Kong: Skull Island (2017)
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A team of scientists and soldiers must survive the dangers of an uncharted island inhabited by prehistoric monsters and the mighty Kong.
The story
In 1973, Bill Randa, head of the organization Monarch, convinces the government to allow him to lead a research expedition to the recently discovered Skull Island. He recruits a team including a military unit, a tracker, and an anti-war photographer. Upon arriving at the island, the team begins using seismic explosives to map the area and prove the Hollow Earth theory. However, their activities trigger a response from the island's inhabitants. The group is suddenly attacked by a giant ape, scattering the survivors across the island as they struggle to navigate the dangerous terrain and confront the unknown threats lurking within the dense jungle.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1944, two pilots, Hank Marlow and Gunpei Ikari, are stranded on Skull Island after a dogfight. In 1973, Bill Randa leads a Monarch expedition to the island with a military unit, a tracker (James Conrad), and a photographer (Mason Weaver). After a seismic blast triggers an attack by the giant ape, Kong, the group is separated. Conrad's group meets Marlow, who explains that Kong protects the island from 'Skullcrawlers.' Meanwhile, Packard's group searches for their missing man, Chapman. The groups eventually reunite but face a choice: Packard wants to kill Kong to avenge his men, while others want to protect the ape. After a series of skirmishes with Skullcrawlers and other creatures, the survivors face a final confrontation. A massive Skullcrawler emerges, and the humans must decide whether to help Kong or let him fall. Ultimately, they work together to defeat the larger threat. The survivors escape the island, and the film ends with a post-credits scene showing other monsters like Godzilla and Mothra.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jordan Vogt-Roberts
- Writers
- Dan Gilroy · screenplay; Max Borenstein · screenplay; Derek Connolly · screenplay; John Gatins · story
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hiddleston · James Conrad; Samuel L. Jackson · Preston Packard; John Goodman · William "Bill" Randa; Brie Larson · Mason Weaver; Jing Tian · San Lin; Toby Kebbell · Jack Chapman; John Ortiz · Victor Nieves; Corey Hawkins · Houston Brooks
- Genres
- monster; action; adventure; fantasy
- Themes
- Man vs. Nature; Survival; Coexistence
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Atmospheric; Epic
- Premise and plot tags
- Monster; Survival; Adventure; Hidden World
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 49; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 80%
- Awards and nominations
- Best Visual Effects · Academy Awards · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally set to be released in November 2016.; The production was moved from Universal Pictures to Warner Bros. to develop a shared cinematic universe.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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