust. In addition, in the new film King Kong is more snubbish towards Darrow after she tries running away during their stay in the island.

* The cab driven by Jack Driscoll in the end has a licence plate that reads "NZ 16". "NZ" is the abbreviation for [[New Zealand]] (Jackson's homeland) and "16" is most likely a reference to the 16-millimeter camera that Jackson got at the age of 20, which he credits as starting his film career. [http://tbhl.theonering.net/peter/interviews/broms_jackson.html]

A [[novelisation]] of the film and a [[prequel]] novel entitled ''King Kong: The Island of the Skull'' were also written. A multi-platform [[video game]], entitled ''[[King Kong (2005 video game)|Peter Jackson's King Kong]]'', was released, which featured an alternate ending. There was also a hardback book entitled ''[[The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island]]'', featuring artwork from [[Weta Workshop]] to describe the film's fictional wildlife.

===Unanswered questions and inconsistencies===

The original ''King Kong'' featured several inconsistencies and unanswered questions. Perhaps deliberately, the 2005 remake makes no attempt at dealing with them.

Jackson has expressed his desire to remaster the film in 3-D at some point in the future.<ref>{{cite news | date=April 25, 2006 | title=Film director 'sees future in 3D' | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4942338.stm | access-date=2006-06-13 | ___location=London | archive-date=October 14, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014201619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4942338.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson was also seen shooting with a 3-D camera at times during the shoot of ''King Kong''.<ref>{{cite news | author=McLean, Robyn | date= November 12, 2005| title=''King Kong'' movie may go 3D| work=The Dominion Post}}</ref>

* As in the 1933 film, there is no explanation of how Denham transports King Kong from Skull Island to New York on a tramp steamer apparently not much larger than him; nor is it shown how he was put onto the stage in New York. However, there are some subtle hints, such as photographs of the ''Venture'' crew hauling elephants on board with cranes, as well as a tracking shot across the ship's large deck.

* As in the 1933 film, there is no explanation of Kong's origin. Unlike the 1933 film, however, bones of huge gorillas are visible in his cave, implying that he is the last surviving member of his species, an explanation that Peter Jackson has offered in interviews. However, in the children's book sereies, " Kong 8th wonder of the world" it states in one book that Ann shows Kong a statue of another giant gorilla, and Kong is confused because he hadn't seen another one of his kind for a long time.

* One of the most famous absurdities of the 1933 film is that the natives of Skull Island, when building a solid wall to protect themselves from the island's giant monsters, included a giant wooden door large enough to accommodate any of the creatures. The 2005 film offers no answers, and in addition shows Kong leaping over and climbing over a fiery moat and 100-foot wall that is supposedly designed to keep him out.

* Snow in New York: When King Kong is in New York, Central Park and many street scenes indicate snow and ice, yet other street scenes show no snow at all, and there is no snow on the roofs King Kong is crossing nor in the Empire State Building scenes.

* A prominent sideplot featuring the young misfit crewmember Jimmy is dropped following the party's return to New York. The character is neither seen nor mentioned from that point on and the film ends with the plot unresolved.

== Cast Reception==

===Box office===

* [[Naomi Watts]] as Ann Darrow

[[File:KingKongOdeonpremiere.jpg|thumb|The billboard at the [[Odeon Leicester Square]] premiere]]

* [[Adrien Brody]] as Jack Driscoll

In North America, ''King Kong'' grossed $9.8 million during its Wednesday opening and $50.1 million over its first weekend for a five-day total of $66.2 million from around 7,500 screens at 3,568 theaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=kingkong05.htm |title=King Kong |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2015-01-02 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708000538/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=kingkong05.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Some analysts considered these initial numbers disappointing, saying that studio executives had been expecting more.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=1641 |title=Kong's King |website=The Numbers News |first=C.S. |last=Strowbridge |date=2005-12-19 |access-date=2015-01-02 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213010/http://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=1641 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1966&p=.htm. |title='King Kong' Mighty But No Monster |first=Brandon |last=Gray |date=2005-12-19 |access-date=2015-01-02 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305211658/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1966&p=.htm. |url-status=live }}</ref> The film went on to gross $218.1 million in the North American market and ended up in the top five highest-grossing films of the year there.<ref>{{cite web | title=2005 Domestic Grosses | work=boxofficemojo.com | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm | access-date=2006-05-11 | archive-date=January 17, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117001752/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> The film grossed an additional $338.8 million at the box office in other regions for a worldwide total of $556.9 million, which not only ranked it in the top five highest-grossing films of 2005 worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|title=2005 Worldwide Box Office|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2005/|access-date=2020-06-28|publisher=BoxOfficeMojo.com|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040611/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2005/|url-status=live}}</ref> but also helped the film bring back more than two-and-a-half times its production budget.

* [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] as Carl Denham

* [[Thomas Kretschmann]] as Captain Englehorn

* [[Evan Parke]] as Ben Hayes

* [[Andy Serkis]] as Lumpy the Cook, and [[King Kong]] ([[motion capture]] and voice - using live digital morphing, referred to as a "Kongaliser")

* [[Colin Hanks]] as Preston

* [[Jamie Bell]] as Jimmy

* [[Lobo Chan]] as Choy

* [[Kyle Chandler]] as Bruce Baxter

* [[John Sumner]] as Herb the camera man

* [[Pip Mushin]] as Zelman

* [[Ric Herbert]] as Poehler (Sleazy Man)

* [[Jim Knobeloch]] as Farragher (Thuggish Man)

* [[David Pittu]] as Charles Weston

* [[Ray Woolf]] as Helmsman

* [[Chris A. Romero]] as Jeff

* [[Al Jolson]] performer of song that plays during the introduction of New York.

During its home video release, ''King Kong'' sold over $100 million worth of DVDs in the largest six-day performance in Universal Studios history.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 3, 2006 |title='King Kong' DVD scares up $100 mln 1st-week sales |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=Reuters |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1802180 |access-date=2006-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420153713/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1802180 |archive-date=April 20, 2006 }}</ref> ''King Kong'' sold more than 7.6 million DVDs, accumulating nearly $194 million worth of sales numbers in the North American market alone.<ref>{{cite web | title=King Kong DVD Sales | website=The-numbers.com | url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KKONG-DVD.php | access-date=February 20, 2020 | archive-date=June 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627162320/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KKONG-DVD.php | url-status=live }}</ref> As of June 25, 2006, ''King Kong'' has generated almost $38 million from DVD rental gross.<ref>{{cite web | title = ''King Kong''/DVD and Video | website = Box Office Mojo | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=homevideo&id=kingkong05.htm | access-date = 2007-01-03 | archive-date = April 2, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190402155611/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=homevideo&id=kingkong05.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> In February 2006, [[Turner Broadcasting System]] ([[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]]/[[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]]) and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] paid Universal Pictures $26.5 million for the television rights to the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KKONG.php |title=Movie King Kong - Box Office Data, News, Cast Information |website=The-numbers.com |access-date=2011-08-21 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109212824/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KKONG.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==

===Won (1)===

'''[[National Board of Review]]:'''

*Special Achievement Award - For the special effects

===NominatedCritical (2)response===

''King Kong'' received acclaim from critics. On [[Review aggregator|aggregate review]] site [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 84% based on 266 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Featuring state-of-the-art special effects, terrific performances, and a majestic sense of spectacle, Peter Jackson's remake of ''King Kong'' is a potent epic that's faithful to the spirit of the 1933 original."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong|title=King Kong (2005)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=February 24, 2020|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208011617/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 81 out of 100, based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/king-kong|title=King Kong (2005)|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803132437/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/king-kong|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemascore.com/|title=CinemaScore|website=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=January 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119025202/http://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[Golden Globes]]:'''

*Best Director - Motion Picture (Peter Jackson)

*Best Original Score - Motion Picture (James Howard)

