The Kings
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The Kings
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Kings is a documentary series about the boxers that ushered in a new era of the sport at the end of the 1970s. There's some strong language (words like "ass," "hell," and "bitch"), as well as conversations about difficult life circumstances. Expect lots of archive footage of historic matches that show fighters with bloody injuries. A
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What's the Story?
THE KINGS is a four-part documentary about the legacy of four of the greatest boxers of the 1980s. It discusses the lives and careers of "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler, whose fighting talents collectively began a new era of boxing after long-reigning boxing champion Mohammed Ali retired from the sport. With the help of archive fight footage, media interviews, and artistic renderings, the series offers an in-depth narrative about the significant role these men played in the sport, and the legacy they've left behind.
Is It Any Good?
The thought-provoking series offers an in-depth look at how four boxing legends ushered in what is referred to as the "Golden Age" of boxing. Mohammed Ali's decline in the ring at the end of the 1970s is treated as a metaphor for the weakened position of the U.S. at the time, thanks to an economic recession and geopolitical Cold War challenges. In turn, the stories of how "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler reinvigorated the sport are presented within the context of the country's efforts to move into a new era. It also highlights some of the conflicts they faced outside of the ring.
These narratives often make the documentary feel more like a docudrama. But however you choose to categorize it, The Kings a real treat for boxing fans. The narratives about each athlete's journey into the ring are a rich combination of facts and anecdotes from people associated with the sport. Meanwhile, the featured clips from historic bouts and personality-revealing press interviews add to the entertainment. If you are an enthusiast of the sport, you will appreciate this biographical series and everything it has to offer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history of boxing. Where did the sport begin? How have the rules of the sport changed over time?
Most of the boxers featured in The Kings are Black or African-American, but most popular movies about the sport feature White athletes. What does this tell us about the role of race in the sport in the United States? Does the media address race when covering boxing matches? If so, how?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 6, 2021
- Cast: Sugar, Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns
- Network: Showtime
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, History
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 13, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Hands of Stone
Well-made biopic has nudity, boxing violence, language.
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The Fighter
Boxing biopic mixes inspiring story, mature content.
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Raging Bull
Boxing movie masterpiece still brutal, bloody.
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Million Dollar Baby
Violent Oscar winner is inspiring but too intense for kids.
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Rocky
Boxing Best Picture sets underdog-hero standard; drinking.
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