Richard III (1995)
Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 2
This re-imagining of Shakespeare's Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 1
This re-imagining of Shakespeare's Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 6,401
Movie Info
Richard Loncraine takes Shakespeare's classic tale of treachery, Richard III, and transplants it to the 1930s. Ian McKellen is Richard who, as the film opens, begins plotting against his brother Edward, who has just ascended to the throne after a bloody civil war. Richard begins by seducing and wedding Lady Anne (Kristin Scott Thomas), whom he made a widow during the war. With the help of some loyal henchmen, Richard succeeds in murdering his older brother Clarence (Nigel Hawthorne), which so
Dec 29, 1995 Wide
Aug 15, 2001
United Artists
Cast
-
Ian McKellen
Richard III -
Annette Bening
Queen Elizabeth -
Jim Broadbent
Buckingham -
Robert Downey Jr.
Earl Rivers -
Nigel Hawthorne
Clarence -
Kristin Scott Thomas
Lady Anne -
Christopher Bowen
Prince Edward -
Jim Carter
Hastings -
Michael Elphick
NCO -
Roger Hammond
Archbishop -
Edward Hardwicke
Stanley -
Edward Jewesbury
King Henry -
Dennis Lili
Lord Mayor -
Tim McInnerny
Catesby -
Bill Paterson
Ratcliffe -
Bruce Purchase
City Gentleman -
Andy Rashleigh
Jailer -
Maggie Smith
Duchess of York -
Donald Sumpter
Brackenbury -
Adrian Dunbar
James Tyrell -
John Wood
Edward IV -
Dominic West
Henry Richmond -
Kate Steavenson-Payne
Princess Elizabeth -
Ryan Gilmore
George Stanley -
Matthew Groom
Prince James -
Tres Hanley
Miss Pan-Am -
Marc Williamson
Prince Of Wales
ADVERTISEMENT
Richard III Trailer & Photos
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (2) | DVD (15)
A sure-fire crowd-pleaser among recent Shakespeare movies.
In a shamelessly entertaining display of acting brilliance, McKellen 'plays' the demon's good arm as if it were a Stradivarius, executing one showy stunt after another.
This triumphant take on the Crookback king is as different from Olivier's '50s historical pageant as chalk is from malmsey.
It is all in the grand manner of Shakespearean tragedies.
This is Shakespeare exciting enough for even the most dubious, which, after all, is no less than the man deserves.
McKellen's enormous performance as Richard represents the film's biggest tinkering with theatrical canon.
...McKellan helped his own cause by writing a screenplay which captures the essence of Shakespeare's play while also working perfectly as a movie.
This glossy adaptation is arch, nasty fun.
Rigorous adaptation of the notoriously 'difficult' play.
Even if you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this.
As played by McKellen, Richard is a consummate actor who knows what role to assume, what props to use, and what words and actions to employ to turn a "scene" to his best advantage.
Ian McKellen plays Richard III, and he's a twisted, blackened, serpentine, lurching, spitting, menacing villain with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He is so hateful, it is easy to see why the Academy overlooked him.
An imaginative and visceral Shakespeare adaptation with a mesmerising perfromance by McKellen.
Striking, fun and, finally, disturbing.
A great concept-- and McKellen still rules Shakes works!
Interesting modernization of Shakespeare, before Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet.
Bold and rousing.
Snappy Shakespeare adaptation has guts, gloss and glorious performances.
Ian McKellan is one of the best movie villains ever.
Audience Reviews for Richard III
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
-
- Richard III: Let us to't pell-mell, if not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Richard III yet.
What's Hot On RT
Pictures from a zombie nation
Woody Allen in San Francisco
See the Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Where does This Is the End rank?
Latest News on Richard III
January 18, 2006:
Trailer Bulletin: FirewallGood ol' Harrison Ford never gets too old to stop kicking some serious butt, and the 63-year-old...
November 15, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin: FirewallIt's been a while since we've had a good Harrison Ford flick, so it's with hopeful optimism that we...
Featured on RT
- Video Interviews with Cast & Crew of Monsters University 0
- Digital Multiplex: 21 & Over, Quartet, and More 1
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Jack the Giant Slayer and Quartet 22
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Man of Steel Sets June Record 101
- Weekly Ketchup: Man of Steel Sequel In the Works 192
- Five Favorite Films with Joss Whedon 126
- Bonus Footage of the Cast & Crew of Man of Steel 1
Top Headlines
Foreign Titles
- Richard III (1995) (UK)
- Richard III (1995) (CA)


Top Critic