It was placed on the 'top ten' lists of several critics,<ref>{{cite web | title=The 2005 Top Ten's | work=Awards Watch | url=http://www.moviecitynews.com/awards/2006/top_tens/critics_01.html|access-date=2006-05-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060324050559/http://www.moviecitynews.com/awards/2006/top_tens/critics_01.html |archive-date = March 24, 2006}}</ref> with [[Roger Ebert]] giving it four stars, and listed it as 2005's eighth-best film.<ref>{{cite web| author=Ebert, Roger| date=December 18, 2005| title=Ebert's Best 10 Movies of 2005| work=rogerebert.com| url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20051218%2FCOMMENTARY%2F512180302| access-date=2006-05-11| archive-date=November 17, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117004020/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20051218%2FCOMMENTARY%2F512180302| url-status=dead}}</ref> The film received four [[Academy Award]] nominations, for [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Visual Effects]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Sound Mixing]] ([[Christopher Boyes]], [[Michael Semanick]], [[Michael Hedges (sound engineer)|Michael Hedges]], [[Hammond Peek]]), [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Sound Editing]], and [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Production Design]], winning all but the last.<ref name="Oscars2006">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/78th-winners.html |title=The 78th Academy Awards (2006) Nominees and Winners |access-date=2011-11-20 |work=oscars.org |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929062922/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/78th-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Oscars 2006: The nominees | work=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4665684.stm | access-date=2008-11-06 | date=2006-01-31 | ___location=London | archive-date=February 3, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203023231/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4665684.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the depiction of Kong the most convincing computer-generated character in film in 2005.<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Our 10 Favorite CG Characters | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | url = https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20041669_20041686_20046918_9,00.html | access-date = 2007-07-30 | archive-date = August 6, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140806011402/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20041669_20041686_20046918_9,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Some criticised the film for retaining racist stereotypes that had been present in the 1933 film, though it was not suggested that Jackson had done this intentionally.<ref>{{cite news | title=Big black and bad stereotyping | work=Times Online | author=McKenzie, Kwame | date=December 13, 2005 | url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/big-black-and-bad-stereotyping-bfp57hdjdsm | access-date=2006-05-11 | archive-date=October 19, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019100537/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article2433313.ece | url-status=live }}</ref> ''King Kong'' ranks 450th on ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine's 2008 list of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/500/10.asp |title=Empire Features |publisher=Empireonline.com |access-date=2011-08-21 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116171206/http://www.empireonline.com/500/10.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' reviewer Peter Bradshaw said that it "certainly equals, and even exceeds, anything Jackson did in ''Lord of the Rings''."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/dec/09/1|title=King Kong|work=[[The Guardian]]|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|date=December 9, 2005|access-date=December 23, 2017|archive-date=November 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115134635/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/dec/09/1|url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[Charlie Brooker]], also of ''The Guardian'', gave a negative review in which he describes the film as "sixteen times more overblown and histrionic than necessary".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/jan/06/features.tvandradio|title=Supposing I'd enjoyed King Kong second time round|last=Brooker|first=Charlie|author-link=Charlie Brooker|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 6, 2006|access-date=December 23, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224042407/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/jan/06/features.tvandradio|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Video game ==

* ''[[Peter Jackson's King Kong (video game)|Peter Jackson's King Kong]]'' is a multi-platform video game based on the 2005 film.

===Accolades===

== External links ==

{|class="wikitable"

* [http://kingkongmovie.com Official website]

|-style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"

* {{imdb title|id=0360717|title=King Kong}}

! Award

* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_kong/ King Kong] at Rottentomatoes.com

! Subject

* [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=kingkong05.htm King Kong] at Boxofficemojo.com

! Nominee

* [http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/king_kong/hd/ Trailer(s) in HD]

! Result

* [http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/ost.asp?soundtrack=5286 King Kong] music detail @ the SoundtrackINFO project

|-

* [http://www.kongisking.net/ Kong is King.net] - fansite featuring behind-the-scenes footage

|rowspan=4| [[Academy Awards]]

* [http://kingkongthemovie.com KingKongthemovie.com] - all Kong news and other media

|[[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]

* [http://www.killermovies.com/k/kingkong/ Headlines for the new King Kong]

|[[Grant Major]], [[Dan Hennah]], and [[Simon Bright]]

* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.10/kingkong.html WIRED: Return of the King]

|{{nom}}

* [http://www.konglives.net KongLives.net]

|-

* The post production diaries can be found at [http://www.kongisking.net/kong2005/proddiary/ KongisKing.net]

|[[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]]

* [http://citylink.co.nz/services/webcam/courtenay/ Webcam of premier ___location]<!--that white sign reads King Kong-->

|[[Mike Hopkins (sound editor)|Mike Hopkins]] and [[Ethan Van der Ryn]]

