Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Duchess

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for The Duchess PG-13 2008 1h 49m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 170 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Though adored by the people, the Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley) is not content to sit as a pretty figurehead. Determined to be a major player in affairs of state, she rises to the forefront of the Whig Party and helps usher in reform in late-1700s England. The one thing it seems she cannot do is win the heart of her husband (Ralph Fiennes).
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Duchess

The Duchess

What to Know

Critics Consensus

While The Duchess treads the now-familiar terrain of the corset-ripper, the costumes look great and Keira Knightley's performance is stellar in this subtly feminist, period drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/23/2018
This is meant to be Ms Knightley's film, and in many ways it is. She is in every frame, looks dazzling throughout, and must act with something behind the eyes because in two of her scenes... I welled up rather seriously. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig USA Today 10/18/2008
3/4
It chronicles the saga of a vibrant and forward-thinking woman hampered by the constraints of a rigid society. Go to Full Review Tasha Robinson Chicago Tribune 10/18/2008
2.5/4
It's disturbingly shallow, focused so tightly on one woman's feelings of repression and loneliness that it lacks any perspective on their causes. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 03/20/2024
3/4
As a probe into the sexual politics of eighteenth-century England, The Duchess effectively paints an unremitting portrait of how love and breeding greatly differed among the social elite. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/19/2021
3/4
Hands Keira Knightley another plum leading role and serves as yet another example of how Ralph Fiennes' brooding brand of acting can be successfully employed for all manner of characters. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ 08/04/2021
4/5
The film's real scene-stealer is Fiennes... Despite playing a cad of few words, he manages to elicit both hatred and sympathy from the audience in equal amounts. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Billie R. @777Billie-Kat777 Oct 25 It's been years since I watched it but after watching a YouTube biography about the duchess are you watching it was absolutely worth the price of having to rent it because even with six streaming channels not a one of them was showing it for free however it was definitely worth the price See more Stella W Jun 4 ❗️❗️❗️Spoilers ahead ❗️❗️❗️I loved this movie. It really brought to life what the duchess went through in real life. The acting was great and the characters. The only thing I didn't like is that the issue wasn't solved. See more Avital S 03/28/2024 Not great. Not terrible See more cato k 12/01/2023 Very interesting movie and i loved the drama. When I watched it I did not realise it was based off a true story until the end See more Nicolas F 03/20/2023 A beautiful and well acted film about a terrible and true story that reminds us somewhat of the story of Lady Di. Keira Knightley beautiful to die for in a very beautiful role. A nice moment of a princess in a strong and popular glass tower. See more Ian W 02/17/2023 Keira Knightly looks stunning throughout. It's a remarkable story. Given those two facts, it's also remarkable how dull the film is. I really didn't care about the characters. I guess it's down to a poor screenplay. See more Read all reviews
The Duchess

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Saul Dibb

Director

Keira Knightley

Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire

Ralph Fiennes

The Duke of Devonshire

Charlotte Rampling

Lady Spencer

Dominic Cooper

Charles Grey

Hayley Atwell

Bess

More Like This

View All
The Other Boleyn Girl 43% 62% The Other Boleyn Girl Watchlist Lady Jane 56% 76% Lady Jane Watchlist Miral 19% 54% Miral Watchlist Marie Antoinette 57% 56% Marie Antoinette Watchlist The Lady and the Duke 72% 68% The Lady and the Duke Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

The Duchess

The Duchess: Trailer 1 The Duchess: Trailer 1 2:19 View more videos
View All

The Duchess

A scene from the film "The Duchess." The Duchess (2008) The Duchess (2008) The Duchess (2008) The Duchess (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Though adored by the people, the Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley) is not content to sit as a pretty figurehead. Determined to be a major player in affairs of state, she rises to the forefront of the Whig Party and helps usher in reform in late-1700s England. The one thing it seems she cannot do is win the heart of her husband (Ralph Fiennes).
Director
Saul Dibb
Producer
Gabrielle Tana, Michael Kuhn
Screenwriter
Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Magnolia Mae, Pathé, Paramount Vantage, Qwerty Films, BBC Films
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Brief Nudity|Thematic Material)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.8M
Runtime
1h 49m
Most Popular at Home Now