PG-13

King of the Hill

When the world turns upside down, the trick is coming out on top.

1993 • 103 min • Drama · History

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Synopsis

Based on the Depression-era bildungsroman memoir of writer A. E. Hotchner, the film follows the story of a boy struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in St. Louis after his mother is committed to a sanatorium with tuberculosis. His father, a German immigrant and traveling salesman working for the Hamilton Watch Company, is off on long trips from which the boy cannot be certain he will return.

Our family guide

Best from age 12

Movie Knight Score

170 reviews

68 Audience · 170 · 100%

During the Great Depression, a resourceful boy navigates life alone in a St. Louis hotel. His mother is in a sanatorium and his traveling salesman father is often absent. He faces hunger and uncertainty, learning to survive through wit and resilience.

Violence & peril: 2/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Discussions of illness and separation
Childhood loneliness and neglect
Brief instances of bullying
Poverty and hunger are depicted

What it models well

Resilience in hardship
Family bonds and love
Self-reliance and resourcefulness
Compassion for others

Talk about it after

What it means to be resourceful
The challenges of the Great Depression
The importance of hope in tough times
How different families cope

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for King of the Hill. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.