STOLEN KINGDOM is an entertaining exploration of Disney’s criminal underbelly
Stolen Kingdom portrays the majority of its subjects as harmless, community-oriented, and passionate protectors of Disney history and theme parks. There are, however, a few outliers—those who may love Disney, but simultaneously see people’s passion as a money-making opportunity. Patrick Spikes is one of the latter, and through his job at the parks, he was able to steal props, costumes, and ephemera worth over $14,000 to resell on the black market. We see some of these crimes play out in the documentary in the most interesting way possible through police footage, news articles, TV reports, and present-day interviews with Spikes himself as he unapologetically describes how it all went down. Spikes brags about the items he was able to steal, the money he made selling to the highest bidder, and the crimes he got away with. The other explorers and Disney fans in the film suggest that he is reckless and selfish, and most of the community are truly in it for the adventure of behind-the-scenes exploration, the documentation of history, or a genuine passion for Disney World, rather than theft and financial gain.This leaves the viewer with an interesting and multifaceted view of fandom, and especially of collectors. The fan community is celebrated, while wealthy collectors are mocked. At one point, we peruse a man’s large Disney collection, including three full-size ghosts from the Haunted Mansion ride. The collector brags about how much he paid for each item and what they are worth now, with subtitles informing the viewer that they are worth significantly less than he says. When asked how much of his collection could have been stolen by the people he bought from, he admits that some of it probably was, but justifies it as being Disney’s trash that was rotting behind the scenes anyway. The perils of collecting, capitalism, and trespassing are equally shown at every turn, with most of the explorers banned for life from Disney properties and even some major celebrities questioned for purchasing stolen goods.All in all, Stolen Kingdom is a highly entertaining true crime documentary in which no one gets hurt. This is one of my favorite documentaries of the year so far, with the thrills of a feel-good heist film, a cast full of interesting characters and genuine friendships, and a compelling mystery that leaves us wanting more. What truly happened to the beloved animatronic Buzzy? Will the bandit ever be held accountable? And will Buzzy ever be found?
