King Cobra

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2:11

King Cobra

Released Oct 21, 2016

1h 32m

Crime

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

It's 2006, YouTube is in its infancy, and internet porn is still behind a paywall. Taking the stage name Brent Corrigan, a fresh-faced, wannabe adult video performer is molded into a star by Stephen, a closeted gay porn mogul who runs the skin flick empire Cobra Video from his seemingly ordinary suburban home. But as Brent's rise and demands for more money put him at odds with his boss, he also attracts the attention of a rival producer and his unstable lover.

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Kristen Lopez

Spectrum Culture

King Cobra takes an interesting true crime and covers it in exploitative sex, pedophilic overtures and acting that would make a high school drama teacher cringe.

Rated: 1.5/5

Nov 20, 2017

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Matthew Lickona

San Diego Reader

Though based on a true story, it's presented with none of a docudrama's ragged, lumpy oddity: the narrative is on the lean side, but as taut and burnished as the bodies it depicts.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 3, 2016

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Godfrey Cheshire

RogerEbert.com

King Cobra smells more like business plan than a movie.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 29, 2016

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Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

There is definitely a great film to be made about the gay porn industry, but unfortunately, King Cobra is not it.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 2, 2021

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Jason Adams

The Film Experience

King Cobra is killer. Funny, sexy, and bottomlessly absurd, a wall-fly's view of the ass-smacks of the perfectly self-involved

Jul 6, 2021

Full Review

Alexander Ryll

Gay Essential

Filmmaker Justin Kelly wrote the film adapting the story told in the book "Cobra Killer: Gay Porn Murder" by Andrew E. Stoner and Peter A. Conway, and if anything, by the time credits roll, it's hard not to be compelled to read the source material.

Sep 15, 2019

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Liam D

It’s got a good cast and it’s well made but it feels like exploration than an actual movie

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

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Alec B

The film is grasping for something truthful to say, although it never quite reaches that level. The character's motivations are just too muddled.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Audience Member

bad script, more like a 1970's film than more recent one.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This 1 star is for Christian Slater. Not for his role in this movie but only for Mr. Robot. If you are going to make a movie about gay porn, maybe hire actual gay actors instead of James Franco who is trying to 'act gay'. The only thing believable about this film is that Christian Slater's character would get murdered (spoiler). Do not recommend, especially when you want to watch something with your parents. P.S: I have sent all the actors (except for Sir Slater) a payment request for my wasted and delicate time. No.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty watchable, but just that. We have a James Franco that overshadows must of the others actors (Garrett Clayton surprises with a different side of his acting), the problem is the story, that doesn't show the real truth behind the murder case that originates it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Omg this movie was so good! I have seen it many times and want to watch it again. My boyfriend and I loved it, and want to see more movies like it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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Justin Kelly

Director

Garrett Clayton

Sean Paul Lockhart

Christian Slater

Stephen

Alicia Silverstone

Janette

Molly Ringwald

Amy

Keegan Allen

Harlow

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King Cobra: Trailer 1

2:11

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Synopsis

It's 2006, YouTube is in its infancy, and internet porn is still behind a paywall. Taking the stage name Brent Corrigan, a fresh-faced, wannabe adult video performer is molded into a star by Stephen, a closeted gay porn mogul who runs the skin flick empire Cobra Video from his seemingly ordinary suburban home. But as Brent's rise and demands for more money put him at odds with his boss, he also attracts the attention of a rival producer and his unstable lover.

Director: Justin Kelly
Producer: James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Scott Levenson, Jordan Yale Levine, Shaun Sanghani
Screenwriter: Justin Kelly
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: SSS Entertainment, IFC Films, Rabbit Bandini Productions, Yale Productions, Digital Ignition Entertainment
Genre: Crime, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.5K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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