King Kong has been part of American pop culture for decades. His original romp in 1933 astounded audiences worldwide. Most people fail to know of the many sequels and spin-offs to the classic version. These are all of the films, in order by release date, to be sure you're caught up on some you may have missed.

King Kong (1933)

Featuring the expensive, time consuming stop motion animation of expert special effects man Willis O' Brien, this is one of the quintessential American films. The plot is brilliance in its simplicity, as filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) is desperate for a major film hit. He finds what he needs on Skull Island, an ancient, forgotten, and primitive place. The islanders worship Kong, and when they view Dehnam's star Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), they kidnap her as a sacrifice.

That starts the unforgettable mayhem, as Kong is enraged as Denham's group takes Darrow back after a harrowing trek through the jungle. Famous sequences here are simply too many to discuss in detail. The fight between Kong and a hungry Tyrannosaur rank amongst the best, the special effects simply unparalleled for the time. Even today, these mesmerizing effects stand out.

It would be criminal not to mention the finale, pitting Kong against a variety of bi-planes while slowly losing his grip on the tip of the Empire State Building. Directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoesdsak make a cameo as pilots, as the eventual fall of the beast is completed. As Kong breathes his final breaths, history is made as Denham proclaims, "It was beauty that killed the beast." A sequence involving the ship's crew falling into a canyon and then being eaten has been declared lost. It was deemed too violent, and the sequence was removed. No print has ever been found.

Son of Kong (1933)

This quickly produced sequel is a meager attempt to cash in on the name. Denham returns, again played by Robert Armstrong, now ruined after Kong's rampage, decides to board a ship to get away from his troubles. After a crew revolt, he becomes stranded on Skull Island, along with a few shipmates. Here they find the Son of Kong, a white haired, friendly, and playful beast.

Sequences featuring this cuter version of Kong are usually cut short to save on the budget and time. He fights a few original monster creations to protect the small crew, which he has now befriended. All of the action stays on the island, as Kong makes a sacrifice to save his friends. It's not completely without merit, as the special effects are still magnificent, made more so when the realization sets in of the time and financial constraints.

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Though not technically part of the King Kong sequel line, this new creation was directed and written by the same team. Even Robert Armstrong returns, though playing a different role than his characters previously. This time, Jill Young (Terry Moore) raises a baby gorilla, one that grows to around 15 feet. It's a smaller gorilla than previously featured; bringing a cute charm and childlike nature that was lost on Son of Kong. Armstrong's character named Max O'Hara travels to Africa and discovers the gentle giant, and convinces Jill to allow him to take him to America. Joe Young's show is a smashing success, until a group of drunks angers him and he escapes.

The special effects here are beyond most of what was accomplished previously, more ambitious in scope. The animation has been improved significantly, and the process allows for amazing facial expression. An aging Willis O'Brien and his protégé Ray Harryhausen perform the animation, and this is the type of film that is a perfect example of their craft. O'Brien's career would end with the Giant Behemoth in 1959. He passed away in 1962 of a heart attack.

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

The highest grossing Godzilla film of all time, this was originally Willis O'Brien's idea in the 1950s. He planned a King Kong sequel, pitting the ape against a giant Frankenstein creature. Producer John Beck sold the idea to Toho studios (reportedly against O'Brien's wishes), and this is the result.

Godzilla is resurrected from his icy tomb at the end of his previous film (Godzilla Raids Again), and Kong is captured by a pharmaceutical company looking for a new ad campaign. Each monster begins their own rampage (Kong does so after destroying the raft he was transported on), until the climatic battle begins to rage on the base of Mt. Fuji. The ending is the same in both the American and Japanese versions (regardless of popular belief), though the two films are completely different.

Most of the Japanese comedy would baffle American audience; so new scenes were shot for the US release, cutting down on the characterization and plot developments. It leaves the film in a butchered, confusing state, though most audiences simply came to the see the monsters. There is no stop motion animation this time, as two men in suits rumble around miniature sets.

