King of Stonks (2022) User Reviews

Painfully entertaining

[magic.hb · 7/10 · 8 July 2022]

I didn't miss "depth" - especially not that one permanently pregnant with meaning and underscored in minor by strings, so many German movies and series are dripping with.

Hey, this series is a bit imperfect in some way, yes, but it's entertaining. I was stunned sometimes and sometimes laughing a lot. On the one hand it seems to be very exaggerated behaviours and dialogues, but on the other one especially this feels painfully real knowing quite some bosses and employees and working conditions, which are not very dissimilar to those in the show.

My conclusion: This mini-series is good to binge and doesn't feel like almost five hours length all in all. I'd wish more German productions to be made that way. My dispair and shame regarding the general condition of German film would be less then.

Revisiting familiar territory but now in a European setting

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 9 July 2022]

As Episode 1 of "King of Stonks" (2022 release from Germany; 6 episodes of about 47 min each) opens, we are introduced to Felix, the VP of Technology at CableCash, digital payment platform whose biggest client is the provider of porno sites. Felix reports to Magnus Cramer, the CEO with a dubious past. The company is working towards an IPO. What could go wrong?

Couple of comments: this German mini-series is inspired by the true story of Wirecard AG, which unraveled in spectacular fashion a few years ago. "King of Stonks" is immediately reminiscent of "The Dropout", as both startups built a house of cards and then it's just a matter of time to see it all come crashing down. Two thoughts: (1) in a way it's reassuring to see that this happens not just in the US, as it exposes a universal human condition (greed), and (2) I found "The Dropout" to be the slightly better mini-series, resulting from the towering performance of Amanda Seyfried. That said, "House of Stonks" is wildly entertaining in its own right. I can't say that I was familiar with anyone in the cast or in the series production team.

"King of Stonks" premiered on Netflix this week, and all 6 episodes are now streaming. I binged it watching 3 episodes on 2 consecutive evenings. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly it all flew by, a sure sign that enjoyed watching this. If you watched "The Dropout" and liked it, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion, as "King of Stonks" revisits familiar territory but now in a European setting,

so bad it's good

[discoandrollerskates · 8/10 · 12 July 2022]

It's corny and the memes are dorky and old fashioned. It's over the top and all over the place. A lot of kitsch. But I liked it. It's fast and funny. You're never bored. I can't help but compare it to a dark/funny Norvegian equivalent called "Exit" which is a stellar series about 4 wreckless egomaniac yuppies, really great plot and great actors. Kings of stonk does not have this, but in some strange way I just enjoy it a lot. It has a certian warmth that I like and it's unpretentious and fast.

Over the top

[flix_friend_39487 · 10 July 2022]

I really wanted to like this. It's so original and full of ideas. Speed, energy, great acting, it's all there.

But I just can't connect. I hated these main characters so much, it was painful to watch. At times I had to force myself to watch.

Also, everything is so over the top, that I just stay outside. Exaggerated, but somehow not in a good way. The Mafia people, the Hermann brothers, the politician .... so crude, so unbelievable, such caricatures, that it's just not funny any more.

You know, Wolf of Wall street worked because we are WITH Leonardo DiCaprios characters from the beginning. He starts slow, he slides into it, he is kind and good hearted in the beginn, humble even, and corrupts slowly, by money, by fame, by power. That's what drags us into the film. We could be him, it could happen to us. The americans, rhey know how to do it.

None of that can be found in KOS. These types are crooks from the beginning, liars, arrogant and self-impressed, especially the CEO, you hate his guts from the start, what a pretentious solent prick. I cared for nobody. They could all have been shot or jailed, I couldn't care less.

Sorry guys but storytelling just doesn't work this way.

Great explanation of how stocks value vs CEO decisions

[junk-82763 · 10/10 · 12 July 2022]

KOS is an entertaining series with full of actions. Felix, the COO, is the machine behind the success while Magnus is the face of the company. The writer crafted a perfect illustration of how stock value and shareholder pressure influences even short term decisions of the company. Financial terms, shorting, options, longs are explained clearly and to the point.

Being a stock exchange guy, I enjoyed the series as it is not far from realities. Needless to say, sometimes it is exaggerated but this is given.

Sheila played her role excellent, Felix is super likeable as well as Magnus perfect character for the job.

I had a great few hours watching the series. I recommend everyone as well.

