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King Ivory

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for King Ivory R 2h 10m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 5 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified 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."

Cast & Crew

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John Swab

Director

Rory Cochrane

Actor

James Badge Dale

Actor

Ben Foster

Actor

Melissa Leo

Actor

Graham Greene

Actor

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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews
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King Ivory

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King Ivory

King Ivory (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime
2h 10m