Films About Queens
Films about queens often explore themes of power, sacrifice, love, and the challenges of leadership. These narratives can range from historical dramas to fantasy epics, showcasing the lives of real and fictional queens who have shaped their worlds. Through intricate storytelling, these films delve into the complexities of royal life, the burdens of responsibility, and the personal struggles faced by women in positions of authority.
Here’s a list of notable films that center around queens, each highlighting unique aspects of their reigns and personal journeys:
“Elizabeth”, 1998
Director: Shekhar Kapur
This historical drama chronicles the early years of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, focusing on her struggles to maintain power in a male-dominated society while navigating political intrigue and personal betrayal.
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Christopher Eccleston, Kathy Burke, Fanny Ardant, Vincent Cassel, Eric Cantona, Emily Mortimer, Kelly Macdonald, John Gielgud, Daniel Craig, James Frain, Edward Hardwicke, Jamie Foreman, Terence Rigby, Angus Deayton, Amanda Ryan, Kenny Doughty, George Yiasoumi, Wayne Sleep, Alfie Allen, Lily Allen, Valerie Gale, Liz Giles, Rod Culbertson, Paul Fox, Peter Stockbridge, Sally Grey, Kate Loustau, Elika Gibbs, Sarah Owen, Joe White, Matt Andrews, Liam Foley, Ben Frain, Lewis Jones, Michael Beint, Hayley Burroughs, Joseph O'Conor, Brendan O'Hea, Edward Highmore, Daniel Moynihan, Jeremy Hawk, James Rowe, Donald Pelmear, Charles Cartmell, Edward Purver;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Elizabeth” on the website imdb.com
“The Other Boleyn Girl”, 2008
Director: Justin Chadwick
Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, this film tells the story of Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary as they vie for the affections of King Henry VIII, ultimately leading to Anne's rise and tragic fall as queen.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Ana Torrent, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey, Juno Temple, Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Oliver Coleman, Tom Cox, Michael Smiley, Montserrat Roig de Puig, Iain Mitchell, Andrew Garfield, Mark Lewis Jones, Corinne Galloway, Alfie Allen, Joseph Moore, Tiffany Freisberg, Bill Wallis, Joanna Scanlan, Brodie Judge, Oscar Negus, Maisie Smith, Daisy Doidge-Hill, Kizzy Fassett, Finton Reilly, Emma Noakes, Poppy Hurst, Constance Stride, Stefana Brancastle, Victoria Bull, Christian Challis, Gemma Cooper, Elizabeth Croft, James Fiddy, Adam Frith, Oihana Garde, Rebecca Grant, Helen Holman, David Jones Jr., Marysia Kay, Lexie Lambert, Hain MacSheoinin, Shane Nolan, Benjamin O'Mahony, John Paton;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “The Other Boleyn Girl” on the website imdb.com
“Marie Antoinette”, 2005
Director: Sofia Coppola
Directed by Sofia Coppola, this visually stunning film offers a unique take on the life of the infamous French queen, exploring her lavish lifestyle, isolation, and the political turmoil that surrounded her reign.
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Coogan, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon, Sebastian Armesto, Danny Huston, Clara Braiman, Mélodie Berenfeld, Shirley Henderson, Al Weaver, Marianne Faithfull, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Io Bottoms, Aurore Clément, Céline Sallette, André Oumansky, Guillaume Gallienne, Jean-Paul Scarpitta, Lucien Rolland, Mary Nighy, Clémentine Poidatz, Camille Micelli, Paul Fortune, Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni, Aleksia Landeau, Joe Sheridan, Katrine Boorman, Sarah Adler, Jean-Marc Stehlé, Paul Jasmin, Francis Leplay, James Lance, Mathieu Amalric, Jamie Dornan, Carlo Brandt, Raphaël Neal, John Arnold, Scali Delpeyrat, Chloé Van Barthold, Phoenix, Lauriane Mascaro, Gaëlle Bona, Tom Hardy, William Doherty, Florrie Betts, Dominic Gould;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
More information about the film “Marie Antoinette” on the website imdb.com
“The Favourite”, 2018
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Set in early 18th-century England, this darkly comedic drama follows the rivalry between two cousins vying for the favor of Queen Anne, showcasing the complexities of power dynamics and personal relationships in the royal court.
Starring: Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, Mark Gatiss, Emma Delves, Faye Daveney, Paul Swaine, Jennifer White, Lilly-Rose Stevens, Denise Mack, James Smith, Horatio, Willem Dalby, Edward Aczel, Carolyn Saint-Pé, John Locke, Everal Walsh, Basil Eidenbenz, Declan Wyer, Anthony Dougall, James Melville, Timothy Innes, Ben English, Wilson Mbomio, Peter Brookes, Gavin Henderson, Djordje Jovanovic, Sam Kemp, Hana McDowell, James Perrin, Luca Wiseman, Callum Lewin, Jenny Rainsford, Liam Fleming, Angela Hicks, Martin Pemberton, Isaura Barbe-Brown, Alexis Bennett, Samuel Bossman, Antonia Castilla, Solomon Jericho Charles, Errol Clayton, Leigh Dent, Chris Elms, Frank Gordon, Tim Ingall, Elizabeth Ita, Ethan Keaton;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama, comedy, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Favourite” on the website imdb.com
“The Queen”, 2005
Director: Stephen Frears
This critically acclaimed film offers a behind-the-scenes look at Queen Elizabeth II's response to the death of Princess Diana, highlighting the tensions between the monarchy and the public during a tumultuous period.
