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Kajillionaire (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Kajillionaire (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 104 min · English
Echo score 85
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Starring
Richard Jenkins, Gina Rodriguez, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Steve Park, Patricia Belcher, Kim Estes

Theresa and Robert have raised their daughter Old Dolio to embrace a life of scams and petty crime, teaching her the tricks of the trade. Their carefully orchestrated world is disrupted when they bring a new recruit, Diego, into their schemes. As they navigate increasingly complex cons, the fragile dynamic within the family is tested, and they must confront the repercussions of their unconventional lifestyle.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Kajillionaire
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Kajillionaire Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Kajillionaire (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Old Dolio Dyne (Evan Rachel Wood)

    Old Dolio is a 26-year-old woman who feels emotionally stunted due to her upbringing with manipulative parents. Caught in a cycle of conning and deception, she struggles to find her identity and a sense of belonging. Her interactions with Melanie are pivotal, as they challenge her perceptions of love and acceptance.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Family
    • 💔 Isolation
    • 🤔 Self-discovery
  • Melanie (Gina Rodriguez)

    Melanie is a friendly and engaging young woman who becomes entangled in Old Dolio's family's schemes. Despite her facade of confidence, she grapples with her own insecurities and the reality of her life as a clerk. Her connection with Old Dolio blossoms, offering both women a chance to redefine their understanding of love and trust.

    • 🤗 Friendship
    • 👩‍⚕️ Deception
    • 💕 Love
  • Robert (Richard Jenkins)

    Robert is Old Dolio's father, who embodies the manipulative traits of the family. His priorities are often rooted in self-interest, and he views his daughter more as a partner in crime than as his child. His interactions drive the family's dynamics and contribute to Old Dolio's emotional struggles.

    • 👨‍👧‍👦 Manipulation
    • 💼 Con Artist
    • 🚫 Neglect
  • Theresa (Debra Winger)

    Theresa, Old Dolio's mother, plays a significant role in the family's manipulative schemes. Her affectionate nature towards Melanie is juxtaposed against her cold treatment of Old Dolio, revealing the complexities of her character and the deep emotional void in Old Dolio's life.

    • ❤️ Affection
    • 💔 Neglect
    • 🎭 Duality

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:53

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Setting

Where and When Does Kajillionaire Take Place?

The setting of Kajillionaire (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events of 'Kajillionaire' unfold in contemporary times, capturing the struggles of individuals navigating modern-day financial difficulties and complex familial relationships. The film reflects current societal themes, such as the pressures of financial stability and emotional maturity.

Location

Los Angeles, New York City

Los Angeles serves as the backdrop for the story, known for its vibrant culture and as the heart of the entertainment industry. The family lives in a less-than-ideal apartment that doubles as an office space, highlighting their financial struggles in a city filled with opportunities and challenges. New York City becomes a pivotal location when the characters embark on a scam that involves a trip to experience the hustle and bustle of another major metropolis.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🏢 Apartment

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:53

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3 major themes

Kajillionaire Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Kajillionaire (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Family Dynamics

    At the core of the film is the exploration of dysfunctional family relationships, particularly the emotional disconnect between Old Dolio and her parents. As a con artist family, their interactions are laced with manipulation, neglect, and ultimately the quest for genuine connection. Old Dolio's journey highlights her desire for love and acceptance amid her family's self-serving behaviors.

  • Desperation

    The film portrays the desperation of individuals facing financial hardships, leading them into morally ambiguous situations. Old Dolio and her family resort to scams to make ends meet, revealing the lengths people will go to when driven by necessity. This theme underscores the intersection of survival and ethics in their lives.

  • Connection

    As Old Dolio encounters Melanie, the theme of connection evolves throughout the film. Her relationship with Melanie contrasts sharply with her interactions with her parents, emphasizing the importance of authentic relationships. The emotional bond they develop serves as a catalyst for Old Dolio's growth and understanding of love.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:53

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Character & theme questions

Kajillionaire Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Kajillionaire (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

Kajillionaire is primarily set in Los Angeles, where the family lives in a cramped, less-than-ideal apartment that doubles as their base of operations for scams. New York City also plays a pivotal role when the family travels there for a major con, contrasting the hustle of another major metropolis with their struggles in LA.

  • los angeles
  • new york city
  • setting
  • location
  • apartment
Q2

What time period does the movie take place?

The film is set in contemporary, modern times. It reflects current societal themes including financial pressures and the challenges of maintaining emotional connections in today's world.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • present day
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

The film explores several interconnected themes including family dynamics, desperation, and genuine connection. At its core, it's about a young woman named Old Dolio breaking free from her emotionally manipulative family to find authentic human connection.

