What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKong: Skull Island
Jordan Vogt-Roberts · Film · 2017
If you loved Kong: Skull Island, start with King Kong (Merian C. Cooper, 1933) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kong: Skull Island across media.
What hooked you in Kong: Skull Island was the visceral collision between human hubris and the indifferent, terrifying majesty of nature.
Start with the source
The source
King Kong
Merian C. Cooper · Film · 1933
Adaptation
Godzilla vs. Kong
Adam Wingard · Film · 2021
Books on the same thread
Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad · Book · 2014
Explores: Imperialism and exploitation, Moral ambiguity, Descent into madness.
Like the expedition into the unknown in Kong: Skull Island, this classic explores the psychological toll of encroaching upon untamed, dangerous territories and the inevitable descent into madness.
Congo
Michael Crichton · Book · 2003
Explores: Expedition, Corporate Espionage, Primatology.
Fans of the treacherous, primordial exploration seen in Kong: Skull Island will recognize the same high-stakes adventure and corporate-driven obsession with discovering lost, dangerous worlds in this thriller.
Skeleton Crew
Stephen King · Book · 2007
Explores: Isolation, Fear of the Unknown, Loss of Innocence.
The atmospheric dread and isolation found in Kong: Skull Island carry over into these stories, which masterfully capture the feeling of being hunted by forces beyond human comprehension.
Tarzan
Edgar Rice Burroughs · Book · 1914
Shares 3 threads with Kong: Skull Island: Man vs. Nature, Survival, Jungle Adventure.
If the jungle setting of Kong: Skull Island captivated you, this foundational text provides the quintessential adventure narrative exploring the blurred lines between civilization and the raw savage.
Series on the same thread
Attack on Titan
Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Kong: Skull Island: Survival.
Just as in Kong: Skull Island, this series thrives on the existential terror of humanity struggling to survive against massive, predatory monsters that dwarf their fragile, fortified existence.
Gyeongseong Creature
Kang Eun-kyung · Series · 2023
Shares 2 threads with Kong: Skull Island: Colonialism, Survival.
This historical thriller mirrors the colonial themes of Kong: Skull Island, showing how human greed and exploitation inevitably give birth to monstrous consequences that demand a desperate survival.
Primal
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Kong: Skull Island: Survival.
The brutal, primal struggle for survival between man and beast that defined Kong: Skull Island is stripped down to its most raw and captivating form in this animated series.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Matt Fraction · Series · 2023
Explores: generational trauma, hidden history, corporate conspiracy.
This series expands on the lore of Kong: Skull Island, diving deeper into the shadowy, global conspiracies and the catastrophic aftermath of a world shared with giant monsters.
Podcasts on the same thread
Regelegorila
Podcast
Explores: Cinema, Television, Film Criticism.
Use this platform to deepen your understanding of the cinematic techniques that made Kong: Skull Island such a visually stunning exploration of the monster movie genre and its themes.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existentialism, Individual Responsibility, Cultural Critique.
If the philosophical questions regarding man's role in nature within Kong: Skull Island intrigued you, these discussions offer a deeper framework for analyzing those same existential and cultural dilemmas.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kong: Skull Island connected to the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong?
Yes, Kong: Skull Island is part of a larger cinematic universe. The events occurring on the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes lead directly into the confrontation featured in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong.
Should I watch the 1933 King Kong before viewing Kong: Skull Island?
You do not need to watch the 1933 King Kong to understand the plot of Kong: Skull Island. While both films center on the king of the apes, Kong: Skull Island serves as a distinct exploration of the creature within a primordial island setting.
What order should I watch Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla vs. Kong?
It is recommended to watch Kong: Skull Island first. This film introduces the king of the apes and his treacherous home before the character appears in the subsequent 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong.
Does Kong: Skull Island feature the same version of Kong as the 1933 film?
Kong: Skull Island presents a unique interpretation of the character. While both films feature the king of the apes, the 2017 movie focuses on a team of explorers venturing into a dangerous, primordial island that is distinct from the 1933 original.