King Ivory

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2:26

King Ivory

R

2h 10m

Action

Crime

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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5 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

From civilians to criminals to addicts to law enforcement, and everyone in between, all walks of life intersect in this thriller about the epidemic that is fentanyl; street name: King Ivory. It is business as usual for Tulsa drug cop, Layne West (James Badge Dale), battling the local criminal element, which hits too close to home when his son, Jack (Jasper Jones), gets hooked on fentanyl. In conjunction with his partner, Ty (George Carroll), and FBI counterpart, Beatty (Rory Cochrane), West makes it his mission in life to take down those responsible, including the Mexican cartel's local shot-caller, Ramón Garza (Michael Mando), Indian Brotherhood War Chief, Holt Lightfeather (Graham Greene), who controls state-wide trafficking while serving life inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester a.k.a. "Big Mac," and the local Irish Mob family outfit, led by George "Smiley" Greene (Ben Foster), along with his mother, Ginger (Melissa Leo), and uncle, Mickey (Ritchie Coster). As Holt educates West during a prison visit, "The cartels want your kids, the next generation, who want what is new, and fentanyl is new."

John Swab

Director

Rory Cochrane

Actor

James Badge Dale

Actor

Ben Foster

Actor

Melissa Leo

Actor

Graham Greene

Actor

Finestkind

28%

59%

Finestkind

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Abraham Ozler

%

48%

Abraham Ozler

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Nico

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Nico

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Helen Razor

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Tim Grierson

Screen International

This action-thriller is too easily in thrall to its tough-guy posturing, resulting in a picture that incorrectly believes it’s delivering bitter truths.

Sep 16, 2024

Full Review

Jordan Mintzer

The Hollywood Reporter

It’s definitely an over-the-top finale, and not everything ultimately seems real in King Ivory. But what makes Swab’s latest rise above your average drug thriller is how he tries to make each moment feel like it’s been drawn from a certain reality.

Sep 10, 2024

Full Review

Barry Levitt

The Daily Beast

This is a film that spends a lot of time meandering in overly-familiar beats, leaving its best stuff obscured under flurries of gunfire.

Jun 5, 2025

Full Review

Matthew Turner

Next Best Picture

It has a palpable air of authenticity and packs a powerfully emotional punch.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 10, 2024

Full Review

Rodrigo Perez

The Playlist

Tense, taut, and deeply gripping writer/director John Swab’s dramatic drug cartel/fentanyl trade crime thriller “King Ivory” is a terrific surprise.

Rated: A-

Sep 6, 2024

Full Review

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Bill S

People are criticizing that's it over the top but , they forget it is a movie that have real life scenes. I thought it was well depicted and for the most part it is true. Remember it is still a Great movie that is up there SICARIO.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

Full Review

Mijail Boris T

Unnecessarily they show the drug trafficker as a human being

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

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King Ivory: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

From civilians to criminals to addicts to law enforcement, and everyone in between, all walks of life intersect in this thriller about the epidemic that is fentanyl; street name: King Ivory. It is business as usual for Tulsa drug cop, Layne West (James Badge Dale), battling the local criminal element, which hits too close to home when his son, Jack (Jasper Jones), gets hooked on fentanyl. In conjunction with his partner, Ty (George Carroll), and FBI counterpart, Beatty (Rory Cochrane), West makes it his mission in life to take down those responsible, including the Mexican cartel's local shot-caller, Ramón Garza (Michael Mando), Indian Brotherhood War Chief, Holt Lightfeather (Graham Greene), who controls state-wide trafficking while serving life inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester a.k.a. "Big Mac," and the local Irish Mob family outfit, led by George "Smiley" Greene (Ben Foster), along with his mother, Ginger (Melissa Leo), and uncle, Mickey (Ritchie Coster). As Holt educates West during a prison visit, "The cartels want your kids, the next generation, who want what is new, and fentanyl is new."

Director: John Swab
Producer: Jeremy M. Rosen
Screenwriter: John Swab
Distributor: Roadside Attractions / Saban Films
Production Co: Roxwell Films
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 10m