FILM ICON JOEY KING: UNIQUE LITTLE SISTER TO DAUGHTER OF A WITCH!
It’s been a long time since I posted a “film icon” series. There are only four or so features like this posted up here and while some are probably quite outdated at this point, it’s still fun to look back on. On July 30, it’s the birthday of child star Joey King, so what better time to look at her filmography. An actress who hasn’t had the impact as perhaps someone like Sandra Bullock, even still, I’m going feature King in this week’s list. Let’s dig into King’s cinematic titles and see how we can spotlight this film icon that only Joey King can fill.
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FILM ICON JOEY KING: UNIQUE LITTLE SISTER TO DAUGHTER OF A WITCH! Looking through the roles of #JoeyKing. #PracticalMagic2 #AFamilyAffair #RamonaAndBeezus Share on XHer bio says she started to act at four and her first credited role is in 2006 in a two-episode The Suite Life of Zack and Cody arc. From there, she guested in Entourage, Jericho, Medium and CSI. In 2008, she also voices a character named Katie in Horton Hears a Who! Additionally she appears in a handful of music videos (including two of the most popular pop stars) and in her adult life, she serves as producer on six titles. So far, I’ve quite enjoyed the works of Joey King. She plays spunky and super fun characters who are always memorable. Time to take a closer look at the roles that have made Joey King a household name and a leading lady to watch.
FILM ICON JOEY KING and her many VARIED ROLES
SORTED BY RELEASE DATE
Note: this ‘Icon’ series is designed (to first always just be fun) to look through the titles the subject stars in, and my reflections on the films. This feature will also only include stars from the 90s on, or actors who I’m familiar with from films I’ve seen. It’s not necessarily meant to spotlight “icons” in the sense of people who helped shape the industry at its start, but rather familiar faces we recognize and understand have had an impact on “modern” (and sometimes classic) cinema.
ELEVATOR GIRL, 2010
This is a Hallmark film that King has a credit in. I don’t know how big a role she has since I haven’t seen this one. It also has popular Hallmark star Lacey Chabert in the lead role about a woman who meets someone in an elevator.
Story: Lacey Chabert and Ryan Merriman as free spirited Liberty Taylor and uptight Jonathan MacIntyre, a pair of opposites who get stuck in an elevator together only to discover that fate may be the one with its finger on the door button. – Hallmark Media
Stream, at publication, with UP Faith and Family
RAMONA and BEEZUS, 2010
This film is darling and has Joey King play younger sister to Selena Gomez. As its title reveals, it’s based on the novels by Beverley Cleary and follows the siblings as they struggle with the idea of their dad losing work and changes.
Story: Ramona (King) is a little girl with a very big imagination and a nose for mischief. Her playful antics keep everyone in her loving family on their toes, including her older sister Beezus (Gomez), who’s just trying to survive her first year of high school. Through all the ups and downs of childhood, Ramona and Beezus learn that anything is possible when you believe in yourself and rely on each other. – 20th Century Studios
Stream, at publication, on Disney+ or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
BATTLE LOS ANGELES, 2011
Story: Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his platoon take on an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered when hostile alien invaders attack the planet in this epic sci-fi action film. – Prime Video
Stream, at publication, with Starz or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE, 2011
I’ve seen this one a few times but it’s been a long time. If my memory (and a quick confirmation look at film stills) serves me right, King plays a character named Molly, daughter to Steve Carrell.
Story: Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily have the perfect life together living the American dream…until Emily asks for a divorce. Now Cal has to navigate the single scene with a little help from his professional bachelor friend Jacob (Ryan Gosling). – Prime Video
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
BENT, tv show
For a short six-episode run, King played Charlie Meyers. In the NBC show she’s the daughter of a single mom (played by Amanda Peet) remodeling her home; which is where Peet consistently spars with contractor David Walton. The show didn’t last (obviously), but it was really entertaining.
Stream, at publication, with Roku or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
OZ: THE GREAT and POWERFUL, 2013
Story: Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz™. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. […] Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz™ but into a better man as well. – Disney Movies
Stream, at publication, with Disney+ or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
WHITE HOUSE DOWN, 2013
In this, Joey King plays the daughter of Channing Tatum, a man who ends up being the only one who can save Jamie Foxx’s Mr. President. She plays a delightfully spunky character even if her screen time is more limited in pursuit of the Tatum/Foxx action scenes.
Story: Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, during which the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. – Prime Video
Stream, at publication, on Netflix or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
WISH I WAS HERE, 2014
Story: From Zach Braff, the creator of Garden State, comes this touching and funny story about being a parent, spouse and child…all at the same time. – Prime Video
Digitally purchase on Prime Video
RADIUM GIRLS, 2018
I don’t know anything about this, but it’s described as a “docudrama” and does have some high user ratings. It’s about women in the 1920s who advocate for safer conditions in their work environment.
