King Kong is a 2005 epic adventure monster film co-written, produced, and directed by Peter Jackson. It is the ninth entry in the King Kong franchise and the second remake of the 1933 film of the same title, the first being the 1976 remake. The film stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. Set in 1933, it follows the story of an ambitious and unscrupulous filmmaker who tricks his cast and hired ship crew into travelling to mysterious Skull Island. There they encounter various prehistoric creatures and a legendary giant gorilla known as Kong, whom they capture and take to New York City.
The film garnered nominations in various categories, particularly for Jackson's direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, as well as lead performance of Watts. It earned three Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
Accolades
Award Subject Nominee Result Academy AwardsBest Art DirectionGrant Major, Dan Hennah, and Simon Bright Best Sound EditingMike Hopkins and Ethan Van der RynBest Sound MixingChristopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, and Hammond PeekBest Visual EffectsJoe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard TaylorAmerican Film InstituteTop Ten FilmsKing KongAmerican Society of Cinematographers AwardOutstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical ReleasesAndrew Lesnie ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Box Office Films James Newton Howard Art Directors GuildExcellence in Production Design for a Fantasy FilmGrant Major, Dan Hennah, Joe Bleakley, Simon Bright, Simon Harper, David A. Cook, and Jacqui AllenBritish Academy Film AwardsBest Special Visual EffectsJoe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard TaylorBest Production DesignGrant MajorBest SoundHammond Peek, Christopher Boyes, Mike Hopkins, and Ethan Van der RynCritics Choice Awards Best Picture King Kong Best Director Peter JacksonChicago Film Critics Association AwardsBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest ActressNaomi WattsBest CinematographyAndrew LesnieBest Original ScoreJames Newton HowardCinema Audio SocietyOutstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion PictureChristopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond PeekDallas-Fort Worth Film Critics AssociationBest PictureKing KongBest DirectorPeter JacksonEmpire AwardsBest Sci-Fi/SuperheroKing KongBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest ActorAndy SerkisBest ActressNaomi WattsBest FilmKing KongGeorges AwardBest Blockbuster MovieGolden Globe AwardsBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest Original ScoreJames Newton HowardGolden Reel AwardsBest Sound Editing in Feature Film - ForeignEthan Van der Ryn, Mike Hopkins, Brent Burge, David Farmer, Dave Whitehead, John Simpson, Hayden Collow, Melanie Graham, Matthew Lambourn, Justin Webster, Katy Wood, Peter Mills, Craig Tomlinson, Ray Beentjes, Jason Canovas, Martin Kwok, Polly McKinnon, Chris Ward, Jenny T. Ward, Robyn McFarlane, and Carolyn McLaughlinMatt StutterBest Sound Editing in Feature Film - MusicJim Weidman and Peter MylesGolden Schmoes AwardsBest DVD/Blu-Ray of the Year'Deluxe Edition'Favorite Movie of the YearKing KongBest Director of the YearPeter JacksonMost Overrated Movie of the YearKing KongBest Special Effects of the YearBest Actress of the YearNaomi WattsCoolest Character of the Year'Kong'Best Music in a MovieKing KongBest Trailer of the YearBest Action Sequence of the Year'Kong vs. T-Rexes'Most Memorable Scene in a Movie'Kong on top of the Empire State Building'Hollywood Professional AssociationOutstanding Color Grading Feature Film in a DI ProcessDavid ColeOutstanding Compositing - Feature FilmErik Winquist, Charles Tait, Johan Åberg, and G.G. Heitmann DemersInternational Cinephile SocietyBest ActressNaomi WattsBest Production DesignGrant MajorInternational Film Music Critics AssociationFilm Score of the YearJames Newton HowardBest Original Score for an Action/Adventure FilmJupiter AwardsBest International DirectorPeter JacksonBest International ActressNaomi WattsLas Vegas Film Critics SocietyBest CinematographyAndrew LesnieBest EditingJamie SelkirkBest Costume DesignTerry RyanBest Art DirectionSimon Bright and Dan HennahBest Visual EffectsKing KongBest PictureLondon Critics Circle Film AwardsFilm of the YearActress of the YearNaomi WattsDirector of the YearPeter JacksonMTV Russia Movie AwardsBest Foreign MovieKing KongMTV Movie & TV AwardsBest MovieBest FightKong vs the planesNational Board of ReviewSpecial Achievement AwardOnline Film Critics Society AwardsBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest ActressNaomi WattsBest Original ScoreJames Newton HowardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest ActressNaomi WattsBest Music, Original ScoreJames Newton HowardBest CinematographyAndrew LesnieBest Production DesignGrant Major, Joe Bleakley, Simon Bright, and Dan HennahBest Costume DesignTerry RyanBest Makeup and HairstylingGino Acevedo, Rick Findlater, Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Dominie TillBest Sound MixingChristopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, and Hammond PeekBest Sound Effects EditingMike Hopkins and Ethan Van der RynBest Visual EffectsJoe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard TaylorBest Titles SequenceKing KongBest Cinematic MomentT-Rex FightBest Official Film WebsiteKing KongPhoenix Film Critics SocietyBest Production DesignGrant MajorBest Visual EffectsKing KongHuabiao AwardOutstanding Translated Foreign FilmRondo AwardBest FilmSan Diego Film Critics Society AwardsBest PictureSaturn Award Best DVD Special Edition Release "Deluxe Extended Edition" release.Best Fantasy Film King KongBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest WritingPhilippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, and Peter JacksonBest ActressNaomi WattsBest CostumeTerry RyanBest Make-UpRichard Taylor, Gino Acevedo, Dominie Till, and Peter KingBest Special EffectsJoe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard TaylorScream AwardsBest RemakeKing KongScream QueenNaomi WattsBest Fantasy MovieKing KongBest F/XKing KongSoutheastern Film Critics AssociationBest PictureKing KongStinkers Bad Movie AwardsMost Intrusive Musical ScoreJames Newton HowardMost Overrated FilmKing KongSt. Louis Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorPeter JacksonBest Cinematography or Visual/Special EffectsJoe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, and Richard TaylorTeen Choice AwardsChoice Action AdventureKing KongChoice RumbleKing Kong vs. T-RexChoice SleazebagJack BlackChoice Hissy FitKing KongToronto Film Critics AssociationSpecial CitationAndy SerkisVisual Effects SocietyOutstanding Visual Effects in anEffects Driven Motion PictureJoe Letteri, Eileen Moran, Christian Rivers, and Eric SaindonOutstanding Performance by an AnimatedCharacter in a Live Action Motion PictureAndy Serkis, Christian Rivers, Atsushi Sato, and Guy WilliamsOutstanding Created Environment in aLive Action Motion PictureDan Lemmon, R. Christopher White, Matt Aitken, and Charles TaitOutstanding Compositing in a Motion PictureErik Winquist, Michael Pangrazio, Steve Cronin, and Suzanne JanduWorld Soundtrack AwardsSoundtrack Composer of the YearJames Newton HowardBest Original Soundtrack of the YearVancouver Film Critics CircleBest ActressNaomi Watts
References