Life of a King
A former convict turns chess into a disciplined path toward redemption for teenagers navigating life in inner-city Washington, D.C.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sincere
- hopeful
- uplifting
- inspirational movie night
- family viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film sincere and competently directed, with Cuba Gooding Jr.'s performance standing out despite a formulaic and predictable script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Eugene Brown channels his past incarceration and personal setbacks into founding and leading a chess club for inner-city teenagers.
Chess is not merely a recreational activity; Eugene uses the game to guide Tahime, Peanut, Clifton, and other teenagers toward constructive choices.
The central group is composed of teenagers in Washington, D.C., whose circumstances shape the club's challenges and stakes.
The film emphasizes perseverance, mentorship, and collective improvement while retaining the formulaic structure noted by critics.
Films like Life of a King, and why
Coach Carter
inspirational mentorship drama centered on at-risk youth and personal redemption
The Ron Clark Story
true-story-inflected urban youth drama about education, discipline, and transformation
McFarland, USA
underdog sports drama using competition to explore mentorship and second chances
Freedom Writers
socially conscious coming-of-age drama focused on a dedicated teacher and disadvantaged students
Movie Details
- Director
- Jake Goldberger
- Release Date
- 2013-06-22
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (214)
Cast
- Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Malcolm M. Mays
- Kevin Hendricks
- Alani iLongwe
- LisaGay Hamilton
- Dennis Haysbert
- Rachae Amber Thomas
- Richard T. Jones
- Paula Jai Parker
- Jaida - Iman Benjamin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, UP Faith & Family Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel , Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Life of a King about?
- A former convict turns chess into a disciplined path toward redemption for teenagers navigating life in inner-city Washington, D.C.
- What is Life of a King like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Life of a King as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Life of a King violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Life of a King as mild.
- What did critics think of Life of a King?
- Critics found the film sincere and competently directed, with Cuba Gooding Jr.'s performance standing out despite a formulaic and predictable script.
- Which films are like Life of a King?
- Films with a similar feel include Coach Carter, The Ron Clark Story, McFarland, USA, and Freedom Writers.
- How long is Life of a King?
- Life of a King runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Life of a King?
- In United States, Life of a King streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, UP Faith & Family Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel , Howdy Amazon Channel.