Story: Based on historical events, the national sensation following the notorious case of the Radium Girls in 1928 ultimately led to significant and lasting impact in the area of workplace health and safety and the study of radioactivity. – Prime Video
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
THE KISSING BOOTH, 2018
This is the first “adult” role I saw Joey in, and while most viewers don’t seem to favor this film, which is actually a trilogy and also has The Kissing Booth 2 and The Kissing Booth 3, I like that this isn’t a love triangle (it is, but not in the “normal” way). The story is about a girl who has been best friends with a guy her whole life. Much to his dismay, she has also loved his older brother. The story is then about their ups and downs as the best of friends and her love for Noah. These are based on novels by Beth Reekles.
Story: Based on the novel of the same name by Beth Reekles, The Kissing Booth stars Joey King as Elle, a late bloomer who falls hard for her best friend’s bad-boy older brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi). They embark on a whirlwind secret romance, while Elle tries to keep the truth from her lifelong bestie, Lee (Joel Courtney).– Netflix
Stream, at publication, with Netflix
THE ACT, 2019
This role got King an Emmy nomination and won Patricia Arquette an Emmy. The pair played mother and daughter in roles inspired by the real mother / daughter relationship between the Blanchard women. Trivia for this role says Joey King shaved her head, and she also had a nomination for a Golden Globe playing the role.
Story: The Act is a seasonal anthology series that tells startling, stranger-than-fiction true crime stories. Season One follows Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), a girl trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her overprotective mother, Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette). Her quest for independence opens a Pandora’s box of secrets, one that ultimately leads to murder. – Hulu Press
Stream, at publication, with Hulu or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
THE IN BETWEEN, 2022
This is described as a supernatural romance about a girl who loses the love of her life and the story of her trying to heal and move on.
Story: […] Tessa (Joey King), who, after bouncing around in foster homes for most of her childhood, doesn’t believe she deserves her own love story. Everything changes after she has a chance encounter with Skylar (Kyle Allen), a senior from a neighboring town who’s a true romantic. As her heart begins to open, tragedy strikes when a car accident takes Skylar’s life, while Tessa survives. As Tessa searches for answers in the aftermath of the accident, she soon believes Skylar is attempting to reconnect with her from the afterworld. – Paramount+ Press
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
THE PRINCESS, 2022
In this actioner flick, King plays a princess that baddies want to marry off to more baddies. In a castle full of, you guessed it, baddies, she must fight her way out of imprisonment.
Story: When a beautiful, strong-willed princess refuses to wed the cruel sociopath to whom she is betrothed, she is kidnapped and locked in a remote tower of her father’s castle. With her scorned, vindictive suitor intent on taking her father’s throne, the princess must protect her family and save the kingdom. – Hulu Press
Digitally purchase this film on places like Prime Video
FILM ICON JOEY KING: UNIQUE LITTLE SISTER TO DAUGHTER OF A WITCH! Looking through the roles of #JoeyKing. #PracticalMagic2 #AFamilyAffair #RamonaAndBeezus Share on XWE WERE the LUCKY ONES, 2024
In this limited series, Hulu produces a true story period drama about a family during World War II who are separated only to reunite and go against normal survival odds.
Story: Based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, the television adaptation of “We Were the Lucky Ones” is a limited series inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite. “We Were the Lucky Ones” demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive. The series is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. – Hulu Press
Stream, at publication, with Hulu
DESPICABLE ME 4, 2024
One of the more popular animated franchises of recent years, as Poppy Prescott, King joins the Steve Carell franchise.
Story: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome a new member to the family: Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Their happy family life is uprooted when an old rival shows up, forcing Gru and the family to go on the run and adopt new identities. – UPHE.com
Stream, at publication, with Netflix or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
A FAMILY AFFAIR, 2024
Working as a long-suffering assistant to one of Hollywood’s heartthrobs, Joey King plays Zara to Zac Efron’s Chris Cole. The film is better than I thought it would be (though it’s a love or hate for most people, and only has a 5.4 average database rating) with a little twist or two. It’s directed by Richard Lagravenese (P.S. I Love You); plus features Kathy Bates and Nicole Kidman.
Story: A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity. – Netflix Media
Stream, at publication, with Netflix
UGLIES, 2024
In the second of her Netflix collabs in one year, King features as Tally in this adaptation. Based on the novel of the same name, this is a dystopian story about people who are beautified at sixteen so that they are “accepted” in the world. Surprisingly, this film was pretty good though for some of us it will be nothing more than the typical dystopian story.
Story: In a futuristic world that imposes a cosmetic surgery at 16, Tally is eager for her turn to join the rest of society. But when a friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted. – Netflix Media Press
Stream, at publication, on Netflix
PRACTICAL MAGIC 2, 2026
Her next big upcoming role is set to be in Practical Magic 2, a sequel to the cult classic 90s dramedy that had Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The rumor is that King may play one of Bullock’s daughters though there isn’t a confirmation yet. The sequel is currently filming with an eye on a 2026 release.
Photos: Alamy
Do you enjoy Joey King’s roles? Would you watch more things with her? What titles do you like best from this film icon Joey King? Comment all of your thoughts below. Let’s chat.
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