Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day

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Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day

Feb 2025

1h 31m

Documentary

Music

Biography

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4 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

A musical documentary following 74-year-old Walter Day -- the father of esports and star of The King of Kong -- as he battles a lawsuit threatening his legacy while fulfilling his dream of recording and performing the rock-opera style love songs he has been hearing in his head since having his heart broken at the height of the arcade era.

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Alise Chaffins

MacGuffin or Meaning (Substack)

Jul 15

4/5

More than anything, Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is a testament to how our lives are able to reach far beyond what we might think. And it is also a reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams.

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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

May 11

Walter is still an engaging protagonist, and we learn that he’s been motivated for decades by a woman who got away from him (that might sound creepy, but it’s actually charming.)

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Jason Delgado

Film Threat

Apr 16

9/10

It all comes together in such an emotionally satisfying way that will make you either tear up or want to cheer with a crowd.

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Jonita Davis

The Black Cape (Medium)

Mar 26

Arcades and Love Songs offers a look into the life of a man pivoting to the career of his dreams after retiring from his “dream job.” It normalizes following your dream and also channeling heartache into the arts.

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Alexander P

Jun 8

Sad and creepy, with lies thrown in. Walter's always been a conman. Grifter....

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Ed Cunningham

Director

Walter Day

Self

Ed Cunningham

Screenwriter

Mike J. Nichols

Screenwriter

Paul Leach

Screenwriter

Jonathan Perkins

Producer

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Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A musical documentary following 74-year-old Walter Day -- the father of esports and star of The King of Kong -- as he battles a lawsuit threatening his legacy while fulfilling his dream of recording and performing the rock-opera style love songs he has been hearing in his head since having his heart broken at the height of the arcade era.

Director: Ed Cunningham
Producer: Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon, Mike J. Nichols
Screenwriter: Ed Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, Paul Leach
Distributor: Monkey Wrench Films
Production Co: Monkey Wrench Films
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 28, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 9, 2025
Runtime: 1h 31m

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