Kong: Skull Island 2017

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Box Office

$569M

Runtime

118 min

Language

English

Directed by

Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Made by

Universal Pictures

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Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Kong: Skull Island (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In 1944, during the World War II chaos, two fighter pilots find themselves plummeting to a mysterious island in the South Pacific following an intense dogfight. An American soldier, Hank Marlow, faces off against Japanese soldier Gunpei Ikari, only to have their battle interrupted by the immense presence of Kong, a colossal ape.

Fast forward to 1973, where U.S. government agent Bill Randa recruits the experienced James Conrad, a former British Special Air Service Captain with a military background, to lead an expedition to the enigmatic Skull Island. Accompanying them is the highly skilled Vietnam War helicopter squadron called the Sky Devils, led by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). They are flanked by notable squad members, including Major Jack Chapman (Toby Kebbell) and Captain Earl Cole.

Joining the mission is Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), a photojournalist motivated by her pacifist principles, who suspects ulterior motives behind the expedition. Upon their arrival at Skull Island, chaos erupts as Packard’s men begin deploying explosives, conceived by seismologist Houston Brooks, to map out the terrain. Soon, they encounter the formidable Kong, who violently defends his territory, resulting in significant casualties among the military team.

Packard rallies some of the survivors, including pilot Glenn Mills and Randa, who later discloses his membership in the Monarch organization dedicated to proving the existence of monstrous beings and evaluating their threat to humankind. Meanwhile, the remaining survivors, including Conrad, Weaver, and Brooks, endeavor to reach a rendezvous point for a resupply team set to arrive in mere days. On their journey, they cross paths with the local Iwi tribe and an elderly Marlow, who shares the profound truth that Kong is the guardian of the island, revered by the locals for safeguarding them against terrifying predators, known as Skullcrawlers.

As tragedy strikes—Chapman succumbing to a Skullcrawler attack—the group bands together to create a makeshift boat from the wreckage surrounding them, setting off on a perilous river journey. However, their vessel is soon besieged by Pterosaur-like creatures, leading to more losses. As their adventure unfolds, Packard’s motivations shift towards seeking vengeance against Kong, blaming him for their casualties.

In preserving their strength, Marlow leads these groups toward a grim site, a mass grave of Kong’s ancestors, where they are ambushed by a lurking Skullcrawler. In a harrowing chain of events, Randa is slain, triggering Packard’s relentless drive to confront and eliminate Kong.

In a fierce clash, Conrad and Weaver witness Kong’s true nature and realize he is not the enemy but a necessary protector. As explosive traps orchestrated by Packard further ensnare Kong, a greater danger emerges—a giant Skullcrawler. In this chaotic confrontation, Kong musters his strength to save the survivors and ultimately triumphs over the malevolent beast. He even ensures Weaver’s safety, despite her falling into the water amidst the turmoil.

As the credits roll, the scene shifts back to Marlow, who cherishes a much-awaited reunion with his wife and sees his son for the first time while enjoying a Chicago Cubs game on TV. In a thrilling post-credits revelation, Conrad and Weaver are now in the hands of Monarch, as their world expands with the shocking knowledge that Kong is just one of many titans, as archives unveil drawings of legendary creatures like Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah.

Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Kong: Skull Island (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Fighter Pilots Plummet

In 1944, during the chaos of World War II, two fighter pilots are engaged in an intense dogfight. Their confrontation escalates as they find themselves plummeting towards a mysterious island in the South Pacific, setting the stage for unforeseen events to come.

1944 South Pacific

First Encounter with Kong

On the island, American soldier Hank Marlow faces off against Japanese soldier Gunpei Ikari. Their battle is unexpectedly interrupted by the colossal presence of Kong, a massive ape that emerges to dominate the confrontation, profoundly altering the nature of their conflict.

Expedition to Skull Island

Fast forward to 1973, U.S. government agent Bill Randa recruits James Conrad to lead an expedition to Skull Island. Alongside them is the Sky Devils helicopter squadron, led by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard, gearing up for the upcoming journey.

