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IMDbPro

A Hologram for the King

  • 20162016
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
44K
YOUR RATING
Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
Cultures collide when an American businessman (Tom Hanks) is sent to Saudi Arabia to close what he hopes will be the deal of a lifetime. Baffled by local customs and stymied by an opaque bureaucracy, he eventually finds his footing with the help of a wise-cracking taxi driver (Alexander Black) and a beautiful Saudi doctor (Sarita Choudhury).
Play trailer2:31
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
A failed American sales rep looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his company's product to a wealthy monarch.A failed American sales rep looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his company's product to a wealthy monarch.A failed American sales rep looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his company's product to a wealthy monarch.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
44K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tom Tykwer
  • Writers
    • Dave Eggers(novel)
    • Tom Tykwer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Omar Elba
    • Sarita Choudhury
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tom Tykwer
  • Writers
    • Dave Eggers(novel)
    • Tom Tykwer(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Omar Elba
    • Sarita Choudhury
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 191User reviews
    • 171Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Official Trailer
    Our Majestys Dream
    Clip 1:15
    Our Majestys Dream
    Happening Today
    Clip 0:56
    Happening Today
    Hello
    Clip 0:52
    Hello
    Who
    Clip 0:59
    Who

    Photos110

    Amy Heckerling at an event for A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks and Tom Tykwer at an event for A Hologram for the King (2016)
    A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King (2016)
    A Hologram for the King (2016)
    A Hologram for the King (2016)
    A Hologram for the King (2016)
    Tom Hanks and Sarita Choudhury in A Hologram for the King (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Alanas Alan
    Omar Elba
    Omar Elba
    • Yousefas Yousef
    • (as Alexander Black)
    Sarita Choudhury
    Sarita Choudhury
    • Zahraas Zahra
    Ben Whishaw
    Ben Whishaw
    • Daveas Dave
    Sidse Babett Knudsen
    Sidse Babett Knudsen
    • Hanneas Hanne
    Tracey Fairaway
    Tracey Fairaway
    • Kitas Kit
    Jane Perry
    Jane Perry
    • Rubyas Ruby
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • Ronas Ron
    Michael Baral
    Michael Baral
    • Young Ronas Young Ron
    Lewis Rainer
    Lewis Rainer
    • Young Alanas Young Alan
    Alexander Molkenthin
    • Kid Alanas Kid Alan
    Xara Eich
    • Young Kitas Young Kit
    David Menkin
    David Menkin
    • Bradas Brad
    Christy Meyer
    Christy Meyer
    • Cayleyas Cayley
    Megan Maczko
    Megan Maczko
    • Rachelas Rachel
    Eric Meyers
    Eric Meyers
    • Eric Randallas Eric Randall
    Khalid Laith
    Khalid Laith
    • Karim Al-Ahmadas Karim Al-Ahmad
    Amira El Sayed
    Amira El Sayed
    • Mahaas Maha
    • Director
      • Tom Tykwer
    • Writers
      • Dave Eggers(novel)
      • Tom Tykwer(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed mostly in Morocco. Only some exterior shots were taken in Riyadh.
    • Goofs
      The first time Tom Hanks wakes up late in his hotel in KSA, there's a Muslim prayer call (Adhan) heard in the background. However, his bedside alarm clock shows it's after 9:00 am, and no Muslim prayers occur in that time.
    • Quotes

      Alan: [in an email] Dear Dr. Hakem. I hope this message finds you well. Your skill made quick work of that cyst. So I want to thank you again. I've been feeling increasingly energized since the operation and I've already been able to transfer that energy to others successfully. The only catch is now I don't have anything to blame my problems on. That little growth explained everything, and now it's gone. I am sincerely grateful, though, I think. Alan Clay.

      Zahra: [her response] Dear Mr. Clay, even though it went a little harder than I expected, it was a simple extraction. Usually the discovery that you're not dying of a malignant tumor leaves most people with their spirits high. But you are not most people, are you? Dr. Zahra Hakem.

      Alan: Dear Dr. Hakem, actually, my spirits are very high indeed, maybe too high. I'm feeling a little dizzy. The cause is mysterious. But I have felt a strange new lump in my back. I'm no doctor, but it feels like a rubber glove. Is there a chance you left one? Sometimes people leave things like gloves with someone they like in hopes their retrieval will provide an excuse to see that someone again. Yours, Alan.

      Zahra: Dear Alan, I actually might have left something. I'm thinking a sponge? Or maybe part of a snack I ate during the surgery. I think I need to see you again. Perhaps out of the hospital? We don't want to worry your insurers. Zahra.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Evening Urgant: Lev Leshchenko (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Once In A Lifetime
      Performed by Talking Heads

      Sung by Tom Hanks

      (P) 1980 Sire Records Company

      Courtesy of Warner Music Group Germany Holding Gmbh. A Warner Music Group Company

      Words and Music by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Brian Eno

      (C) 1980 WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) and Index Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Universal Music MGB Limited

      Mit Freundlicher Genehmigung

      Courtesy of Neue Welt Musikverlag Gmbh & Co KG / A Warner Chappell Music Company & Musik-Edition Discoton Gmbh

    User reviews191

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    I really wanted to like this movie!
    'A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING': Three Stars (Out of Five)

    The new quirky (and very bizarre) comedy-drama flick, from writer/director Tom Tykwer (who also wrote and directed the indie cult classic 'RUN LOLA RUN', and co-wrote and co-directed 'CLOUD ATLAS'). The lead of 'CLOUD ATLAS', Tom Hanks, stars in this movie as well. He plays a down on his luck American businessman, that travels to Saudi Arabia; to try and sell an idea of his to the government there. The movie co-stars Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Tom Skerritt. It's based on the book, of the same name, by Dave Eggers. I really wanted to like this movie, but it's way too slow- paced and uninvolving.

    The story is set in 2010 Saudi Arabia. A failed American businessman, named Alan Clay (Hanks), has traveled there, to try and make a business deal with a rich monarch. He's heartbroken, over a recent divorce with his wife, and thinks about his daughter constantly. Alan develops new relationships, during his business trip, as he desperately struggles to sell his product.

    The movie is definitely very quirky and strange, and I love quirky and strange. It's also very slow-paced, meandering and uninvolving though. Hanks does his best in the lead, and the supporting cast is all good as well, but the film is just plain boring (it's hard to sit through). I like Tykwer's other work, especially 'CLOUD ATLAS' and 'RUN LOLA RUN', so I hope his next movie is a big improvement over this.

    Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuGIEoCGrtw
    helpful•9
    6
    • Hellmant
    • May 2, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 2016 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Germany
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Голограма для короля
    • Filming locations
      • Ouarzazate, Morocco
    • Production companies
      • X-Filme Creative Pool
      • 22h22
      • Fábrica de Cine
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,212,494
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,138,578
      • Apr 24, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,169,507
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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