Critics’ reviews

King of the Hill (1997)

8 reviews from 8 publications. Critics’ score 80: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of King of the Hill

80
Positive
8
Mixed
0
Negative
0
The AV Club
22 July 2003 · Nathan Rabin
90*

The review praises the series for trading broad satire for subtle sociological insight and surprising warmth, creating empathy for its characters through relationships, setting, and values rather than standalone gags. It highlights the meticulous craft evident in the first season and its rich depiction of family life in Texas.

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The Guardian
19 April 2023
85*

The critic argues King of the Hill is a better and more prophetic show than its 1990s peers like South Park. They single out its nuanced portrayal of a frustrated everyman left behind by social change as particularly prescient.

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Empire
18 April 2006 · Dorian Lynskey
80*

The series is the truest and kindest of the post-Simpsons animated sitcoms, with a natural feel for small-town rhythms. Hank Hill is portrayed as the sympathetic face of Red State America.

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The Independent
27 July 1997 · Ben Thompson
80*

The piece praises the show's subtle exploration of family values and mid-American angst as a refreshing contrast to Beavis and Butt-head. It highlights the precisely observed characters and beautifully written scripts.

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The Telegraph
4 August 2025
75*

The review finds the revived series timely and engaging despite the long gap. It singles out Hank Hill's unchanging conservative outlook as a fascinating lens on modern America.

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The Times
4 March 2006 · Laura Lee Davies
75*

The DVD release offers classic sitcom tales of suburban Texas life with the hapless propane salesman Hank Hill, as tragic as they are funny. It is cathartic viewing and a treat, with plenty of extras.

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Variety
19 January 1997 · Phil Gallo
70*

The debut is plenty funny as Mike Judge zeroes in on small-town America with well-conceived shots at pickups, trailers, dysfunctional families and supermarket busybodies. Judge’s compelling humor deserves a slot in primetime, though Fox faces a challenge luring audiences from Beavis and Butt-head or The Simpsons.

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Den of Geek
7 June 2016 · Wesley Mead
90*

The piece celebrates the series as a complex, funny, and humane program with strong character development, observational comedy, and emotional realism that sets it apart from flashier animated sitcoms. It notes its consistency over 13 seasons and unique Texan specificity as key strengths.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate