The Kings of Summer

"Why live when you can rule."

2013 1h 35m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 1,275

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Three restless teenagers run away to the woods for the summer, determined to escape their parents and live by their own rules. In a hidden clearing, they build a makeshift house and attempt to create an independent life, testing their friendship, freedom, and the challenges of living off the land.

“Why live when you can rule.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Nick Robinson
Joe Toy
Gabriel Basso
Patrick Keenan
Moisés Arias
Biaggio
Nick Offerman
Frank Toy
Erin Moriarty
Kelly
Craig Cackowski
Mr. Larson
Alison Brie
Heather Toy
Megan Mullally
Mrs. Keenan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Writers: Chris Galletta
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 93% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 13 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, shot by Ross Riege. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ryan Miller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Terel Gibson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nick Robinson and Gabriel Basso and Moisés Arias carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jordan Vogt-Roberts directs. Ross Riege behind the camera. Ryan Miller scores. Terel Gibson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $1.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 93% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 13 years ago.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
5Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, shot by Ross Riege. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Ryan Miller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Terel Gibson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Nick Robinson and Gabriel Basso and Moisés Arias carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Why live when you can rule.".
10IMDB entry: tt2179116 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 8 themes, including "high school", "runaway", "woods", "coming of age".