IMDb 0 2016 HD

A Hologram for the King

A Hologram for the King

2016
Comedy Drama
98 min
5.9 / 10
0 IMDB

Alan Clay, a struggling American businessman, travels to Saudi Arabia to sell a new technology to the King, only to be challenged by endless Middle Eastern bureaucracy, a…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Tom Tykwer
Starring
Tom Hanks / Sarita Choudhury / Sidse Babett Knudsen / Ben Whishaw / Tom Skerritt / Tracey Fairaway / David Menkin / Omar Elba

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

thoughtful melancholic understated frustrating intriguing human slow observant wry compelling atmospheric

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that rewards a patient viewer, offering a thoughtful and often poignant exploration of a man navigating a foreign landscape, both geographically and existentially. Tom Hanks is superb as Alan Clay, conveying a profound sense…

R
Rupert Finch
Apr 16, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The allure of Tom Hanks is undeniable, and he anchors 'A Hologram for the King' with his signature blend of everyman relatability and quiet gravitas. The film attempts to weave a tale of technological ambition colliding with cultural…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 16, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

While 'A Hologram for the King' boasts Tom Hanks in a central role, the film itself feels somewhat elusive, much like the elusive monarch it centres around. The narrative, adapted from Dave Eggers’s novel, attempts to capture the…

M
Marcus Bellwether
Apr 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that trusts its audience, offering a nuanced look at a world far removed from the familiar. Tom Hanks delivers a masterclass in subtle performance, embodying Alan Clay’s weariness and persistent hope with remarkable authenticity.…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 16, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Tom Hanks lends his considerable charm to Alan Clay, a man adrift in more ways than one. The film’s strength lies in its understated portrayal of cultural dislocation and the quiet desperation of a businessman trying to stay…

FAQs

While 'A Hologram for the King' is set in Saudi Arabia, its primary focus remains on the protagonist's personal journey and his encounters with bureaucracy. The film uses the setting to highlight cultural differences and the challenges of communication, but it's more of a backdrop for Alan's story than a deep ethnographic study. The portrayal offers a Western perspective on navigating that environment.