Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Mighty Joe Young

Name: Mighty Joe Young
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Action
Released: 1949-07-13
Cast: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley

1949 | 94 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Action

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for fantasy fans and action fans. If you loved Black Panther or King Kong, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Exciting.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A young woman, Jill Young, grew up on her father's ranch in Africa, raising a large gorilla named Joe from an infant. Years later, she brings him to Hollywood to become a star.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic
AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
AwardsSolid
Won 1 Oscar: Best Special Effects.
Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 55K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack

Terry MooreJill Young
Ben JohnsonGregg Johnson
Robert ArmstrongMax O'Hara
Frank McHughWindy
Douglas FowleyJones
Denis GreeneCrawford
Paul GuilfoyleSmith
Nestor PaivaBrown
Regis ToomeyJohn Young
Lora Lee MichelJill (as a child)