King of the Hill

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King of the Hill

PG-13

1993

1h 42m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

91%

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32 Reviews

84%

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5,000+ Ratings

Aaron (Jesse Bradford), a young boy living in St. Louis during the 1930s, has a deep attachment to his younger brother. After his father (Jeroen Krabbé) leaves them and his mother (Lisa Eichhorn) departs for an asylum, he promises to retrieve his brother from their uncle's custody. In the meantime, he must fend for himself among townspeople and the tenants in the hotel where he lives. Forced to come of age alone, Aaron shifts between the harsh real world and the dream world he creates to cope.

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Critics Consensus

A subtle, affecting, character-driven coming-of-age story, King of the Hill is one of Steven Soderbergh's best and most criminally overlooked films.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Feb 24, 2014

4.5/5

King Of The Hill balances an incident-packed script with muted tones, painting a rich, absorbing picture of one boy's struggle to live by his wits.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Aug 30, 2004

4/5

The film does a lovely job of juxtaposing the sharp contrasts in Aaron's life, and in marveling at the fact that he survives as buoyantly as he does.

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Almar Haflidason

BBC.com

May 12, 2001

4/5

As stories of hope and spirit go, this is a subtle marvel.

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Jordan M. Smith

IONCINEMA.com

Nov 12, 2020

2/5

Technically sound and sadly sugary in its handling of the truly devastating realities of the Depression, King of the Hill is not a bad film per se, just one that lacks a sense of consequence and a lasting impression.

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 9, 2019

Despite Bradford's arresting lead performance, King of the Hill never comes alive: a childhood memoir frozen in amber.

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Mar 20, 2014

3.5/4

one of Soderbergh's best films: a painterly, thoughtful, and subtly emotional portrait of preadolescent coming of age in dire circumstances

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Jan 3, 2026

فيلم جميل. لا توجد قصة تقليدية في الفيلم هو أقرب إلى يوميات في حياة طفل. كل يوم يحمل تحديًا جديدًا، صراعًا جديدًا، وكذبة جديدة، إلى أن تتشابك الأكاذيب وتثقل على البطل فكرة ما تعرف شنو القادم خلتني اتعمق بالفلم وحسيته جميل المخرج عرض هذه اليوميات بشكل تدريجي بالبداية ممل الى ان تصل للذروة ثم الحل الأداء التمثيلي للبطل كان رائعًا. تطوّر الشخصية كان داخليًا من الدروس التي تعلمها في صراعاته اليومية. في النهاية نراه اصبح اكثر نضج . الممثلون الثانويون كانوا جيدين، وقد فهموا القالب الذي وضعهم فيه المخرج؛ وجودهم كان لخدمة البطل فقط، كمرشدين أو اختبارات يمر بها لذلك لا يمكن الحكم على تطوّرهم من عدمه لأن الفيلم يشوفك من عين البطل فقط وعلى ما يبدو هذا الرادة المخرج ولهذا وجدت صعوبة في التعاطف الكامل مع البطل حتى النهاية حسيت اكو عزل بيني و بين الفلم واحد يقول لي انظر بدون ما تحس او تتعاطف . التصوير كان جميلًا جدًا و ثابت والموسيقى هادئة رغم قسوة الأحداث.

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Georgan G

@RT98616417 Mar 8, 2023

This film is like stepping back into the Depression. The main child actor, A. E. Hotchner, was simply amazing. Although a sad tale in many ways, I found it uplifting in terms of courage. The dogged fight each person had to keep up day after day was inspiring. Goes to show you can do nearly anything if you have to.

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Dec 24, 2019

"That boy aint right" -Hank Hill

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Feb 9, 2017

Great movie. In Soderbergh's third film ever, he shows a strong grasp on both direction and storytelling, delivering a captivating and powerful drama with well-written characters and dialogue, as well as a phenomenal lead performance from a young Bradford.

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Aug 14, 2016

A true masterpiece - outstanding, an absolute favorite that seems to have all but disappeared for those of us who'd love to see it again! Well crafted with its gut-wrenching and uplifting moments with a remarkable ensemble of fascinating, very real characters, many of whom seem worthy of their own movie around their own situation. Desperate circumstances put young Aaron in a survival mode in the bleak depression yet this film is anything but depressing. Often harsh and intense, yet full of entertaining moments and Aaron's unsinkable spirit carrying him through it all.

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Jul 15, 2016

Really good ... I like it

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Steven Soderbergh

Director

Jesse Bradford

Aaron Kurlander

Jeroen Krabbé

Mr. Kurlander

Lisa Eichhorn

Mrs. Kurlander

Karen Allen

Miss Mathey

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Synopsis

Aaron (Jesse Bradford), a young boy living in St. Louis during the 1930s, has a deep attachment to his younger brother. After his father (Jeroen Krabbé) leaves them and his mother (Lisa Eichhorn) departs for an asylum, he promises to retrieve his brother from their uncle's custody. In the meantime, he must fend for himself among townspeople and the tenants in the hotel where he lives. Forced to come of age alone, Aaron shifts between the harsh real world and the dream world he creates to cope.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Albert Berger, Barbara Maltby, Ron Yerxa
Screenwriter: Steven Soderbergh
Production Co: Wildwood Enterprises, Bona Fide Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Feb 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $879.6K
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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