King Kong Lives (1986)

0% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(11,302 ratings)

Pandering über-producer Dino De Laurentiis followed his unnecessary 1976 remake of King Kong with this even more pointless sequel ten years later. Though the colossal ape Kong took a half-gainer off the World Trade Center for Jessica Lange at the previous film's climax, we are told at the sequel's… More Pandering über-producer Dino De Laurentiis followed his unnecessary 1976 remake of King Kong with this even more pointless sequel ten years later. Though the colossal ape Kong took a half-gainer off the World Trade Center for Jessica Lange at the previous film's climax, we are told at the sequel's outset that Kong survived and is being kept alive through artificial means by a secret scientific team (headed by Linda Hamilton in her pre-action-heroine days) dedicated to designing a synthetic replacement heart. When the hilariously huge device is deemed ready for implant, the scientists seek out the only known donor for the requisite blood transfusion: a female Kong, recently captured in Borneo by adventurer Brian Kerwin. Kong's luck turns out to be twofold: not only is the implant a success, the big lug now has a potential mate who's more his type. After Kong rescues his fellow captive, the amorous behemoths eventually thunder off to the mountains to make a great big baby. Director John Guillermin (who helmed the previous film) plays the unbelievably silly premise absolutely straight, including a hilarious heart-transplant scene featuring surgical tools the size of freeway signs, leading viewers to believe that the joke's on them for sitting through this inane exercise. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Charles McCracken (II), John Guillermin
Written By: Steve Pressfield, Ronald Shusett
Genres: Action & Adventure, Horror

In Theaters: Dec 19, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 2004

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
King Kong Lives ... has a dull cast and a plot that's even duller, but the ape himself is in good form.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Embarrassing
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Why?
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
But, oh, how I laughed.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Quite possibly the worst film ever made with "King Kong' in the title. I can't say that for sure as I haven't all of the unofficial sequels and spin-offs. I'm trying to come up with something positive to say about the film and I just can't. I guess the… More
Quite possibly the worst film ever made with "King Kong' in the title. I can't say that for sure as I haven't all of the unofficial sequels and spin-offs. I'm trying to come up with something positive to say about the film and I just can't. I guess the star is for the presence of Linda Hamilton and John Ashton - neither of whom do any sort of good work here. Well, maybe John Ashton, who's real good at being a completely heartless asshole. Anyways, trust me, avoid at all costs. The 1976 remake wasn't a gold mine of greatness by any means, but the sequel makes it looks like Gone With the Wind.
Conner R

I want to say that it's a worse film than the '76 remake, but at least this is so horrible that it's funny. The idea to have a love interest for King Kong has got to be one of the most moronic thoughts. The effects are completely horrible and all it has is one notable… More
I want to say that it's a worse film than the '76 remake, but at least this is so horrible that it's funny. The idea to have a love interest for King Kong has got to be one of the most moronic thoughts. The effects are completely horrible and all it has is one notable star, Linda Hamilton. Aside from it being a giant disaster, it is just hilarious to watch.
Sanjaya &

This is the stupid idea I ever heard and it's realized, make a sequel for King Kong! The story itself just get true at the ending of every King Kong movie, Kong gets killed by the beauty... But this movie, which is a sequel for 1976 King Kong, just get everything wrong.... The… More
This is the stupid idea I ever heard and it's realized, make a sequel for King Kong! The story itself just get true at the ending of every King Kong movie, Kong gets killed by the beauty... But this movie, which is a sequel for 1976 King Kong, just get everything wrong.... The title itself just sound weird, King Kong Lives, it just make some stupid question about it like 'What movie is this?' or 'What? A sequel for King Kong?' and another question maybe... This movie made because they think they can make money again by resurrecting a death giant monkey, but that's all false... And shows up another Kong, the female one, then they have a baby, it just ridiculous... They didn't give a clue for the time, and amazingly the Kong have a baby! It really nonsense, it just that they really end up for ideas... The monkey itself stills looks like a toy, but still scary... Just this time, when Kong start eating human, it just makes me sick... Just a really wrong turn this time for Kong, one of the movie that should be never made...
Jason S

I liked it. It is a sequel to the remake done in the 80's and I think the story is good enough that you shouldn't push this one aside. It is simple and fun and there are some decent fx.

Cast

            Peter Anthony Elliott as King Kong

            Brian Kerwin as Hank Mitchell

            Peter Elliott as King Kong

            Linda Hamilton as Amy Franklin

            George Yiasumi as Lady Kong

            John Ashton as Col. Nevitt

            Peter Michael Goetz as Dr. Ingersoll

            Frank Maraden as Dr. Benson Hughes

            Jimmy Ray Pickens
            
            Jeff Benninghofen as 1rst Radioman

            Marc Clement as Crew Chief

            Bonnie Cook as Tech

            Lou Criscuolo as Faculty Doctor

            David de Vries as Tech

            Buck Ford as Guard Sergeant

            Michael Forest as Vance

            Elizabeth Hayes as Reporter

            Winston Hemingway as Staff Sergeant

            J. Michael Hunter as Technician

            Wallace Merck as Hunter

            Hank Mitchell
            
            Leon Rippy as Hunter

            Alan Sader as Faculty Doctor

            Mike Starr as Cell Guard

            Jimmie Ray Weeks as Maj. Peete

            Dean Whitworth as Hunter

            Duke Ernsberger as Cell Guard

            Robin Cahall as Mazlansky

            Bernard Addison as Captain

            Natt Chritensen as Surgeon

            Rod Davis as TV Reporter

            Margaret Freeman as Native Woman

            Jayne Linday Gray as Reporter

            Jim Grimshaw as Sergeant

            Gary Kaikaka as Boat Skipper

            Don Law as Security Chief

            Jack Maloney as 1rst Wrangler

            Michael McLendon as Captain

            Debbie McLeod as Reporter

            Hope Nunnery as Lady in Phone Booth

            Tom Parkhill as Radioman

            Derek Pearson as Youth

            Mac Pirkle as Surgeon

            Ted Prichard as Reporter

            Shannon Rowell as Female in Crowd

            Lydia Smith as Mom

            Larry Souder as Faculty Dr.

            Herschel Sparber as Hunter

            Larry Sprinkle as Journalist

            Dandy Stevenson as Mom

            Mary Swafford as Girl Friend

            Jimmy Wiggins as Boy Friend
See full cast

King Kong Lives (1986)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Conner R

Sanjaya &

Jason S

Cast

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