The King Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 14, 2026
Movie Overview: The King
| Movie | The King |
| Release Year | 2006 |
| Director | James Marsh |
| Genre | Drama |
| Runtime | 105 minutes |
| Language | EN |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The King (2006) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in The King are led by Gael García Bernal . The supporting cast, including William Hurt and Pell James , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
While The King does not fully realize its potential, it still contains moments that may appeal to viewers who enjoy Drama films.
- Interesting concept or premise
- Some entertaining scenes
- Supporting cast delivers occasional highlights
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, The King has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Drama fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: The King
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2006, The King is a Drama film directed by James Marsh. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Gael García Bernal.
Ending Explained: The King
The King Ending Explained: Directed by James Marsh, The King wraps up the main storyline while leaving some interpretation to viewers. The ending highlights the core drama themes developed throughout the film.
The emotional resolution focuses on the transformation of its main characters, particularly in scenes involving Gael García Bernal. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the drama themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of The King reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Who Should Watch The King?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Gael García Bernal or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Top Cast: The King
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Where to Watch The King Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
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Fandor Amazon Channel🎟️ Rent on
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Amazon Video
Fandango At HomeThe King Parents Guide & Age Rating
2006 AdvisoryWondering about The King age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The King is 105 minutes (1h 45m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, The King is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2006 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The King worth watching?
The King is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The King parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The King identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The King?
The total duration of The King is 105 minutes, which is approximately 1h 45m long.
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How The King Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The King
When “Elvis” (Gael García Bernal) is honourably discharged from his naval duties, he sets off to find his birth father “Dave” (William Hurt) who is a church minister with an whole new family, and whom he has never met. Initially his father is terrified that the revelation that he has a son out of wedlock, who is now in his twenties, will cost him everything so he asks “Elvis” to keep his distance. He, however, has other plans and those include seducing his sixteen year old half-sister “Malerie” (Pell James); ensuring his half-brother “Paul” (Paul Dano) doesn’t clutter up the proceedings for too long and then causing his father to have to have a rethink about his relationship with both his Lord and his newly acquired son. Hemmed in by his religious conviction and family obligations, what chance “Dave” can be won over? I think my biggest issue with this rather disappointing drama is that GGB just doesn’t seem right for the part. He doesn’t exude even the slightest degree of menace as his manipulative and scheming “Elvis” sets about his manoeuvrings. It also doesn’t really help that none of the characters, except perhaps Dano’s, are remotely likeable nor relatable and I rather lost interest as the story seemed to become more and more contrived to seemingly ask us questions about the voracity or relevance of faith. Hurt stands out, especially as the film approaches it’s denouement, but this was just a little too lacking for me, sorry.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