Starring: Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, Alex Jennings, Sylvia Syms, Helen McCrory, Roger Allam, Tim McMullan, Robin Soans, Lola Peploe, Douglas Reith, Joyce Henderson, Pat Laffan, Amanda Hadingue, John McGlynn, Gray O'Brien, Dolina MacLennan, Jake Taylor Shantos, Dash Barber, Mark Bazeley, Kananu Kirimi, Susan Hitch, Julian Firth, Harry Alexander Coath, Earl Cameron, Elliot Levey, Anthony Debaeck, Emmy Lou Harries, Laurence Burg, Michel Gay, Wolfgang Pissors, Malou Beauvoir, Paul Barrett, Xavier Castano, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Martin Bashir, Tom Cruise, Julie Eagleton, Dodi Fayed, James Fiddy, Caroline Glass, Tom Hanks, Martin Heathcote, Elton John, Forbes KB, Nicole Kidman, Martyn Lewis, Nelson Mandela, Alan Marsh, Trevor McDonald;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “The Queen” on the website imdb.com
“Cinderella”, 2015
Director: Kenneth Branagh
While primarily a fairy tale, this live-action adaptation features the character of the Queen in a significant role, emphasizing themes of kindness, perseverance, and the transformative power of love in a royal context.
Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, Stellan Skarsgård, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Ben Chaplin, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Jana Pérez, Alex MacQueen, Tom Edden, Gareth Mason, Paul Hunter, Eloise Webb, Joshua McGuire, Matthew Steer, Mimî M. Khayisa, Laura Elsworthy, Ella Smith, Ann Davies, Gerard Horan, Katie West, Daniel Tuite, Anjana Vasan, Stuart Neal, Tomiwa Edun, Richard McCabe, Joseph Kloska, Andy Apollo, Craig Mather, Jonny Owen-Last, Nari Blair-Mangat, Michael Jenn, Josh O'Connor, Andrew Fitch, Jane Fowler, Greg Lockett, Simon Adkins, Bhanu Alley, Elina Alminas, Jason Barnett, Francesca Bennett, Niffy Boyask, Sophie-Anna Brough, James Butcher, Arielle Campbell;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: fantasy, drama, melodrama, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 105 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Cinderella” on the website imdb.com
“The Other Woman”, 2014
Director: Nick Cassavetes
In this comedy, the character of a queen is portrayed in a modern context, where she navigates love and betrayal in a light-hearted manner, offering a playful take on the royal archetype.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Taylor Kinney, Nicki Minaj, David Thornton, Victor Cruz, Olivia Culpo, Kenneth Maharaj, Alyshia Ochse, Madison McKinley, John «B.J.» Bryant, Chelsea Turnbo, Brooke Stacy Mills, Raushanah Simmons, Cheryl Horne, Virginia Cassavetes, Nancy De Mayo, Nina Barry, Colin Bannon, Zac La Roc, Jennifer Lee Crowl, Katherine Andreassen, Daniel Reton, Tony Costa, Alex Stebbins, Yueh Hwa Chan, Meki Saldana, Craig Castaldo, Sarah Tymon, Jude Donnelly, Gordon B. Andrews, Cucu Diamantes, Andrés Levin, Amanda Li Paige, Ashley Cusato, Leanna Bartlett, Nicole Domecus, Hana Alvarez, Jessica Shea Alverson, Anthony Amodeo, Arielita, Josh Arnolde, Cynthia Basinet, Lorenzo Beronilla, Dan Bilzerian, Alissa Bourne, Janelle Clayton;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6;
More information about the film “The Other Woman” on the website imdb.com
“The Lion King”, 1994
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
While not centered on a human queen, this animated classic features Queen Sarabi, the mother of Simba, who embodies regal strength and wisdom, playing a pivotal role in the narrative of leadership and family.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, James Earl Jones, Moira Kelly, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Niketa Calame-Harris, Jim Cummings, Robert Guillaume, Zoe Leader, Madge Sinclair, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Frank Welker, Cathy Cavadini, Judi M. Durand, Daamen J. Krall, David McCharen, Mary Linda Phillips, Phil Proctor, David Randolph, Jeff Bennett, Pat Fry, Linda Gary;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: animation, musical, drama, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 88 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “The Lion King” on the website imdb.com
These films collectively highlight the multifaceted roles queens have played throughout history and the fictional realms, offering audiences a glimpse into the trials and triumphs of women who have wielded power and influence.
In conclusion, the selection of films about queens not only showcases the grandeur and complexity of royal life but also delves into the personal struggles and triumphs of these powerful women. From historical dramas that illuminate their political maneuvering to intimate portrayals that reveal their vulnerabilities, these films invite audiences to explore the multifaceted nature of leadership, sacrifice, and identity. As we watch these queens navigate their realms, we are reminded of the timeless themes of resilience and agency, making these cinematic portrayals both relevant and resonant in today's world. Ultimately, these films celebrate the enduring legacy of queens, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the strength and influence of women throughout history.
