Three Kings | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | David O. Russell |
Produced by |
Charles Roven Paul Junger Witt Edward L. McDonnell |
Screenplay by | David O. Russell |
Story by | John Ridley |
Starring |
George Clooney Mark Wahlberg Ice Cube Spike Jonze Nora Dunn Jamie Kennedy Mykelti Williamson Cliff Curtis Saïd Taghmaoui |
Music by | Carter Burwell |
Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel |
Edited by | Robert K. Lambert |
Production
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Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date
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Running time
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114 minutes |
Country | United States Australia |
Language | English |
Budget | $48 million |
Box office | $107.7 million |
Three Kings is a 1999 American satirical black comedy war film written and directed by David O. Russell from a story by John Ridley. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze as four U.S. soldiers on a gold heist that takes place during the 1991 Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein following the end of the Persian Gulf War.
The film was released on October 1, 1999 in the United States. It received critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing $107 million on a $48 million budget.
Following the end of the Persian Gulf War, U.S. soldiers are sent over to clean up loose ends. The soldiers are bored over the lack of action and as a result throw parties at night. Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, is trading sex for stories with a journalist, Cathy Daitch (Judy Greer) when he is interrupted by Adriana Cruz (Nora Dunn), the television reporter he is assigned to escort. While disarming and searching an Iraqi officer, U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), his best friend Private First Class Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze), and their unit find a map between his buttocks. Troy goes to Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin (Ice Cube) to help translate the map. Major Gates appears, after tracking down a lead from Adriana. Archie convinces them that the document is a map of bunkers near Karbala, containing gold bullion stolen from Kuwait, which they decide to steal. To keep Adriana off his back, Gates sends Specialist Walter Wogeman (Jamie Kennedy) to aid her on a false lead.