  • family dynamics
  • connection
  • desperation
  • theme
  • emotional neglect
Q4

How do Old Dolio and her parents' relationship work?

Old Dolio's parents, Robert and Theresa, raised her as a partner in their cons rather than as a daughter. Their relationship is defined by manipulation and emotional neglect, they use her for their schemes while showing genuine affection only to outsiders like Melanie.

  • old dolio
  • robert
  • theresa
  • family
  • parents
  • manipulation
Q5

Who is Melanie and what role does she play?

Melanie is a friendly but insecure young woman who gets drawn into the family's scams. She works as a clerk and becomes pivotal to Old Dolio's emotional journey, offering a contrast to the manipulative relationships Old Dolio has with her parents.

  • melanie
  • gina rodriguez
  • character
  • relationship
Q6

Why is the movie considered bittersweet?

The film balances quirky, whimsical storytelling about petty crime with profound emotional neglect. The ending sees the protagonists lose their financial gains but gain genuine emotional connection, creating a hopeful yet melancholic conclusion.

  • bittersweet
  • tone
  • ending
  • emotional
Q7

What does the movie say about financial desperation?

The film portrays how financial hardship drives characters into morally ambiguous situations. Old Dolio and her family resort to scams to survive, exploring the tension between ethical choices and the desperate need to get by in modern society.

  • financial desperation
  • money
  • survival
  • scams
  • ethics
Q8

Why is Old Dolio important to the story?

Old Dolio is the emotional heart of the film. As a 26-year-old woman raised in a con artist family, she represents someone seeking identity and belonging. Her journey from emotional stagnation to self-discovery drives the entire narrative.

  • old dolio
  • evan rachel wood
  • protagonist
  • growth
Q9

How do the parents manipulate Old Dolio?

Robert and Theresa treat Old Dolio more as a partner in crime than a daughter. They involve her in elaborate cons, prioritize their own interests, and show warmth to outsiders while remaining emotionally cold to their own child, creating deep emotional damage.

  • manipulation
  • emotional abuse
  • robert
  • theresa
  • parents
Q10

What kind of world does the family live in?

The family exists on the margins of Los Angeles, living in a modest apartment while running petty scams. The film contrasts their struggling lifestyle with the city's vast opportunities, highlighting how financial pressure shapes their choices and relationships.

  • apartment
  • los angeles
  • lifestyle
  • crime
  • scams

Movie threads

More Movies Like Kajillionaire, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Kajillionaire tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quirky character studies like Kajillionaire

Stories about eccentric outsiders searching for connection in an absurd world. For viewers who loved the unique protagonist and tone of Kajillionaire, this collection features movies with similarly eccentric characters and bittersweet stories. Discover other films about lonely outsiders and unconventional lives that blend quirky sensibilities with emotional depth, perfect for fans of oddball dramas.

  • quirky
  • melancholic
  • alienating
  • absurd
  • hopeful
  • uneasy
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread follow characters on the fringes of society, often using a steady, observational pace. The central conflict is typically internal—a struggle for identity and genuine human connection—unfolding through a series of small, sometimes absurd, events rather than a high-stakes plot.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their distinctive tone: a blend of whimsical or absurd elements with a core of sincere emotional longing. They share a specific mood that balances unease with hope, and a character-driven focus on the quiet drama of being an outsider.

Movies about dysfunctional families like Kajillionaire

Emotional journeys from broken bonds to fragile, newfound belonging. If you liked Kajillionaire's exploration of family ties and emotional neglect, this list highlights similar stories. Find films that delve into complicated parent-child relationships, the pain of dysfunctional dynamics, and the hopeful, often bittersweet, path toward finding genuine connection and a new sense of family.

  • dysfunctional family
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • self-discovery
  • emotional
  • loneliness
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist raised in a damaging family system who begins to question their reality. A catalyst—often an outsider—disrupts the status quo, leading to a crisis that forces a choice between the familiar dysfunction and the risky hope of something healthier, resulting in a bittersweet but forward-moving conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies share a strong thematic focus on redefining family, the impact of emotional neglect, and the slow, painful, yet hopeful process of self-discovery. They are united by a medium emotional weight and a tone that acknowledges darkness while leaving room for cautious optimism.

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Movies Like Kajillionaire

Similar movies to Kajillionaire: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Kajillionaire (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Kajillionaire in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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