Mighty Joe Young

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Mighty Joe Young

PG

1998

1h 54m

Kids & Family

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

As a child living in Africa, Jill Young (Charlize Theron) saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser (Rade Serbedzija). Now an adult, Jill cares for an orphaned gorilla named Joe -- who, due to a genetic anomaly, is 15 feet tall. When Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton) arrives from California and sees the animal, he convinces Jill that Joe would be safest at his wildlife refuge. But Strasser follows them to the U.S., intent on capturing Joe for himself.

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Critics Consensus

Beguiling effects transcend a predictable plot.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Jan 5, 2023

2/4

Though the film has been dutifully updated to reflect conservation consciousness, it's even sillier than the original, with dialogue that may make even small children groan and human characters that seem far more computerized than Joe.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Apr 2, 2019

In a holiday movie season like this one, you take your pleasures where you find them.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Apr 1, 2019

This Christmas you could do worse than introduce the kids to the big Furby, one who carries a certain moral weight very lightly.

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Howard Cohen

Miami Herald

Jan 5, 2023

3/4

This modern Mighty Joe Young is mighty good fun.

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Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

Jan 4, 2023

1/4

The special effects, particularly the creature construction of famed makeup artist Rick Baker, are effective -- but who cares when the story is so idiotic?

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Dec 30, 2021

2.5/4

...a briskly-paced (yet undeniably overlong) adventure...

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 16, 2026

Mighty Joe Young = a *2* star Movie!

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Kit T

@Kitz_Editz123 Jun 14, 2026

The start was bad, but the ending was really, really sad, but overall it was really good.

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Vincent E B

@SandTiger12 Jan 10, 2026

Great movie with awesome special effects and a great soundtrack!

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Justin C

@RT03759234 Nov 18, 2025

I really love the effects

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 21, 2025

What are you thinking?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Based on another movie of the same name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kigga Bear M

@RT85399967 Feb 25, 2025

This movie is one of the most light hearted yet action packed films i may have ever watched. With some surprisingly heart wrenching moments yet some filled with joy this has something fore everyone. It’s just such a sincere adventure filled movie. Must watch, had much fun!

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Ron Underwood

Director

Charlize Theron

Jill Young

Bill Paxton

Gregg O'Hara

Rade Serbedzija

Andrei Strasser

Peter Firth

Garth

David Paymer

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Synopsis

As a child living in Africa, Jill Young (Charlize Theron) saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser (Rade Serbedzija). Now an adult, Jill cares for an orphaned gorilla named Joe -- who, due to a genetic anomaly, is 15 feet tall. When Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton) arrives from California and sees the animal, he convinces Jill that Joe would be safest at his wildlife refuge. But Strasser follows them to the U.S., intent on capturing Joe for himself.

Director: Ron Underwood
Producer: Ted Hartley, Tom Jacobson
Screenwriter: Merian C. Cooper, Ruth Rose, Mark Rosenthal, Lawrence Konner
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: RKO Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.6M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

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