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Three Kings

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
170K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,176
552
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube in Three Kings (1999)
Trailer
Play trailer0:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, four soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help.In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, four soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help.In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, four soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
170K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,176
552
  • Director
    • David O. Russell
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(story)
    • David O. Russell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • George Clooney
    • Mark Wahlberg
    • Ice Cube
Top credits
  • Director
    • David O. Russell
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(story)
    • David O. Russell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • George Clooney
    • Mark Wahlberg
    • Ice Cube
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 580User reviews
    • 119Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 19 nominations

    Videos1

    Three Kings
    Trailer 0:27
    Three Kings

    Photos168

    George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze in Three Kings (1999)
    Ice Cube in Three Kings (1999)
    Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze in Three Kings (1999)
    Mark Wahlberg in Three Kings (1999)
    George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube in Three Kings (1999)
    George Clooney in Three Kings (1999)
    George Clooney, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze in Three Kings (1999)
    George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube in Three Kings (1999)
    Ice Cube as Chief Elgin
    Barlow, Elgin and Vig
    Elgin, Gates & Vig
    Entering the storeroom

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Archie Gatesas Archie Gates
    Mark Wahlberg
    Mark Wahlberg
    • Troy Barlowas Troy Barlow
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube
    • Chief Elginas Chief Elgin
    Spike Jonze
    Spike Jonze
    • Conrad Vigas Conrad Vig
    Cliff Curtis
    Cliff Curtis
    • Amir Abdulahas Amir Abdulah
    Nora Dunn
    Nora Dunn
    • Adriana Cruzas Adriana Cruz
    Jamie Kennedy
    Jamie Kennedy
    • Walter Wogamanas Walter Wogaman
    Saïd Taghmaoui
    Saïd Taghmaoui
    • Captain Saidas Captain Said
    • (as Said Taghmaoui)
    Mykelti Williamson
    Mykelti Williamson
    • Colonel Hornas Colonel Horn
    Holt McCallany
    Holt McCallany
    • Captain Van Meteras Captain Van Meter
    Judy Greer
    Judy Greer
    • Cathy Daitchas Cathy Daitch
    Christopher Lohr
    • Teebauxas Teebaux
    Jon Sklaroff
    Jon Sklaroff
    • Pacoas Paco
    Liz Stauber
    Liz Stauber
    • Debbie Barlow, Troy's Wifeas Debbie Barlow, Troy's Wife
    Marsha Horan
    • Amir's Wifeas Amir's Wife
    Alia Shawkat
    Alia Shawkat
    • Amir's Daughteras Amir's Daughter
    Jabir Algarawi
    • Hairdressing Twin #1as Hairdressing Twin #1
    Ghanem Algarawi
    • Hairdressing Twin #2as Hairdressing Twin #2
    • Director
      • David O. Russell
    • Writers
      • John Ridley(story)
      • David O. Russell(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, who plays an Iraqi defector, who sells Major Gates cars stolen from Kuwait, was, in real life, tortured and kicked in the eye by Saddam Hussein's security forces, blinding him in that eye. Like many advisors and extras in the film, he is an actual refugee from Iraq.
    • Goofs
      When Troy was shot, the kevlar flak vest he wore would not have provided proper protection from a bullet. Had he been wearing the military interceptor vest, this may have stopped a round from an Ak-47.
    • Quotes

      Archie Gates: You're scared, right?

      Conrad Vig: Maybe.

      Archie Gates: The way it works is, you do the thing you're scared shitless of, and you get the courage AFTER you do it, not before you do it.

      Conrad Vig: That's a dumbass way to work. It should be the other way around.

      Archie Gates: I know. That's the way it works.

    • Alternate versions
      The Australian theatrical release omits a brief close up of a woman being shot in the head by one of Saddam's soldiers. This was done to avoid an R rating. This scene cut from the Australian release in order to obtain an MA rating for theatrical release were restored for the VHS and DVD releases, thus restoring the original R rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Double Jeopardy/Jakob the Liar/Mumford (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      I Just Want to Celebrate
      Written by Nick Zesses and Dino Fekaris

      Performed by Rare Earth

      Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.

      Under License from Universal Music Special Markets

    User reviews580

    Review
    Top review
    One of the freshest and most subversive Hollywood movies in years! A modern classic.
    I spend most of my time bitching at just how mindless and cliched most movies released by Hollywood are, so it's always a pleasant surprise when a 'Pulp Fiction' or a 'Boogie Nights' or an 'American Beauty' gets released and makes me eat my words. 'Three Kings' deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those very fine movies, but what a left field surprise this one was! As much as I enjoyed David O. Russell's previous movies 'Spanking The Monkey' and 'Flirting With Disaster', I never would have expected him to be capable of making a movie as fresh and original as this! Easily overlooked, it very cleverly manages to work simultaneously as an action/adventure, and a comedy, and a wonderfully subversive lesson in recent political history. Who would have thought? The other surprise is just how fine the motley cast is. TV heart throb Clooney, rappers turned actors Wahlberg and Ice Cube, and video director Jonze. All are much better than anyone would have the right to expect, and are supported by some strong performances from the likes of Cliff Curtis ('Once Were Warriors'), Nora Dunn ('The Last Supper'), Jamie Kennedy ('Scream') and especially Said Taghmaoui ('La Haine'), the latter in a role that should have made him an international star. 'Three Kings' is in my opinion a modern classic and one of the very best movies of the last ten years. I can't recommend this one highly enough!
    helpful•79
    33
    • Infofreak
    • Nov 19, 2002

    FAQ2

    • Did George Clooney really hit David O. Russell on set?
    • If Chief is a worshipper of Jesus, why is he praying with the Muslims in the cave?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • WarnerBros.com
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Spoils of War
    • Filming locations
      • Casa Grande, Arizona, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Village Roadshow Pictures
      • Village-A.M. Partnership
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $75,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $60,652,036
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,847,636
      • Oct 3, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $107,752,036
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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