* [http://www.horrorchannel.com/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=692 King Kong movie review at The Horror Channel]

|{{won}}

* [http://www.obuolys.lt/kinozona/filmas-king-kongas/ King Kong movie review and critics opinions, at Lithuanian web site (LT)]

|-

* [http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-12-11/35638.html Why Jackson's ''King Kong'' will Make You Cry]

|[[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound Mixing]]

* [http://www.allaboutstuff.com/Show_Business/The_Ape_Before_King_Kong.asp The Ape Before King Kong - Article]

|[[Christopher Boyes]], [[Michael Semanick]], [[Michael Hedges (sound engineer)|Michael Hedges]], and [[Hammond Peek]]

|{{won}}

|-

|[[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]

|[[Joe Letteri]], [[Brian Van't Hul]], [[Christian Rivers]], and [[Richard Taylor (filmmaker)|Richard Taylor]]

|{{won}}

|-

|[[American Film Institute]]

|[[American Film Institute Awards 2005|Top Ten Films]]

|King Kong

|{{won}}

|-

|[[American Society of Cinematographers Award]]

|[[American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases|Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases]]

|[[Andrew Lesnie]]

|{{nom}}

|-

| [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]

| Top Box Office Films

| [[James Newton Howard]]

| {{won}}

|-

|[[Art Directors Guild]]

|[[Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a Fantasy Film|Excellence in Production Design for a Fantasy Film]]

|Grant Major, Dan Hennah, Joe Bleakley, Simon Bright, Simon Harper, David A. Cook, and Jacqui Allen

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=3|[[British Academy Film Awards]]

|[[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Special Visual Effects]]

|Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor

|{{won}}

|-

|[[BAFTA Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]

|Grant Major

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]

|Hammond Peek, Christopher Boyes, Mike Hopkins, and Ethan Van der Ryn

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Critics Choice Awards]]

| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]

| King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Director]]

| Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=4|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]]

|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]

|Andrew Lesnie

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]

|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Cinema Audio Society]]

|[[Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Live Action|Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture]]

|Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association]]

|[[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Picture]]

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=5|[[Empire Awards]]

|[[Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy|Best Sci-Fi/Superhero]]

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Empire Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Empire Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]

|Andy Serkis

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Empire Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Empire Award for Best Film|Best Film]]

|rowspan=2|King Kong

|{{won}}

|-

|[[Georges Award]]

|Best Blockbuster Movie

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Golden Globe Awards]]

|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|[[Peter Jackson]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]

|[[James Newton Howard]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=3|[[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Golden Reel Awards]]

|rowspan=2|[[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Foreign Language Feature Film|Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Foreign]]

|Ethan Van der Ryn, Mike Hopkins, Brent Burge, David Farmer, Dave Whitehead, John Simpson, Hayden Collow, Melanie Graham, Matthew Lambourn, Justin Webster, Katy Wood, Peter Mills, Craig Tomlinson, Ray Beentjes, Jason Canovas, Martin Kwok, Polly McKinnon, Chris Ward, Jenny T. Ward, Robyn McFarlane, and Carolyn McLaughlin

|{{nom}}

|-

|Matt Stutter

|{{nom}}

|-

|-

|[[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore|Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Music]]

|Jim Weidman and Peter Myles

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=12|[[JoBlo.com|Golden Schmoes Awards]]

|Best DVD/Blu-Ray of the Year

|'Deluxe Edition'

|{{nom}}

|-

|Favorite Movie of the Year

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Director of the Year

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|Most Overrated Movie of the Year

|rowspan=2|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Special Effects of the Year

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Actress of the Year

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|Coolest Character of the Year

|'Kong'

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Music in a Movie

|rowspan=2|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Trailer of the Year

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Action Sequence of the Year

|rowspan=2|'Kong vs. T-Rexes'

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=2|Most Memorable Scene in a Movie

|{{nom}}

|-

|'Kong on top of the Empire State Building'

