King Kong 1976: Collector’s Edition Blu-ray coming from Shout Factory in May

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Shout Factory has announced that they'll be giving director John Guillermin's 1976 take on the concept of King Kong (watch Guillermin's film HERE) a Collector's Edition Blu-ray release on May 11th. Copies can currently be pre-ordered through the Shout Factory website – and if you get your order in before supplies run out, you'll receive an exclusive poster along with the Blu-ray.

Details on the extras that will be included on the disc have not been revealed at this time.

Scripted by Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Batman '66), King Kong 1976 has the following synopsis: 

The Petrox company's search for new oil reserves on a strange island unleashes a terror unseen by civilized man – KING KONG! The timeless story of a beauty (Jessica Lange, making her feature film debut) and a beast comes to the screen in this ambitious production from Dino De Laurentiis. Charles Grodin is the scheming oil company shark out to exploit the giant beast to his fullest. And Jeff Bridges is the desperate hero, Jack Prescott, who attempts to wrest the beautiful heroine from King Kong's grasp. New York City trembles with each echoing footstep of the towering ape set loose in the streets!

I'm not a big fan of King Kong 1976; from making the expedition to the island a search for oil to bringing Kong to life through the use of "suitmation" (that's Rick Baker inside the costume), I feel that it's the result of bad decision after bad decision. I own a copy on DVD, but don't feel the need to upgrade. The movie does have its fans, though, and I'm glad those fans are going to have the chance to own it on Collector's Edition Blu-ray.