King Kong
Carl Denham needs to finish his movie and has the perfect location: Skull Island. But he still needs to find a leading lady. This 'soon-to-be-unfortunate' soul is Ann Darrow. No one knows what they will encounter on this island and why it is so mysterious, but once they reach it, they will soon find out. Living on this hidden island is a giant gorilla and this beast now has Ann in its grasps. Carl and Ann's new love, Jack Driscoll, must travel through the jungle looking for Kong and Ann, whilst avoiding all sorts of creatures and beasts.
Despite its shoestring budget of $672K, King Kong became a commercial juggernaut, earning $10.0M worldwide—a remarkable 1388% return. The film's unique voice connected with viewers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
4 wins & 8 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
King Kong (1933) exemplifies precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Ernest B. Schoedsack's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Depression-era New York: Ann Darrow, desperate and starving, is caught stealing an apple, establishing her vulnerability and the harsh world she inhabits.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Denham reveals they're heading to Skull Island, a place marked on an ancient map, where no one has returned alive. The safe voyage becomes a journey into mortal danger.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The landing party rows ashore to Skull Island and witnesses the native ceremony worshipping Kong. They cross from the civilized world of the ship into the primitive, dangerous world beyond the wall., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (62% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Kong is captured using gas bombs after his rampage. The mighty beast falls unconscious. Denham declares "We'll give him more than chains - we're going to give him fame!" The dream of freedom dies; exploitation begins., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 67% of the runtime. Photographers' flashbulbs enrage Kong. He thinks they're attacking Ann. He breaks his chains and escapes into New York City, driven by his primal need to protect beauty from what he perceives as threats., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
King Kong's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping King Kong against these established plot points, we can identify how Ernest B. Schoedsack utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish King Kong within the adventure genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Depression-era New York: Ann Darrow, desperate and starving, is caught stealing an apple, establishing her vulnerability and the harsh world she inhabits.
Theme
Carl Denham tells his crew about the ancient proverb: "And lo, the beast looked upon the face of beauty, and beauty stayed his hand. And from that day forward, he was as one dead." The theme of beauty and the beast is stated.
Worldbuilding
Denham recruits Ann for his mysterious voyage, establishes his reckless ambition for a spectacular film, introduces the crew and ship, and sets sail for an unknown destination with a dangerous reputation.
Disruption
Denham reveals they're heading to Skull Island, a place marked on an ancient map, where no one has returned alive. The safe voyage becomes a journey into mortal danger.
Resistance
The crew debates the wisdom of the expedition. Jack Driscoll and Ann fall in love during the voyage. Denham prepares for filming. The ship navigates through dangerous fog toward Skull Island.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The landing party rows ashore to Skull Island and witnesses the native ceremony worshipping Kong. They cross from the civilized world of the ship into the primitive, dangerous world beyond the wall.
Mirror World
The natives kidnap Ann to offer her as a bride to Kong. Her relationship with Jack (representing civilized love) is contrasted with Kong's primitive obsession, embodying the beauty-and-beast theme.
Premise
Kong takes Ann into the jungle. The rescue party pursues them through a prehistoric world of dinosaurs and monsters. Kong battles creatures to protect Ann. The promise of the premise: spectacular monster action and wonder.
Opposition
Kong destroys most of the rescue party. Jack reaches Ann and they escape. Kong pursues them back to the village, where he breaks through the great wall, rampaging in grief and rage, killing natives.
Collapse
Kong is captured using gas bombs after his rampage. The mighty beast falls unconscious. Denham declares "We'll give him more than chains - we're going to give him fame!" The dream of freedom dies; exploitation begins.
Crisis
Time passes. Kong is transported to New York and displayed in chains as "Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World" before a theater audience. The darkness of his captivity and commodification.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Photographers' flashbulbs enrage Kong. He thinks they're attacking Ann. He breaks his chains and escapes into New York City, driven by his primal need to protect beauty from what he perceives as threats.
Synthesis
Kong rampages through Manhattan searching for Ann. He finds her, takes her, and climbs the Empire State Building. Bi-planes attack. Kong fights them while protecting Ann, combining his jungle survival instincts with his doomed devotion.
Transformation
Kong falls to his death. Denham looks at Kong's broken body surrounded by crowds and delivers the final line: "It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast." The prophecy fulfilled; exploitation and obsession end in tragedy.