Kingpin

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1:19

Kingpin

PG-13

1996

1h 53m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) is a young bowler with a promising career ahead of him until a disreputable colleague, Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray), tricks him into participating in a con game that ends with Roy's bowling hand crippled for life. Years later, Roy ekes out a hardscrabble existence until he discovers Amish bowling phenom Ishmael (Randy Quaid). With the help of a gangster's girlfriend (Vanessa Angel), he plots to take Ishmael to the top of the bowling world.

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Critics Consensus

Kingpin has its moments, but they're often offset by an eagerness to descend into vulgar mean-spiritedness.

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

Jun 4, 2025

The Farrellys’ style of comedy is at its best when it gives space to the comedic performers to meld their comedic sensibilities with the filmmakers’ own.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Jun 14, 2022

This bad-taste comedy about bowling champs, from the dudes who brought you Dumb and Dumber, decides to go scummy and scummier by blatantly ripping off several scenes...

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Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

Oct 22, 2014

4/5

Kingpin makes inspired comedy by channeling the Weber spirit-and the humble reality of the circuit-through the frame of an inspirational sports movie.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jul 24, 2026

4.5/5

Frankly, "Kingpin" is a more persuasive parable about the virtue of kindness than "Green Book."

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 13, 2025

3/4

It's Bill Murray who easily swipes the picture -- he's at his unctuous best as Ernie McCracken, an oily bowler with an ego as enormous as his libido.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 18, 2014

2/4

...a pervasively uneven comedy that just isn't able to overcome its various deficiencies...

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Daniel M

@MazzaQuePasa May 19, 2026

ust watched it for the first time and it was a fun watch with a couple of laugh out loud moments.

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Jake S.

@TheBrewMan May 2, 2026

One of a kind movie about drinking, Amish people, two awesome acting legends, and bowling that makes you laugh the whole the whole way though.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 6, 2026

I thought Kingpin was decent overall. It has that classic over-the-top comedy style from Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray, and there are definitely some funny moments that land really well. That said, the humor can be hit-or-miss, and some jokes feel a bit dated. The story is pretty simple and predictable, so it relies heavily on its characters and comedic scenes to carry it. While that works at times, it doesn’t always stay consistent. It’s not a bad movie, just not as strong as it could’ve been. Overall, I’d give it a 6/10—it’s got some solid laughs, but doesn’t fully stand out compared to other comedies.

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John L

@JohnnyRocks Dec 25, 2025

saddest comedy but great movie. must watch.

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Z D.

@ZDUBMAN Nov 10, 2025

Underrated gem. Classic Farrelly masterpiece.

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Andrew M

@DrewMo Nov 8, 2025

This is one of the great comedies of the 90s. I love this movie.

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Robert Farrelly

Director

Peter Farrelly

Director

Woody Harrelson

Roy Munson

Randy Quaid

Ishmael Boorg

Vanessa Angel

Claudia

Bill Murray

Ernie McCracken

Kingpin: Official Clip - A Real Munson

2:09

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Working off Rent

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Milking the Bull

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Munson vs. McCracken

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Parking Lot Fight

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Kingpin: Official Clip - The Final Frame

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Kingpin: Official Clip - The Tournament Begins

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Hustling a Priest

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Kingpin: Official Clip - The Tattoo

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Kingpin: Official Clip - Bowling Distractions

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Synopsis

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) is a young bowler with a promising career ahead of him until a disreputable colleague, Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray), tricks him into participating in a con game that ends with Roy's bowling hand crippled for life. Years later, Roy ekes out a hardscrabble existence until he discovers Amish bowling phenom Ishmael (Randy Quaid). With the help of a gangster's girlfriend (Vanessa Angel), he plots to take Ishmael to the top of the bowling world.

Director: Robert Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Producer: Steven Stabler, Bradley Thomas, Brad Krevoy
Screenwriter: Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Motion Picture Corporation of America, Rysher Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Crude Sex-Related Humor|A Drug Scene)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 4, 1996, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 1996
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.0M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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