The Donut King

Name: The Donut King
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2020-03-17T11:15:24-07:00
Rating: 97

Critics Consensus

A documentary that's more than just a sweetly filling treat, The Donut King tells a real-life rags-to-riches story with genuine depth and breadth.

97%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 31

90%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 10

Show all services

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

The Donut King Videos

View All Videos (1)

The Donut King Photos

View All Photos (15)

Movie Info

Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy builds a multi-million dollar empire by baking America's favorite pastry -- the donut.

Genre:

documentary
Original Language:

English
Director:

Alice Gu
Release Date (Theaters):

Oct 30, 2020 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 20, 2020
Runtime:

1h 30m
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Ted Ngoy
Self

Alice Gu
Director

Critic Reviews for The Donut King

It's a dizzying saga of ups and downs, and of one of this nation's most beloved sweet treats, and a fascinating tale of sacrifice, success, and hubris.

November 29, 2020 | Full Review…

Alonso Duralde
TheWrap
[I]t's a fine yarn spiced up with moments of hip hop, animation and pop culture references, all packaged nicely in something like the hot-pink doughnut boxes that the cruller maestro Ngoy supposedly invented.

November 26, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Brad Wheeler
Globe and Mail
Ted Ngoy, his wife and family pick up the story and walk us through their unbelievable experience, flying to a strange new country where they didn't speak our language and had to start life anew. We follow their path to success beyond their wildest dreams

November 10, 2020 | Full Review…

Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
The story behind the documentary "The Donut King" is large and it contains multitudes.

November 2, 2020 | Full Review…

Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
Not only is it a fascinating portrait of this particular Cambodian refugee, Ted Ngoy, but it also is about the culture of doughnut shops in L.A., which are so iconic.

October 30, 2020 | Full Review…

Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
It becomes this global story about immigration, ambition, hope, community -- and it's got a really terrific soundtrack.

October 30, 2020 | Full Review…

Amy Nicholson
FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
Gu keeps The Donut King an upbeat affair.

January 26, 2021 | Rating: 3.0/4.0 | Full Review…

Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Most of all, the main narrative offers inspiration, which is particularly pertinent at such a troubled time in our world.

November 21, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Craig Takeuchi
NOW Toronto
Director Alice Gu uses some creative editing choices to reveal a shocking twist to the life story of a fast food entrepreneur, before stickhandling a sweet ending to her documentary.

November 20, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Chris Knight
National Post
Not all of these elements sit comfortably together, based upon the film's structure and some rushed tonal transitions. Yet it's the strength of the story, and its twists, that sustains the piece, and it's a laudable effort.

November 20, 2020 | Full Review…

Craig Takeuchi
Georgia Straight
It's as layered as a cronut and just as admirable and innovative of a creation.

November 17, 2020 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Andrew Parker
The Gate
It's incredible watching him be so honest and positive about the complete breakdown of his professional and personal worlds.

November 17, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review