In 1944, during the World War II chaos, two fighter pilots find themselves plummeting to a mysterious island in the South Pacific following an intense dogfight. An American soldier, Hank Marlow, faces off against Japanese soldier Gunpei Ikari, only to have their battle interrupted by the immense presence of Kong, a colossal ape.
Fast forward to 1973, where U.S. government agent Bill Randa recruits the experienced James Conrad, a former British Special Air Service Captain with a military background, to lead an expedition to the enigmatic Skull Island. Accompanying them is the highly skilled Vietnam War helicopter squadron called the Sky Devils, led by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson). They are flanked by notable squad members, including Major Jack Chapman (Toby Kebbell) and Captain Earl Cole.
Joining the mission is Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), a photojournalist motivated by her pacifist principles, who suspects ulterior motives behind the expedition. Upon their arrival at Skull Island, chaos erupts as Packard's men begin deploying explosives, conceived by seismologist Houston Brooks, to map out the terrain. Soon, they encounter the formidable Kong, who violently defends his territory, resulting in significant casualties among the military team.
Packard rallies some of the survivors, including pilot Glenn Mills and Randa, who later discloses his membership in the Monarch organization dedicated to proving the existence of monstrous beings and evaluating their threat to humankind. Meanwhile, the remaining survivors, including Conrad, Weaver, and Brooks, endeavor to reach a rendezvous point for a resupply team set to arrive in mere days. On their journey, they cross paths with the local Iwi tribe and an elderly Marlow, who shares the profound truth that Kong is the guardian of the island, revered by the locals for safeguarding them against terrifying predators, known as Skullcrawlers.
As tragedy strikes—Chapman succumbing to a Skullcrawler attack—the group bands together to create a makeshift boat from the wreckage surrounding them, setting off on a perilous river journey. However, their vessel is soon besieged by Pterosaur-like creatures, leading to more losses. As their adventure unfolds, Packard's motivations shift towards seeking vengeance against Kong, blaming him for their casualties.
In preserving their strength, Marlow leads these groups toward a grim site, a mass grave of Kong's ancestors, where they are ambushed by a lurking Skullcrawler. In a harrowing chain of events, Randa is slain, triggering Packard's relentless drive to confront and eliminate Kong.
In a fierce clash, Conrad and Weaver witness Kong's true nature and realize he is not the enemy but a necessary protector. As explosive traps orchestrated by Packard further ensnare Kong, a greater danger emerges—a giant Skullcrawler. In this chaotic confrontation, Kong musters his strength to save the survivors and ultimately triumphs over the malevolent beast. He even ensures Weaver's safety, despite her falling into the water amidst the turmoil.
As the credits roll, the scene shifts back to Marlow, who cherishes a much-awaited reunion with his wife and sees his son for the first time while enjoying a Chicago Cubs game on TV. In a thrilling post-credits revelation, Conrad and Weaver are now in the hands of Monarch, as their world expands with the shocking knowledge that Kong is just one of many titans, as archives unveil drawings of legendary creatures like Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah.
