Arthur the King (2024)
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A determined athlete and his team must navigate a grueling endurance race while bonding with a stray dog that joins their journey.
The story
In 2018, Michael Light, a man seeking fulfillment after a career setback, decides to compete in the Adventure Racing World Series one last time. He assembles a team consisting of a climber, an experienced racer, and a social media personality. The team travels to the Dominican Republic to compete in a 5-day, 435-mile endurance race through mountainous jungle terrain. During the grueling competition, which involves trekking, climbing, biking, and kayaking, the team encounters a stray dog. The dog, whom they name Arthur, becomes an unexpected companion as they navigate the intense physical and emotional challenges of the race.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a disappointing performance in 2015, Michael Light seeks redemption by entering the Adventure Racing World Series in 2018. He forms a team with Olivia, Chik, and Leo. The team competes in a 435-mile race in the Dominican Republic. During the trek through the jungle, they encounter a stray dog and name him Arthur. The dog saves them from falling off a cliff, and they decide to keep him. During the final leg, the team must leave Arthur on shore to kayak across the sea. Seeing him struggle in the water, they return to save him, causing them to lose the race and finish in second place. After Arthur is found to be severely infected by parasites, Michael refuses to let him be put down and takes him to the United States, where the dog is saved and lives with him.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Simon Cellan Jones
- Writers
- Michael Brandt · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mark Wahlberg · Michael Light; Simu Liu · Olivia; Juliet Rylance · Helen; Nathalie Emmanuel · unknown; Ali Suliman · unknown; Paul Guilfoyle · unknown
- Genres
- adventure; sports
- Themes
- bond between man and dog; selflessness; redemption
- Tone and mood
- uplifting
- Premise and plot tags
- based on true story; sports; animal companion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Arthur - The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord
- Reception
- The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and was noted for its portrayal of the bond between a man and his dog.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4.5 · scale: 5 · review count: 75% saying they would definitely recommend
- Production trivia
- The film was originally going to be directed by Baltasar Kormákur.; The story is based on a memoir about a dog that crossed the jungle.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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