The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
75%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations
The Kid Who Would Be King recalls classic all-ages adventures — and repurposes a timeless legend — for a thoroughly enjoyable new addition to the family movie canon
The Kid Who Would Be King is a movie that will make you feel like a kid again, but with a modern twist. It’s got adventure, danger, and a talented cast of young actors that will make you want to join in on the fun. Sure, it may not take itself too seriously, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable. It’s a refreshing break from the typical King Arthur legend movies and will leave you feeling optimistic about the future. Plus, who doesn’t love a good healing myth for the ills of contemporary Britain? Overall, it’s an instant classic that will make you want to go on your own heroic adventure.
Production Company(ies)
Decla-Bioscop AG,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Tintagal, Devon, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for fantasy action violence, scary images, thematic elements including some bullying, and language
Year of Release
2019
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2019
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Rebecca Ferguson, Patrick Stewart, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, directed by Joe Cornish, written by Joe Cornish, produced by Nira Park, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, fantasy, adventure, PG, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Andrea Gronvall, Christy Lemire, Simran Hans, Mark Kermode, Kevin Maher, Jake Cunningham, Brian Eggert, Kip Mooney, Nicolás Delgadillo, Grant Watson, Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Alex, Rebecca Ferguson as Morgana, Patrick Stewart as Adult Merlin, Dean Chaumoo as Bedders, Tom Taylor as Lance, Rhianna Dorris as Kaye, mythical sword Excalibur, knights, legendary wizard Merlin, wicked enchantress Morgana, army of supernatural warriors, modern world, classic all-ages adventures, family movie canon
Worldwide gross: $32,140,970
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $37,137,430
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,467
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,049,883
US/Canada gross: $16,790,790
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,400,995
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,425
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,173,887
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,289,100
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,005
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $59,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $68,171,818
Production budget ranking: 617
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $36,710,524
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$67,744,912
ROI to date (est.): -65%
ROI ranking: 1,774
Rebecca Ferguson – Morgana
Patrick Stewart – Adult Merlin
Dean Chaumoo – Bedders
Tom Taylor – Lance
Rhianna Dorris – Kaye
Director(s)
Joe Cornish
Writer(s)
Joe Cornish
Producer(s)
Nira Park, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (192) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (172) | Rotten (20)
The movie has the freshness, innocence, and energy of youngsters on the threshold of adulthood, embarked on a grand heroic adventure.
February 19, 2020
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s got a great kid-energy to it, but also [has] real adventures, real danger, and real stakes.
September 17, 2019
Christy Lemire
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
I’m a huge fan of Cornish’s 2011 debut Attack the Block, but this film isn’t nearly as energetic or enjoyably wacky as its predecessor.
February 17, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s not embarrassed about not being cynical.
February 16, 2019
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
If you factor in the movie’s faith in the kindness of children and its eventual optimism about the future, it becomes, in essence, a healing myth for the ills of contemporary Britain. With or without a deal.
February 15, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A crowning achievement.
February 15, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Jake Cunningham
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
The movie may prove forgettable for adults, but this critic wants to send it back in time to the 10-year-old me, who would love this sort of thing.
March 4, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Made with a panache missing from other attempts at modern quest movies.
August 17, 2021 | Rating: B
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
It’s an instant classic.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 4 / 5
Nicolás Delgadillo
Discussing Film
It is charming, inventive, smartly written, and delightfully performed by a talented juvenile cast.
May 1, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
The Kid Who Would Be King is a welcome break from the movies that take the King Arthur legend too seriously. Through wit, emotion, and imagination, the film makes the story fun again.
March 25, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
There are flashes of that Cornish flair and moments of impressive comedy, but every grasp for pathos finds only empty space.
August 15, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Tom Beasley
VultureHound…
Plot
Old school magic meets the modern world in this epic adventure. Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he’s just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical sword in the stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Sir Patrick Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The Kid Who Would Be King.
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