King Kong is one of the most iconic characters ever, having appeared in countless films, series, and games since his first appearance in 1933. Hollywood producers know that whenever they release an offering based on the giant ape, audiences will show up to watch it. It can’t be denied, though, that there has been a lot of inconsistency in the quality of Kong movies over the years. With Godzilla vs. Kong now streaming on HBO Max, how does it stack up against other titles about the character?
King Kong is One of the Most Legendary Characters Ever
When thinking about the most recognisable and legendary fictional creations ever conceived, King Kong would be up there with the likes of Batman, Dracula, and Homer Simpson. He first appeared in Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong in 1933 and has since been reused in a myriad of productions in a variety of ways. Sometimes he is portrayed as a formidable beast, while other times his likeness has been used in a more humorous way.
Most of the King Kong silver screen offerings have shown the great ape’s more serious side, while the game world has been open to portraying Kong in a fun and light-hearted way. An example of this is the King Kong Cash slot, which shows the crazier side of Kong. At the start of the game, the massive gorilla is asleep. He wakes up and offers special bonuses when players spin in matching symbols. The Donkey Kong games on Nintendo also drew inspiration from the character and reflected his wild side.
A Fairly Strong Offering
As far as King Kong-themed films go, Godzilla vs. Kong is up there with the greatest. Indeed, in terms of ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, the new offering from Adam Wingard is the third best of all time. The only two films that garnered a better viewer response were Peter Jackson’s King Kong in 2005 and the original from 1933. The latest title has an overall score of 76 per cent, while its 2017 predecessor, Kong: Skull Island, achieved a score of 75 per cent.
Godzilla vs. Kong was accessible to a high number of viewers thanks to its simultaneous release in cinemas and on HBO Max. The fact that it also included one of the film world’s other legendary beasts, Godzilla, also worked in its favour in attracting viewers. At the time of writing, Wingard’s film has grossed more than $463 million worldwide, making it a commercial success against its production budget of $200 million.
Godzilla vs. Kong is definitely worth checking out. The high budget epic takes viewers on a journey into the centre of the earth, where Kong comes up against a wide variety of beasts and monsters. The popularity of this film should lead to many more in the franchise, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see another team up between Kong and Godzilla in the future as they try to take down even more fearsome fiends.
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