The Kingdom

"A baptism of fear awaits you."

1994 4h 35m DA

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 260

DramaFantasyHorrorMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

At The Kingdom, Denmark's most technologically advanced hospital, a number of strange and otherworldly events begin occurring, much to the dismay of its doctors and patients. A ghostly ambulance appears and disappears, the voice of a little girl calls to a patient in an elevator shaft, and a doctor's fetus begins growing at an alarming rate.

“A baptism of fear awaits you.”

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Cast

Ernst-Hugo Järegård
Stig Helmer
Kirsten Rolffes
Sigrid Drusse
Holger Juul Hansen
Einar Moesgaard
Søren Pilmark
Jørgen Krogshøj
Ghita Nørby
Rigmor Mortensen
Jens Okking
Bulder Harly Drusse
Otto Brandenburg
Hansen
Annevig Schelde Ebbe
Mary Krüger

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Lars von Trier
Writers: Niels Vørsel, Lars von Trier
Languages: Danish, Swedish
Countries: Denmark, Sweden

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

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 275 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, Swedish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Part of the "The Kingdom" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Lars von Trier, shot by Eric Kress. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lars von Trier directs. Eric Kress behind the camera. Joachim Holbek scores. Molly Malene Stensgaard cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in Denmark, Sweden. Dialogue in Danish, Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 275 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Shot for just $1.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
332 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, Swedish.
5International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Sweden.
6Part of the "The Kingdom" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
7Directed by Lars von Trier, shot by Eric Kress. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
8Original score by Joachim Holbek. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
9Editor Molly Malene Stensgaard shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
10Ernst-Hugo Järegård and Kirsten Rolffes and Holger Juul Hansen carry the top of the cast.
11Marketing tagline: "A baptism of fear awaits you.".

The technical file

Cinematography: Eric Kress
Original score: Joachim Holbek
Editing: Molly Malene Stensgaard
Production design: Jette Lehmann
Costume design: Bjarne Nilsson
Makeup / hair: Birthe Lyngsøe
Runtime: 275 min · 4h 35m
Status: Released
Budget: $1,500,000
Original language: DA
Certification (US): 18

Part of

The Kingdom

"Riget" is a thirteen episode Danish television miniseries created by Lars von Trier from 1994 to 2022, split into three series, with four, four and five installments apiece. The first two have been edited into two theatrically released films with a combined running time of approximately 9½ hours for distribution in the United Kingdom and United States. Set in the neurosurgical ward of Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet, the city and country's main hospital, nicknamed "Riget", which means "the kingdom", the plot follows a number of characters, staff and patients alike, as they encounter bizarre phenomena, both human and supernatural. The show is notable for its wry humor, muted sepia colour scheme, and the appearance of a chorus of Down Syndrome dishwashers who discuss in intimate detail the strange occurrences in the hospital.