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The Madness of King George

Play trailer Poster for The Madness of King George PG-13 1994 1h 50m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.
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The Madness of King George

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Critics Consensus

Thanks largely to stellar all-around performances from a talented cast, The Madness of King George is a funny, entertaining, and immensely likable adaptation of the eponymous stage production.

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Critics Reviews

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David Stratton At the Movies (Australia) 08/17/2016
4/5
Visually sumptuous, energetic and classy, The Madness of King George is British film theatre at its most seductive. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety 08/22/2006
A-
Hytner's version of Bennett's comic-tragic drama of the tormented king who almost lost his mind confirms that power games, family scandals, and personal intrigues have always been integral to the British Crown, an institution both revered and reviled. Go to Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 06/18/2002
3/4
In its own shambling, elliptical way it's an entertaining, memorable movie whose 2 1/2 hours go by without strain. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Feb 9
2/4
...a sluggish historical drama that’s never quite able to disguise or overcome its theatrical origins... Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street 04/21/2022
The film, though English in subject matter, was far from English in style. It was grand, not parochial; crude, not genteel, and very funny. Go to Full Review Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot 03/14/2022
3/4
Hawthorne plays madness with restraint. It's only when he hears the news from Yorktown that he goes really bananas. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s @Thiagostone Jan 10 Filme ruim, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são ruins, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Godfrey D @RT74548902 08/07/2024 Its a really good movie. See more Eye C @ECinc 07/01/2024 An historic movie that is interesting and the king is the whole movie. See more Alec B @Alec97 12/13/2023 Yeah, Bennett's screenplay is fantastic and so is the whole cast (Nigel Hawthorne in particular), but Hytner's direction is what makes the whole thing work, emphasizing the dark, dirty reality of late 18th century England through carefully chosen shots that recall "Barry Lyndon" in the best possible way. See more Julie H @RT14438534 10/02/2023 It's a cavalcade of great English actors like Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren and Ian Holm. Hard to watch in places for the physical tortures imposed on the King to treat him for a mental illness. Interestingly, the Prince of Wales, later George IV, is as floozily awful as caricatured by Hugh Laurie in Blackadder III and most of the attendees of the ailing George III appear to have been a million times worse than Blackadder himself See more david f @dfulmer 12/07/2022 I loved the Royal setting but the plot, characters, and story were a little wanting. See more Read all reviews
The Madness of King George

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Cast & Crew

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Nicholas Hytner

Director

Nigel Hawthorne

George III

Helen Mirren

Queen Charlotte

Ian Holm

Dr. Willis

Rupert Everett

Prince of Wales

Rupert Graves

Greville

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The Madness of King George

The Madness of King George (1994) The Madness of King George (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Producer
Stephen Evans, David Parfitt
Screenwriter
Alan Bennett
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company, Hallmark Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating
PG-13
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 28, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 24, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.2M
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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