IMDb 5.6 1981 HD

King of the Mountain

King of the Mountain

1981
Action Drama
90 min PG USA
5.5 / 10
5.6 IMDB

A group of friends race their high-powered cars up and down a dangerous and deadly mountain road known as Mulholland Drive to see who can claim the title…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Noel Nosseck / Buddy Joe Hooker
Starring
Harry Hamlin / Joseph Bottoms / Deborah Van Valkenburgh / Richard Cox / Dennis Hopper / Dan Haggerty / Seymour Cassel / Cassandra Peterson

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

thrilling dangerous competitive intense risky dated raw action-packed nostalgic straightforward gritty ambitious

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This 1981 film captures a specific brand of daring and recklessness associated with automotive culture. 'King of the Mountain' places its characters in a high-stakes competition on the notoriously dangerous Mulholland Drive, a setting that provides ample opportunity…

J
Julian Thorne
May 23, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

'King of the Mountain' drives hard into the territory of testosterone-fuelled automotive competition, with Mulholland Drive as its unforgiving proving ground. The central conceit – a race to be crowned 'King of the Hill' – is simple enough,…

S
Sophia Chen
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

For those with a penchant for vintage car cinema, 'King of the Mountain' presents a compelling, if somewhat gritty, dive into the competitive world of high-speed driving. The film’s strength lies in its unvarnished portrayal of the risks…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 23, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

This picture attempts to capture the dangerous allure of street racing, focusing on a group of friends vying for supremacy on the perilous Mulholland Drive. While the premise is ripe for tension, the execution feels somewhat uneven. Harry…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

A relic of 80s automotive thrillers, 'King of the Mountain' delivers on its promise of high-octane racing. The narrative, while simple, is propelled by the visceral danger of its setting: the infamous Mulholland Drive. Harry Hamlin and Joseph…

FAQs

Mulholland Drive is more than just a backdrop; it's an active antagonist in 'King of the Mountain'. Its notorious reputation for danger and its winding, treacherous nature elevate the racing to a life-or-death struggle. The road itself becomes a character, dictating the terms of the competition and ensuring that every manoeuvre carries significant risk, thereby heightening the suspense and the film's dramatic weight.