--- title: "King Kong: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/king-kong/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/king-kong" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # King Kong (1933): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 14 reviews: 12 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 5/5. Arguably the monster movie of all time, this Beauty and the Beast tale has mythic power thanks to Willis O'Brien's pioneering animation and its tragic story. It offers an early eco-message as Kong is exploited for gain. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-rrckns/king-kong/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it a brilliantly structured adventure movie with a strong set-up on the island and effective rampage sequences in New York. They single out the stop-motion animation and character work on Kong as masterful. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-king-kong-review/) ## Los Angeles Times Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 1989. The piece celebrates the restored 1933 film as the ultimate Beauty-and-the-Beast fable whose innocence and excitement still endure, praising the restored footage and the sheer fun of its serial-like pacing. It singles out the indelible Empire State Building climax. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-24-ca-24-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2002. Ebert calls the film a landmark adventure whose stop-motion effects remain impressive and whose story of greed unleashing the beast still resonates. He singles out the pioneering special effects work of Willis O’Brien for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-king-kong-1933) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 March 2021. The piece positions the film as arguably the first to synthesize cinematic spectacle into a sustained thrill-ride feature that influenced countless later blockbusters. It praises the strategic withholding of Kong, the exciting stop-motion action sequences, Max Steiner’s score, and the poignant climax atop the Empire State Building. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-original-king-kong-is-the-reigning-granddaddy-of-ho-1846515527) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2018. The review calls the film a great piece of imagination produced in grand style and good taste, most capably acted and directed. It highlights the beauty-and-the-beast story with much sympathy for the beast and praises the production values, sets, locations, and performances, especially Fay Wray. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/king-kong-review-1933-movie-1070365/) ## The New York Times — Mordaunt Hall Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 1933. Hall describes the picture as a fantastic and compelling tale of a gigantic ape captured and brought to New York, praising its vivid jungle sequences and the performances of Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong. He highlights the thrilling climax atop the Empire State Building. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1933/03/03/archives/a-fantastic-film-in-which-a-monstrous-ape-uses-automobiles-for.html) ## Time Out — WH Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 March 2014. The film retains its power to move, excite and sadden thanks to Willis O'Brien's animation and Max Steiner's score. The masterstroke is delaying Kong's entrance so he emerges as the most fully realised character. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/king-kong) ## Variety — Bige. Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 1933. The review hails the picture as a gripping technical achievement that surpasses earlier efforts like The Lost World, crediting the sound effects, score and stop-motion work. It notes that audiences will marvel at how it was done despite some mechanical flaws. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1933/film/reviews/king-kong-2-1200410783/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 1933. The film delivers more thrills than any since the advent of sound and caters successfully for tastes ranging from excitement to amusement. It begins strongly as an adventure but devolves into comedy amid excessive spectacle, though the technical achievements of the ape and monsters are impressive. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/12/king-kong-review-film-caters-for-all-tastes-1933) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 11 March 1933. The review finds the film excessive and grotesque yet diverting, likening its prehistoric creatures to a nightmare come to life. It notes the Beauty-and-the-Beast theme and feels a touch of sympathy for the defeated monster. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1933/03/11/apes-and-journalists) ## /Film — Dalin Rowell Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2021. The critic ranks the film #1 and calls it a masterpiece that set the gold standard for monster movies. They single out its groundbreaking storytelling, flawless pacing, exploration of man's greed, and heart-wrenching finale for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/624934/every-king-kong-movie-ranked-from-worst-to-best/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2010. The 1933 King Kong is a charming production with spectacle that still holds up, particularly the stop-motion effects and the humanity in Kong's eyes. It remains a delightful kid fantasy adventure story more than seventy years later. [Read the review](https://collider.com/king-kong-1933-blu-ray-review-three-kings-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Gary Duncan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 2005. The critic calls the 1933 film still the big daddy of all monster movies despite its age and rough edges. They single out Willis O'Brien's special effects and the iconic set pieces involving Kong for praise, while noting hammy acting and slow early pacing. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/king-kong-film-review-by-gary-duncan) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/king-kong.md