Kings of the Road
Seen it?1976 | 177 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 57 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 57 min.
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1976: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Itinerant projection-equipment repairman Bruno Winter and depressed hitchhiker Robert Lander - a doctor who has just been through a break-up with his wife and a half-hearted suicide attempt - travel along the Western side of the East-German border in a repair truck, visiting worn-out movie theaters, learning to communicate across their differences.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 25K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Wim Wenders
- Rüdiger VoglerBruno Winter
- Hanns ZischlerRobert Lander
- Lisa KreuzerPauline - Cashier
- Rudolf SchündlerRobert's Father
- Marquard BohmMan Who Lost His Wife
- Hans Dieter TrayerPaul - Garage Owner
- Franziska StömmerCinema Owner
- Patric KreuzerLittle Boy
- Wim WendersSpectator at Pauline's Theater (uncredited)
- Peter KaiserMasturbating Projectionist (uncredited)