For lovers of history and royalty, movies about royal families can be a bit of a mixed bag. Occasionally, we’re treated to films that are gold dust. At other times, we’re treated to films that will eventually gather dust in a second-hand DVD store.
But what are some of the must-watch films about royal families? We’re talking about the ones that are perfect in their own right – not just for royal fans who tune in for the Queen’s Speech every year – and would sit proudly on a shelf between greats like Citizen Kane and The Shawshank Redemption?
To help you sort out your Netflix to-watch list, we’re going to look at the must-watch movies now and what makes them so special.
A Royal Affair (2012)
That’s right, we’re not starting with the British royal family! Shock horror. But while there are some great UK royal family films on this list, we wanted to start with one of the more underrated movies about a completely different family.
A Royal Affair is set in the 18th century and follows the young Queen of Denmark, who falls in love with her physician. It’s a beautiful, moving film with some beautiful cinematography behind it.
The Queen (2006)
Helen Mirren as the late, Great British Queen? Yes please. From start to finish, this movie about the death of Princess Diana is a royal blinder, treating us to a phenomenal performance by Mirren as the Queen faces her biggest challenge yet.
At release, this movie garnered widespread critical acclaim, so much so that Mirren was invited to dinner at Buckingham Palace by the actual Queen herself! Sadly, she had to decline, as she had filming commitments in Hollywood. How Queen-like.
The Favourite (2018)
We’re going for something a little different here. The Favourite is a period black comedy film, starring Olivia Colman as the forgotten Queen Anne, and focusing on cousins Sara Churchill and Abigail Masham as they compete for her affections.
It’s a funny movie, of course, but it’s also a moving one that perfectly depicts what life and social taboos would have been like in the 18th century. Since being released, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 21st century, so it’s definitely a must-watch if you’re looking for a royal film with a bite.
The Last Emperor (1987)
There’s few royal families that have a more fascinating history than China, especially when it comes to the fall of the Qing dynasty. The Last Emperor examines the life of the last ever emperor, Puyi, as he is forced to leave the imperial palace when China becomes a republic.
It’s a moving and gripping tale that perfectly encapsulates the end of one era and the dawn of the new one, and the performance from John Lone is Oscar-worthy – seriously, he actually won an Oscar for this performance. It’s a little more intense than other movies on this list, but the picture is one of the best Oscar-nominated pictures you can watch, so get to it!
The King’s Speech (2010)
We mentioned that we were listing movies that are perfect in their own right – not just perfect for history and royal family lovers – and this couldn’t be more true of The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth. On the surface, this is a movie that covers the history of King George VI, looking at his role during the outbreak of WWII. On a deeper level, however, this is a movie about perseverance and personal growth.
For those who don’t know, King George VI suffered from a speech impediment which made giving speeches almost impossible. To prepare for his coronation, he desperately hired an unruly therapist whose methods were far from ‘formal’. The movie captures their growing friendship, and it culminates in one of the most moving moments in British cinema. If you haven’t watched it already, make sure you do so as soon as possible. You won’t regret it.
