Mighty Joe Young (1998 film)

Mighty Joe Young
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ron Underwood
Screenplay by	Mark Rosenthal Lawrence Konner
Based on	Mighty Joe Young by Merian C. Cooper Ruth Rose
Produced by	Ted Hartley Tom Jacobson
Starring	Bill Paxton Charlize Theron Rade Šerbedžija Naveen Andrews Regina King David Paymer
Cinematography	Donald Peterman Oliver Wood
Edited by	Paul Hirsch
Music by	James Horner
Production companies	Walt Disney Pictures RKO Pictures The Jacobson Company
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date	December 25, 1998 (1998-12-25)
Running time	114 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$90 million[1]
Box office	$50.6 million (US)[1]

Mighty Joe Young is a 1998 American epic adventure film based on the 1949 film of the same name about a giant mountain gorilla brought to a wildlife preserve in Los Angeles by a young woman who raised him, and a zoologist, to protect him from the threat of poachers until one seeks Joe out in order to take his revenge. It was directed by Ron Underwood and stars Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Rade Šerbedžija, Naveen Andrews, Regina King and David Paymer. Creature suit actor John Alexander plays the title character. In this version, the ape is much larger than in the original. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $50.6 million in the United States against a production budget of $90 million, making it a box-office bomb.