The Kings of Summer

The Kings of Summer

Year: 2013

Runtime: 95 min

Language: English

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Comedy

Three teenage friends, feeling stifled by their families and circumstances, decide to run away and build a house in the woods. Determined to forge their own path and experience true independence, they embark on a summer adventure filled with unexpected challenges and the complexities of friendship as they navigate life outside the adult world.

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Timeline & Setting – The Kings of Summer (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Kings of Summer (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in a modern-day setting, where themes of adolescence and self-discovery are prevalent. The challenges faced by the characters resonate with contemporary issues of youth relationships, family struggles, and personal growth.

Location

Woodland, Suburban Neighborhood

The movie takes place in a serene forest setting that becomes a sanctuary for the boys. This woodland area is depicted as a beautiful getaway, where they build a hideout and attempt to live off the land. The contrast between this natural escape and the surrounding suburban neighborhood reflects the struggle of the characters to find their identities and freedom.

🌲 Nature 🏘️ Home

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02

Main Characters – The Kings of Summer (2013)

Meet the key characters of The Kings of Summer (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joe (Nick Robinson)

Joe is a 15-year-old navigating the complexities of adolescence, dealing with the grief of losing his mother and a strained relationship with his father. As the protagonist, he exhibits determination and creativity in building a new life away from home, yet faces vulnerabilities in love and friendship, especially regarding his feelings for Kelly.

👦 Teen 💔 Heartbroken 🎨 Dreamer

Biaggio (Moisés Arias)

Biaggio is a quirky and eccentric member of the trio who provides humor and a unique perspective on their adventure. Though initially an outsider, his loyalty and bravery shine through when he faces danger in the woods. His character represents the unpredictable nature of friendships and the courage to support friends in need.

😜 Quirky 🦸 Courageous 👬 Loyal

Patrick (Gabriel Basso)

Patrick is Joe's supportive friend who shares similar struggles with his own family. His enthusiasm and willingness to assist in the boys' project demonstrates his loyalty, but his relationship with Joe becomes strained as emotions run high over Kelly. Patrick embodies the duality of friendship, showcasing both camaraderie and conflict.

👦 Supportive 🤔 Conflicted 🙌 Friend

Kelly (Erin Moriarty)

Kelly is the object of Joe's affection, and her presence represents the complexities of young love. As a character navigating her own feelings, her interactions with Joe and Patrick create a love triangle that adds tension to the plot. Kelly's emotional journey reflects the uncertainties of teenage relationships.

💖 Love Interest 😟 Conflicted 🌸 Youthful

Frank (Nick Offerman)

Frank, Joe's father, embodies the challenges of parental roles, struggling to connect with his son in the aftermath of loss. His portrayal highlights the complexities of father-son relationships and the difficulties in understanding teenage emotions. Ultimately, he is a figure of authority that Joe rebels against.

👨‍👦 Father 😕 Estranged 👮 Authority

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02

Major Themes – The Kings of Summer (2013)

Explore the central themes of The Kings of Summer (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌱 Coming of Age

The film explores the journey of adolescence, highlighting the struggles of the main character, Joe, as he grapples with his mother's death and his complicated relationship with his father. This theme is further emphasized through the boys' attempts to forge their paths away from parental expectations, showcasing their desire for independence.

💔 Heartbreak

Heartbreak plays a significant role in Joe's emotional journey, particularly in his unreciprocated feelings for Kelly. His struggles with romantic feelings intertwined with friendship issues create a poignant narrative about young love and loss, portraying the challenges of navigating relationships during adolescence.

🤝 Friendship

The bond between Joe, Biaggio, and Patrick highlights the significance of friendship during formative years. Their adventures in the woods depict camaraderie and support, though tensions and misunderstandings test their relationships, culminating in moments that reveal the importance of loyalty and reconnection.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02

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Explore Movie Threads

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.

Bittersweet coming-of-age adventures like The Kings of Summer

Youthful summers where the joy of freedom is tinged with the pain of growing up.This thread gathers movies like The Kings of Summer, featuring stories about teenage independence and formative summer experiences. If you enjoyed the mix of youthful freedom and poignant realizations in this film, you'll find similar comedies and dramas about growing up.

nostalgicyouthfulpoignantcarefreereflectiveawkwardmischievous

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a group of friends or a protagonist embarking on a quest for freedom, often away from adult supervision. The journey begins with idealism and mischief but inevitably confronts the complexities of friendship, first love, and family, leading to a conclusion that is reflective and bittersweet rather than purely triumphant.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared ability to evoke a specific nostalgic feeling—the exhilarating yet fleeting nature of youth. The tone consistently balances humor and heartache, depicting the messy, awkward, and ultimately meaningful process of leaving childhood behind.

Movies about wilderness escapes and teen rebellion like The Kings of Summer

Characters fleeing society to build a new life in the untamed wild.Explore films similar to The Kings of Summer where characters build a home in the woods to escape their families. This collection features stories of wilderness survival, teen rebellion, and the complex freedom found in nature, perfect for fans of adventurous coming-of-age tales.

adventurousindependentrusticfree-spiritedchallengingidealisticearnest

Narrative Summary

The plot revolves around the act of escape and the subsequent project of building a sanctuary in a natural setting. The initial idyllic freedom is tested by practical survival needs and internal group dynamics, forcing the characters to confront whether their utopian vision can withstand reality.

Why These Movies?

These films share a central motif of constructing a life in the wilderness as an act of defiance or self-discovery. They explore the universal yearning for a simpler, more authentic existence and the inevitable clash between idealism and the complexities of human relationships, even in isolation.

Unlock the Full Story of The Kings of Summer

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Kings of Summer in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Kings of Summer is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Kings of Summer Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Kings of Summer, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Kings of Summer Summary

The Kings of Summer Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Kings of Summer with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Kings of Summer Timeline

The Kings of Summer Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Kings of Summer that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Kings of Summer Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Kings of Summer

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Kings of Summer: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Kings of Summer

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Discover movies like The Kings of Summer 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.