''The King of Arcades'' is a 2014

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documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...

starring Walter Day, Billy Mitchell, Richie Knucklez, Steve Wiebe, and Eugene Jarvis. The film follows the rise and fall of the King of Arcades as one man pursues his dream against all odds.

Synopsis

''The King of Arcades'' details the life and times of punk rock musician and classic arcade collector Richie Knucklez, on his journey to cultural prominence when he takes his passion for collecting to new heights by opening an arcade business in Flemington, New Jersey, only to watch it fall in the wake of

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hardship.

Production

The film's budget was funded through a successful

Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...

campaign, raising a grand total $47,684.00 ''The King of Arcades'' was co-produced by '' Fanboys'' writer and '' The Goldbergs'' creator

Adam F. Goldberg Adam Frederick Goldberg (born April 2, 1976) is an American television and film producer, and writer. Goldberg is best known as the creator and showrunner of '' The Goldbergs'', a television sitcom based on his childhood in which he is portrayed ...

. The film features Richie Knucklez and his band Knuckle Sandwich's punk rock re-recording of the hit '80s song " Pac-Man Fever", by

Buckner & Garcia Buckner & Garcia was an American musical duo consisting of Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia from Akron, Ohio. Their first recording was made in 1972, when they performed a novelty song called "Gotta Hear the Beat", which they recorded as Animal Ja ...

. The new version features vocals by Danny Jones. Jones' voice can be heard on the theme song "Wreck It, Wreck-It Ralph" from

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animated film "

Wreck-It Ralph ''Wreck-It Ralph'' is a 2012 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 52nd Disney animated feature film, it was directed by Rich Moore (in his feature director ...

Release

''The King of Arcades'' was released through

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's DRM-free movie section. ''The King of Arcades'' premiered theatrically September 13, 2014 at

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, Frank Banko Alehouse in

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. In 2018, ''The King of Arcades'' became available on

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and in 2023 the film premiered on Tubi and

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Reception

'' Twin Galaxies'' stated that “Knucklez’ poignant journey from collector to operator to cultural scene phenomena is moving and at times heartbreakingly familiar to anyone who has ever dared do anything risky in business.”

Top five lists

''The King of Arcades'' appeared on several critics' top five lists of the best video game documentary films: * 3rd - Retro Asylum "(Richie Knucklez) is such a likeable character and there is so much fascinating stuff in this to enjoy." * ThatMomentIn.com "Knuckles brings a charismatic charm to the film as we see him rescuing and restoring old arcade cabinets." * DanCounsell.com "There's not much of a 'rise and fall' story here. Anyway, it's still a great documentary."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:King of Arcades 2014 films 2014 documentary films American documentary films Crowdfunded films Documentary films about video games Documentary films about competitions Esports films Kickstarter-funded documentaries 2010s English-language films 2010s American films Documentary films about punk music and musicians