King Otto (film)

The film opened to wide international critical acclaim and currently has a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.[4] The Guardian in the United Kingdom gave the film 4 stars calling it "thoughtful and indeed, erudite" claiming that the climax moment of the film, when the Greeks win the Euro and the Federation chief is crying tears of joy, was "one of the most uplifting things I have ever seen."[5] The Australian credited the filmmakers giving the film 4 out of 4 stars saying "full marks must be awarded to director Christopher André Marks for telling this real life feel good story so well and so entertainingly."[6] The Sydney Morning Herald said the film is "technically a documentary but comes across as an Aesopian fable" .[7] Maxim Magazine called the film "a fairytale for modern times"[8] and Financial Review said: "Christopher André Marks’ irresistible documentary King Otto manages to confirm and confound every idea about the contrasts between the Greeks and the Germans.... the Athenians must have partied hard after they defeated the Persians in the battle of Marathon in 490BC – but not like this."[9] The German press unanimously heralded the film with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praising the film as "a brilliant documentary, impressive and touching.[10] Der Spiegel called the film "a fairytale"[11] and Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger praised the film as "cinema at its finest... bravo!".[12] Süddeutsche Zeitung stated that the movie "was a very solid, very well made homage to Otto, the very first."[13] The Greek press also reviewed the film positively with the top critics at Proto Thema,[14] 24/7 News[15] and Athens Voice[16] giving the film high marks. Proto Thema called the film "exemplary"[14] and Kathimerini profiled the director and called the story of 2004 "our favorite national fairy tale"[17] with To Vima also covering the film and the director favorably.[18] In the United Kingdom, the BBC called it "a beautiful, beautiful film" with The Times and The Daily Telegraph choosing it as a 'Critic's Pick' upon its release.[19]

The film had its World Premiere in Melbourne, Australia to multiple sold out preview screenings and was then released nationally in over 80 cinemas across Australia.[20] On the day of the theatrical release, however, Melbourne went into a total lockdown and cinemas were closed for weeks preventing the film from having its full theatrical run in Victoria.[21] The Greek premiere was held at the Zappeion in the National Garden of Athens with the players of the 2004 Greek National Team, Otto Rehhagel, Ioannis Topalidis, producer Shani Hinton and director Christopher André Marks in attendance. The film was subsequently released theatrically nationwide in Greece.[17] The German premiere was held at the historic Lichtburg cinema in Essen on Nov 11, 2021 in the hometown of Otto Rehhagel.[22] The audience of 1,000 + gave the film and its star, Otto Rehhagel, a loud standing ovation and cheered throughout the premiere as if in a football stadium. As Kicker notes, "Applause, cheering and singing resounded again and again..."[23] On the first day of the German release, the film opened number 11 in the German box office overall and Otto Rehhagel was honored with his hands moulded into gold to adorn the walls of the Lichtburg lobby.[24] The film was also released on SKY UK[25] and Amazon Prime Video in the United Kingdom , Discovery+ in South America, Viaplay in the Nordics[26] and Al Jazeera in the Middle East. It can also be seen on Qantas, Emirates (airline) and Lufthansa Airlines entertainment systems.[27] The film was released theatrically in the United States and Canada on March 25, 2022, Greek Independence Day.[28]

Otto Rehhagel at German premiere

Otto Rehhagel and director Christopher André Marks at Greek premiere