Top 10 Movies & TV Shows About Female Monarchs | ScreenRant
Movies about the lives of real people require a figure whose life was extraordinary in some way. This is why filmmakers are so often drawn to royals as subjects, as they make up such a small percentage of people and their lives are, to observers, fascinating and strange.
For much of history, women were denied certain titles unless very specific circumstances arose which allowed them to take power. Female monarchs lived relatively privileged lives, to be sure, but there's something uniquely interesting about the way that traditionally male positions of power force women to make uniquely feminine sacrifices. Here are ten movies and shows about female monarchs, ranked.
10 The Young Victoria (2009)
The Young Victoria boasts a charming, talented cast, as well as gorgeous costumes and sets. It's relatively uncontroversial in its depiction of the young queen and her blossoming romance with Prince Albert. Not every film like this has to be, though, and it's a sweetly satisfying show of a genuine love (something that, by all accounts, this genre suggests may be a rarity).
9 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Not every movie in this genre has to be as high-brow as the royals themselves supposedly are; some, like The Other Boleyn Girl, lean heavily into the drama and scandal rumored to lurk behind the scenes of every royal family. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson give great performances as Anne and Mary Boleyn, respectively. The film plays it fast and loose with historical accuracy, making major changes to the real lives of the sisters and creating a different story of the Boleyn girls entirely. Despite this, the clothes are beautiful, the people are beautiful, the even within the relative brevity of the runtime, there's something interesting in the way the women must claw at one another to survive, while the man who ruined the lives of many broods alone in a dark room.
8 The Duchess (2008)
Not every period piece has to reinvent the wheel. The Duchess is an example of a well-written, well-acted, and gorgeously costumed period piece that treads familiar territory: Georgiana Cavendish (played by the queen of period pieces herself, Kiera Knightley), must marry a man she does not love and produce an heir. These stories are familiar but true; for many women of this era, expectations were to marry well, produce male children, and suffer in silence. Knightley's performance is excellent, as usual, as she infuses Georgiana with strength and depth of feeling.
7 Elizabeth (1998)
When we're first introduced to the titular Elizabeth (played magnificently by Cate Blanchett), she's living unawares of the immense responsibility she's about to find herself placed under. The choice to show Elizabeth before her legendary rule adds a layer to the film in the form of a question: What does the monarchy do to those who wield its power? As we watch Elizabeth resist marriage and try to hold on to her affair with Robert Dudley, we see how certain aspects of femininity aren't welcome in traditionally masculine roles. The film chooses to tell a story of a young woman who desires love and respect, but who finds that the role she is in doesn't allow both. She's betrayed by her lover, leading her to become the Virgin Queen.
6 The Lion In Winter (1968)
This 1968 film centers on royal family drama in 1183 England. It's gotten the approval of many fans of the play it was based on, which is largely thanks to the strength of the screenplay and performances. The idea that introducing such power as comes with the monarchy into a family can tear it apart from within is one that's been explored by many films that focus on royalty. Katharine Hepburn gives a legendary performance as an exiled queen coming home for Christmas and stirring up trouble.
5 The Queen (2006)
The greatest strength of The Queen lies in the choice to take a snapshot of the life of England's current monarch, rather than trying to cram decades into an hour and forty minutes. The film follows Queen Elizabeth II and prime minister Tony Blair as they each try to navigate the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death. Helen Mirren won the Academy Award for Best Actress playing the queen, and Michael Sheen gives a great performance as Tony Blair as well.
4 Marie Antoinette (2006)
Sofia Coppola's take on the famous French queen breathes new life into a genre that often relies heavily on clichés. The film prioritizes style and feeling over historical accuracy, and the result is an experience that would influence the genre years later. Many filmmakers are skilled at telling a story through their own subjective lenses that communicate their feelings about the subject of the story being told. Coppola excels without doing this; like much of her work, Marie Antoinette tells a story with ambiguity. While the colors, music, and decadence provide an almost fairytale-like escapism, the nature of the way the story is being told feels more human than versions that prioritize accuracy and a certain version of events.
3 The Great (2020)
The Great centers on Russia's Catherine the Great, whose claim to the throne was contentious, to say the least. Married to a young Emperor (played hilariously by Nicolas Hoult), Catherine finds herself in the middle of a country having something of an identity crisis. Joined by others who share her concerns for the future of Russia, Catherine plans a coup and replaces herself as the sole ruler of Russia. Catherine is played by Elle Fanning, who does a marvelous job in the lead role, and the supporting cast offers a slew of actors whose talents range from the comedic to the dramatic. The Great manages to blend the dark humor of The Favourite (with which it shares a screenwriter) with something resembling the unique tone of Marie Antoinette. The result is a highly entertaining, if not very accurate, depiction of a woman who (quite literally) took power.
2 The Crown (2016-present)
Perhaps one of the strongest original projects Netflix has ever produced, The Crown chronicles the life of England's Queen Elizabeth II, starting with her ascension to the throne after her father's early death. With an excellent cast that's updated every two seasons to accommodate for the characters' aging, the show is extremely well-written and boasts a fantastic group of actors. England's current royal family has been the subject of tabloid gossip for years, and the show chronicles all events ranging from the well-documented to the highly speculative.
1 The Favourite (2019)
You could almost say that The Favourite belongs to a unique and specific genre containing only the filmography of director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose highly original filmmaking style and darkly humorous scripts stand apart no matter what genre he dips into. Rather than tell a story of a woman born to rule, The Favourite follows the woefully inadequate Queen Anne as she struggles with her health, personal relationships, and role as head monarch of Britain. The film is funny, sad, and gloriously feminine and queer. It's ironic that one of the best movies on this list focuses on a subject not necessarily known for her great rule, but that manages to tell a very compelling, very human story just the same.