Willis O'Brien Archives

The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy (1915)

Rating: ★★

Jan 3, 2019Cavemen and Dinosaurs

The very first film from stop-motion animator Willis O'Brien, the creator of King Kong. A rather slight piece about the comic shenanigans among a group of cave people but it was the first film to ever depict a dinosaur on screen.

Director: Willis O'Brien

Category: Science Fiction

3 January 201919 October 2021 by Roog

The Ghost of Slumber Mountain (1918)

Rating: ★★★

Mar 2, 2022Vision of Prehistory

An early film from Willis O’Brien, the creator of King Kong, where a man finds a telescope that offers a view of the prehistoric past

Director: Willis O'Brien

Category: Fantasy, Science Fiction

2 March 20222 March 2022 by Roog

The Lost World (1925)

Rating: ★★★½

Jul 3, 2000Lost Plateau of Dinosaurs

Based on an Arthur Conan Doyle novel and featuring stop-motion animated dinosaurs from King Kong creator Willis O’Brien, this was the quintessential lost world film

Director: Harry O. Hoyt

Actors: Wallace Beery

Category: Science Fiction

3 July 200028 July 2026 by Roog

King Kong (1933)

Rating: ★★★★★

Nov 12, 2000Giant Ape

Perhaps the greatest of all monster movies, one that has attained iconic status. A masterpiece of stop-motion animation, it imbues Kong with character and attains a delicate fairytale-like atmosphere

Director: Ernest B. Schoedsak, Merian C. Cooper

Actors: Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong, Frank Reicher

Category: Science Fiction

12 November 200025 February 2026 by Roog

The Son of Kong (1933)

Rating: ★★½

May 8, 2000King Kong Sequel

The 1933 King Kong is a landmark classic Yhis sequel was quickly produced soon after its success,. While the original created a monster movie fairytale, this plays everything for maximum cuteness - it is essentially King Kong mounted as a children’s film

Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack

Actors: Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, Victor Wong

Category: Science Fiction

8 May 200020 March 2025 by Roog

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Rating: ★★★★½

Jun 11, 2000Giant Ape

Many of the people involved in the 1933 King Kong came back together to create another giant ape film. Much overlooked, this is one of the masterpieces of stop-motion animation

Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack

Actors: Robert Armstrong, Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Frank McHugh

Category: Fantasy

11 June 200014 November 2023 by Roog

The Black Scorpion (1957)

Rating: ★★★

Sep 3, 2000Giant Scorpions

This was designed as a copy of the giant ant film Them! substituting scorpions for ants. The plot is average but what stands it out are the excellent stop-motion animated effects from King Kong creator Willis O’Brien

Director: Edward Ludwig

Actors: Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas

Category: Science Fiction

3 September 200028 December 2025 by Roog

The Giant Behemoth (1958)

Rating: ★★

Jan 18, 2001Atomically Revived Dinosaur

The director of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms essentially rehashes the same film here with another atomically revived dinosaur this time attacking London instead of New York

Director: Eugene Lourie

Actors: Andre Morell, Gene Evans, Jack MacGowran

Category: Science Fiction

18 January 200112 March 2026 by Roog