X
  • 2018
  • TV-14
  • Netflix
  • 1 h 35 m
  • 2018
  • TV-14
  • Netflix
  • 1 h 35 m

Summary This exuberant tragicomedy recounts the remarkable but true story of the rise and fall of Polish émigré Jan Lewan (Jack Black), from striving tchotchke shop owner in the ’70s to the undisputed “King of Pennsylvania Polka” in the early ’90s. Lewan pursued the American Dream by any means necessary, fleecing investors and bribing officials ...

Directed By: Maya Forbes

Written By: Wallace Wolodarsky, Maya Forbes

  • 2018
  • TV-14
  • Netflix
  • 1 h 35 m
  • 2018
  • TV-14
  • Netflix
  • 1 h 35 m

The Polka King

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
65
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
6.2
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary This exuberant tragicomedy recounts the remarkable but true story of the rise and fall of Polish émigré Jan Lewan (Jack Black), from striving tchotchke shop owner in the ’70s to the undisputed “King of Pennsylvania Polka” in the early ’90s. Lewan pursued the American Dream by any means necessary, fleecing investors and bribing officials ...

Directed By: Maya Forbes

Written By: Wallace Wolodarsky, Maya Forbes

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
65
45% Positive
5 Reviews
55% Mixed
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 11 Critic Reviews
65
45% Positive
5 Reviews
55% Mixed
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Jan 18, 2018
Maya Forbes has crafted a zippy comedy about a charismatic charlatan and the disastrous impact his fakery has on the rubes gullible enough to fall for his schtick.
By Andrew Crump FULL REVIEW
80
Jan 25, 2017
This is one of those stories when reality was stranger, and more entertaining, than fiction.
By Matt Singer FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
6.2
47% Positive
14 Ratings
40% Mixed
12 Ratings
13% Negative
4 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 30 User Ratings
6.2
47% Positive
14 Ratings
40% Mixed
12 Ratings
13% Negative
4 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
PRayMatthew73
May 25, 2018
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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9
NightHunter1
Feb 11, 2018
A really inspiring story about an actually a good man, full of energy and belief, who came to a big land having a dream. His only problem of promising too much doesn't make him bad, he didn't attend to harm anyone. Music is really great, I don't think I ever heard polka. Jack Black had his downwards in his acting career, but this perform reminds that he's actually a really good actor who rarely has a chance to find himself among good movies. JB deserves more, as well as Polka King.
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75
Jan 12, 2018
The sporadic magic of The Polka King largely comes from its casting, and the hammy performances that follow.
By Nick Allen FULL REVIEW
60
Jan 25, 2017
The Polka King, and Jan’s plight, never quite reaches the level of palpable human drama of their previous effort. Black does his best to make Jan a vulnerable and sympathetic character, but neither the script nor the direction allows him to become fully dimensional.
By Anthony Kaufman FULL REVIEW
60
Jan 25, 2017
What’s key is that even though this is a movie about a scoundrel, it’s all very optimistic. Forbes and Wolodarsky keep the frame bright and the filmmaking calls attention to itself only when necessary.
By Jordan Hoffman FULL REVIEW
58
Jan 10, 2018
Above all else, this movie is so well-cast that the laugh line makes perfect sense coming from Black.
By Jesse Hassenger FULL REVIEW
50
Jan 14, 2018
It’s not that the film doesn’t have an opinion on Lewan, it’s that the opinion seems to change every few scenes.
By Allison Shoemaker FULL REVIEW
See All 11 Critic Reviews
7
geewah
Jan 10, 2021
A funny movie who's greatest strength comes from the performance it's cast. Jack Black brings heart and humour to the lead role in arguably his best performance.
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7
temptershell
Feb 6, 2018
A very interesting story of a Pole who wanted to achieve success at any price. Many Polish traits in one ambitious and somewhat unreasonable guy are definitely an explosive mixture. Jack Black in this role is phenomenal. I recommend!
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6
MikefromAngus
Apr 15, 2018
Funny at times. It was better then I expected it to be. Above average Netflix movie!
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6
drlowdon
Jan 28, 2018
Based on a true story The Polka King tells the tale of Polish-American band leader Jan Lewan. Director Maya Forbes keeps things light, painting Lewan as a sympathetic character who was simply blinded by his own ambitions (something I’m not sure the victims of his scheme would all agree with). Jack Black anchors the movie by doing what Jack Black does singing and dancing his way enthusiastically through the film. Everything moves along at a good pace ensuring proceedings always remain entertaining enough but ultimately The Polka King lacks the emotional depth or laugh out loud moments to stick in the mind for very long.
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6
JLuis_001
Jan 17, 2018
Frankly it leaves an impression for the work of its actors and the characters that the film itself. It only aims to entertain and in a certain way achieves it, but it never exceeds a point of a certain quality, it never reaches for something more and that passivity is not really attractive
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See All 8 User Reviews

Details

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Production Company ShivHans Pictures, Electric Dynamite, Permut Presentations, Red Hour Films
Release Date Jan 12, 2018
Duration 1 h 35 m
Rating TV-14
Genres
Tagline The greatest scandal in polka history.
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Awards

ReFrame
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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