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Hollywood Professional Association]]

|[[HPA Award for Outstanding Color Grading – Feature Film|Outstanding Color Grading Feature Film in a DI Process]]

|David Cole

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[HPA Award for Outstanding Visual Effects – Feature Film|Outstanding Compositing - Feature Film]]

|Erik Winquist, Charles Tait, Johan Åberg, and G.G. Heitmann Demers

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[International Cinephile Society]]

|Best Actress

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Production Design

|Grant Major

|{{sort|Runner-up2|{{draw|2nd place}}}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[International Film Music Critics Association]]

|Film Score of the Year

|rowspan=2|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Jupiter Award (film award)|Jupiter Awards]]

|Best International Director

|Peter Jackson

|{{won}}

|-

|Best International Actress

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=6|[[Las Vegas Film Critics Society]]

|Best Cinematography

|Andrew Lesnie

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Editing

|Jamie Selkirk

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Costume Design

|Terry Ryan

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Art Direction

|Simon Bright and Dan Hennah

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Visual Effects

|rowspan=3|King Kong

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Picture

|{{sort|Runner-up3|{{draw|3rd place}}}}

|-

|rowspan=3|[[London Critics Circle Film Awards]]

|[[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Film of the Year|Film of the Year]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actress of the Year|Actress of the Year]]

|Naomi Watts

|{{won}}

|-

|[[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Director of the Year|Director of the Year]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{won}}

|-

|[[MTV Russia Movie Awards]]

|Best Foreign Movie

|rowspan=2|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[MTV Movie & TV Awards]]

|[[MTV Movie Award for Movie of the Year|Best Movie]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[MTV Movie Award for Best Fight|Best Fight]]

|Kong vs the planes

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[National Board of Review]]

|Special Achievement Award

|

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=3|[[Online Film Critics Society Awards]]

|[[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]

|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=12|[[Online Film & Television Association]]

|Best Actress

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Music, Original Score

|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Cinematography

|Andrew Lesnie

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Production Design

|Grant Major, Joe Bleakley, Simon Bright, and Dan Hennah

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Costume Design

|Terry Ryan

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Makeup and Hairstyling

|Gino Acevedo, Rick Findlater, Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Dominie Till

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Sound Mixing

|Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, and Hammond Peek

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Sound Effects Editing

|Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Visual Effects

|Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Titles Sequence

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Cinematic Moment

|T-Rex Fight

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Official Film Website

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Phoenix Film Critics Society]]

|Best Production Design

|Grant Major

|{{won}}

|-

|Best Visual Effects

|rowspan=4|King Kong

|{{won}}

|-

|[[Huabiao Award]]

|Outstanding Translated Foreign Film

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards|Rondo Award]]

|Best Film

|{{won}}

|-

|[[San Diego Film Critics Society Awards]]

|[[San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Film|Best Picture]]

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=8|[[Saturn Award]]

| [[Saturn Award for Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release|Best DVD Special Edition Release]]

| "Deluxe Extended Edition" release.

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]]

| King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{won}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]]

|[[Philippa Boyens]], [[Fran Walsh]], and Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]

|[[Naomi Watts]]

|{{won}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume]]

|Terry Ryan

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-Up]]

|Richard Taylor, Gino Acevedo, Dominie Till, and [[Peter King (make-up artist)|Peter King]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]

|Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=4|[[Scream Awards]]

|Best Remake

|King Kong

|{{won}}

|-

|Scream Queen

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Fantasy Movie

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best F/X

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Southeastern Film Critics Association]]

|Best Picture

|King Kong

|{{sort|Runner-up9|{{draw|9th place}}}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]

|Most Intrusive Musical Score

|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|Most Overrated Film

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[St. Louis Film Critics Association]]

|[[St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]

|Peter Jackson

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Cinematography or Visual/Special Effects

|Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard Taylor

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=4|[[Teen Choice Awards]]

|Choice Action Adventure

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|Choice Rumble

|King Kong vs. T-Rex

|{{nom}}

|-

|Choice Sleazebag

|[[Jack Black]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|Choice Hissy Fit

|King Kong

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Toronto Film Critics Association]]

|Special Citation

|Andy Serkis

|{{won}}

|-

|rowspan=4|[[Visual Effects Society]]

|Outstanding Visual Effects in an<br />Effects Driven Motion Picture

|Joe Letteri, [[Eileen Moran]], Christian Rivers, and [[Eric Saindon]]

|{{won}}

|-

|Outstanding Performance by an Animated<br />Character in a Live Action Motion Picture

|[[Andy Serkis]], Christian Rivers, Atsushi Sato, and [[Guy Williams (visual effects)|Guy Williams]]

