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Biographical sports film

The Royal (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Royal (2022) movie poster

The Royal is a 2022 biographical sports film directed by Marcel Sarmiento, starring Michael Beach, Elisabeth Röhm and Amin Joseph. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $1.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$1.4M
Echo Score
48
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The Royal (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Director
Marcel Sarmiento
Genres
Biography , Sport
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Royal About?

The premise of The Royal without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Inspired by a true story, this drama follows two friends, Hanna and Liv, who journey to a remote Outback mining town in Australia. Seeking work, they find jobs at the notorious Royal Hotel, immersing themselves in the town’s vibrant and often chaotic drinking culture. Their spirited behavior clashes with the locals, leading to escalating conflicts and a dangerous series of consequences as they navigate the challenges of their new surroundings.

The Royal Themes & Keywords

· 10 tags
  • royal
  • love
  • hairdresser
  • wedding
  • lifetime
  • fear
  • marriage
  • romantic comedy
  • feel good romance
  • reframe stamp
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Cast & crew

The Royal Cast & Characters

Michael Beach leads the cast, with Elisabeth Röhm and Amin Joseph as Willie Mays Aikens. Directed by Marcel Sarmiento; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Royal

· 6 more
From the director

More from Marcel Sarmiento

More films directed by Marcel Sarmiento, best-rated first: Deadgirl, The ABCs of Death, V/H/S: Viral and Faceless.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Royal Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Royal 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in art & craft (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).

48 /100

The Royal Echo Score Breakdown

The Royal presents a polarized picture, with critics highlighting its disciplined direction and tense atmosphere while many viewers criticize its thin characters and unsatisfying resolution. Positive commentary emphasizes the film’s restrained storytelling and effective suspense, whereas audience feedback repeatedly points to shallow development and an anticlimactic finale. This divergence results in a modest overall rating that reflects both the film’s technical merits and its narrative shortcomings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of art and craft, the film displays a competent directorial hand and a polished visual style. Critics note the tight framing and purposeful pacing that build tension, and one user applauds the precise direction. Conversely, several viewers describe the execution as uneven, citing a lack of cinematic payoff. Overall, the craftsmanship is respectable but not uniformly praised.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    Character and emotional depth receive mixed reactions. Critics commend Julia Garner’s nuanced performance and commend the cast’s ability to convey unease. Yet many audience members lament shallow development, describing motivations as underexplored and emotional engagement as lacking. The disparity between professional accolades and viewer disappointment balances the score around the midpoint.

  • Story & Flow 40

    The story’s coherence and pacing are points of contention. Positive reviews acknowledge a well‑structured tension arc and a satisfying conclusion, while numerous users decry a convoluted plot that unravels toward an anticlimactic ending. The narrative’s originality is praised as modest but its execution is often deemed unsatisfying, pulling the score toward the lower range.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Sensory elements such as sound design and visual atmosphere garner generally favorable remarks. Critics highlight the film’s ability to sustain a claustrophobic mood and effective auditory cues that heighten suspense. Audience comments are less specific but avoid major criticism, suggesting the sensory experience is competent though not outstanding.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    Rewatch value appears limited according to audience feedback. Many viewers label the film as a one‑time experience, citing an unsatisfying climax and limited incentive to revisit. While critics note a lingering tension that could reward repeat viewings, the prevailing sentiment among users diminishes the rewatch factor to a low score.

Plot

The Royal Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Royal from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Izzy, also known as Isabella, portrayed by Laura Marano, is a dedicated hairdresser who is beloved in her community for her warm heart and willingness to help those in need. One fateful day, a mishap in her salon involving a microwave leads to a fire that disrupts her life. In a swift response, she manages to extinguish the flames but discovers that the electric system was overburdened due to too many appliances being used simultaneously.

Full summary

The whole story of The Royal, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Royal Box Office

The Royal grossed $1.4 million worldwide. $780,263 came from the US and Canada and $586,452 (43%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.4M

US & Canada
$780.3K
International
$586.5K
US & Canada 57% Rest of the world 43%
Videos

The Royal Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Royal.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Royal?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What profession does Izzy have?

Cars

Cars in The Royal

10 cars on screen, including the 1989 Subaru L-Series and the 2008 Fiat 500.

All 10 cars
  • 1989 Subaru L-Series in The Royal 1989 Subaru L-Series Important role
  • 2008 Fiat 500 in The Royal 2008 Fiat 500 Minor role
  • Holden unknown HQ in The Royal Holden unknown HQ Minor role
  • 1996 Mitsubishi Triton in The Royal 1996 Mitsubishi Triton Minor role

Seen The Royal?

FAQ

The Royal FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Royal, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Royal?

The Royal runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was The Royal released?

The Royal was released on July 15, 2022.

Who directed The Royal?

The Royal was directed by Marcel Sarmiento.

More films by Marcel Sarmiento

Who is in the cast of The Royal?

The Royal stars Michael Beach, Elisabeth Röhm and Amin Joseph as Willie Mays Aikens, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Royal make at the box office?

The Royal grossed $1.4 million worldwide ($780,263 domestic, $586,452 international).

How is The Royal rated?

The Royal has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 50% on TMDB and 4.5/5 on Movie Insider.

Does The Royal have a post-credit scene?

No. The Royal has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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