Fat Kid Rules the World

R

2012

1h 34m

Comedy

List

84%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A high-school dropout (Matt O'Leary) saves the life of an overweight, suicidal misfit (Jacob Wysocki) and asks him to co-found a new punk-rock duo.

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Sensei M

On the same vibe as Napolean Dynomite, but with more heart and less humor.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I found ‘Fat Kid Rules the World' to be endearing and entertaining until it smashed into a dead ending that left me very disappointed.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Okay, so that acting isn't great, in fact it isn't even good, but this movie has the feel of SLC punk all the way through. It is a good story and fun to watch, and at the end of the day that's all that matters.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I just kept wanting for him to stop eating.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

brandt c

The guy that the synopsis called "charming" I find unbearably annoying. Just the way the character is written. Not badly written, just gets on my nerves personally.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Matthew Lillard's film succeeds far better than I had anticipated. Much of this film's success is rooted in the performances of Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary and Billy Campbell. In some ways if seems like the movie should be predictable, but it constantly seems to surprise. Wysocki is particularly impressive. How a 30-something man can getaway with playing a teenager is amazing. He does. As does Matt O'Leary -- they both seem and appear to be children on the verge of adulthood.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Matthew Lillard

Director

Jacob Wysocki

Troy

Matt O'Leary

Marcus

Lili Simmons

Isabel

Dylan Arnold

Dayle

Billy Campbell

Mr. Billings

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Critics Consensus: Taken 2 Is Less Than Captivating

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

The depiction of high school band life rings true at every turn, bringing a sense of authenticity to the familiar teenage drama.

Nov 29, 2012

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's a lot better than it sounds like it has any right to be.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 29, 2012

Full Review

John Hartl

Seattle Times

Lillard - an actor best-known for his role in "The Descendants" - uses the locations well enough, but the result is still a standard coming-of-age picture.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 25, 2012

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

it's pretty clear that Fat Kid Rules The World really does rule...and so does Matthew Lillard.

Nov 27, 2019

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Tthough Fat Kid Rules the World is thankfully never as hyperbolized as it's title and certainly has its faults, it wears its heart on its sleeve and with excellent performances from up and comers O'Leary and Wysocki.

Aug 5, 2019

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Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

The scenario sounds cliched, but it's brought to life by authentic characters, solid laughs, and surprisingly honest emotions.

Rated: A-

Jul 21, 2013

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Synopsis

A high-school dropout (Matt O'Leary) saves the life of an overweight, suicidal misfit (Jacob Wysocki) and asks him to co-found a new punk-rock duo.

Director: Matthew Lillard
Screenwriter: Michael M.B. Galvin, Peter Speakman
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Drug Content|Brief Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jan 22, 2013
Runtime: 1h 34m