|{{won}}

|-

|Outstanding Created Environment in a<br />Live Action Motion Picture

|[[Dan Lemmon]], [[R. Christopher White]], [[Matt Aitken]], and Charles Tait

|{{won}}

|-

|Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture

|[[Erik Winquist]], Michaell Pangrazio, Steve Cronin, and Suzanne Jandu

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan=2|[[World Soundtrack Awards]]

|[[World Soundtrack Award for Soundtrack Composer of the Year|Soundtrack Composer of the Year]]

|rowspan=2|James Newton Howard

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Score of the Year|Best Original Soundtrack of the Year]]

|{{nom}}

|-

|[[Vancouver Film Critics Circle]]

|[[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]

|Naomi Watts

|{{nom}}

|-

|}

==Cinematic and literary allusions==

* Jack Black and critics have noted Carl Denham's similarity to [[Orson Welles]].<ref name="Black">{{cite web | author=Spelling, Ian|date=December 2005| title=Interview: Peter Jackson proves with ''King Kong'' that the director, not the beast, is the true eighth wonder of the world | work=Sci Fi.com | url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue452/interview.html|access-date=2006-06-21 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060619091002/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue452/interview.html |archive-date = June 19, 2006 }}</ref>

* When Driscoll is searching for a place to sleep in the animal storage hold, a box behind him reads ''Sumatran Rat Monkey – Beware the bite!'' This is a reference to the creature that causes mayhem in Jackson's 1992 film ''[[Braindead (film)|Braindead]]'',<ref name="References">{{cite web| author=Wloszczyna, Susan| date=December 15, 2005| title=''King Kong'' abounds with fun facts for fanboys| work=USA Today| url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-12-15-kong-fanboy-references_x.htm| access-date=2006-06-21| archive-date=May 23, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523132809/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-12-15-kong-fanboy-references_x.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> itself a reference to the [[Giant Rat of Sumatra|giant rat of Sumatra]] mentioned in [[Sherlock Holmes]]. In that film, the rat monkey is described as being found only on [[Skull Island (King Kong)|Skull Island]].

* Jimmy reads part of [[Joseph Conrad]]'s ''[[Heart of Darkness]]'' while en route to Skull Island, at one point comparing their journey to that of the [[novella]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Manlove |first=Clifford |editor-last=Higgins |editor-first=MaryEllen |title=Hollywood's Africa After 1994 |publisher=Ohio University Press |date=2012 |pages=135–136 |chapter=Chapter 8: 'An Image of Africa': Representations of Modern Colonialism in Peter Jackson's ''King Kong'' |isbn=978-0-8214-2015-7}}</ref>

===References to original 1933 ''King Kong''===

* [[Fay Wray]], the original Ann Darrow, was asked by Jackson to appear in a brief cameo role in which she would utter the film's final line: "It was beauty killed the beast." At first, she flatly refused, but then seemed to consider the possibility. However, she died shortly after her meeting with Jackson.<ref name="Black"/> As in the original film, the line ultimately went to the character of Carl Denham.

* An ad for Universal is visible while Kong is tearing up [[Times Square]]. In the 1933 film, an ad for [[Columbia Pictures]] appeared in the same spot, and the production designers replicated it, but Columbia asked for a large amount of money for its use, so effects artists replaced it.<ref name="References"/>

* When Denham is considering who to play the part before meeting Ann, he suggests "Fay", but his assistant Preston replies, "She's doing a [[King Kong (1933 film)|picture]] with [[RKO Pictures|RKO]]." Music from the 1933 film is heard, and Denham mutters, "Cooper, huh? I might have known." Fay Wray starred in the 1933 film, which was directed by [[Merian C. Cooper]] and released by RKO.<ref name="References"/> At the time she was performing in another Cooper/Schoedsack production, ''[[The Most Dangerous Game (film)|The Most Dangerous Game]]'' with [[Robert Armstrong (actor)|Robert Armstrong]].

