Overview
Three boys escape the pressures of adolescence and find freedom in the woods.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- offbeat
- lazy sunday
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found it a charming, off-kilter, warm-hearted coming-of-age comedy elevated by appealing performances, while noting an uneven and conventional later stretch.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio build a makeshift house in the woods and attempt to govern themselves without adult supervision.
The boys declare themselves masters of their destiny while relying on kid-level carpentry and impulsive ideas.
Joe's frustration with Frank's attempts to manage his life motivates his escape and shapes the conflict between home and the woods.
The clearing and handmade house turn the woods into a vivid alternative world for the three friends.
Films like The Kings of Summer, and why
Son of Rambow
Both are warm, witty coming-of-age comedies about adolescent boys testing independence through eccentric adventures.
Superbad
Both pair youthful rebellion, friendship, and nostalgic humor with an off-kilter independent-film sensibility.
Adventureland
Both explore teenage self-discovery, male friendship, and escape from adult expectations in a gently comic register.
The Way Way Back
Both are sincere, visually appealing coming-of-age stories centered on young people seeking autonomy and emotional connection.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jordan Vogt-Roberts
- Release Date
- 2013-01-19
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1271)
Cast
- Nick Robinson
- Gabriel Basso
- Moisés Arias
- Nick Offerman
- Erin Moriarty
- Craig Cackowski
- Alison Brie
- Megan Mullally
- Marc Evan Jackson
- William Sonnie
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Essential
- 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 Kings of Summer about?
- Three restless teenage boys build a woodland refuge to escape adulthood, only to discover that freedom is harder to construct than a house.
- What is The Kings of Summer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Kings of Summer as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Kings of Summer violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Kings of Summer.
- What did critics think of The Kings of Summer?
- Critics broadly found it a charming, off-kilter, warm-hearted coming-of-age comedy elevated by appealing performances, while noting an uneven and conventional later stretch.
- Which films are like The Kings of Summer?
- Films with a similar feel include Son of Rambow, Superbad, Adventureland, and The Way Way Back.
- How long is The Kings of Summer?
- The Kings of Summer runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Kings of Summer?
- In United States, The Kings of Summer streams on Paramount Plus Essential.
