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The Queen (2006)

tomatometer

97

Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 184
Fresh: 178 | Rotten: 6

Full of wit, humor, and pathos, Stephen Frears' moving portrait of the British royals during the period after Princess Diana's death features not one but two remarkable performances, that of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Sheen as the newly-ordained Prime Minister Tony Blair. They embody their characters and lay bare the motivations behind these prominent people, giving viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of the British monarchy.

100

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Critic Reviews: 45
Fresh: 45 | Rotten: 0

Full of wit, humor, and pathos, Stephen Frears' moving portrait of the British royals during the period after Princess Diana's death features not one but two remarkable performances, that of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Sheen as the newly-ordained Prime Minister Tony Blair. They embody their characters and lay bare the motivations behind these prominent people, giving viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of the British monarchy.

audience

74

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 164,683

My Rating

Movie Info

The British prime minister and the Royal Family find themselves quietly at odds in the wake of a national tragedy in this drama from director Stephen Frears. On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died in an auto accident in Paris; despite the controversial breakup of her marriage to Prince Charles, she was still one of the most famous and best-loved women in the world, and the public outpouring of emotion over her passing was immediate and intense. However, given the messy circumstances

PG-13,

Drama

Peter Morgan

Apr 24, 2007

$56.2M

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All Critics (185) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (191) | Rotten (6) | DVD (34)

A lesser director might make all of this deadly earnest, but Frears treats it as what you might call a tragi-comedy of manners, perfectly serious but human foibles everywhere.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: NPR.org
NPR.org
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Both [Michael Sheen and Helen Mirren] understand the prickly push-and-pull that defines the fight -- the Gray Monarch v. the Great Modernizer -- and give quiet gravitas to the polite but firm standoffs.

February 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Time Out New York
Time Out New York
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In good times and bad, for good or ill, she is the public face of her nation. Mirren, Frears and Morgan let us see just how much a burden that mask has been.

November 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Allows us to understand just how heavy the crown really sits.

October 27, 2006 Full Review Source: Miami Herald
Miami Herald
Top Critic IconTop Critic

We see not only the inner corridors of power, but also sense the inner workings of the royal mind. Stephen Frears' deft direction also gives the film insight and even humor.

October 27, 2006 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

That's Mirren's magic: She makes us care, no matter how shallow our curtsies.

October 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Queen will knock your socks off.

February 9, 2011 Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com

Stuffed with stinging truths about swiftly turning winds of public opinion, Stephen Frears' film is a tough, fair-minded and, at times, morbidly satirical depiction of the extraordinary circumstance of leading in grief as well as government.

September 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com
Suite101.com

Trenchantly stages its climax around the passing of an era

August 28, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion
CinePassion

Surely to be considered at Oscar time.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

A disappointingly claustrophobic play at sympathy for someone so out of touch with her 'subjects.' And why blow it up for the big screen? . . . Where's the arc? The tragic flaw? The ebbs and flows to her character? . . . A middle-of-the-pack chamber drama

October 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | Comment (1)
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

Helen Mirren kicks it royal style in this acclaimed drama about the most misunderstood HRH of all.

August 28, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com

Director Stephen Frears' The Queen offers an incisive and utterly persuasive glimpse behind the scenes of recent history.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review
Sacramento News & Review

Death of Diana causes crisis for British royals.

July 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

Whatever the Sex Pistols say, she is a human being.

May 12, 2008 Full Review Source: Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

The Queen is an unqualified triumph that works on all levels.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: BrandonFibbs.com
BrandonFibbs.com

Like the Queen, Mirren is saying: This is how you act, this is how you survive, this is how you reign.

September 22, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com
eFilmCritic.com

I was to this film. It's slow and plodding throughout, yet the format Frears brings to the table is gripping in its balance.

August 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Calgary Movies
Calgary Movies

...a compelling drama that effectively humanizes the title character...

August 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
Reel Film Reviews

An intelligent script that keeps in the spirit and tone of Britain's House of Mountbatten-Windsor, and yet slyly manages a wink at the audience every now and then.

July 28, 2007
Reel.com

I never thought I'd get choked up over a movie about the stuffy upper-crust of the British monarchy, but then along came The Queen.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound
Big Picture Big Sound

Buena Vista's transfer renders the intended looks faithfully.

July 10, 2007 Full Review Source: DVD Review
DVD Review

... beneath the simple and straightforward facade lies a hidden depth that does not announce itself with dramatic intensity ...

July 10, 2007 Full Review Source: DVD Review
DVD Review

britanski film u najpozitivnijem smislu rije%u010Di

June 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Index.hr

Audience Reviews for The Queen

While it was good acting, casting, etc, I found the story to be biased in several ways. First of all, the fact that it was set during a very specific time. Less than a year, to be specific. This woman was (and still is, mind you) the Queen during amazing times of the 20th century and *that's* what is highlighted? No offense to Diana, of course, I do she think she was a lovely person. But I felt it was unfair to the Queen to an extent. Yes, these sentiments were expressed some, but everything made her look just *so* antiquated. Since then this woman has also met Lady Gaga. Then again, this is the trouble with making biopics of people, most of which are still alive and in power.
May 16, 2013
MeetMeinMontauk
Jennifer D

Super Reviewer

Biopics about people who are still alive and very well known to everyone can be a very tricky thing. This movie is less a biopic than a glimpse at a dire situation in the life of Britain's royals. Shortly after young Tony Blair takes over the government of Great Britain Princess Di dies in Paris and the world expects the Windsors to react. Sadly, they don't. Most people probably did not realize how close the British people were to overthrow their royals due to their lack of reaction at that time. This film tries to explain what went on in Buckingham palace in the days that followed, even if some of the conversations depicted here have to be pure speculation. The script smartly balances between humorous observations and drama and the cast for it is excellent. Helen Mirren is an outstanding Elizabeth and Michael Sheen the perfect choice as Tony Blair. Their scenes together are a pleasure to see. Mirren even manages to turn it all around in the end and show the human being underneath the crown. Very interesting and entertaining.
March 18, 2007
ironclad1609

Super Reviewer

    1. Portrait artist: We're in danger of losing too much that is good about this country, as it is.
    – Submitted by Raj G (16 months ago)
    1. Queen Mother: Do you think any of your predecessors would have dropped everything and gone up to London because a bunch of hysterics carrying candles, needed help with their grief?
    – Submitted by Raj G (16 months ago)
    1. The Queen: A good walk and fresh air sorts everything out.
    – Submitted by Raj G (16 months ago)
    1. Prince Philip: [to the Queen] Come on! Move over cabbage!
    – Submitted by Raj G (16 months ago)
    1. Alastair Campbell: Well, at least the old bat's finally agreed to visit Diana's coffin.
    – Submitted by Raj G (16 months ago)
    1. Tony Blair: Will someone please save these people from themselves!
    – Submitted by Lea L (24 months ago)

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Latest News on The Queen

January 20, 2009:
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October 25, 2007:
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October 2, 2007:
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Peter Morgan has taken his "Blair trilogy" from The Deal to The Queen -- and now, Variety reports,...

Foreign Titles

  • Die Queen (DE)
  • La reina (ES)
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