* In the 1933 film, Denham made up an "Arabian proverb" about "beauty and beast". The 2005 remake repeats the fake proverb.<ref name="References"/>

* Early in this film, Denham shoots a scene for his film in which Ann, in-character, proclaims she's never been on a ship before, and Bruce Baxter improvises lines proclaiming annoyance. The dialogue they exchange is taken verbatim from early scenes between Ann and Jack Driscoll in the 1933 film. Ironically, in this film, Jack Driscoll expresses disapproval of such words toward Ann.<ref name="References"/>

* Kong's New York stage appearance looks very much like a re-enactment of the 1933 film's sacrifice scene, including the posts the 'beauty' is tied to and the nearly identical performance, costumes, and [[blackface]] makeup of the dancers. In addition, the music played by the orchestra during that scene is [[Max Steiner]]'s original score for the 1933 film.<ref name="References"/>

* The battle between Kong and the final ''V. rex'' is almost move-for-move like the last half of the fight between Kong and the ''T. rex'' in the 1933 film, right down to Kong playing with the dinosaur's broken jaw and then standing, beating his chest and roaring victoriously.<ref name="References"/>

* After the crew captures Kong on the beach, Denham speaks a line from the 1933 film: "''The whole world will pay to see this! We're millionaires, boys! I'll share it with all of you. In a few months, his name will be up in lights on Broadway! KONG, THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD!''"<ref name="References"/>

==Home media==

''King Kong'' was released on [[DVD-Video|DVD]] on March 28, 2006, in the United States and Canada by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios Home Entertainment]].{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} The three versions that came out are a single-disc [[Fullscreen (aspect ratio)|fullscreen]], a single-disc [[widescreen]], and a two-disc 'Widescreen Special Edition'.

A three-disc Deluxe Extended Edition was released on November 14, 2006, in the United States,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/king-kong3.html |title=''King Kong'' (US – DVD R1) in News > Releases, DVDActive.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=July 19, 2006 |archive-date=October 28, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028085616/http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/king-kong3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and on November 3 in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/789627|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108154535/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/789627|url-status=dead|title=''King Kong'' (2005) – Deluxe Extended Edition (3 Disc Set) @ EzyDVD<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=November 8, 2006|access-date=March 12, 2022}}</ref> Twelve minutes were reinserted into the film, and an additional forty minutes included with the rest of the special features. The film was spread onto the first two discs with commentary by Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens, and some featurettes on discs one and two, whilst the main special features are on disc three. Another set was released, including a WETA figurine of a bullet-ridden Kong scaling the Empire State Building, roaring at the Navy with Ann in hand. The extended film amounts to 200 total minutes.<ref name="KongisKing.net">{{cite press release| title = Official Universal Press Release on the Extended Edition!| publisher = KongisKing.net| date = 2006-07-20| url = http://www.kongisking.net/perl/newsview/17/1153423812| access-date = 2006-10-12| archive-date = October 30, 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061030133220/http://www.kongisking.net/perl/newsview/17/1153423812| url-status = live}}</ref>

A special [[HD DVD]] version of ''King Kong'' was part of a promotional pack for the release of the external HD DVD Drive for the [[Xbox 360]]. The pack contained the HD DVD drive, the Universal Media Remote and ''King Kong'' on HD DVD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hddvdplayer/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622212717/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hddvdplayer/|url-status=dead|title=Xbox.com|archive-date=June 22, 2007|access-date=March 12, 2022}}</ref> It was also available separately as a standard HD DVD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/213/kingkong2005.html|title=King Kong (2005) HD DVD Review &#124; High-Def Digest|website=Hddvd.highdefdigest.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407062840/https://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/213/kingkong2005.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's theatrical and extended cuts were released together on [[Blu-ray]] Disc on January 20, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Disc_Announcements/King_Kong_to_Roar_on_Blu-ray_this_January/2245|title='King Kong' to Roar on Blu-ray this January|date=2008-11-11|access-date=2020-09-10|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929210421/https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Disc_Announcements/King_Kong_to_Roar_on_Blu-ray_this_January/2245|url-status=live}}</ref> A re-release of the Blu-Ray with a new bonus disc containing nearly all of the extras from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD, the Deluxe Extended Edition 3-disc DVD, and the "Peter Jackson's Production Diaries" 2-disc DVD titled the "Ultimate Edition" was released on February 7, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Disc_Announcements/peter-jacksons-king-kong-ultimate-edition-bluray-bound/36992 |title=Peter Jackson's 'King Kong: Ultimate Edition' Blu-ray Bound |date=December 1, 2016 |first=Tom |last=Landy |publisher=Hi-Def Digest |access-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919102117/https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Disc_Announcements/peter-jacksons-king-kong-ultimate-edition-bluray-bound/36992 |url-status=live }}</ref> An [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] followed in July 2017.

