Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- propulsive
- paranoid
- brutal
- action movie night
- political thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers forceful, well-paced action but is weakened by formulaic plotting and muddled political ideas.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The FBI team enters Saudi Arabia after a terrorist attack while the story questions American power, local sovereignty, and the fantasy of decisive retaliation.
Fleury's team receives only five days to investigate in Riyadh and must work around Saudi officials, security restrictions, and threats from the attackers.
The compound bombing, pursuit sequences, and climactic firefight use kinetic staging and heightened procedural detail to create battlefield immediacy.
Colonel Faris Al Ghazi initially manages the American agents but becomes a crucial partner because of his local knowledge and authority.
Films like The Kingdom, and why
Body of Lies
Shares its muscular procedural action, terrorism investigation, rapid escalation, and morally complicated American intervention.
Syriana
Shares its post-9/11 political thriller framework, Middle Eastern setting, intelligence operations, and tense pursuit of terrorist networks.
The Siege
Shares its urban counterterrorism action, ensemble law-enforcement investigation, and politically charged depiction of institutional response.
Black Hawk Down
Shares its tightly paced procedural suspense, paramilitary teamwork, and escalating urban violence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Berg
- Release Date
- 2007-08-22
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1895)
Cast
- Jamie Foxx
- Jennifer Garner
- Chris Cooper
- Jason Bateman
- Ali Suliman
- Jeremy Piven
- Ashraf Barhom
- Richard Jenkins
- Tim McGraw
- Kyle Chandler
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Kingdom about?
- An FBI team races through a hostile Riyadh investigation after a devastating compound bombing exposes the deadly limits of American intervention.
- What is The Kingdom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Kingdom as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Kingdom violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Kingdom as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Kingdom?
- Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers forceful, well-paced action but is weakened by formulaic plotting and muddled political ideas.
- Which films are like The Kingdom?
- Films with a similar feel include Body of Lies, Syriana, The Siege, and Black Hawk Down.
- How long is The Kingdom?
- The Kingdom runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Kingdom?
- In United States, The Kingdom streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel.
