Mighty Joe Young (1998) poster
Poster: TMDB
FilmPG1998

Mighty Joe Young

AdventureFamilyActionFantasy

Directed by Ron Underwood

As a child living in Africa, Jill Young saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser. 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 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… From TMDB

90 reactions from 3 sources (Bluesky, TMDB reviews, Mastodon) · newest Oct 26, 2026 · last updated Oct 27, 2026 · How this works

Audience score

—
No Data

Sentiment labels for these sources are still being hand-checked; no score yet.

Source+−=
Bluesky *13569
TMDB reviews *101
Mastodon *001

* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).

What people are saying

A written summary appears once the title has a score.

At a glance

Mighty Joe Young is a 1998 adventure family action film, directed by Ron Underwood, starring Charlize Theron, Bill Paxton and Rade Šerbedžija.

  • 80 people have posted about this film on Bluesky, TMDB reviews, Mastodon
  • posts span Oct 24, 2018 to Oct 26, 2026

Assembled from TMDB, Wikidata and Steam fields and our own counts, nothing written by a model. Method

RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account

90 public posts have mentioned Mighty Joe Young so far, but it needs 10 opinionated reactions from checked sources before it gets a score. Seen it? Post your take.

The Experts
54%
avg of 3 sources
The People
—
audience score

Reactions

60 of 90 · most liked first
  • Evan Dorkin @evandorkin.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 22, 2026

    NERD INFERNO is out on April 28th from @darkhorse.com. Every day until then I'm posting something from the 648-pg magilla. TODAY: Pg 1 of "Mighty Carl Jung" a retelling of the movie Mighty Joe Young with Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung standing in for the giant ape. A personal fave.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Movies Silently @moviessilently.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 23, 2025

    Today's review covers the dinosaur fantasy THE GHOST OF SLUMBER MOUNTAIN (1918), which got special effects guy Willis O'Brien noticed for THE LOST WORLD, which led to his work in KING KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. moviessilently.com/2025/11/23/t...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Alex Vorkov @alexvorkov.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 20, 2026

    #watched MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949) Most of the key figures involved in the production of KING KONG (1933) return for a more kid-friendly remake (of sorts). It's trite but charming with deft stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien, and Pete Peterson.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • SCI-FIVE 🔵 ✊🏿 🏳️‍🌈 🖖 🚀 @sci-five.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 2, 2025

    #scifi #movies #filmsky #cinema #RayHarryhausen 🎬 "Mighty Joe Young" (1949) ... was Harryhausen's debut as a special effects artist in a major film. He worked with his mentor, stop-motion pioneer Willis O'Brien (King Kong 1933). King Kong's Robert Armstrong (Carl Denham) stars in this clip.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Win Scott Eckert ☄️ 🦖🐍🐒🦀🐢🐘🦕🦣🦞🦒🦍🌞🌛🗻🪐💫(He/Him) @woldnewton.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 29, 2024

    Watching MIGHTY JOE YOUNG

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Rob Cee @therobcee.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 15, 2026

    Tfw you conflate Meet Joe Black with Mighty Joe Young and you find yourself asking somebody, "What's the movie where Brad Pitt played a big monkey?"

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Phil Rosenthal @philrosenthal.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 16, 2024

    Only good thing about "The 3:30 Movie" was its promotion, which sometimes led to theme weeks. One week of films such as "Planet of the Apes," "Mighty Joe Young," etc., was famously packaged (by a young up-and-comer named Brandon Tartikoff) as "Gorilla My Dreams Week."

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • K. Cook & Cats, Co. @iamkaymichelle.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 24, 2025

    #Director: #RonUnderwood This guy's #filmography is... wild. Never seen City Slickers. Mighty Joe Young sucks. Pluto Nash fucking really sucks. Holiday in Handcuffs, why do I even know that, I've never seen it... Like, #Tremors is lightning in a bottle, clearly. Never caught it again. #FilmSky

    negative · AI labelView post →
  • befores & afters magazine @beforesmag.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 29, 2025

    Did you know about the specialized visual effects film stock that was made by Eastman Kodak to deal with red fringe artifacts? --> How VFX legend Hoyt Yeatman and his tests being done for 1998’s ‘Mighty Joe Young’ led to the SFX 200T film stock. beforesandafters.com/2025/07/30/d...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • the dan who stepped into yesterday @korbermite.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 4, 2025

    i think about this movie weekly (and not just when i confuse it with Mighty Joe Young)

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Will Shop of Horrors ☠️ (SpaceTree Studios) @spacetreestudios.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 10, 2025

    Hey a Godz- ... An animated king ko- .... a Mighty Joe Young movie came out that year

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Javier Giménez 🇵🇾 @paraguaijin.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 6, 2026

    Name a black and white film: nobody says the name in the QRPs 😅🤷🏻‍♂️ mine's Mighty Joe Young (1949) source: gifer.com/en/K6XT

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • willfulchipmunk.bsky.social @willfulchipmunk.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 17, 2026

    I remember "Million Dollar Movie". The series would show the same movie for a week, switch it out for another on Saturday morning. It's how I watched one of my favorite old movies, "Mighty Joe Young" 6 times. I even learned how to play "Beautiful Dreamer" on my little toy piano.