<!-- It is not known if this is related to this movie. There is no [[WP:DEADLINE|deadline]] for it to be included. Please talk on talk page. -->

== Cancelled sequel and reboot ==

In March 2021, [[Adam Wingard]] said in an interview that back in 2013, Peter Jackson had been interested in producing a sequel to the film, titled ''Skull Island'', with Wingard as director and [[Simon Barrett (filmmaker)|Simon Barrett]] writing it.<ref name=Slahfilm>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/king-kong-sequel-adam-wingard/ |website=Slashfilm |title='Godzilla vs. Kong' Director Adam Wingard Was Once Hand-Picked By Peter Jackson to Make a Sequel to 2005's 'King Kong' |year=2021 |first=Ben |last=Pearson |access-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325230605/https://www.slashfilm.com/king-kong-sequel-adam-wingard/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson had been impressed with Wingard's work in ''[[You're Next]]'', and investigated a potential sequel. However, the King Kong rights had already been transferred to Warner Bros. by 2013, which complicated a sequel to a Universal-produced movie.<ref name=Slahfilm/> Wingard says that Jackson was thinking of setting the proposed movie during World War I, which would make it a prequel, but that the studio was uninterested in a World War I era film.<ref name=DG>{{cite web |url= https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-director-almost-made-peter-jackson-king-kong-sequel/ |title= Godzilla vs. Kong Director Almost Made a Sequel to Peter Jackson's King Kong |first= Don |last= Kaye |year= 2021 |website= Den Of Geek |access-date= April 22, 2021 |archive-date= April 22, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210422211038/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-director-almost-made-peter-jackson-king-kong-sequel/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Wingard pivoted to offering a modern-day sequel, but ultimately nothing came of the proposal.<ref name=DG/>

Ultimately, [[Warner Bros.]] rebooted the franchise with ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' in 2017, which is part of the [[MonsterVerse]].<ref>{{cite news |title=King Kong and Batman Lift Time Warner Above Expectations |url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/03/time-warner-king-kong-lego-batman/ |access-date=May 4, 2017 |work=Fortune |date=May 3, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814160418/http://fortune.com/2017/05/03/time-warner-king-kong-lego-batman/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Seesawing Fate of Legendary Reflects the Film Industry's Volatility |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/business/media/seesawing-fate-of-legendary-reflects-the-film-industrys-volatility.html |work=The New York Times |first=Brooks |last=Barnes |date=July 25, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-date=March 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307151734/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/business/media/seesawing-fate-of-legendary-reflects-the-film-industrys-volatility.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Wingard would later direct 2021's ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'' and its sequel 2024's ''[[Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire]]'', other films set in the MonsterVerse.

==Theme park==

{{main article|Skull Island: Reign of Kong}}

The [[Universal Orlando]] Resort ___location [[Universal Islands of Adventure|Islands of Adventure]] features an attraction called "[[Skull Island: Reign of Kong]]" which is based on Peter Jackson's remake. While the King Kong part of the Universal Studios Hollywood resort was destroyed by a massive fire, a 3D short inspired by the film was eventually created in 2010, ''[[King Kong: 360 3-D]]'', which is another attraction based on Peter Jackson's remake.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.universalorlando.com/email-signup/skull-island-reign-of-kong.aspx|title=Universal Orlando|website=Universalorlando.com|access-date=January 28, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210174746/https://www.universalorlando.com/Email-Signup/skull-island-reign-of-kong.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Mighty Joe Young (1998 film)]]

* [[List of films featuring dinosaurs]]

* [[List of most expensive films]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|King Kong (2005 film)}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Wikinews|2006 Oscars handed out at Kodak Theatre}}

* {{IMDb title|0360717|King Kong}}

* {{TCMDb title|546820|King Kong}}

* {{AFI film|54475}}

* {{mojo title|kingkong05|King Kong}}

* {{rotten-tomatoes|king_kong|King Kong}}

* {{Metacritic film|title=King Kong}}

{{KingKong}}

{{Peter Jackson}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for ''King Kong''

|list =

{{Academy Award Best Sound Editing}}

{{Academy Award Best Visual Effects}}

{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up}}

{{BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects}}

{{Empire Award for Best Film}}

{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Film}}

}}

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