Parents' Guide to

King's Ransom

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Coarse comedy about kidnapping and revenge.

Movie PG-13 2005 97 minutes
King's Ransom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
June 28, 2012
age 16+

16 and up.

king ransom is a silly funny comedy movie but a waste of time stars with Anthony Anderson with no plot to the movie and bad behavior with all that being said this movie is good enough for your older teens and parents you need to know that king ransom has some Raunchy sexual language some mild language used and Characters drink, smoke cigars and cigarettes.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The plot of KING'S RANSOM is premised on the fact that everyone who knows Malcolm (Anthony Anderson) dislikes him and wants revenge for his meanness. In the midst of an ugly divorce from wife Renee (Kellita Smith), Malcolm fires his competent, cocky Acting Vice President of Marketing, Angela (Nicole Parker), to hire his dim-witted, tight-dressed mistress Peaches (Regina Hall). Meanwhile, Angela's friend Kim (Leila Arcieri) has "found Jesus," and impoverished Corey (Jay Mohr) fears his sister Raven (Lisa Marcos), who just escaped from prison and is threatening him for money. Variously desperate, Renee, Angela, and Corey plan separately to kidnap Malcolm for ransom, while he and Peaches, along with her paroled brother Herb (Charlie Murphy), plot his kidnapping themselves, to avoid paying Renee a divorce settlement.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

All the plots of King's Ransom converge in a mostly unfunny cacophony (save for the masks worn by Angela and her two-girl crew, including Condoleezza Rice and Jesse Jackson). Identities are mistaken, promises betrayed, and stereotypes abound (Corey does business with a Chinese pawn shop owner named Miss Ho and beats up a Mexican worker at a fast food joint). The plot proceeds loudly and clumsily, leading to no lessons learned and bad behavior rewarded.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the animosity and envy caused by Malcolm's arrogance, or point out the film's use of broad stereotypes. Families might also consider the fact that the protagonist's name -- Malcolm King -- evokes Civil Rights leaders Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., in ways that can only be described as disappointing.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: April 22, 2005
  • On DVD or streaming: July 26, 2005
  • Cast: Anthony Anderson, Donald Faison, Regina Hall
  • Director: Jeff Byrd
  • Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors
  • Studio: New Line
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 97 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: crude and sexual humor and language
  • Last updated: April 3, 2023

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