The Greatest Movies About Kings & Queens

Stories about monarchs have shaped cinema for generations because they combine personal stakes with the sweep of national history. These films cover courts, councils, and battlefields and they follow rulers who wrestle with power, duty, and the pressures that come with a crown.

You will find portraits that stick close to the historical record and others that reimagine familiar legends. Together they show how filmmakers use costumes, sets, and careful casting to bring royal lives to the screen in ways that feel immediate and human.

‘The Lion in Winter’ (1968)

This drama centers on King Henry II of England and his fierce political chess match with Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine during a tense Christmas court. The script is adapted from James Goldman’s play and the film stars Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn with early roles for Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton.

Production used locations in Ireland and France along with studio work to create a lived in medieval world. The film received Academy Awards recognition including acting and writing honors and it remains a key screen depiction of Plantagenet politics and family rivalry.

‘The King’s Speech’ (2010)

The film follows Albert who becomes King George VI as he seeks help from speech therapist Lionel Logue to overcome a debilitating stammer before national radio addresses. Colin Firth plays the monarch with Geoffrey Rush as Logue and Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth.

Filming used sites around the United Kingdom including Ely Cathedral as a stand in for Westminster Abbey. The movie won multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture and its period design, music, and performances earned wide recognition across guild and festival awards.

‘The Last Emperor’ (1987)

This epic traces the life of Puyi from his enthronement in the Forbidden City through exile, imprisonment, and reeducation in a changing China. John Lone stars with Joan Chen and Peter O’Toole and the director is Bernardo Bertolucci.

The production received rare permission to film inside the Forbidden City, which lends authenticity to ceremonial scenes and daily palace life. The film won a sweep of Academy Awards including Best Picture and is noted for its large scale cinematography, costumes, and score.

‘The Queen’ (2006)

Set during the days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the story follows Queen Elizabeth II as she weighs tradition against public expectation. Helen Mirren leads the cast with Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair and Stephen Frears directs.

The film blends staged scenes with archival footage to show how the monarchy interacts with government and media during crisis. Mirren’s performance earned major awards and the screenplay by Peter Morgan became the foundation for later works about modern British royalty.

‘Elizabeth’ (1998)

This biographical drama focuses on the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I as she consolidates power and navigates religious conflict and court intrigue. Cate Blanchett stars with Geoffrey Rush as spymaster Francis Walsingham and Joseph Fiennes as Robert Dudley.

The film is known for striking costumes and makeup that chart the monarch’s transformation from vulnerable heir to a controlled figure of state. It earned multiple Academy Award nominations and won for makeup, and its cinematography and production design shaped a fresh screen image of Tudor England.

‘The Favourite’ (2018)

Set in the court of Queen Anne, the story follows rival cousins Sarah Churchill and Abigail Hill as they compete for influence over the ailing monarch. Olivia Colman plays Queen Anne with Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as the political contenders.

The production uses natural light and wide angle lenses inside English manor houses to create a distinctive look for palace life. Colman won Best Actress at the Academy Awards and the film received broad recognition for screenplay, editing, and design that highlighted the mechanics of courtly power.

‘A Royal Affair’ (2012)

This Danish historical drama tells the story of Queen Caroline Matilda, King Christian VII, and royal physician Johann Friedrich Struensee, whose reforms challenged entrenched interests. Alicia Vikander plays the queen with Mads Mikkelsen as Struensee and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as the king.

Filming took place in the Czech Republic and Denmark with extensive use of authentic interiors and candlelit scenes. The movie was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards and brought international attention to a pivotal moment in Scandinavian enlightenment politics.

‘Becket’ (1964)

The film examines the conflict between King Henry II and Archbishop Thomas Becket as royal authority collides with church power. Richard Burton plays Becket and Peter O’Toole portrays Henry II, with direction by Peter Glenville from Jean Anouilh’s play.

Rich sets and period costumes recreate the twelfth century while the script focuses on legal and moral questions that shaped English governance. The film won the Academy Award for adapted screenplay and received further nominations for acting and craft categories.

‘The Madness of King George’ (1994)

This drama follows King George III during a period of mental illness and the constitutional strain that followed within parliament and the royal household. Nigel Hawthorne stars with Helen Mirren and Ian Holm and Nicholas Hytner directs.

The production showcases detailed interiors and medical practices of the time while exploring how regency plans affected national politics. It won the Academy Award for art direction and earned acting nominations, and it remains a widely used depiction of monarchy and mental health in the late Georgian era.

‘Outlaw King’ (2018)

The film recounts the rise of Robert the Bruce as he challenges English rule in Scotland after a fragile peace collapses. Chris Pine plays Robert with Florence Pugh as Elizabeth de Burgh and Aaron Taylor Johnson as James Douglas.

Shot across Scottish locations with large scale battle choreography, the production emphasizes terrain, armor, and siege tactics. The movie premiered at a major festival and released globally through a streaming platform, bringing a lesser seen chapter of Scottish kingship to a wide audience.

‘Marie Antoinette’ (2006)

Sofia Coppola’s film follows the Austrian archduchess who becomes Queen of France, from her arrival at Versailles to the fall of the monarchy. Kirsten Dunst stars with Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI and Judy Davis as the Comtesse de Noailles.

The production filmed inside the Palace of Versailles with a mix of contemporary music and period detail that highlights court ritual and personal isolation. It won the Academy Award for costume design and its visual approach has influenced later depictions of eighteenth century royalty.

‘Henry V’ (1989)

Kenneth Branagh adapts Shakespeare’s play about a young English king who leads his army into France and faces the challenge of Agincourt. Branagh stars and directs, with Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson, and Brian Blessed in supporting roles.

The film uses muddy battlefields, close quarters combat, and extended long takes to ground the text in a gritty medieval setting. It received Academy Award recognition including a win for costume design and it helped renew interest in cinematic Shakespeare focused on kingship and war.

‘Queen Christina’ (1933)

This classic stars Greta Garbo as the sovereign of Sweden who struggles between personal freedom and dynastic duty. The narrative follows her education, her court, and a romance that complicates the politics of succession.

Rouben Mamoulian directs with a visual style that emphasizes symmetry and soft lighting to match Garbo’s performance. The film became a defining studio era portrayal of a European queen and remains notable for its art direction, costumes, and exploration of abdication.

‘Cleopatra’ (1963)

The story chronicles the rule of Cleopatra VII as she forges alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony while defending Egypt’s independence. Elizabeth Taylor leads the cast with Richard Burton and Rex Harrison in major roles.

An expansive production shot in Rome and other locations, the film is known for large sets, elaborate costumes, and thousands of extras. It won four Academy Awards for craft achievements and remains one of the grandest depictions of a queen in epic cinema.

‘The Young Victoria’ (2009)

This period drama follows Queen Victoria from her sheltered upbringing through her early reign and marriage to Prince Albert. Emily Blunt plays Victoria with Rupert Friend as Albert and the film focuses on court protocol and political mentorship.

Costume work, handwritten correspondence, and recreated royal apartments help chart how a teenage princess learned to manage ministers and family influence. The movie won the Academy Award for costume design and offers a compact view of the beginnings of a long reign.

Share your favorite royal film moments in the comments and tell us which titles you would add to the list.