Overview
A young girl and her beloved gorilla face the harsh realities of show business in a quest for freedom.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- sentimental
- adventurous
- family movie night
- classic cinema afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Willis O'Brien's ingenious, expressive stop-motion work and Joe's sympathetic personality, while finding the story formulaic and occasionally implausible.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe is presented as a credible, affectionate personality whose captivity and threatened execution drive the film's emotional stakes.
Max brings Joe from Africa to headline a Hollywood nightclub, turning the gorilla's extraordinary size into entertainment.
Willis O'Brien's animated model work emphasizes Joe's gestures, moods, and disconsolate captivity scenes.
The safari, animal capture, and Hollywood migration frame Africa primarily as a source of spectacular attractions.
Films like Mighty Joe Young, and why
King Kong
Shared giant ape spectacle, stop-motion effects, adventure plotting, and sympathetic creature-centered drama.
Dumbo
Shared family-friendly animal adventure, emotional bond between humans and an extraordinary creature, and uplifting rescue stakes.
The Black Stallion
Shared classic fantasy adventure, exploitation of a remarkable creature for entertainment, and compassion-driven dramatic resolution.
Movie Details
- Director
- Ernest B. Schoedsack
- Release Date
- 1949-07-13
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (126)
Cast
- Terry Moore
- Ben Johnson
- Robert Armstrong
- Frank McHugh
- Douglas Fowley
- Denis Greene
- Paul Guilfoyle
- Nestor Paiva
- Regis Toomey
- Lora Lee Michel
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mighty Joe Young about?
- A young woman and an ambitious showman struggle to save a gentle giant gorilla from the entertainment business that made him famous.
- What is Mighty Joe Young like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mighty Joe Young as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mighty Joe Young violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mighty Joe Young as mild.
- What did critics think of Mighty Joe Young?
- Critics broadly praised Willis O'Brien's ingenious, expressive stop-motion work and Joe's sympathetic personality, while finding the story formulaic and occasionally implausible.
- Which films are like Mighty Joe Young?
- Films with a similar feel include King Kong, Dumbo, and The Black Stallion.
- How long is Mighty Joe Young?
- Mighty Joe Young runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mighty Joe Young?
- In United States, Mighty Joe Young is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
