The Kingdom (2007)

A team of U.S. government agents are sent to investigate the bombing of an American facility in the Middle East.

Director:

Peter Berg

Writer:

Matthew Michael Carnahan

Stars:

Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jamie Foxx	...	Ronald Fleury
Chris Cooper	...	Grant Sykes
Jennifer Garner	...	Janet Mayes
Jason Bateman	...	Adam Leavitt
Ashraf Barhom	...	Colonel Faris Al Ghazi
Ali Suliman	...	Sergeant Haytham
Jeremy Piven	...	Damon Schmidt
Richard Jenkins	...	Robert Grace
Tim McGraw	...	Aaron Jackson
Kyle Chandler	...	Francis Manner
Frances Fisher	...	Elaine Flowers
Danny Huston	...	Gideon Young
Kelly AuCoin	...	Ellis Leach
Anna Deavere Smith	...	Maricella Canavesio
Minka Kelly	...	Miss Ross

Storyline

After a terrorist attack on an American housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where families and FBI Agent Francis Manner are murdered, FBI agent Ronald Fleury blackmails the Saudi Arabian consul to get five days of investigation in the location. He travels with agent Grant Sykes, Janet Mayes and Adam Leavitt to avenge their friend and try to find those responsible for the bombing. The agents find all sorts of difficulties in their investigation, but they are supported by Colonel Faris Al Ghazi that advises the team how to act in a hostile environment.

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Plot Keywords:

saudi arabia | investigation | die hard scenario | safe room | al qaeda | 

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Taglines:

Five days to catch an enemy who isn't afraid to die

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for intense sequences of graphic brutal violence, and for language

Details

Official Sites:

United International Pictures [Germany] United International Pictures [Japan]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

28 September 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

El reino

Filming Locations:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,135,055, 30 September 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$47,536,778, 31 December 2007

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$86,658,558, 29 December 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Relativity Media,Forward Pass

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Berg gave small roles to people involved in both his film and TV versions of "Friday Night Lights". Tim McGraw, who was in Friday Night Lights (2004), plays Aaron Jackson, while two stars of Friday Night Lights (2006), Kyle Chandler and Minka Kelly play Agent Francis Manner and Miss Ross the schoolteacher, respectively.

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Goofs

When Fleury displays his FBI badge to Aaron Jackson (Tim McGraw) it is upside down.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator #1: After capturing most of the Arabian Peninsula with the help of the Wahhabi Islamic warriors, Ibn Saud establishes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Connections

Featured in The Kingdom: Shifting Cultural Perspectives (2007)

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Soundtracks

Finale
(uncredited)
Written by Danny Elfman

User Reviews

entertaining and more than an action flick

The plot is twisting and the movie overall spectacular, although this Jason Bourne style story cannot be taken too seriously, in my opinion. The director, just to make the product more real and grab the attention, tries to add complexity and depth but the level reminds somehow the one of episodic TV. There are a few surprises, some forensic elements and the flick bears some resemblance to Syriana, that was a well done film. Action is undeniably spectacular but Jennifer Garner is not that believable and conceptual flaws are present in the plot. The finale is tear jerker but makes sense eventually, since it's not so far from reality..