The Other Boleyn Girl

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The Other Boleyn Girl

PG-13

2008

1h 55m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

43%

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146 Reviews

62%

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100,000+ Ratings

King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) lacks an heir. Seeing this as an opportunity for personal gain, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey) and Sir Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance) persuade Thomas' daughter Anne (Natalie Portman) to seduce the king. But Henry falls in love with Anne's sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson), instead. When Mary becomes pregnant, she's confined to bed, with charged with Anne keeping the king from straying -- but the plan backfires when Anne seeks the king's affections for herself.

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Critics Consensus

Though it features some extravagant and entertaining moments, The Other Boleyn Girl feels more like a soap opera than historical drama.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Apr 9, 2021

4/5

A hoot.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

This is cliché heaped on cliché and hopelessly artificial.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 1, 2018

... loses steam when the catfighting abruptly gives way to grim realpolitik.

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Martin Tsai

New York Sun

Apr 21, 2023

The film is marginally enjoyable in that sort of sleazy Jerry Springer fashion, but the filmmakers aren’t making a compelling case here for why their artistic license is necessarily more amusing or insightful than history itself.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 28, 2020

3/10

The concept of despicable people doing contemptible things never really leads to solid entertainment.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 19, 2020

2.5/4.0

Largely carried by Portman's stellar performance.

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Isobel M

@RT53328731 Aug 1, 2026

This whole film has its flaws, which have been well analysed by other reviewers, so I'm going to stick to my particular problem with The Other Boleyn Girl: the Rape scene. There is zero historical evidence for this happening- Anne's "refusal" is what prompted their marriage. She demanded marriage before she would have him, and he agreed. It happened suddenly in a rushed, private ceremony BECAUSE he did not want to wait until she was publicly married and crowned to have sex with her- if this scene was real, history would not have played out the way it did. This scene makes no sense whatsoever. What is the point of adding a gratuitous rape scene? it doesn't bolster the story nor historical accuracy, it creates a plot hole! It negatively impacts everything, for what? To be more entertaining? Anyone who finds rape scenes "entertaining" is sick. The writers and Hollywood completely fucked this movie and this is one of many reasons it's considered trite, cheap rubbish

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Mihad K.

@Mihad Apr 3, 2026

Weird movie name as they focus on Anne i thought this about mary but it's alright movie...great costumes Two huge actress for this movie was too much ,seeing Scarlett feel awkward in this movie idk didn't fit in some how, Natalie was good though nailed it ..wasted two talents in this movie. I will not rewatch 100%.

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Gordon M.

@gordumb Mar 14, 2026

Lustful king makes things harder than they need to be.

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Daniel M

@MazzaQuePasa Oct 1, 2025

I definitely never expected to like this movie as much as I did. Amazing performances by Johansson and Portman with a really good cast as well. Probably one of the most messed up and tragic love stories I’ve ever seen.

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David D

@David2026 Mar 7, 2025

A regularly told tale. Here it is told well with a great cast delivering performances that are trying to keep pace given the squeezing of so much into such a relatively short time frame. Yes, it takes liberties with the original story...but how else do you retell. Certainly worth a watch.

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binta s

@RT57298800 Mar 7, 2025

Very good acting from both Portman and Johanssen. An overall good watch. No periodically sound but the execution was very good

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Justin Chadwick

Director

Natalie Portman

Anne Boleyn

Scarlett Johansson

Mary Boleyn

Eric Bana

King Henry VIII

Kristin Scott Thomas

Lady Elizabeth

Mark Rylance

Sir Thomas Boleyn

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Synopsis

King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) lacks an heir. Seeing this as an opportunity for personal gain, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey) and Sir Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance) persuade Thomas' daughter Anne (Natalie Portman) to seduce the king. But Henry falls in love with Anne's sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson), instead. When Mary becomes pregnant, she's confined to bed, with charged with Anne keeping the king from straying -- but the plan backfires when Anne seeks the king's affections for herself.

Director: Justin Chadwick
Producer: Alison Owen
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Mature Thematic Elements|Some Violent Images)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 29, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.8M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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