The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Kernel Score: 84% · 693 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Adventure, Drama
Released: 1975-12-03
Runtime: 129 minutes
Where to watch The Man Who Would Be King
- Free with ads: Hoopla, YouTube Free, Plex, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Tired of life as soldiers, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot travel to the isolated land of Kafiristan, where they are ultimately embraced by the people and revered as rulers. After a series of misunderstandings, the natives come to believe that Dravot is a god, but he and Carnehan can't keep up their deception forever.
The Man Who Would Be King parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Man Who Would Be King is a PG adventure film with colonial-era battle violence and deception.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes battle sequences and a coronation gone wrong, consistent with its PG rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Man Who Would Be King
If you liked The Man Who Would Be King, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) — 93%
- The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) — 88%
- The Wrong Man (1956) — 81%
- The Swindle (1955) — 81%
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) — 82%
- True Grit (1969) — 82%
- A Hero (2021) — 83%
- News of the World (2020) — 78%
Director
Cast
- Sean Connery as Daniel Dravot
- Michael Caine as Peachy Carnehan
- Christopher Plummer as Rudyard Kipling
- Saeed Jaffrey as Billy Fish
- Doghmi Larbi as Ootah
- Jack May as District Commissioner
- Karroom Ben Bouih as Kafu Selim
- Mohammad Shamsi as Babu
- Albert Moses as Ghulam
- Paul Antrim as Mulvaney
The Man Who Would Be King FAQ
Is The Man Who Would Be King good?
The Man Who Would Be King has an 84% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 693 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Man Who Would Be King?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, YouTube Free, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Man Who Would Be King OK for kids?
The Man Who Would Be King is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Man Who Would Be King is a PG adventure film with colonial-era battle violence and deception.
What movies are like The Man Who Would Be King?
If you liked The Man Who Would Be King, try Catch Me If You Can, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Wrong Man and The Swindle.