Mark Wahlberg's 2024 adventure film 'Arthur the King' is now streaming free on BBC iPlayer, but viewers have only until Thursday, September 24 to watch it. The movie, directed by Simon Cellan Jones, is based on the 2016 memoir 'Arthur - The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home' by Mikael Lindnord.
The film follows pro adventure racer Michael Light and a stray dog named Arthur over ten days and 435 miles, as they forge an unbreakable bond during a grueling race. The synopsis says: "Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean."
Star-Studded Cast and Critical Reception
Wahlberg is joined by Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, Paul Guilfoyle, and Rob Collins. Bear Grylls makes a cameo as himself. Despite the star power, the film grossed only $40 million worldwide and holds a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The critical consensus reads: "It's hard to deny Arthur the King's ability to tug at the heartstrings, although it may have been more effective if it had taken a subtler approach."
Growing Fanbase on Letterboxd
Two years after its release, the film is gaining a loyal following on Letterboxd. User @Benjigotfried wrote: "I had a better time with this than I thought I would. I got to rewatch this for the mystery screening tonight again. This is nothing crazy, but if you love Mark Wahlberg or you just want to have a fun time I would definitely recommend this to anyone. I hope all of you enjoy this!"
@JoshuaCaine 13 commented: "I did not expect this to become one of my favorite films of 2024, but here we are. I'm a sucker for dog movies, man. This one is no exception. And Mark Wahlberg is one of my favorite actors so this was always going to be in my scope. There are several exhilarating and awesome moments in this film! The cinematography is top-notch, complemented by a stellar soundtrack."
Wahlberg, 55, has been nominated for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and nine Primetime Emmy Awards. His career includes roles in 'Boogie Nights', 'The Departed', 'The Fighter', and two 'Transformers' films. 'Arthur the King' is available on BBC iPlayer until September 24.
