That's when the creativity comes out and the risks get taken in a good coming-of-age movie.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 12, 2022

The flaws are easy to forgive because newcomer Jordan Vogt-Roberts directs like a veteran and manages to infuse the film with so much visual wonder and authentic harmony.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 13, 2020

Captures both the burning desire and the abject terror at the prospect of growing up.

| Original Score: A- | Jul 9, 2020

The Kings of Summer is a sweet, funny, quirky and heartfelt coming of age story.

| Jul 3, 2020

Jordan Vogt-Roberts plants three hyperactive, rebellious teen boys in the woods for an off-beat coming-of-age comedy.

| Jun 18, 2020

A confusing experience.

| Original Score: 1.2/5 | Nov 19, 2019

With wild, reckless abandon, the sweetness of friendship and first rumblings of affection, The Kings of Summer does manage to evoke the bloom of angsty adolescence.

| Aug 20, 2019

The cast's spot-on performances are worth the price of admission, but I can't help but think how great the film could have been, if only it were more comfortable in its own skin.

| Original Score: 6.8/10 | Apr 15, 2019

Satisfying enough with flashes of brilliance from both the teenage characters and the filmmakers to believe there's a spectacularly bright future for all ahead.

| Nov 30, 2018

Some of the best comedies these days can be found in the indie market and, whilst Kings of Summer isn't one of the better ones, it is enjoyable.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 1, 2018

It's a simple story that fails to transcend meaningfully.

| Aug 22, 2018

Heartache, teen angst and mordant comedy are well tuned. Very funny, with wonderful performances, it's an unexpected delight.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 5, 2017

While it openly evokes the spirit of pictures like "Stand By Me" and "Moonrise Kingdom," it scores originality points in the shading of its characters.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 14, 2016

A slick piece of work that juts out at just enough odd angles to be idiosyncratic, but never alienating.

| May 12, 2015

A sweet yet fleeting trifle.

| Apr 29, 2014

If you were lucky enough to grow up near the woods, you'll see how true the movie is to the tenor of adolescent exploration. This is a kid's film in the best sense of the word, not a movie for kids, but a great story about being a kid.

| Original Score: B | Apr 8, 2014

Mashes a heightened sense of the absurd rather awkwardly up against arty pastoral, and the mock-seriousness of the endeavor comes across as unpleasantly snide.

| Sep 30, 2013

With a good helping of humor and engaging performances, The Kings of Summer makes for a delightfully entertaining coming of age tale.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 23, 2013

Rich in suburban subtext, The Kings Of Summer is a coming-of-age indie movie full of poignancy, charm and strong performances.

| Aug 29, 2013

Thanks in no small part to its trio of hugely likeable teenage leads, the film breezes along, mixing comedy with drama to often seamless effect, while exploring the kind of issues that viewers can all find relatable.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 27, 2013