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King Kong Lives

  • 19861986
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
3.9/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,181
113
King Kong Lives (1986)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer0:43
1 Video
52 Photos
ActionAdventure

Kong falls from the twin towers and he appears to be alive. However, his heart is failing, so it's replaced with an artificial one. All is well until he senses that there's a female Kong som... Read allKong falls from the twin towers and he appears to be alive. However, his heart is failing, so it's replaced with an artificial one. All is well until he senses that there's a female Kong somewhere out there and escapes wreaking havoc.Kong falls from the twin towers and he appears to be alive. However, his heart is failing, so it's replaced with an artificial one. All is well until he senses that there's a female Kong somewhere out there and escapes wreaking havoc.

IMDb RATING
3.9/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,181
113
  • Director
    • John Guillermin
  • Writers
    • Ronald Shusett(story)
    • Steven Pressfield(story)
    • Merian C. Cooper(based on the character created by)
  • Stars
    • Brian Kerwin
    • Linda Hamilton
    • Peter Elliott
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Guillermin
  • Writers
    • Ronald Shusett(story)
    • Steven Pressfield(story)
    • Merian C. Cooper(based on the character created by)
  • Stars
    • Brian Kerwin
    • Linda Hamilton
    • Peter Elliott
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 76User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:43
    Official Trailer

    Photos52

    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    Linda Hamilton and Brian Kerwin in King Kong Lives (1986)
    Brian Kerwin in King Kong Lives (1986)
    Brian Kerwin in King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    King Kong Lives (1986)
    Linda Hamilton and Brian Kerwin in King Kong Lives (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brian Kerwin
    Brian Kerwin
    • Hank Mitchell
    Linda Hamilton
    Linda Hamilton
    • Amy Franklin
    Peter Elliott
    Peter Elliott
    • King Kong
    • (as Peter Elliot)
    George Antoni
    George Antoni
    • Lady Kong
    • (as George Yiasomi)
    John Ashton
    John Ashton
    • Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
    Peter Michael Goetz
    Peter Michael Goetz
    • Dr. Andrew Ingersoll
    Frank Maraden
    • Dr. Benson Hughes
    Alan Sader
    • Faculty Doctor #1
    Lou Criscuolo
    • Faculty Doctor #2
    Marc Clement
    • Crew Chief
    Richard Rhodes
    • Reporter
    Larry Souder
    • Reporter
    Ted Prichard
    • Reporter
    Jayne Gray
    • Reporter
    • (as Jayne Linday-Gray)
    Debbie McLeod
    Debbie McLeod
    • Reporter
    Elizabeth Hayes
    • Reporter
    Nat Christian
    Nat Christian
    • Surgeon #1
    • (as Natt Christian)
    Mac Pirkle
    • Surgeon #2
    • Director
      • John Guillermin
    • Writers
      • Ronald Shusett(story) (screenplay)
      • Steven Pressfield(story) (screenplay)
      • Merian C. Cooper(based on the character created by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Peter Michael Goetz's check for post-release royalties came to 3 cents. He has it stapled to the film's poster in his house, having never cashed it.
    • Goofs
      When the rednecks pour beer into Kong's mouth, he only has a sip. When he spits the beer back out, it's way more than he actually has in his mouth.
    • Quotes

      Amy Franklin: [feels sorry for Hank, who is miserably huddled and shivering with just a blanket wrapped around him while she is nestled comfortably and warmly inside her snug sleeping bag, and so she turns over with a slightly resigned air, unzips the side of the sleeping bag, casts open the entire length of the upper half, and smiles up at Hank invitingly]

      Hank Mitchell: [in a tone of slightly surprised hesitation] Uhhh... are you *sure* about this?

      Amy Franklin: [in a casual friendly tone, referring to Kong's having prepared a comfy spot on the nearby grassy plateau for Lady Kong and him to sleep] Yeah, why not... we're primates, too.

    • Connections
      Edited from King Kong (1976)

    User reviews76

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Not all bad actually...
    Taking into consideration that "King Kong Lives" is a movie from the mid-1980s, then it is actually not too bad. Sure, if you compare it with the "King Kong" movies seen today, then this is just utter rubbish and obviously people in animal suits and lousy attempts of blending shot scenes to make it appear like these are in fact massive apes.

    But hey, yeah this is a cheesy movie. Of course it is. I mean, this is a 1986 movie about King Kong after all. Of course it reeks of being a campy and cheesy movie. Isn't that the appeal of these older "King Kong" movies?

    The storyline is adequate, and actually have more contents to it than the movies of recent years that have King Kong in it. That is kind of odd though, I think, as movies evolve into CGI spectaculars that slack on the storylines.

    Sure, it was fun to watch Linda Hamilton and John Ashton stumble about in this movie. Granted, it wasn't stellar performances by either of them, but then again, the contents of the movie weren't exactly all that solid to begin with.

    "King Kong Lives" is a watchable movie, for sure. But it was hardly an outstanding movie. Nor is it a movie that has withstood the trials of passing time particularly well, because the effects are horribly outdated.

    I believe that if you sit down to watch "King Kong Lives" once, then it is hardly a movie that you will be returning to a second time around.

    My rating of directors John Guillermin and Charles McCracken 1986 movie "King Kong Lives" settles on a four out of ten stars.
    helpful•2
    0
    • paul_haakonsen
    • Apr 1, 2021

    FAQ1

    • What is the next movie to watch after this one? no more sequels were made?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • King Kong elää
    • Filming locations
      • Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA
    • Production company
      • De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,711,220
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,172,942
      • Dec 21, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,711,220
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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