1973 Skull Island

Chaos Erupts on Arrival

Upon their arrival at Skull Island, the team encounters chaos as explosives are deployed to map the terrain. The sudden eruption of violence draws Kong's attention, leading to an intense confrontation that results in significant casualties among the military personnel.

Skull Island

Monarch Organization Revealed

After the initial skirmish with Kong, Randa reveals his affiliation with the Monarch organization. His mission is to validate the existence of monstrous beings, shedding light on the larger implications of their discovery on Skull Island.

Meeting the Iwi Tribe

As the group journeys towards a rendezvous point, they encounter the local Iwi tribe and an elderly Hank Marlow. Marlow shares the revelation that Kong is a guardian of the island, revered by the tribe for protecting them from deadly predators known as Skullcrawlers.

Skull Island

Tragedy Strikes

The expedition faces further tragedy when Chapman falls victim to a Skullcrawler attack, deepening the group's despair. Determined to survive, they band together to create a makeshift boat from nearby wreckage, initiating a treacherous river journey.

Skull Island

Assault by Pterosaur-like Creatures

During their river journey, the survivors encounter a swarm of Pterosaur-like creatures that attack their makeshift vessel. The ferocity of these creatures results in more casualties, testing the limits of the group's resilience and unity.

Skull Island

Marlow Leads the Group

In a critical moment, Marlow leads the survivors to a grim site—a mass grave of Kong's ancestors. Horrifyingly, this encounter leads to an ambush by a lurking Skullcrawler, reminding the group of the constant dangers they face on the island.

Skull Island

Packard's Vengeful Shift

Following Randa's death at the hands of a Skullcrawler, Packard's motivations twist into a relentless pursuit of vengeance against Kong. He blames the colossal ape for their losses and sets out to confront him with a singular focus on eliminating the perceived threat.

Realization of Kong's True Nature

As tension escalates, Conrad and Weaver come to witness Kong's true nature. They realize that Kong is not the enemy but rather a necessary protector of the island, against the real threats posed by the Skullcrawlers and other dangers.

Skull Island

Final Confrontation with Skullcrawler

In an epic clash, Kong battles a giant Skullcrawler while striving to protect the remaining survivors. The fight tests both Kong's might and the group's resolve as they face the chaotic showdown between the beasts.

Skull Island

Aftermath and Reunion

As the chaos subsides, Kong ensures Weaver's safety, underscoring his role as a guardian. Meanwhile, Marlow enjoys a heartfelt reunion with his wife and sees his son for the first time while watching a Chicago Cubs game on TV, portraying a sense of closure amid the turmoil.

Post-Credits Revelation

In a thrilling post-credits scene, Conrad and Weaver find themselves in the hands of Monarch. They learn chilling truths about Kong being just one of many titans, as cryptic archives reveal drawings of legendary creatures like Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah.

Characters

Explore all characters from Kong: Skull Island (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Hank Marlow

Hank Marlow is a seasoned and resourceful American soldier whose experiences during World War II shape his perspective on the island and its creatures. Despite his rugged exterior, Marlow provides wisdom, guiding the characters toward understanding Kong's role as the guardian of Skull Island and its inhabitants.

🦧 Explorer 🕵️‍♂️ Veteran 🌍 Survivor

Bill Randa

Bill Randa is a determined U.S. government agent whose ambition to prove the existence of monstrous beings drives the expedition to Skull Island. His interests, however, stem from a desire to investigate rather than respect the island's ecology, leading to conflict and chaos during the mission.

💼 Government Agent 🔍 Investigator

James Conrad

James Conrad is a charismatic former British Special Air Service Captain, skilled in survival and combat. His leadership qualities shine as he navigates the perils of Skull Island, ultimately recognizing the truth about Kong and advocating for coexistence rather than conflict.

🪖 Leader 💪 Protector

Mason Weaver

Mason Weaver is a principled photojournalist who joins the expedition not for glory but to expose the truth and advocate for peace. Her convictions are tested as the group grapples with the island's mysteries, and she becomes a crucial ally in understanding Kong's true nature.

