King of the Hill (1993)

96% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(4,184 ratings)

Steven Soderbergh, after the success of sex, lies, and videotape and the commercial failure of Kafka, pulls a rabbit out of his hat with this quiet and evocative recollection of a childhood lived in the Depression, based on A. E. Hotchner's memoir. Twelve-year-old Aaron Kurlander (Jesse Bradford) is… More Steven Soderbergh, after the success of sex, lies, and videotape and the commercial failure of Kafka, pulls a rabbit out of his hat with this quiet and evocative recollection of a childhood lived in the Depression, based on A. E. Hotchner's memoir. Twelve-year-old Aaron Kurlander (Jesse Bradford) is coming of age in a rotting working class section of St. Louis in 1933. As the film begins, Aaron's family is coming apart at the seams due to the increasingly bleak economy. His father (Jeroen Krabbe) ekes out a living with a series of failed sales jobs as the family lives in the dilapidated Empire Hotel in a seamy section of town. When his younger brother (Cameron Boyd) is sent to live with relatives to save expenses, his consumptive mother (Lisa Eichhorn) goes away to a sanitarium and his father abandons him to sell watches in Iowa. At first Aaron retreats into a concocted fantasy world but he gradually becomes drawn into the shattered lives of the tenants of the hotel. Aaron sees the rotting social fabric laid bare and discovers he must temper his childhood dreams with the hard-hitting realities of adult existence. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 1994
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
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.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
A remarkable odyssey about a resilient young hero who uses both his imagination and his sense of reality to survive.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
With the kind of material you'd never dream of associating with him, Soderbergh has made his best film.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It's his best work by far.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
The slow-paced King of the Hill is a feel-good fable in which it's difficult to work up any worry over a boy with clearly unsinkable spirits.
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Early Soderbergh family drama is excellent.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This dark, poetic movie is intended as a tribute to the resilient spirit of many Jewish families that had fallen on hard times; Aaron and his survival instincts recall the young protagonists of Mark Twain and Charles Dickens.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Bradford gives a memorable performance
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Soderbergh's most underrated film and easily his most affecting.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Affirms imagination as a character attribute that helps a resilient adolecent to survive in hard times.
David Poland, Hot Button
One of Soderbergh's Very Best
Stephen Farber, Movieline
King of the Hill proves that sex, lies, and videotape was no fluke. In fact, this movie is so good that it made me want to take another look at Kafka.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Arash X

Dunno why but it kinda reminded me of Amelie but of course with less sugar which is a good thing
Deb S

A fascinating film, set in the 1930s Depression-era setting about life in St-Louis see it through the eyes of a 12 years old, excellently played by (Aaron) Jesse Bradford. With the Depression in full force, Aaron's once wealthy parents have come to the agreement that the only way… More
A fascinating film, set in the 1930s Depression-era setting about life in St-Louis see it through the eyes of a 12 years old, excellently played by (Aaron) Jesse Bradford. With the Depression in full force, Aaron's once wealthy parents have come to the agreement that the only way to save money and be able to continue raising their two sons is to have his young brother shipped off to live with his uncle. The family lives in a hotel run by a bank. Aaron's mother is taken out of the picture when she has to go for a stay at a sanitarium for her tuberculosis and when his father gets a job as a travelling salesman leaving Aaron on his own to fend for himself totally aware of his own solitude. He is forced to live by his wits, helped only by an older friend, Lester, a petty criminal. He goes through the usual adolescent adventures. One day Aaron gets a note saying that his father has three days to pay their rent or they must leave. This is brought most terrifyingly home when Aaron can't afford any food, has no-one to turn to. The scene where Aaron is forced to cut out pictures from a magazine and pretend he is enjoying his "delicious" cut-from-a-magazine food is especially poignant. In the end it is the kid's grit, determination, hope and perseverance that holds this family together.
Stephen E

"King of the Hill" is endearing, delicate, and a real heart-warmer. Steven Soderbergh has done almost everything right with this one, and despite a a few weak patches in the script, hardly anything feels contrived. It's fabulous entertainment -- involving, heartfelt,… More
"King of the Hill" is endearing, delicate, and a real heart-warmer. Steven Soderbergh has done almost everything right with this one, and despite a a few weak patches in the script, hardly anything feels contrived. It's fabulous entertainment -- involving, heartfelt, well-acted and visually stunning. Seriously, this one was robbed of a Best Cinematography nomination.
Anthony V

Why this film hasn't had more acclaim, I will never know.

Cast

            Jesse Bradford as Aaron Kurlander

            Jeroen Krabbé as Mr. Kurlander

            Lisa Eichhorn as Mrs. Kurlander

            Karen Allen as Miss Mathey

            Spalding Gray as Mr. Mungo

            Elizabeth McGovern as Lydia

            Joseph Chrest as Ben

            Adrien Brody as Lester

            Cameron Boyd as Sullivan

            Chris Samples as Billy Thompson

            Katherine Heigl as Christina Sebastian

            Amber Benson as Ella McShane

            John "Spud" McConnell as Patrolman Burns

            Ron Vawter as Mr. Desot

            John Durbin as Mr. Sandoz

            Lauryn Hill as Arletta

            Dave Jensen as Front Desk Clerk

            Timothy Bottoms
            
            Geraldine Fitzgerald
            
            Kristin Griffith as Mrs. McShane

            Remak Ramsay as Principal Stellwater

            Don Richard as Mr. Farley

            Mak Takano as Mr. Yano

            Deborah Aquila
            
            Jesse Zeigler as Jealous Kid
See full cast