Year: 2007
Runtime: 93 min
Language: English
Director: Mike Cahill
A sixteen-year-old girl's carefully constructed world is disrupted when her father unexpectedly returns from a mental institution. He’s fixated on finding the lost treasure of Spanish explorer Juan Florismarte Garces, and convinces her to join his quest. Their unusual search for gold leads them on an adventure that takes them as far as a local Costco, challenging Miranda's independence and forcing both of them to deal with unresolved issues from their past.
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At just fifteen years old, Miranda, portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood, has faced far more than her fair share of trials and tribulations. After being abandoned by her mother, she has dropped out of school and is now trying to make ends meet by working at McDonald’s. Meanwhile, her father, Charlie, played by Michael Douglas, finds himself in a mental institution.
When Charlie is finally released and returns home, Miranda’s previously serene existence spirals into chaos. He becomes consumed by a new obsession: the belief that the lost treasure of the Spanish explorer Father Juan Florismarte Garces is buried in the vicinity of their suburban California neighborhood. With a metal detector and a mountain of treasure-hunting literature at his side, Charlie is convinced that he has pinpointed the location of the buried gold—right beneath the local Costco.
In an effort to support her father’s newfound obsession, Charlie urges Miranda to take a job at Costco, where they can formulate a plan for after-hours excavation. Although initially doubtful, Miranda gradually finds herself swept up in her father’s eccentric schemes, embracing the adventure as a chance to help him rekindle his dreams.
This tale evolves into a darkly comedic yet surprisingly hopeful exploration of the modern family dynamics and the pursuit of the American dream, as Miranda joins Charlie in a whirlwind of questionable decisions, all fueled by the hope of uncovering long-hidden treasures and restoring both their lives.
Last Updated: September 07, 2025 at 00:56
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Eccentric parents and grounded children on hopeful, heartfelt journeys.Explore movies like King of California where unconventional parents and their children embark on whimsical quests. If you enjoyed the heartfelt and offbeat father-daughter adventure searching for lost treasure, you'll find similar stories of family bonds tested and strengthened through shared, quirky journeys.
Stories in this thread typically follow a linear quest driven by an eccentric parent's fixation, which the more practical child initially resists but eventually embraces. The physical journey serves as a metaphor for working through unresolved emotional issues, leading to a bittersweet but ultimately hopeful resolution about their relationship.
Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on an offbeat parent-child dynamic, a central whimsical quest, and a tone that balances hopeful adventure with a melancholy understanding of family flaws. The pacing is steady and character-driven, revolving around the emotional stakes of the relationship.
Characters chase elusive dreams, finding more in the journey than the goal.Find movies similar to King of California that feature characters on a search for something more. If you liked the father's quest for Spanish gold leading to emotional discoveries, these films explore how the journey itself, not the destination, provides meaning and healing.
The narrative pattern involves a protagonist fixated on a seemingly fanciful or elusive goal as an escape from their reality. The quest structure provides a framework for exploring themes of disillusionment, hope, and personal growth, culminating in an ending where the tangible success of the quest is secondary to the emotional insights gained.
This thread groups films that share a bittersweet tone, a central quest motif, and a reflective mood. They are united by the idea that the search for an external prize is really an internal journey, resulting in stories that are more about emotional resonance than plot-driven success.
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Track the full timeline of King of California with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape King of California. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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Discover movies like King of California that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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