What to know

critics consensus

Director Julie Taymor's gender-swapping of roles and some frenzied special effects can't quite disguise an otherwise stagey, uninspired take on Shakespeare's classic. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Where to watch

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

The Tempest Photos

View All Photos (43)

Movie Info

A shipwreck casts members of a royal court ashore on a mysterious island. Their fateful arrival is no accident, for it was engineered by Prospera (Helen Mirren), a sorceress whom these men banished, and who now plans to take vengeance on them. With the help of Caliban and Ariel, her sometimes-unwilling aides, Prospera brings her powers to bear on her former tormentors. Then love casts a spell on her daughter and the king's son, and Prospera is powerless to intervene.

Cast & Crew

Dame Helen Mirren
Prospera
Felicity Jones
Miranda
Djimon Hounsou
Caliban
Ben Whishaw
Ariel
Reeve Carney
Prince Ferdinand
David Strathairn
King Alonso
Alan Cumming
Sebastian
Chris Cooper
Antonio
Tom Conti
Gonzalo
Alfred Molina
Stephano
Russell Brand
Trinculo
Julie Taymor
Director
Julie Taymor
Screenwriter
Julie Taymor
Producer
Robert Chartoff
Producer
Lynn Hendee
Producer
Julia Taylor-Stanley
Producer
Jason K. Lau
Producer
John C. Ching
Executive Producer
Deborah Lau
Executive Producer
Ronald M. Bozman
Executive Producer
Tino Puri
Executive Producer
Rohit Khattar
Executive Producer
Stewart Till
Executive Producer
Anthony Buckner
Executive Producer
Greg Strasburg
Executive Producer
Stuart Dryburgh
Cinematographer
Françoise Bonnot
Film Editor
Elliot Goldenthal
Original Music
Mark Friedberg
Production Design
Alex DiGerlando
Art Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Tempest

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (62)

View All Critic Reviews (89)

Audience Reviews for The Tempest

  • Oct 08, 2015
    The Tempest is an enjoyable production and is reminiscent of the Chinese fantasy / comedy / romance genre of films. However, there is nothing particularly outstanding about The Tempest. It is all nicely done, nice location, costuming, and effects, and a notable performance by Helen Mirren, but it is missing a certain wistfulness and charm. Still, the film is fine, all-in-all, and worth a look.
    Robert B Super Reviewer
  • Mar 10, 2013
    Worth watching for Helen Mirren. She's excellent as usual. The movie isn't great, but it's much better than 29%.
    Morris N Super Reviewer
  • Oct 01, 2012
    This one is hard to keep up with because of languaged used, old english. Has a good plot. 3 stars
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 04, 2012
    Once the Duchess of Milan, Prospera(Helen Mirren) has suffered through twelve years of exile which have done little to lower her ire at those she finds responsible. One day, she takes revenge by casting a spell through the sprite Ariel(Ben Whishaw) that capsizes the boat Antonio(Chris Cooper), the new duke, is traveling on with King Alonso(David Strathairn) of Naples, amongst others. Her teenaged daughter Miranda(Felicity Jones) manages to assuage her anger just in time. So she has them desposited safely on a beach somewhere on the island, with Alonso's son Ferdinand(Reeve Carney) arriving safely elsewhere. Now, with that all done, Caliban(Djimon Hounsou) would like to file a complaint... If all Julie Taymor had brought to this version of William Shakespeare's venerable play was its great look, impressive design and Helen Mirren, it would have gone a long way towards putting this definitely in the win column. Sad to say, she doesn't stop there, going overboard on the visual effects.(Just remember that the play is the thing.) Putting together a great supporting cast is usually a very good idea in cases like this. But here, it verges on stunt casting in a couple of prime examples and Taymor does little to rein them in, throwing the movie off balance in the bargain. That having been said, I now believe that Chris Cooper would fit in well no matter what movie he appears in.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

The Tempest Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides