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King of California

Play trailer Poster for King of California PG-13 2007 1h 33m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Charlie (Michael Douglas) gets released from an insane asylum and moves in with Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), the young daughter he left behind. Charlie believes that there is treasure hidden beneath the local Costco, so he puts together a plan to unearth the loot. By convincing Miranda to quit her job at McDonald's and instead work at the wholesale store, he is able to obtain a key. Although Miranda is skeptical, she helps her father with his irrational quest.
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King of California

King of California

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Critics Consensus

A quirky and often touching comedy about a mature teenager and her manic depressive father, King of California is a charming tale of familial relations and treasure hunting.

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Critics Reviews

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Toddy Burton Austin Chronicle 10/20/2007
3/5
The story is simple, sometimes to a fault, and ultimately Cahill doesn't quite pull off all of the majesty that he attempts. But, I'm excited to see what he'll come up with next. Go to Full Review
Peter Howell Toronto Star 10/12/2007
2.5/4
The most remarkable thing about King of California is how the characters grow on you, and how their quixotic quest becomes ours. Go to Full Review
Rick Groen Globe and Mail 10/12/2007
2/4
King of California means to be the jewel in the crown of indie-flick quirkiness, but it's really just a bauble with ambition. Go to Full Review
Heather Huntington ReelzChannel.com 08/25/2008
6/10
For an 'adventure movie' full of quirk, King of California can feel a bit flat. Go to Full Review
Joseph Proimakis Movies for the Masses 06/29/2008
2/5
ypotonikis ekdohis toy National Treasure (2004), poy aromatizetai katatonia aneksartitoy amerikanikoy, komple me to flyaro voice over gia ypokatastato tis afigisis kai liges ksekoyrdistes country hordes sti moysiki ypokroysi gia to sosto feeling Go to Full Review
Caffeinated Clint Moviehole 02/11/2008
'The King of California' is an easily-entertaining film that features two bravura performances. Douglas plays the character of the loony treasure-hunter Charlie with zest, passion, comedy and, well, hyperactivity - its Jack Colton post-drugs, if you will Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Georgan G 02/27/2024 A strange tale of a mentally ill father & his teenage daughter. It kept me interested to see what would happen. Still don't know after watching. See more Kyle M 10/15/2023 Initially intrigued but slowly unconvincing as the narrative bonds therapeutically across improbability towards conclusive surrealism on a calming, ambiguous note. It only seems that the film relies purely on how its estranged father-daughter pair functions from addressing mental issues to burdened struggles. A few relative notes assist the brewing sweetness, all while both performed well with nuanced weight and charismatically providing occasional humor. But the unrealistic journey heightens the void with little substance to add onto the dynamical charisma. (B-) See more Chris M 04/19/2023 She said she had to quit school at 15. But you can't quit school legally before you turn 16 years old, not 15. Plus, I doubt social services would just except a phone call or letter saying she lives with her mother. They require proof, also to make sure the mother is fit to raise a teenager. They would just hear Miranda say, "I live with my mom." And reply, "Ok". Next, Spanish treasure in the Inland Empire. 60 miles from the Ocean. There is no way any one hiding treasure would be taking it that far inland. That's why it's called the INLAND Empire. Also, as developed the Inland Empire is, I'm sure any treasure would have been found. But that was the point, her dad was in a terrible asylum as he's just crazy. IMDb calls it a comedy drama, but I found no comedy or laughs. If we were too suppose to life at the crazy person digging up the Inland Empire, that's tasteless and cruel to the mentally challenged and not fit for a movie in the 21st century. The movie also has 3 major product placements but a budget of only 3 million. Did they get the entire budget from just these 3 companies? It's not funny, it's not interesting, it's just a snooze. See more Shioka O 12/22/2022 Odd, off-beaten comedy. There are occasional laughs, and harmless. Michael Douglas plays an wired middle-aged man, he is a gem. See more kate t @ckat9 05/31/2022 It's not too bad until the ending which is. Michael Douglas has always been an excellent actor and a pleasure to watch but this role wasn't the best fit for him. There's some light humor which makes it watchable. See more dave s 08/16/2021 Cute isn't a glowing reference for a movie, but sometimes it's just enough to make it worth watching. Such is the case with King of California, the story of Charlie (Michael Douglas), a man released from a two year stay in a mental institute, and his relationship with his independent teenage daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood). Eventually convincing her regarding the whereabouts of a hidden treasure, they embark on a journey to recover the riches and rekindle their relationship. The voiceovers sometime come across as unnecessary, as do the flashbacks, and the score seems inconsistent, but the relationship between the two characters feels real, there's some witty dialogue, and by the end of the film you feel as though you're part of their bizarre caper. See more Read all reviews
King of California

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Movie Info

Synopsis Charlie (Michael Douglas) gets released from an insane asylum and moves in with Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), the young daughter he left behind. Charlie believes that there is treasure hidden beneath the local Costco, so he puts together a plan to unearth the loot. By convincing Miranda to quit her job at McDonald's and instead work at the wholesale store, he is able to obtain a key. Although Miranda is skeptical, she helps her father with his irrational quest.
Director
M. Cahill
Producer
Randall Emmett, George Furla, Avi Lerner, Michael London, Alexander Payne
Screenwriter
M. Cahill, M. Cahill
Production Co
Emmett/Furla Films, Michael London Productions, Millennium Films
Rating
PG-13 (Mature Thematic Elements|Brief Drug References|Some Strong Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$263.7K
Runtime
1h 33m
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