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IMDbPro

King of the Hill

  • 19931993
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8.5K
YOUR RATING
Jesse Bradford in King of the Hill (1993)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:03
1 Video
89 Photos
DramaHistory
A young boy struggles on his own in a run-down hotel after his parents and younger brother are separated from him in 1930s Depression-era Midwest.A young boy struggles on his own in a run-down hotel after his parents and younger brother are separated from him in 1930s Depression-era Midwest.A young boy struggles on his own in a run-down hotel after his parents and younger brother are separated from him in 1930s Depression-era Midwest.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • A.E. Hotchner(memoir)
    • Steven Soderbergh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jesse Bradford
    • Jeroen Krabbé
    • Lisa Eichhorn
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • A.E. Hotchner(memoir)
    • Steven Soderbergh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jesse Bradford
    • Jeroen Krabbé
    • Lisa Eichhorn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 nominations

    Videos1

    King of the Hill
    Trailer 1:03
    Watch King of the Hill

    Photos89

    King of the Hill (1993)
    Spalding Gray in King of the Hill (1993)
    Joe Chrest in King of the Hill (1993)
    Karen Allen in King of the Hill (1993)
    Amber Benson in King of the Hill (1993)
    Adrien Brody in King of the Hill (1993)
    Karen Allen and Jesse Bradford in King of the Hill (1993)
    Jeroen Krabbé in King of the Hill (1993)
    King of the Hill (1993)
    Cameron Boyd in King of the Hill (1993)
    King of the Hill (1993)
    King of the Hill (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jesse Bradford
    Jesse Bradford
    • Aaron
    Jeroen Krabbé
    Jeroen Krabbé
    • Mr. Kurlander
    Lisa Eichhorn
    Lisa Eichhorn
    • Mrs. Kurlander
    Karen Allen
    Karen Allen
    • Miss Mathey
    Spalding Gray
    Spalding Gray
    • Mr. Mungo
    Elizabeth McGovern
    Elizabeth McGovern
    • Lydia
    Cameron Boyd
    Cameron Boyd
    • Sullivan
    Adrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    • Lester
    Joe Chrest
    Joe Chrest
    • Ben
    • (as Joseph Chrest)
    John McConnell
    John McConnell
    • Patrolman Burns
    Amber Benson
    Amber Benson
    • Ella McShane
    Kristin Griffith
    Kristin Griffith
    • Mrs. McShane
    Chris Samples
    Chris Samples
    • Billy Thompson
    Peggy Freisen
    • Mrs. Thompson
    Katherine Heigl
    Katherine Heigl
    • Christina Sebastian
    John Durbin
    John Durbin
    • Mr. Sandoz
    Lauryn Hill
    Lauryn Hill
    • Elevator Operator
    Jesse Zeigler
    • Jealous Kid
    • Director
      • Steven Soderbergh
    • Writers
      • A.E. Hotchner(memoir)
      • Steven Soderbergh(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the author A.E. Hotchner's book " Paul and Me" ( about his lifetime friendship and business partnership with Paul Newman) he says that "King of the Hill" is his own autobiography. Newman asked him to write a screenplay from it, so they could produce the film, but Hotchner said he just couldn't do it, implying he was too close to it... the story of his parents, and himself as a child. Paul Newman replied... "A Pity". Then Hotchner goes on to mention that this film, Steven Soderbergh's version, produced by Robert Redford, was excellent, named one of the top ten films of the year, and praised the remarkable performance of 14 yr old Jesse Bradford.
    • Goofs
      Aaron's father's car's plate number is 415138. Though his father was out of town with his car for a very long time we saw the same car/plate just outside the house where the party is given after the graduation ceremony. That car can't be there at that moment.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Kurlander: Must you wear that filthy thing on your head?

      Aaron: Ma, it's a hat. You wear it on your head.

    • Crazy credits
      This film was re-recorded in a Swelltone theater
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Man Without a Face/Wilder Napalm/King of the Hill/Hard Target/And the Band Played On (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Tiger Rag
      Written by Edwin B. Edwards, Henry Ragas, Larry Shields, Edwin B. Edwards and Tony Sbarbaro (collectively as The Original Dixieland Jazz Band)

      Performed by The Mills Brothers

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews57

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Spielberg eat your heart out, this is a real feel good movie
    Not to be confused with that T.V. show thing. King of the Hill is one of the most vivid film experiences I remember as a child. No, I wasn't lucky enough to catch it on the big screen. Instead I rented it and watched it one night and was totally absorbed into it. Jesse Bradford, despite his current film career, did a damn fine job as Aaron Kurlander, a young boy struggling to survive during the Great Depression. He uses his wits and imagination to make the best out of the worst of times. Bradford was 12 or 13 years old at the time he filmed the movie and as an actor it must've been a heavy burden. The main focus is on him as its his story and shown from his point of view. Bradford doesn't let the ball drop once and more than carries his weight. It's another one of those rare great child performances. Jeroen Krabbé plays Aaron's (Bradford) father who is a struggling traveling salesman. Lisa Eichhorn plays his mentally unstable mother who goes in and out of various institutions. Rounding out the cast of the interesting people that fill Aaron's life are Karen Allen as the warm and understanding school teacher, Cameron Boyd his younger brother, Adrien Brody as the "cool" big brother figure, John McConnell as the fat and troublesome patrol cop, Elizabeth McGovern as a prostitute working in the same hotel Aaron lives at, and Spalding Gray as her creepy, manipulative, and suicidal pimp. So yes the film is filled to the brim with worth while supporting players adding so much depth and dimension to Aaron's world.

    Soderbergh had double duty as writer and director. He scripted the novel by A.E. Hotchner and I think it's his best film. As I mentioned it takes place during the Great Depression in St. Louis Missouri. Watching Aaron fight for survival is one of the best charms of the film. It's done realistically. The audience is able to believe his methods. There's a nice mix of drama, dark somber humor and dire situations, but there's also enough humanity and hope in the movie to send an uplifting message. For those who enjoy Andy Dufresne's message of hope and persaverence in the more widely known The Shawshank Redemption, seek out this film. I would argue it's even superior to Frank Darabont's movie. It's one of the great and underrated modern films and ranks with the best using the Great Depression setting. Sadly King of the Hill isn't released yet on DVD and it's not very likely that you'll be able to find it at your local video store. Especially if all you have is the local communist Blockbuster near you. Anyway, King of the Hill should be regarded and known far more highly than what it is. It's a sin for a movie this great to not get its due.

    Grade: A+
    helpful•35
    7
    • ztruk2001
    • Mar 12, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tepenin Kralı
    • Filming locations
      • 16 Portland Place, St. Louis, Missouri, USA(Billy Thompson's House)
    • Production companies
      • Wildwood Enterprises
      • Bona Fide Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,214,231
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $46,476
      • Aug 22, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,214,231
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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