Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Becket’?

Becket (1964)

tomatometer

70

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

audience

87

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 5,111

My Rating

Movie Info

A high-class costume drama with a substantive historical basis, Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket takes his duties with the Church seriously, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the King, who finally orders the death of his once-close companion when he continues to defy the throne. Burton is very good and O'Toole is

PG-13, 2 hr. 28 min.

Drama, Classics

Jan 26, 2007

Slowhand Releasing

Cast

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (7) | DVD (6)

Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts.

March 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not.

February 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The picture is being re-released in 30 cities around the country before finally appearing on DVD after years of online foment from fans.The DVD is due in May, but try to catch it in theaters first. It's worth it.

February 15, 2007 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Comment
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life.

February 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

How could you hope for better casting than Peter O'Toole and his acting rival/drinking buddy Richard Burton playing opposite each other?

February 8, 2007 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | Comment
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Becket is a terrific example of the historical play or novel turned into a cinematic drama crackling with whip-smart dialogue. I imagine actors must go mad with delight when they read a script that has page after page of dialogue this good.

September 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune | Comment

it finds what's compelling about that history and, more importantly, what's compelling about the people in that history. And, just to be on the safe side, it throws in two of the greatest actors of the day.

December 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

The respectable but boring film is nevertheless worth watching for the robust performances of Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole

August 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

... what seemed majestic and theatrically impressive back then feels plodding and stodgy today...

May 16, 2007 Full Review Source: MSN.com | Comment
MSN.com

The material remains relevant, and the film as a whole is completely engrossing. (It may be nearly 2 1/2 hours long, but it doesn't feel like it.)

April 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Watching Becket is to see a form of stylized, epic moviemaking not practiced today.

April 20, 2007 Comment
Salt Lake Tribune

Diligently restored, this first DVD edition contains insightful commentary from Peter O'Toole, old interview with the late Burton, and observations from vet editor Anne V. Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal.

April 19, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

This adaptation of Anouilh's play about the relationship of Henry II and Becket is well acted by O'Toole and Burton, both Oscar-nominated.

April 19, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

O'Toole just keeps turning up the volume, and it's thrilling to watch.

March 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Oregonian | Comment
Oregonian

Peter O'Toole plays Henry like Ian McKellan doing a camp cameo.

February 17, 2007 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews

Peter Glenville's stage-plank direction creaks badly, but the acting still holds you.

February 16, 2007 Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | Comment
San Diego Union-Tribune
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Becket

Becket is a fantastic period piece. It's long and some scenes are very drawn out, but it is well worth the watch. It's visually stunning and there isn't a bad performance in the film. Becket is the true story of the friendship of King Henry II and Thomas Becket. They have a strong friendship until Henry makes Becket

June 7, 2011
blkbomb
Melvin White

Super Reviewer

Two best friends, one an amoral king, the other a man of God. This movie has a great story and great actors for the characters. It's kind of long, but I really liked it, and I recommend seeing it.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

Becket Quotes

No quotes approved yet for Becket. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for Becket

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,554 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,408 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,138 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,641 taken
created 15 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Becket - Ein Leben gegen die Krone (DE)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile