One Night With the King

Critics Consensus

Despite its epic source matierial, One Night With the King is held back by dull storytelling and a clumsy script.

19%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 26

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 31,207
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Movie Info

When a beautiful young slave girl learns that her people are about to fall victim to a horrible act of genocide, she will be forced to choose between realizing her wildest dreams or stepping into the pages of history to embrace her destiny in an epic tale of one young girl who rises from peasant to princess to claim the heart of a king. Esther was born an exquisite beauty, but her people have been enslaved by the most powerful kingdom on the planet and her parents executed before she ever had a chance to truly know them. Subsequently taken in by her kindly uncle, a royal scribe, Esther is soon spirited away to the royal palace to take her place in the king's harem. Trouble is stirring in this ancient land, however, and when the queen, Vashti, is banished by the unknowing king, palace princes scramble for a position of power the desperate king determined to live up to, and ultimately avenge the battles waged by his father long ago. Now, as the wheels of destruction are slowly set into motion, a malevolent prime minister who has fallen into favor with the king soon begins to wield a frightening amount of power by calling for the death of Esther's people. With time running out for her entire race, Esther must face her fears and be willing to lay down her life if she is to ever fully realize the plan that God has laid out for her.

Cast

Peter O'Toole
as Samuel
Tiffany Dupont
as Esther/Hadassah
Omar Sharif
as Prince Memucan
Luke Goss
as King Xerxes
John Rhys-Davies
as Mordecai
John Noble
as Prince Admantha
Tommy "Tiny" Lister
as Hagai
James Callis
as Hamen
Steven Bernstein
as Esther's Father
Jonah Lotan
as Jesse
Denzil Smith
as Prince Carshena
Jyoti Dogra
as Queen Vashti
Javen Campbell
as Prince Tarshish
Dilshad
as Hannah
Nimrat Kaur
as Sarah
Suvarchala Narayanan
as Amelekite Queen
Neal Bhattacharya
as Bigthan
Takesh Singh
as Eunuch Harbona
David Michie
as Soldier
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Critic Reviews for One Night With the King

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (21)

  • Why another version of this oft-filmed tale?

    Oct 13, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Sam Adams

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • The movie devolves into a talky, static affair featuring a cast with wildly varying accents and acting abilities.

    Oct 13, 2006

    Kirk Honeycutt

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • Esther's triumph isn't because of divine intervention. It's her humanity and bravery that make her a legend, and make that One Night worth remembering, 2,500 years later.

    Oct 13, 2006 | Rating: 3/5

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Unfortunately [O'Toole and Sharif are] separated by five centuries, and never share a scene. For a movie with the most righteous of intentions, that's perhaps the most grievous moviemaking sins of all.

    Oct 13, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4

    Stephen Whitty

    Newark Star-Ledger
    Top Critic

  • The cinematography and sets look great, but the script is a bummer. It's overlong, overwrought and overblown.

    Oct 13, 2006 | Rating: 0.5/4

    V.A. Musetto

    New York Post
    Top Critic

  • In itself, it's a riveting story. Unfortunately, director Michael Sajbel has envisioned an overwrought Lifetime movie of the week, complete with an Esther who could be a cast member of Laguna Beach and a king notable only for his washboard abs.

    Oct 13, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4

    Elizabeth Weitzman

    New York Daily News
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for One Night With the King

  • Apr 21, 2014
    The Biblical epic One Night With the King is a compelling story of faith and duty. A Jewish peasant girl named Esther wins the heart of King Xerxes during his search for a new queen, but when a nefarious prince named Haman plots to kill the Jewish population she must risk everything to save her people. James Callis gives an incredible performance as Haman; creating a tantalizingly evil villain that's smart and crafty. Tiffany Dupont's performance as Esther on the other hand is quite poor, and she's unable to hold her own against her co-stars. However, the production valves are extraordinarily well-done; from the costumes to the set designs, to the sweeping score, the film does a remarkable job at creating a grand, historical look and feel. A powerful tale of faith, One Night With the King is an inspiring spiritual drama.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 13, 2009
    The film generally adheres to the main plot of the Biblical narrative. However, the film adds stylistic elements not present in the Biblical story. The Jewish narrative of the relationship between Esther (Tiffany Dupont) and Ahasuerus (treated as Xerxes I of Persia in this, as in many adaptations) was not a love story, but a forced marriage in which Esther had no choice. The story presents many facets that could have happened rather than strictly sticking to biblical texts.
    Wahida K Super Reviewer
  • Jun 22, 2008
    I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Didn't exactly have the best acting in the world, but there was some good acting brough on by John Rhys-Davies. But then again, he always comes through. The last half hour of this movie was pretty powerful and kept my interest. Really well worth the watch.
    Ken D Super Reviewer
  • Mar 04, 2008
    This was an Outstanding Movie, If you have traveled Western Europe or The Middle east, the scenes were so real, colors excellent, The Costumes were unbeleivable. This was a great movie, Do yourself a big favor get it, thank You Fox Family Video
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
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