King Kong Lives
After falling from the Twin Towers, Kong lies in a coma for ten years. When his heart begins to fail, scientists engineer an artificial heart, and a giant female ape is captured to serve as a source for a blood transfusion. When Kong awakens following his heart transplant, he senses the nearby presence of the female ape and the two escape to wreak havoc together.
The film box office disappointment against its modest budget of $10.0M, earning $4.7M globally (-53% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the fantasy genre.
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 Lives (1986) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of John Guillermin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
King Kong
Dr. Amy Franklin
Hank Mitchell
Lady Kong
Colonel Nevitt
Dr. Benson Hughes
Main Cast & Characters
King Kong
Played by Peter Elliott
The giant ape who survives his fall from the World Trade Center and requires an artificial heart transplant to live.
Dr. Amy Franklin
Played by Linda Hamilton
A compassionate surgeon who performs the artificial heart transplant on Kong and becomes his primary caretaker.
Hank Mitchell
Played by Brian Kerwin
An adventurer and explorer who discovers Lady Kong in Borneo and brings her to America.
Lady Kong
Played by George Antoni
A female giant ape discovered in Borneo who becomes Kong's mate and companion.
Colonel Nevitt
Played by John Ashton
A ruthless military officer obsessed with capturing and killing Kong, viewing him as a dangerous threat.
Dr. Benson Hughes
Played by Peter Michael Goetz
A calculating scientist who sees Kong primarily as a research specimen and opposes Amy's compassionate approach.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes King Kong lies comatose in a medical facility, dying after his fall from the World Trade Center ten years ago. Dr. Amy Franklin desperately works to save him with an artificial heart.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Lady Kong is captured and brought to the facility. The presence of a mate gives Kong a reason to survive and creates hope for the operation.. 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 demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Dr. Franklin performs the risky artificial heart transplant on Kong. The surgery succeeds, and Kong awakens with a chance at new life., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The Kongs find temporary sanctuary in a remote forest area. Lady Kong is discovered to be pregnant. This false victory gives hope but raises the stakes enormously - now three lives are at risk., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The military corners Kong and opens fire. Kong is shot multiple times protecting Lady Kong. He collapses, apparently dead, while Lady Kong is captured. The whiff of death: Kong sacrifices himself for his mate., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Kong's artificial heart restarts. He revives with renewed purpose, driven by the need to save Lady Kong and their unborn child. Amy and Hank choose to help him, fully committing to the Kongs' freedom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
King Kong Lives's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping King Kong Lives against these established plot points, we can identify how John Guillermin 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 Lives within the fantasy genre.
John Guillermin's Structural Approach
Among the 6 John Guillermin films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. King Kong Lives represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Guillermin filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian. For more John Guillermin analyses, see Death on the Nile, King Kong and The Towering Inferno.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
King Kong lies comatose in a medical facility, dying after his fall from the World Trade Center ten years ago. Dr. Amy Franklin desperately works to save him with an artificial heart.
Theme
Dr. Franklin tells her colleague that Kong deserves a chance at life and love, establishing the theme that even monsters deserve companionship and dignity.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the medical team caring for Kong, the artificial heart technology, and the military's interest in Kong as a weapon. Adventurer Hank Mitchell arrives with news of a female Kong discovered in Borneo.
Disruption
Lady Kong is captured and brought to the facility. The presence of a mate gives Kong a reason to survive and creates hope for the operation.
Resistance
Dr. Franklin debates the risks of the surgery while preparing for the operation. Hank Mitchell advocates for Kong's freedom. The military, led by Colonel Nevitt, plans to exploit both creatures. Romance develops between Amy and Hank.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dr. Franklin performs the risky artificial heart transplant on Kong. The surgery succeeds, and Kong awakens with a chance at new life.
Mirror World
Kong and Lady Kong meet and form an immediate bond. Their connection mirrors the developing relationship between Amy and Hank, reflecting the theme of love transcending boundaries.
Premise
Kong and Lady Kong escape together into the wilderness. The promise of the premise: two giant apes on the run, evading military forces while their bond deepens. Amy and Hank pursue to protect them from the military.
Midpoint
The Kongs find temporary sanctuary in a remote forest area. Lady Kong is discovered to be pregnant. This false victory gives hope but raises the stakes enormously - now three lives are at risk.
Opposition
Colonel Nevitt intensifies the hunt with heavy weaponry. The military closes in from all sides. Kong's artificial heart begins to fail under stress. Amy and Hank struggle to reach the Kongs before the military does.
Collapse
The military corners Kong and opens fire. Kong is shot multiple times protecting Lady Kong. He collapses, apparently dead, while Lady Kong is captured. The whiff of death: Kong sacrifices himself for his mate.
Crisis
Amy grieves over Kong's fallen body while Lady Kong is taken away in chains. Hank confronts the military's cruelty. The darkest moment: all seems lost, Kong appears dead, his mate imprisoned, and their baby's future in jeopardy.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kong's artificial heart restarts. He revives with renewed purpose, driven by the need to save Lady Kong and their unborn child. Amy and Hank choose to help him, fully committing to the Kongs' freedom.
Synthesis
Kong breaks Lady Kong free from military captivity. Final confrontation with Colonel Nevitt and the military forces. Kong defeats the soldiers. Lady Kong gives birth. Kong's heart finally gives out from the strain, and he dies peacefully knowing his family is safe.
Transformation
Lady Kong cradles her newborn baby as Amy and Hank watch. The baby Kong represents hope and new life. The closing image mirrors the opening's despair with transformation: death has given way to birth, captivity to freedom, and loneliness to family.