King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, The

Village Voice Robert Wilonsky

It's all true--every magical, exhilarating, infuriating, dumbfounding, jaw-dropping second of Gordon's miniature masterpiece.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

A funny and madly arresting new documentary.

Film Threat Pete Vonder Haar

It’s not just one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Period.

Chicago Tribune Scott Schueller

Gordon's documentary proves better than 90 percent of the manufactured stories out this summer. One can breathe a sigh of relief that it was done right and not cobbled into another bad fictional comedy.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Gordon's feature directorial debut mostly stops being about video-game obsession and turns into a film about what it takes to make it in America.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

This film about fierce competition among classic video-game players is a comic action epic in documentary form. It captures fear -- and heroism -- in a handful of dusty video games.

New York Magazine David Edelstein

Very entertaining (and doesn’t overstay its welcome) but it’s a little depressing to contemplate.

Premiere Eric Alt

If you don't play at all, you may find yourself enjoying this film more than anyone, because you'll at least get all the laughs with none of the cringing self-recognition.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Like "Air Guitar Nation," the stranger-than-fiction cast of characters is fascinating, and their high-stakes machinations are nothing short of mind-boggling.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Heartbreaking and hilarious.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

A portrait of two different men whose compulsion for Donkey Kong is hilarious.

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

One of this year's funniest movies -- and its most inspirational sports drama -- is a documentary.

The New York Times Matt Zoller Seitz

The movie’s “Rocky” formula proves irresistible anyway; unsurprisingly, New Line has commissioned Mr. Gordon to remake this story with actors.

LA Weekly Luke Y. Thompson

It may seem overblown when one of the gamers calls Donkey Kong a metaphor for life, but The King of Kong is just that -- a reminder of how we all have to prove ourselves to others, and the extent to which the odds are often stacked against outsiders and newcomers.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Ultimately Gordon's movie becomes both a hilarious story about an unbelievable collection of arrested-teenage morons and, yes, an inspiring fable of persistence and redemption. I haven't mentioned this movie's fabulous addition to the English language yet, so here it is: the verb "to chumpatize."

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Obsession creates its own fascination, and never more so than in King of Kong, a sprightly new documentary that's as compulsively watchable as the vintage video game it focuses on is addictive.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Pure, goofy fun.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Not since "300" have I seen such manly mano-a-mano-ing as the iron clash of wills in the docu mentary King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A documentary that is beyond strange, follows two arch-enemies in their grim, long-term rivalry, which involves way more time than any human lifetime should devote to Donkey Kong.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Who would have guessed that a documentary about gamers obsessed with scoring a world record at Donkey Kong would not only be roaringly funny but serve as a metaphor for the decline of Western civilization?

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

As impressive as it is geeky. Most of the principal characters look like they haven't seen daylight since "Pac-Man Fever" was on the charts.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

A nuanced study in obsession, dedication, manipulation, ethics and how the all-American need to be the best at something -- anything -- can shape a life.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

It's a depressing little kingdom, even when Gordon tries desperately to goose the drama with the requisite "Eye of the Tiger" riffs and some junior high-level palace intrigue.