The most remarkable thing about King of California is how the characters grow on you, and how their quixotic quest becomes ours.
King of California
You've got to believe in treasure to find it.
2007 · 1h 33m · PG-13
Comedy, Drama
Directed by
Mike Cahill
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
King of California
Overview
Charlie gets released from an insane asylum and moves in with Miranda, the young daughter he left behind. Charlie believes that there is treasure hidden beneath the local Costco, so he puts together a plan to unearth the loot. By convincing Miranda to quit her job at McDonald's and instead work at the wholesale store, he is able to obtain a key. Although Miranda is skeptical, she helps her father with his irrational quest.
Director and cast
- Mike Cahill Director
- Michael Douglas as Charlie
- Evan Rachel Wood as Miranda
- Willis Burks II as Pepper
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Kelly
- Arthur Santiago as McDonald´s Manager
- Anne L. Nathan as Applebee´s Manager
- Ashley Greene as McDonald´s Customer
- Ian Hopps as Boy
- Paul Lieber as Doug
- Laura Kachergus as Rita
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
King of California means to be the jewel in the crown of indie-flick quirkiness, but it's really just a bauble with ambition.
Writer-director Mike Cahill explores Charlie's foolishness with funny-sad fondness.
Rambunctious and rousing from beginning to end, the hugely entertaining King of California offers Michael Douglas his best role since Traffic.
Intermittedly entertaining if mostly contrived.
More films
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Crime · Drama · Approved
Recently paroled from prison, legendary burglar "Doc" Riedenschneider, with funding from Alonzo Emmerich, a crooked lawyer, gathers a small group of veteran criminals together in the Midwest for a big jewel heist.
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Director
- John Huston
- Cast
- Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen
The Goonies (1985)
Adventure · Comedy · Family · PG
Young teen Mikey Walsh and his friends set off on a quest to find Pirate One-Eyed Willie's treasure in hopes of saving their homes from demolition. However, on their quest to find the treasure, they run into a family of recently escaped criminals, determined to capture the kids and reach the treasure first.
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Director
- Richard Donner
- Cast
- Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen
Family Plot (1976)
Comedy · Crime · Thriller · PG
Spiritualist Blanche Tyler and her cab-driving boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.
- Runtime
- 2h
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast
- Barbara Harris, Bruce Dern, Karen Black
Bottle Rocket (1996)
Comedy · Crime · Drama · R
Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony joins his friend Dignan, who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a harebrained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry.
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Director
- Wes Anderson
- Cast
- Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Robert Musgrave
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Crime · Drama · Thriller · Approved
In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Director
- Charles Laughton
- Cast
- Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish










Comments
Talk about the film with other members