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • Mutual I'm Sure @mutualimsure.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 6, 2026

    Can't sleep. Today's first movie is Mighty Joe Young (1949) 🍿

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • MITCHELL T @mitchelltrips.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 24, 2025

    I want the ape to commit atrocities. Think Mighty Joe Young meets A Serbian Film.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Chuck Suffel @chucksuffel.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 25, 2026

    Name a monster film where you side with the monster. Mighty Joe Young (1949)

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • dollyllama @dollyllama.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 5, 2026

    The one I don't remember had gorillas because I had nightmares of gorillas as a child, so possibly "Mighty Joe Young". I don't remember watching it though. I do remember those damn talking trees in the "Wizard of Oz". The flying monkeys weren't as scary. www.tiktok.com/@ozhistory/v...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • alexander-sims.bsky.social @alexander-sims.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 4, 2026

    Iconic Movie Scenes: The Burning Orphanage scene. Mighty Joe Young (1949) If you've never seen it now is your chance. A thrilling 8 minute ride youtu.be/p2wdWRxlRmY?...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Stephen @godofhammers.bsky.socialBluesky · May 19, 2026

    It was my seventh birthday and my parents offered me a choice for the trip to the cinema: Mighty Joe Young or The Rugrats Movie. I was so paralysed by indecision that I got to see neither. A day I often look back when struggling to make a choice and/or when I justify to myself doing a double bill.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Crazy • Scary • Spooky • Hilarious @spookycoochiegawd.blacksky.appBluesky · Mar 9, 2026

    You know what’s a Disney movie that doesn’t get talked about enough? Mighty Joe Young I love that movie real bad!

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • Mayfair Theatre @mayfairtheatre.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 25, 2025

    Tonight! Pinball Women Ottawa hosts a King Kong: Myth Of Terror Island pinball machine launch party at House Of TARG! On theme, TARG presents screenings of King Kong on June 29 and 30, and Mighty Joe Young on June 29 and July 2! mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/king-k... mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/mighty...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mayfair Theatre @mayfairtheatre.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 24, 2025

    June 27 - July 3! -A Nice Indian Boy- 3rd Week! -The Life Of Chuck- 5 Stars! (Saturday Evening Post) -The Warriors- 10/10! (Film Threat) -King Kong- 5 Stars! (BBC) -Mighty Joe Young- "a classic" (Midnite Reviews) -The Ritual -The Rocky Horror Picture Show -Saturday Night Sinema -The Encampments

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mayfair Theatre @mayfairtheatre.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 13, 2025

    Our friends and neighbours at House of TARG present a pair of giant ape stop-motion classics, in honour of their new King Kong: Myth Of Terror Island pinball machine! King Kong - June 29, 30 Mighty Joe Young - June 29, July 2 mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/king-k... mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/mighty...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Th[Ominous Whoosh] @mrmoth.eurosky.socialBluesky · Mar 21, 2025

    Have you seen the original Mighty Joe Young? Genuinely brilliant work by Harryhausen and just a really fun giant ape film. Once went to a screening of King Kong with Harryhausen as speaker afterwards.

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • SisterGoldenHairSurprise @bauntarbara.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    I'm thinking Mighty Joe Young was the best movie ape. youtu.be/46AyCmufOs8?...

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • Samuel Isaac Dealey 🏳️‍⚧️ @woohooligan.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 26, 2026

    add “between my legs” to a movie title Mighty Joe Young Between My Legs ... this one is gender neutral 🥸

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Captain Sasquatch @captainsasquatch.bsky.socialBluesky · May 11, 2026

    I always forget how sweet and wholesome Mighty Joe Young is, while also killing poachers. Great movie.

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • Migo - The Fungi from Yuggoth @fungifromyuggoth.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 4, 2025

    #Svengoolie Today's Movie: Mighty Joe Young For day 4 of my Sven-a-Day October, I went back to my childhood where I'd wake up early on Saturdays, watch cartoons all morning, eat a huge bowl of chocolate frosted sugar bombs, and in the afternoon watch the Creature Feature. Good times!

