Charm City Kings

R

2020

2 hr. 5 min.

Drama

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List

79%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Growing up in West Baltimore, teenage Mouse (JAHI DI'ALLO WINSTON, Queen & Slim, Proud Mary, The Upside) feels the fierce pull of different forces: Between notorious ex-con Blax (Grammy-nominated best-selling artist MEEK MILL) and concerned Detective Rivers (WILLIAM CATLETT, TV's "Black Lightning"), and between the straight path set for Mouse by his concerned mother (TEYONAH PARRIS, If Beale Street Could Talk, Dear White People, TV's "Empire") and the dangers of gang life, which took his brother's life. The one truth Mouse knows is that he loves the power, artistry, and energy of "The Ride" -- the exhilarating motorized-dirt-bike scene that is both a pastime and passion on the streets of Baltimore. During one eventful summer, Mouse has to steer his way through two father figures, a first girlfriend, and the illegal but irresistible thrill of stunt-riding that makes him and his friends feel like CHARM CITY KINGS.

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Critics Consensus

Charm City Kings falls shy of more effective similarly themed coming-of-age films, but strong direction and engaging performances make its flaws easy to forgive.

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Haydn C

This is a BRILLIANT movie! I enjoyed every moment of it. I'm a huge fan of the director Angel Manuel Soto. He did a Fantastic Job and made a Masterpiece! I'm looking forward to seeing his next film 'Blue Beetle'.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Adam M

Underrated gem. Surprisingly moving while also being energetic and an excellent film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

Full Review

dave d

Jahi Di'Allo Winston shines in a complicated role and Charm City Kings is an off the radar gem. Other than a 3rd act turn, the film is generally a completely plausible one. These types of movies haven't been made for all races and it's about time there is one focusing on the city of Baltimore and how hard it is to make something of yourself in this place called America. It's not perfect, but for a complete culture this film should have been seen by tens of millions not tens of hundreds. It is a really good inner-city coming of age drama with a few laughs to keep it going. It is based on a documentary on the dirt bike and motorbike scene in Baltimore. It is well worth the time. Final Score: 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The greatest 02 hours: and 05 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

avindu g

A great movie about the youthful pursuit of genuine freedom and expression. It's a big bad world that awaits a young man. But this cleverly acted out and well made story let us witness how a young man's future shapes up when met with a web of cross roads.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great acting, powerful story and great pace of story telling. So much better then I thought it would be.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Angel Manuel Soto

Director

Jahi Di'Allo Winston

Mouse

Meek Mill

Blax

William Catlett

Detective Rivers

Teyonah Parris

Teri

Kezii Curtis

Sweartagawd

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Charm City Kings: Trailer 1

2:13

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Tomris Laffly

Time Out

The spirit of old-fashioned coming-of-age fare roars in director Angel Manuel Soto's sun-dappled Charm City Kings.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 14, 2020

Full Review

Angie Han

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

A really engaging story worth watching for the performances.

Oct 10, 2020

Full Review

Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

Ultimately, Charm City Kings passes the Baltimore smell test, which is saying a lot.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 10, 2020

Full Review

Craig D. Lindsey

Crooked Marquee

TV scribe Sherman Payne's script is as predictable as they come...

Rated: D

Aug 30, 2021

Full Review

Witney Seibold

Critically Acclaimed Podcast

The natural style and authentic locations add a great deal of excitement and purity to 'Charm City Kings.' I just wish the story weren't so predictable.

Apr 22, 2021

Full Review

Clement Tyler Obropta

Film Inquiry

With its challenging performances, elaborate dirt-biking stunts, evocative cinematography, and unique setting for a coming-of-age narrative, it's one of the great gems of 2020.

Mar 20, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Growing up in West Baltimore, teenage Mouse (JAHI DI'ALLO WINSTON, Queen & Slim, Proud Mary, The Upside) feels the fierce pull of different forces: Between notorious ex-con Blax (Grammy-nominated best-selling artist MEEK MILL) and concerned Detective Rivers (WILLIAM CATLETT, TV's "Black Lightning"), and between the straight path set for Mouse by his concerned mother (TEYONAH PARRIS, If Beale Street Could Talk, Dear White People, TV's "Empire") and the dangers of gang life, which took his brother's life. The one truth Mouse knows is that he loves the power, artistry, and energy of "The Ride" -- the exhilarating motorized-dirt-bike scene that is both a pastime and passion on the streets of Baltimore. During one eventful summer, Mouse has to steer his way through two father figures, a first girlfriend, and the illegal but irresistible thrill of stunt-riding that makes him and his friends feel like CHARM CITY KINGS.

Director: Angel Manuel Soto
Executive Producer: Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter
Screenwriter: Christopher M. Boyd, Sherman Payne
Production Co: Overbrook Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Violence|Sexual References|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020

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