The Kong suit is one of the hardest things to swallow for die-hard fans (though not as bad as the next sequel). A floppy mess, with arms that change in size from scene to scene and a mask that's easy to see through, this remains one of the worst incarnations of Kong to date. The fight is played for laughs, and that's how many people view the Godzilla series.

King Kong Escapes (1967)

Not a sequel to the previous Japanese release, this film was created to tie into the short-lived Rankin/Bass Productions cartoon series. This would undoubtedly be the worst appearance of King Kong, the suit used is simply atrocious, and it's hard to argue for it. His goofy, lumpy face and mangled hair do nothing to make audiences scared of him.

Kong is brought to an icy location to dig for highly radioactive "Element X," which Dr. Who (Eisei Amamoto) is mining to take over the world. When Kong is unable to perform the task, they create a mechanized Kong to do the job. When King Kong frees himself of his captors and heads for Tokyo, Dr. Who and his minions send their robotic version after him.

This is a fast paced film, one designed to keep kids entertained, and become hooked on the cartoon, which would oddly not see release until 1966. There are homages to the original, including a fight with a T-Rex like creature (known as Gorosaurus in the Toho universe of monsters), and the climbing of Tokyo Tower, the closest thing Japan had at the time to the Empire State Building. This is hardly a film for King Kong purists, but it does feature some goofy fun, and for small children who may be scared by the 1933 version, this isn't a bad choice.

King Kong (1976)

Endlessly hyped, this big budget Dino DeLaurentiis produced remake made a name for itself by claiming Kong would be played by entirely by a monumental life-sized robot. That creation appears only in a few brief scenes, and the rest of the time is played by special effects make-up master Rick Baker in a suit. The story was barely changed, swapping out the film-seeking expedition from the original and replacing it with a crew searching for oil. The finale was also relocated to the World Trade Center, angering fans of the original who protested the change.

Playing the obligatory damsel in distress, in her first role, is Jessica Lange. Kong's struggle is put aside for human character development most of the time. He is eventually brought down by helicopters in a brutal, bloody battle. The film's budget ballooned rapidly, sending it over $24 million.

It would haul in over $75 million worldwide, despite being critically panned and failing to deliver multiple beasts for Kong to fight with (here he enters into a brief struggle with giant snake). An alternate TV cut exists, which included a few shots deleted from the theatrical release to pad the running time for sequences that didn't fit TV standard. It's still held in high regard by many fans that grew up with this unique spin on the legend.

King Kong Lives (1986)

If fans had trouble with the Japanese versions, they likely swore the series off completely after this. You'll find few people who will argue for this camp classic, a direct sequel to the 1976 remake. Kong has survived his less than graceful fall from the World Trade Center 10 years ago, and is now in a deep coma. An artificial heart is created to revive Kong, and at the same time, a female specimen is discovered by an explorer. Though separated by over a mile, the revived Kong picks up the female's scent and escapes into the forest with her.

The new couple romps around the forest in a flirting sequence, until the female is re-captured. Kong, now seeking revenge, begins destroying troops until he finds his mate, who we learn is now pregnant. The battle between Kong and the military rages as the female provides a baby for Kong to see in his final moments.

No one is sure why this film was green lighted. The hype from the '76 had subsided, and there was little need for a sequel. Possible reasons include a new Godzilla film appearing a year before, rather successfully as well. John Guillermin returns as the director, though the cast and special effects crew are all new. Its ties to the first film are meager at best.

Mighty Joe Young (1998)

This $49 million remake resurrects the story of Jill Young (Charlize Theron) and her giant gorilla. The set up remains mostly the same, save for a rather brutal killing of baby Joe's parents in the opening act. The action is friendly, tame, and heart warming. Joe still goes on the expected rampage, but does so with charm that's appropriate for the family. Both Ray Harryhausen and Terry Moore are awarded cameos.

That would remain the final piece of the Kong puzzle. Peter Jackson's upcoming period remake for 2005 is generating press, and there's still hope. The big ape may have fallen (multiple times), but he keeps getting up to entertain audiences.