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Scott Pfitzinger @pfitzinger.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 9, 2025

    Sweet! Mighty Joe Young (1998) is free to stream on Tubi! And it's a Disney movie, which is rare outside their own channel. It stars Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Rade Serbedzija, Peter Firth, David Paymer, & Naveen Andrews. Directed by Ron Underwood Music by James Horner #movies 🎬 #NowWatching

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mayfair Theatre @mayfairtheatre.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 29, 2025

    Sunday June 29! 3:30pm -The Encampments- Presented by INSAF UOttawa, SJP CU, and the Palestinian Youth Movement And, House Of TARG presents both: 6:15pm -King Kong- 4/4 Stars! (Roger Ebert) 5 Stars! (BBC) 8:45pm -Mighty Joe Young- "a masterpiece" (Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film And Television)

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mayfair Theatre @mayfairtheatre.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 22, 2025

    Ottawa Pinball Women hosts a King Kong: Myth Of Terror Island pinball machine launch party at House of TARG on June 25! On theme, TARG presents screenings of King Kong on June 29 and 30, and Mighty Joe Young on June 29 and July 2! mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/king-k... mayfairtheatre.ca/movie/mighty...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • DJNebulous @djnebulous.northsky.socialBluesky · Apr 2, 2025

    Mighty Joe Young is in this weird spot of being a kind of sequel but more of a spiritual successor film. Wasn't on the same scale as a giant either. Stop motion effects were definitely more refined though.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • fuwaSNS @fuwasns.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 7, 2025

    For some reason I thought Mighty Joe Young was a movie about a guy that turned into a gorilla. It's not even close to being that entertaining.

    negative · AI labelView post →
  • Owen K.C. Stephens (He/Him) @owenkcstephens.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 9, 2025

    I... I'd watch that movie. Though it might work better with Mighty Joe Young.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Sandy Resnick @whywolf.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 28, 2024

    Growing up in the NYC area, we had the annual Thanksgiving Apes tradition: watching Mighty Joe Young, King Kong, and Son of Kong. It was always at the same time, which meant getting called to dinner halfway through Son of Kong. It was many years before I was able to watch the rest of that movie!

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • willfulchipmunk.bsky.social @willfulchipmunk.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 10, 2026

    I remember Million Dollar Movie. That's where I made sure I watched Mighty Joe Young seven times! Love that original movie too.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mister Mahzel @mistermahzel.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 9, 2026

    Loud as hell soundtrack. Not on album, but Mighty Joe Young on stage at The Green Mill was such a cool moment in this Chicago Postcard of a film.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Jon Parrish @jonhparrish.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 25, 2026

    My dad took me to see the '98 version of Mighty Joe Young. I don't remember anything about that movie but her.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Kevin Bows @bowsknows71.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 21, 2026

    Now rewatching the 1949 movie “Mighty Joe Young” featuring Terry Moore, Ben Johnson and Robert Armstrong. From the makers of the original King Kong. One of my Dad’s favorite movies from childhood.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Amber ✨🦇💄 @ambattii.comBluesky · May 17, 2026

    SAME I was telling my partner after we finished it that it reminded me of Mighty Joe Young in that it was the first movie I ever saw as a kid that made me bawl because of death-related plots and I think this would be similar for me if I were a kid now

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Rev.P.W.Brown @revbrown.bsky.socialBluesky · May 1, 2026

    The original "Mighty Joe Young" is a very important film for the history of monkey culture and needs be recognized as such.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mister Mahzel @mistermahzel.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 22, 2026

    morning drive music. ca. 1967 Magic Sam Blues Band "West Side Soul" with Mighty Joe Young (see the movie Thief). #BluesClassics #Chicago

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • hyper mega bummer boy @danceyrselfdean.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 18, 2026

    Mighty Joe Young - this movie loomed large if you were 7 years old when it dropped

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Jandri🔞 @jandri.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 26, 2026

    I always get this film confused with Charlize Theron in Mighty Joe Young

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Rediscovered Movies Podcast @rdmoviespod.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 9, 2026

    New episode with @nomfymoloi.bsky.social is available, which focuses on the 1998 adventure film Mighty Joe Young 🦍 linktr.ee/rdmoviespod

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Rediscovered Movies Podcast @rdmoviespod.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 5, 2026

    youtube.com/shorts/EQFvU... Here's a sneak peek of Monday's episode with @nomfymoloi.bsky.social which focuses on the 1998 film Mighty Joe Young 🦍

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • jack the nonabrasive @karabaic.orgBluesky · Feb 15, 2026

    It was on a Thanksgiving in the 70's, when WOR-TV would have a monkey movie marathon: King Kong, Son of Kong, King Kong vs Godzilla, and Mighty Joe Young. The rhesus had escaped from a lab at Queens College and ended up hanging out on the fire escapes across the alley as we watched King Kong...