Wolf of wallstreet x wirecard

[parkourmax-ml · 9/10 · 10 July 2022]

Based losely on the story of the biggest german financial Scandal of the Fintech Wirecard (Just google Wirecard.... ) mixed with Wolf of Walstreet elements. Painfully grotesk and extremely entertaining if you know the Back story.

All over the place

[peterbechp · 5/10 · 9 July 2022]

I felt the story was all over the place, and the editing only emphasized that. It felt chaotic at all times, and the story and the characters are shallow and lacking substance, and I think the producer knows that, so they try to spice it up with fast phasing so that the viewer doesn't get too bored.

Good but takes time to develop.

[supercamman20 · 8/10 · 14 July 2022]

King of Stonks can often be too chaotic for its own good and I'm sure many people will give up on the show partway through because of that. The first episode has promise but episode 2 and 3 are far too scatterbrained to be anything other than a moderately entertaining but very disaffecting distraction. However, if you stick with it from episode 4 onward the show slows down a bit, takes a breath, fleshes out its character, and turns in to a smart, occasionally funny, and surprisingly suspenseful financial thriller that certainly left me wanting more. I hope the show gets picked up for the second season they clealry planned on making.

Rubbish

[gerardmartin77 · 4/10 · 10 July 2022]

This is the second European Netflix production i've watched in 3 days and its just as bad as the Spanish one ! Its badly directed , badly acted and the story is all over the place . They all seem to think its funny so i guess its that crazy German sense of humour .

What a ride

[koyima-52759 · 9/10 · 2 August 2022]

The Germans are finally getting out of their shell and doing stuff that is fun and entertaining. Fast paced, hilarious and with a bunch of twists the characters take you on a love hate Rollercoaster

I understand that to some of the Americans commenting here this might be a change of pace, to me it was amazing

Americans didn't like the British version of the office and the first season version of Michael Scott, I love the American office, but unlike others I don't feel the need to skip the first season on a rewatch, this is a bit like this: some of the characters can be unlikeable, but that is more real than a loveable scoundrel that has a heart of gold or some other cliche and it is a lot better than what Hollywood thinks is interesting with subverting expectations...

Loving this new genre

[gotie · 10/10 · 15 July 2022]

If youre interested in the world of tech and enjoyed How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) you'll love this. The only similarity I could find was one screen writer crossover between the 2 shows but the editing felt very similar. I think its fantastic screenplay and very good to watch. The characters were also very funny and likeable.

King of Stinks

[chasbarter · 1/10 · 30 July 2022]

Anyone prepared to sit through this garbage must have an IQ of <40. Total rubbish & terrible acting. I have to use at least 150 characters for this review, so can I say 'terrible, total rubbish, unwatchable, bottom of the barrel garbage'.

Fun fastpased show

[lotfalcon · 9/10 · 13 July 2022]

A very entertaining show, it moves fast and might feel a bit chaotic, but for me that really adds to the story. The stock market is moving fast, bringing out chaos and stress.

The characters are great, they are over the top, but still rooted in reality. Don't expect this to be a serious show, just enjoy the ride.

Chaotic, shallow comedy

[ricardo-consonni · 2/10 · 21 July 2022]

Acting seems good (actors give a convincing feel to the main characters), screenplay takes some time to hook you (first 3 episodes are painfully boring, you really have to endure the slapstick antics of the characters), but in the end, it is too chaotic and surreal. A sorry excuse for a financial scam story.

Vere bad

[a-02666-02175 · 1/10 · 10 July 2023]

Offensive to the Arab peoples, especially the Gulf people, is very bad, and you are looking at the bad side of some Arabs, not all, and left the good side, and I still say that it is something that should be deleted because it does not deliver an important message And sure me and all the Arabs are not satisfied with what this dirty obscene series talked about And you made him harass the girl and you brought him from the garbage This literally does not represent our people not even 1% You have distorted the image of the Arabs and this is what you want for a long time You will apologize for your series one day and all your tiredness will be deleted because it is a series that has no need and there is no message only to distort our reputation.

S1E3 - PowerPoint Slide Deck

[qxnkbdvb · 15 October 2023]

Nice touch: in S1E3, Felix looks at a slide deck on his laptop. The scene starts at 00:28, we can see two slides, and the scene is cut 2 seconds later. The funny thing here is that the slides are based on the PowerPoint Slide Master of the company Wirecard (WCD). It cannot be ruled out that the show used original Wirecard-slides. Especially, the 40% CAGR, the world domination map looks all typically Wirecard from the financial year 2016/17. It stands to reason, that someone familiar with the subject and with mischievous ulterior motive used that old template or even a slide deck from that company.