You are here:

The Kid Who Would Be King

Name: The Kid Who Would Be King
Director: Joe Cornish
Released: 2019
Duration: 120 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

2019

Director

Joe Cornish

Runtime

120 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a classic high-fantasy adventure that prioritizes traditional storytelling and moral clarity. While it avoids harmful stereotypes, it does not actively seek to challenge social hierarchies or engage with identity politics. Joe Cornish uses modern casting to reflect a contemporary British landscape, but the narrative remains anchored in established clichés rather than subverting them. Ultimately, the work functions as a standard genre piece. It provides meaningful roles for women but remains limited in its representation of LGBTQ+ identities, disability, and diverse identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Kid Who Would Be King have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. It follows a traditional storyline focused on a typical hero’s journey.

How does The Kid Who Would Be King portray gender?

Fair

Female characters such as Bea play significant roles in the quest and are shown as competent and integral to the mission’s success.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Kid Who Would Be King?

Fair

The cast reflects a modern, multi-ethnic British society. However, it lacks deeper exploration of diverse identities and high-impact roles for characters of color.

How does The Kid Who Would Be King represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story adheres to a traditional Western moral framework of good versus evil. It emphasizes cooperation and order without critiquing systemic issues.

Does The Kid Who Would Be King include disability representation?

Limited

Disability is not a central theme in the film. There is no significant focus on visible or invisible disabilities in character development.

Present on Screen

Female characters like Bea are depicted as active, competent, and essential to the quest’s success.
The ensemble cast reflects a modern, multi-ethnic British social landscape.
The film avoids harmful stereotypes and provides meaningful roles for women within the adventure.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation and explorations of non-straight relationships.
There is a lack of significant focus on visible or invisible disabilities within character arcs.
The film lacks deeper exploration of diverse identities and high-impact roles for characters of color.

Official Synopsis

Old-school magic meets the modern world when young Alex stumbles upon the mythical sword Excalibur. He soon unites his friends and enemies, and they become knights who join forces with the legendary wizard Merlin. Together, they must save mankind from the wicked enchantress Morgana and her army of supernatural warriors.

How are these scores produced? →