What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKing Kong
Merian C. Cooper · Film · 1933
If you loved King Kong, start with Kong: Skull Island (Jordan Vogt-Roberts, 2017) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to King Kong across media.
If you loved King Kong, you are drawn to the tension between human ambition and the untamed, monumental forces of nature.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Kong: Skull Island
Jordan Vogt-Roberts · Film · 2017
Adaptation
Godzilla vs. Kong
Adam Wingard · Film · 2021
Books on the same thread
Tarzan
Edgar Rice Burroughs · Book · 1914
Shares 2 threads with King Kong: Man vs. Nature, Jungle Adventure.
Like the jungle expedition in King Kong, this classic captures the raw thrill of discovery and the complex struggle for dominance between civilized man and the unforgiving wilderness.
Congo
Michael Crichton · Book · 2003
Explores: Expedition, Corporate Espionage, Primatology.
This story mirrors the dangerous expedition to Skull Island in King Kong, focusing on the high stakes of exploring uncharted territory where nature hides formidable and terrifying secrets.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
Just as the giant ape captures the imagination in King Kong, this tale explores the boundary between the wild and the domestic through a child's encounter with monsters.
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien · Book · 1937
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Courage, The Hero's Journey.
Much like the perilous journey taken by the crew in King Kong, this epic quest forces ordinary individuals to face legendary creatures and the dangers of greed.
Series on the same thread
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Explores: Environmentalism, Loss of Innocence, Technological Dystopia.
The isolation of an island setting in King Kong finds a parallel here, where a survivor must navigate a world reclaimed by nature after a global catastrophe.
Attack on Titan
Series · 2013
Explores: Survival, Existential Horror, Loss of Innocence.
This series captures the existential terror of facing overwhelming, man-eating giants, echoing the same primal fear and survival instincts found in the creature feature King Kong.
Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1966
Explores: Exploration, Diplomacy, First Contact.
The spirit of exploration that drives the characters in King Kong translates to this mission of discovery, where the unknown galaxy serves as the ultimate frontier.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
This mystery mirrors the unsettling discovery of hidden threats in King Kong, blending the wonder of the unknown with the dread of encroaching, monstrous supernatural forces.
Podcasts on the same thread
Regelegorila
Podcast
Explores: Cinema, Television, Film Criticism.
If you want to dive deeper into the cinematic history of monsters like King Kong, this resource provides the analytical context necessary to appreciate the craft behind cinema.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
While it lacks the beasts of King Kong, this podcast deconstructs the same themes of celebrity and public perception that defined the tragic exploitation of the eighth wonder.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the King Kong movies in?
You can begin with the original 1933 King Kong to understand the foundational story of the creature. After that, you can watch modern interpretations like Kong: Skull Island from 2017 and Godzilla vs. Kong from 2021 to see how the character has evolved in recent cinema.
Is King Kong from the 1933 movie the same character in Godzilla vs. Kong?
While both films feature the legendary creature, King Kong in the 1933 movie is the original iteration discovered by Carl Denham. The version in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong is a modern adaptation that builds upon the legacy of the character established in the 1933 source material.
Should I watch Kong: Skull Island before Godzilla vs. Kong?
Yes, watching Kong: Skull Island before Godzilla vs. Kong provides important context for the modern version of the character. Both films are part of a series of adaptations that expand on the legend of King Kong that began with the 1933 film directed by Merian C. Cooper.
Is King Kong in the 1933 movie a beast or a man?
In the 1933 King Kong, the creature is described as being neither beast nor man. Filmmaker Carl Denham discovers this legendary entity on an island and captures it to be displayed on Broadway as the eighth wonder of the world, which serves as the basis for the entire story.