Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Becket

Play trailer Poster for Becket PG-13 1964 2h 28m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Debauched King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) installs his longtime court facilitator Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) as the Archbishop of Canterbury, assuming that his old friend will be a compliant and loyal lackey in the King's ongoing battles with the church. But Becket unexpectedly finds his true calling on the ecclesiastical side, and aligns himself against the king's selfish wishes, causing a rift and an eventual showdown not only between the two men, but also the institutions they represent.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Becket

Critics Reviews

View More
Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Mar 8, 2007
3/4
Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post Mar 1, 2007
Becket may seem like a movie of yesteryear, but its timeliness brims over with rousing, meditative discourses between Henry and the church leaders on the separation of church and state. Go to Full Review Mark Feeney Boston Globe Feb 23, 2007
2.5/4
Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 9, 2023
5/10
It’s all a touch too simple and uninspiring, despite an undoubtedly wry script. Go to Full Review Zita Short InSession Film Feb 7, 2023
If you really want to think about the conflict between religious and political movements and the necessary separation between them then this will be for you. Go to Full Review Judith Crist New York Herald Tribune Aug 15, 2022
The power of the film is in the close-up, the concentration on the two protagonists. And what is so fascinating in this exploration is that Burton and O'Toole provide no ultimate answers for each other or for us. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Peter W @RT00144030 Oct 5, 2026 O’Toole and Burton. What more needs to be said. See more Peter V @RT78913669 Feb 1, 2026 Becket is a monumental film, with the interior of the cathedral being almost ubiquitously present and marvellous to behold. There are also decorative scenes inside the King's castle and bright outdoor settings. The film is fully absorbing and outstandingly done, with fine production qualities and music. Peter O'Toole as King Henry II is outstanding, delivering a showy, theatrical, and smashing performance without a change in note. O'Toole's performance is more committed than Richard Burton's, who plays Becket. Burton, however, is completely the servant to his character and wonderfully fine-tunes it, revealing Becket's heart for God. See more James H @JamesAnthony101 Jan 10, 2026 The acting of both Burton and Otoole amazing as always, past that and some great shots, can be a bit slow.. long dialogue, so may not be for everyone.. But the acting of the Two leads make this worth a Watch! See more Isaiah Y @zayman2 Dec 30, 2025 Great performances by Richard Burton and especially Peter O'Toole See more Mary S @RT31692299 Jan 11, 2025 The assault on divine right of kings proved central to the English, who recognized in Henry II a greedy brute. Becket remains a key figure in English history and in Catholicism. See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic Jan 9, 2025 A fantastic film about the love a king had for the only man who gave him any as semblance of happiness and how he must destroy him for finding love in God. See more Read all reviews
Becket

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Peter Glenville

Director

Richard Burton

Thomas à Becket

Peter O'Toole

King Henry II

John Gielgud

King Louis VII of France

Gino Cervi

Cardinal Zambelli

Paolo Stoppa

Pope Alexander III

More Like This

View All
Fat Man and Little Boy 50% 46% Fat Man and Little Boy Watchlist The Charge of the Light Brigade 60% 59% The Charge of the Light Brigade Watchlist King David 8% 43% King David Watchlist Mary, Queen of Scots 67% 55% Mary, Queen of Scots Watchlist Henry V 98% 89% Henry V Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Becket

Becket (1964) Becket (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Debauched King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) installs his longtime court facilitator Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) as the Archbishop of Canterbury, assuming that his old friend will be a compliant and loyal lackey in the King's ongoing battles with the church. But Becket unexpectedly finds his true calling on the ecclesiastical side, and aligns himself against the king's selfish wishes, causing a rift and an eventual showdown not only between the two men, but also the institutions they represent.
Director
Peter Glenville
Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter
Edward Anhalt
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Wallis-Hazen, Keep Films
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 11, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 20, 2011
Runtime
2h 28m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings