Joe the King

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Joe the King

R

1999

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A teen (Noah Fleiss) with an alcoholic, abusive father (Val Kilmer) and a harsh mother (Karen Young) turns to theft to vent his frustrations.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

The film is so steeped in resentment that it's not able to pull back and let us see the boy behind the shield of his misery.

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Michele James

Out Magazine

May 27, 2022

Perhaps the most hopeful note in this despondent yet beautifully poignant tale is that Whaley emerged to tell it.

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Jul 12, 2016

4/5

Coming-of-age movie with mature themes, lots of profanity.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Apr 21, 2014

Even with warts and all, "Joe the King" is a very worthwhile drama.

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Oct 5, 2005

4/5

An uncompromising but wonderful film that reinforces the saying 'Never judge a person until you've walked in their shoes.'

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 5, 2005

1/5

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 12, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Val Kilmer as Bob Henry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $59,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Feb 12, 2023

Not sure who this drudgery was made for but it wasn't me.

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James V

@James09007 Jan 27, 2023

Go back and forth on this movie. I like the realistic elements, but that realism also makes it a boring film.

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Jan 6, 2018

Noah Fleiss makes a strong impression in Frank Whaley's exceedingly grim coming-of-age film.

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Jan 14, 2017

*Worst Movie . Im sorry to say but i hated this movie. The supporting characters don't support him or the story. he fails at everything and just winds up in juvy. That's the entire movie.

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Dec 18, 2016

The realistic spanking scene sets the tone of the movie.

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Frank Whaley

Director

Noah Fleiss

Joe Henry

Val Kilmer

Bob Henry

Karen Young

Theresa Henry

Ethan Hawke

Len Coles

John Leguizamo

Jorge

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29%

71%

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Synopsis

A teen (Noah Fleiss) with an alcoholic, abusive father (Val Kilmer) and a harsh mother (Karen Young) turns to theft to vent his frustrations.

Director: Frank Whaley
Producer: Scott Macaulay, Lindsay Marx, Robin O'Hara
Screenwriter: Frank Whaley
Distributor: Trimark Pictures
Production Co: Lower East Side Films, 49th Parallel Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.0K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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