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Gary Williamson @docs41.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 9, 2026

    This movie kind of scared me as a kid, but my mom always felt sorry for Joe :) Terry Moore in Mighty Joe Young (1949)

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Melanie 🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Rights Are Human Rights 🐈 ACAB @melailurophile.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 29, 2025

    173. Mighty Joe Young (1949). Boo to the climax suddenly shifting direction, & the ending downplaying the drama. But otherwise, even if the filmmakers didn't *fully* intend it: JFC this is dark. More than not it comes across as a horror film dressed up as a comedy, even if it loses steam at the end.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Cracked Lemonade @crackedlemonade.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 29, 2025

    m.imdb.com/title/tt0120... Thinking of this movie reminded me of Mighty Joe Young. Came out around the same time. Also Brendan Fraser's version of George of the Jungle.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Today In Movies @todayinmovies.comBluesky · Jul 27, 2025

    🎬 The Top 4 Action Movies Released on July 27! What's your fave? 1. Mission: Impossible - Fallout 2. Teen Titans Go! To the Movies 3. Mighty Joe Young 4. Sacrifice Check out all 44 movies released on this day at https://todayinmovies.com #TodayInMovies #Movies #Film #Action

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Jude Nagurney Camwell (Iddybud) @iddybud.bsky.socialBluesky · May 11, 2025

    My mother - a very young lady at the time, took her youngest brother John to see Mighty Joe Young at the movie theater. She fondly remembered him excitedly exclaiming out loud about the giant ape (in the quiet of the movie house), "Look, Ro! You can see the crack of his ass!"

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Pasquinel 🦇🎃👻 @pasquinel.bsky.socialBluesky · May 1, 2025

    The final film that stop-motion animator Willis H. O'Brien (King Kong, Mighty Joe Young, etc) worked on was "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (released posthumously in 1963). He animated the out of control fire ladder. #movie #filmsky #vintage #comedy #animation

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Hansell @hansellsohot.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 18, 2025

    Mighty Joe Young, what a great movie!

    positive · AI labelView post →
  • S. Morgan Burbank | Project Tasman Releases Nov. 11 @anotherindiewriter.comBluesky · Mar 25, 2025

    What about the 1998 film Mighty Joe Young?

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Dallas Smith @handofsteel.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 19, 2025

    A Few Good Men, Natural Born Killers, Forest Gump, White Men Can't Jump, Tin Cup, Cobb, Liar Liar, The Cable Guy, Point Break, Instinct, Nick of Time, A Class Act, Paulie a Parrots Tale, Mighty Joe Young Underwater Unit: All three Free Willys, Strange Days, Crimson Tide ,The Rock, Water World. FILM

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • sorcrachi777.bsky.social @sorcrachi777.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 25, 2025

    I haven't seen Charlize as Megan yet. I honestly just like to think of Charlize as she greets Mighty Joe Young in the movie. It's one of those adorable moments in life when my heart just about bursts.

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Davis Nguyen @davisnguyentmn.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 14, 2025

    Feels like a missed opportunity that they never made a cinematic universe of 90s & 00s monkeys/apes movies. Imagine an Avengers-like movie combining: Ed Dunston Checks In Congo MVP: Most Valuable Primate Monkey Trouble Outbreak Planet of the Apes 2001 Mighty Joe Young King Kong 2005 28 Days Later

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation @rayharryhausen.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 7, 2025

    Happy Birthday to Terry Moore! Terry played the lead in Ray’s first film, ‘Mighty Joe Young’ (1948). Starring as Jill Young, the gentle giant’s feisty human companion, she provides many memorable moments in this stop-motion classic movie. Many happy returns! #RayHarryhausen #terrymoore

    neutral · AI labelView post →
  • Mike Finnerty @mikecjf.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 22, 2024

    Happy David Paymer Monday! Here he is in Mighty Joe Young. Haven't seen this movie since I was a kid but I can't remember if Paymer and the monkey share a scene together. Huge missed opportunity if not.

    neutral · AI labelView post →

Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.

Official Trailer

Top Cast

Charlize Theron actor profile photo
Charlize Theron
Jill Young
Bill Paxton actor profile photo
Bill Paxton
Gregg O'Hara
Rade Šerbedžija actor profile photo
Rade Šerbedžija
Strasser
Peter Firth actor profile photo
Peter Firth
Garth
David Paymer actor profile photo
David Paymer
Harry Ruben
Regina King actor profile photo
Regina King
Cecily Banks
Robert Wisdom actor profile photo
Robert Wisdom
Kweli
Naveen Andrews actor profile photo
Naveen Andrews
Pindi

Cast from TMDB.

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

If you liked this

same genre, and people who posted about both
Death Race 2 (2010) movie poster
—
Death Race 2
2010Film
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023) movie poster
—
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant
2023Film
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown (2017) movie poster
—
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
2017Film
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) movie poster
—
The Forbidden Kingdom
2008Film
Force of Nature (2020) movie poster
—
Force of Nature
2020Film
2 Guns (2013) movie poster
—
2 Guns
2013Film