The Duchess

Play trailer

2:19

The Duchess

PG-13

Released Sep 19, 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

Buy Now

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

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

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.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Tasha Robinson

Chicago Tribune

It's disturbingly shallow, focused so tightly on one woman's feelings of repression and loneliness that it lacks any perspective on their causes.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 20, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 19, 2021

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

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.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Avital S

Not great. Not terrible

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

Full Review

cato k

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/01/23

Full Review

Leah F

Timeless period drama based on the true life of Georgiana Spencer. Great set and costume design sets the scene perfectly as knightly is superb in her rich and emotive characterization. One I watch again and again.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/23

Full Review

Nicolas F

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/23

Full Review

Ian W

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A must see in women's history month. Knightley gives an incredibly emotive performance portraying a woman trapped in an abusive, unloving marriage.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

23 Fresh Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix in April

Now Streaming: Transformers: Age of Extinction, Chef, and More

People’s Choice Awards Winners Announced

The Duchess: Trailer 1

2:19

View more videos

View more photos

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: Qwerty Films, Paramount Vantage, BBC Films, Pathé, Magnolia Mae
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