Morgan Freeman, whose acting career spans more than sixty years, has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected and versatile talents. While Freeman has played unforgettable roles in acclaimed films like The Shawshank Redemption, Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby, it is not any of these legendary works that top his personal list. Instead, the movie that holds the most special place in his heart is one he watched as a young boy: the original King Kong from 1933. This fact about the Morgan Freeman childhood favorite movie King Kong speaks volumes about the enduring power of cinema to influence lives, even for those who become living legends themselves.
Freeman’s connection with King Kong dates back to his very first movie experience. Growing up, like many lifelong film lovers, he encountered a transformative moment that made the world of cinema feel suddenly vast and magical. While working his way through countless genres and stories both as an actor and a viewer, Freeman never forgot the extraordinary impact of seeing that colossal ape brought to life on the screen. The film’s combination of breathtaking visual effects, thrilling adventure, and poignant commentary left a mark that has stayed with him ever since.
In a 2011 interview, Freeman described exactly how much this early experience influenced him:
My number one favorite film was the first film I ever saw—I was six years old before I ever went to the movies—and that film is the original King Kong,
—Morgan Freeman, Actor. He also praised the film directed by Merian C. Cooper as being his preferred version of the story, making clear that the original still stands above any later remakes or interpretations. The film stars Fay Wray as Ann Darrow, who finds herself at the center of a thrilling and terrifying story as a film crew’s adventure takes an unexpected turn when they encounter the giant Kong.
Why the 1933 ‘King Kong’ Continues to Inspire Generations
Freeman is hardly alone in being captivated by King Kong at a young age. The movie belongs to a rare group of classic films—alongside iconic titles like The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars—that define the cinematic experience for children and help shape their imaginations. These movies enchant viewers with their creative daring and their technical brilliance, offering an experience that lingers for a lifetime. The magic of King Kong endures even in modern times, with contemporary audiences still marveling at the handcrafted stop-motion effects and intricate models that made Kong come alive. Witnessing the artistry and effort involved in the film’s production only deepens appreciation for its sense of adventure and spectacle.
This pioneering blend of entertainment, fantasy, and commentary is what filmmakers have striven to replicate ever since. As one commentator puts it:
they don’t make ’em like they used to,
—Anonymous. That sentiment, often heard from fans and industry insiders alike, points directly back to the kind of imaginative and ambitious movies that defined the early days of Hollywood, before standardized formulas and digital effects dominated the landscape.
The story of King Kong—with its monster who displays a surprising amount of depth and emotion, its resourceful heroine Ann Darrow, and its exploration of the unknown—resonates across cultures and generations. Its influence can be felt in everything from modern blockbusters like Oppenheimer to artful character-centered dramas such as Sinners. Performers like Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong brought these roles to life at a time when audiences were eager for something that combined real emotion with sheer spectacle.
The Enduring Impact of a Childhood Favorite
For Freeman and countless fans, the significance of King Kong goes far beyond nostalgia. The film’s ability to blend pulse-pounding excitement, genuine character moments, and thoughtful social themes sets a high standard for filmmaking. Many still believe that there is something uniquely inspiring about witnessing the magic created by hands-on craftsmanship, visible in every frame of Kong’s thrilling rampages and gentle glances. That sense of wonder, first felt by a six-year-old Morgan Freeman in a dark theater, is what continues to draw viewers back to classic movies and encourage today’s filmmakers to reach for new heights.
King Kong was built during an era known for unbridled creativity and artistic risk-taking, and its legacy lives on as audiences search for contemporary films that capture the same balance of amazement and meaning. In an industry that prizes innovation, the story of an unlikely hero, a misunderstood giant, and the humans who both fear and admire him remains unforgettable.
As stories like King Kong endure and younger generations discover their own transformative movie moments, it becomes clear why actors such as Morgan Freeman still cherish the power of film to create lasting impressions. At the heart of every screen legend’s journey lies a memory: a childhood favorite that shaped the course of a remarkable life in cinema.
