Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Donkey Kong

  • Video Game
  • 1981
  • E
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Donkey Kong (1981)
Kong
Play trailer0:38
1 Video
11 Photos
Action

Arcade video game and the first in the "Donkey Kong" series in which Jumpman (later retconned to be Mario) runs and jumps on platforms and climbs ladders to ascend a construction site and re... Read allArcade video game and the first in the "Donkey Kong" series in which Jumpman (later retconned to be Mario) runs and jumps on platforms and climbs ladders to ascend a construction site and rescue Pauline from a giant gorilla, Donkey Kong.Arcade video game and the first in the "Donkey Kong" series in which Jumpman (later retconned to be Mario) runs and jumps on platforms and climbs ladders to ascend a construction site and rescue Pauline from a giant gorilla, Donkey Kong.

  • Director
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
  • Writer
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • Writer
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • 23User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Kong
    Trailer 0:38
    Kong

    Photos10

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 4
    View Poster

    User reviews23

    7.32.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Op_Prime

    Outdated? Maybe. A classic? Definitely.

    This game came out twenty years ago and remains one of the most important video games ever. Due in part because it was the first to have a real story. However, it is mainly because this was the first appearance of the most famous video game character, Mario. Of course, he's known as Jump Man, a carpenter, in this game.

    In the game, you play Jump Man and have to rescue a girl from Donkey Kong. Of course, you have to dodge all sorts of traps along the way. The graphics are vastly outdated compared to today's standards, but this game totally rocks. Thumbs up!
    Movie Nuttball

    Donkey Kong!

    The Donkey Kong series is one of the most different adventure video games! The cool characters and the action makes this game really fun! Below is a brief look how I think the game is!

    Game Play: The game play is very good. There is really basic controls here and is easy to perform. Novice gamers should have a good time here!

    Graphics: The graphics are wonderful especially on several game systems. The character especially Mario are really neat!

    Difficulty: The game is easy but as it goes on you find out that it will become more difficult!

    Music: The music is great! Just fantastic catchy tunes through out the game! In My opinion its some of the best music ever in a video game!

    Sound: The sound is great. Nuff said!

    Overall: I have always loved Donkey Kong! If you like excellent adventure games then I strongly recommend you play this game!

    To purchase this video game check out Amazon.com!
    10safeinheaven

    Donkey Kong is and always will be THE BEST if you have nothing else better to do

    I was crazy about King Kong both 1933 and 1976 versions. When I turned 10 in 1981 at Addalin's Palace in the Granite Run Mall, my brother introduced me to Donkey King . . . it featured "King Kong" throwing barrels down at Mario who was trying to rescue a kidnapped girl JUST LIKE KING KONG in the sense of the kidnapped girl . . Donkey Kong therefore became a mighty Joe young descendant my mind. Then the next year COLECOVISION brought Donkey Kong home and followed by the LED stand alone version. After which Donkey Kong Jr and Donkey Kong 3 cam along. I still have my two-screen LCD Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong 2 games in my nightstand. My reflexes are just as sharp too even. Of course some people will not find this helpful. But I'm nuts about Donkey Kong. and of course we cant forget the awesome ADAM computer super game packs and the Atari 2600 King Kong and Odyssey 2's Pick-AX Pete spin offs. PLEASE RELSEASE DONKEY KONH for Gamecube and Wii in its original form!!!!
    9rasmus-9

    The game that started it all

    Back in 1981 Nintendo was on the verge of bankruptcy. So the hired this unknown man called Shigeru Miyamoto to do a game for them.

    The game was called Donkey Kong and starred a little carpenter called Jump Man who would later change his name to Mario and become the most famous videogame-hero of all time.

    The game itself was a the time revolutionary. Not only was the first real platformer, but it was also the first game with a story of some sort.

    Today the game is of course outdated, but it still stands as one of the most important games ever.
    The_Light_Triton

    might be your mom's game, but still fun.

    You can bet a hundred bucks to someone that they've played this game. people have played this for generations, and all of them have had fun, one way or another.

    Donkey Kong, a giant ape, breaks out from the local Zoo (or at least i think he did.) and kidnaps a woman named Paula. so, it's up to jump-man (also known as Mario) to go and rescue this woman, and defeat the monkey who stole her.

    Donkey Kong has come a long way. from enemy, to good guy, and to rhythm game icon. in the second version of the donkey Kong games, he was captured and Mario was holding him there. so Mario isn't all you think he is. but nowadays, DK and Mario don't hate each other. they just beat each other up every now and then. play super smash bros to do stage a fight between the 2.

    this outdated, but fun game gets 8/10

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Mario Bros.
    7.3
    Mario Bros.
    Super Mario Bros.
    8.8
    Super Mario Bros.
    Duck Hunt
    7.1
    Duck Hunt
    Tetris
    8.5
    Tetris
    Donkey Kong Country
    8.6
    Donkey Kong Country
    The Legend of Zelda
    8.5
    The Legend of Zelda
    Contra
    8.2
    Contra
    Space Invaders
    7.5
    Space Invaders
    Galaga
    7.7
    Galaga
    Castlevania
    7.8
    Castlevania
    Excitebike
    7.0
    Excitebike
    Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
    7.1
    Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The game was originally designed as a Popeye game but the rights expired in production, so new characters were made with the same characteristics of a giant taking away the girlfriend while being chased by the small hero.
    • Goofs
      There is a bug in the game that randomly occurs when Jumpman jumps over a barrel, and is not awarded any points for it.
    • Quotes

      Introduction screen: How high can you get?

    • Connections
      Edited into Animal Crossing (2001)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 2, 1981 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Donkey King
    • Production companies
      • Nintendo R&D1
      • Nintendo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.