📸 Journalist ✊ Pacifist

Setting

Learn where and when Kong: Skull Island (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1944, 1973

The film traverses two distinct years: the chaos of World War II in 1944 and the tumultuous geopolitical climate of the early 1970s. These periods highlight themes of conflict, exploration, and the search for understanding in an era marked by both warfare and the rise of monster mythology.

Location

Skull Island, South Pacific

Skull Island is a mysterious and treacherous location shrouded in secrets and legends. Known for its colossal inhabitants, including the famous Kong, it is a land where nature's beauty is matched by its dangers. The island is heavily populated with various predators and holds significant cultural importance for the local Iwi tribe.

🏝️ Island 🌊 Ocean

Themes

Discover the main themes in Kong: Skull Island (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🌍

Nature vs. Humanity

Kong: Skull Island presents a strong theme of the conflict between nature and humanity. The characters' initial attempts to conquer or exploit the island lead to disastrous consequences, illustrating the importance of respecting nature and its guardians. Ultimately, the humans realize that Kong is not a monster to be defeated but a protector of the island's fragile ecosystem.

⚔️

Vengeance

The theme of vengeance drives several characters, especially Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard, whose relentless pursuit of retribution against Kong leads to catastrophic conflicts. This quest for revenge highlights the destructive nature of anger and how it can blind individuals to greater truths.

👥

Camaraderie

In the face of adversity, the survivors must forge bonds and work together to navigate the deadly island. Their journey reinforces the importance of teamwork and collaboration, urging them to set aside personal vendettas for collective survival.

Kong: Skull Island Ending Explained

Unravel the ending of Kong: Skull Island (2017) with our detailed explanation. Understand the final scenes, character fates, and unresolved questions.

The ending of “Kong: Skull Island” and its related series reveals a complex web of secrets about Hollow Earth and humanity’s interactions with the monsters and the mysterious realm beneath the Earth’s surface. Throughout the story, it becomes clear that Skull Island is just one part of a larger, hidden world—Hollow Earth—where ancient Titans like Kong once thrived and continue to exist in seclusion. The series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” uncovers that Bill Randa, the scientist who first explored Skull Island, recorded crucial evidence before his death in 1973, which was later passed to his son Hiroshi. This footage sparks Hiroshi’s investigation into Hollow Earth portals, which leads him and others to uncover more about the existence of these secret gateways hidden in remote locations around the globe. Their efforts reveal that Apex Cybernetics, a powerful corporation, has taken a keen interest in Skull Island and its creatures, especially in their experiments with Skullcrawlers and Kong, and in using the island as a base for their own ambitions, including the development of weapons like Mechagodzilla.

As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Apex’s greed for power and resources is dangerous, especially since they aim to harness Hollow Earth’s energy and open pathways between worlds. Hiroshi, driven by concern for his daughter Cate, who falls into a portal and is presumed dead, aligns with efforts to stop Apex from exploiting these portals and resources. The series’ climax suggests that Skull Island is no longer just a mysterious island but a strategic hub for Hollow Earth exploration and human experimentation. The season ends with Apex having established a presence on Skull Island, building containment and control infrastructure, and experimenting with its creatures. This sets the stage for future conflicts, where humans could intrude further into the Hollow Earth and threaten the delicate balance of the monsters and their habitat. The narrative hints that many characters, especially Shaw, have been right all along—protecting the boundary between worlds might be the best way to prevent disaster. The story leaves open the possibility of Hiroshi and Keiko fighting to prevent exploitation or perhaps finding ways to develop safe travel between the realms, but the risk of destructive human greed remains a looming threat. Ultimately, the ending warns us that if humans continue to pursue these otherworldly secrets recklessly, they could bring about chaos and destruction to both the monsters’ world and our own. The story points toward a future where heroes may return to fight for the preservation of Hollow Earth and the balance between worlds, echoing the ongoing battle between nature and human hubris.

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