The Donut King

About The Donut King

The Donut King is an American documentary released in 2020, directed by Alice Gu. This film unfolds the rags-to-riches-to-rags tale of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee, arriving in America in the 70s and building a multi-million-dollar franchise out of selling donuts. After achieving a remarkably successful donut business with chain stores across the country, Ted Ngoy eventually loses it all to a gambling addiction, epitomizing the classic American tale of rise, fall, and redemption.

Making / Production

The movie is directed by Alice Gu, marking her directorial debut. Scott Free Productions and Logan Industry Films produced the film. Ridley Scott, Freida Lee Mock, and Andres Rosende were among the executive producers. The documentary features an inspiring immigrant story coupled with elements of American pop culture.

Actors

• Ted Ngoy - As himself, Ted recounts his own story from being a Cambodian refugee to becoming the 'Donut King'.
• Susan Lim - Playing herself, she adds to the narrative as Ted’s wife and partner in building their donut empire.
• Daewon Song - As himself, the renowned Korean American professional skateboarder and donut fan provides a unique perspective on the significance of donut shops in the American cultural landscape.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This movie is Alice Gu's directorial debut.
• Ngoy's donut shops were all so successful that they even outsold giant competitor Dunkin' Donuts in California.
• Profits from Ngoy's donut empire were used to help sponsor visas for his family and other Cambodian immigrants escaping the Khmer Rouge regime.

Awards

The Donut King won the Special Jury Award for Achievement in Documentary Storytelling at the SXSW Film Festival 2020.

Quotes

• "I wanted to build a future for my family."
• "It's not just a donut shop. It's the American Dream."
• "In life, you have to lose something to get something else."

Music and Soundtrack

• The film's score composed by Roger Suen accentuates the highs and lows of Ted Ngoy's journey.
• The soundtrack features songs from The Blue Danube to Khmer classics, mirroring the movie's transnational narrative.
• The closing credits song, "Donut Mind If I Do" by Freako and Lul Lion, pays a humorous homage to the central theme of the film.