The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

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The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

PG-13,

2007,

1h 19m,

Documentary/

Biography

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Watchlist

Watchlist

97%

99 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Named "Video Game Player of the Century" in 1999, Billy Mitchell sets a record score in "Donkey Kong" that many felt would never be broken. In 2003 Steve Wiebe, who has recently lost his job, learns about the record, sets out to beat it and does. So both men embark on a cross-country battle for inclusion in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records as the supreme king of the electronic game.

Critics Consensus

The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. Director Seth Gordon presents the dueling King Kong players in all their obsessive complexity and with perfectly al dente observations.

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David Jenkins

Time Out

Jun 5, 2008

4/6

You could hardly call it a paragon of impartial filmmaking, but this is still a compelling and immersive glance into the nature of competitiveness and the corrupting aspects of fame.

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James Dyer

Empire Magazine

Jun 5, 2008

4/5

An engrossing story that plucks at the heartstrings just as hard as it pummels the fire buttons.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Dec 7, 2007

B+

Benefits immeasurably from a cast of colorful supporting players, as well as a taut narrative that builds to a surprisingly tense climax.

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Aug 26, 2022

4/5

One of the great documentaries of the 2000s, one that found a tremendously intriguing story in a weird, insular American subculture (15th anniversary)

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 13, 2020

3.0/4.0

It's a credit to Gordon as director that he allows the full spectrum of emotions to come alive onscreen here.

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Oct 29, 2019

A-

Feels more like a Christopher Guest fake-documentary than a real live true story... What makes the film so intriguing is the whole "no way this could be real" factor.

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Draco S

Nov 13, 2018

This film was great.

Draco W

Nov 1, 2018

A delightful look into professional gaming which now feels like a beloved relic in our post-internet culture. Full of charm, brilliant characters, and a plot which happily sits alongside some of the best fictional underdog tales out there.

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Hermione W

Apr 5, 2018

Well before Twitch and Pewdiepie, this delightful doc demonstrated the joys(tick) of watching nerds play arcade games-entertaining not because of the button mashing, but due to the interpersonal dynamics and pissing contests. The result is a far more involving game of Donkey Kong, with a more laughable villain than the ordinary ape, and a more heroic joe than the super plumber.

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Han W

Sep 16, 2017

Absolutely hilarious!

Leia G

Aug 29, 2017

"There's a Donkey Kong Kill Screen coming up if anyone wants to watch."

Finn G

Jun 1, 2017

"One of the greatest rivalries of all time," Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe duke it out to see who is the King of Kong in this extraordinarily fun and entertaining documentary. Exploring the world of competitive classic arcade gaming (Pac-Man, Centipede, Q*bert, Donkey Kong) the film looks at the rise of arcade gaming in the 1980s and the quest of middle school teacher Steve Wiebe to become the high score champion of Donkey Kong and gain the respect of his fellow gamers. A number of players and their families, along with Twin Galaxies officials (who regulate gameplay and determine the veracity of scores), are interviewed; giving a real inside look at the gaming community. And while the film has a bit of a comedic edge, on the whole it shows respect for the dedication and skill required to be an accomplished arcade player. Lighthearted and inspirational, King of Kong is a captivating documentary about pursing one's passion and overcoming adversity.

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Seth Gordon

Director

Steve Wiebe

Self

Mark Alpiger

Self

Walter Day

Self

Steve Sanders

Self

Robert Mruczek

Self

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Synopsis

Named "Video Game Player of the Century" in 1999, Billy Mitchell sets a record score in "Donkey Kong" that many felt would never be broken. In 2003 Steve Wiebe, who has recently lost his job, learns about the record, sets out to beat it and does. So both men embark on a cross-country battle for inclusion in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records as the supreme king of the electronic game.

Director: Seth Gordon
Producer: Ed Cunningham
Screenwriter: Seth Gordon
Distributor: Picturehouse
Production Co: LargeLab
Rating: PG-13 (A Brief Sexual Reference)
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $674.9K
Runtime: 1h 19m

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