Message from the King

2017 1h 42m EN

😐

6.2

MID

🥫

50%

ROTTEN

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.4

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 510🥫50%Rotten Tomatoes●40Metacritic★6.4IMDB · 18,402

ActionMysteryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

On a relentless quest to avenge his sister's murder, a man from Cape Town infiltrates a sprawling network of lowlifes and elites in Los Angeles.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Chadwick Boseman
Jacob King
Luke Evans
Wentworth
Alfred Molina
Preston
Teresa Palmer
Kelly
Natalie Martinez
Trish
Chris Mulkey
Leary
Drew Powell
Merrick
Jonno Roberts
Rice

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Writers: Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornwell
Languages: English
Countries: Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, 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

Earned back only 3% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 9 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Fabrice Du Welz, shot by Monika Lenczewska. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Chadwick Boseman and Luke Evans and Alfred Molina carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1712192 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Fabrice Du Welz directs. Monika Lenczewska behind the camera. Vincent Cahay scores. Beatrice Sisul cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 3% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 9 years ago.
3International production across 4 countries: Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Fabrice Du Welz, shot by Monika Lenczewska. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Vincent Cahay. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Beatrice Sisul shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Chadwick Boseman and Luke Evans and Alfred Molina carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt1712192 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 10 themes, including "tattoo", "morgue", "flashback", "money".

The technical file

Cinematography: Monika Lenczewska
Original score: Vincent Cahay
Editing: Beatrice Sisul
Production design: Melanie Jones
Costume design: Alexis Scott
Makeup / hair: Siân Richards
Sound: Craig Mann
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Status: Released
Budget: $10,000,000
Box office: $315,132
Return: 3% of budget
Original language: EN
IMDB: Message from the King (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% 🥫 Rotten
Metacritic: 40/100
IMDB rating: 6.4/10 · 18,402 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

1 nomination

Also by

Fabrice Du Welz

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Gimly2017-08-28
★ 6/10
I'm a sucker for revenge thrillers, essentially all they really have to do is not suck and I'm on board. And Message from the King sure didn't suck. Even if it did, massive bonus points for the kid playing Payday 2. Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.
r96sk2021-03-16
★ 7/10
Chadwick Boseman carries it no doubt, but I did feel entertained throughout by <em>'Message from the King'</em>. It's a simple film. It doesn't do anything revolutionary or anything, yet still managed to keep me watching with interest for practically all of the 102 minute run time. I like how it starts most, with the connections feeling believable. It loses some of that as it goes on, though it didn't affect my enjoyment all that much. Boseman really is the only true star of this though, as he gives a very good performance in the lead role as Jacob. Luke Evans (Paul) is pleasant too, while Teresa Palmer (Kelly) has a few moments. Alfred Molina (Mike) also appears, as do Messrs Draco Malfoy and Brad Bellick... The ending isn't the greatest, though it is still serviceable. That coupled with the nice look of the film and a certain Mr. Boseman mean I'll remember this in a positive manner.