The Lion in Winter

PG

Released Oct 30, 1968

2 hr. 12 min.

History

Drama

List

91%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

It's Christmas 1183, and King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) is planning to announce his successor to the throne. The jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John (Nigel Terry) to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), has other ideas. She believes their son Prince Richard (Anthony Hopkins) should be king. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive king choose their option.

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Critics Consensus

Sharper and wittier than your average period piece, The Lion in Winter is a tale of palace intrigue bolstered by fantastic performances from Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, and Anthony Hopkins in his big-screen debut.

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Alec B

Goldman's screenplay is glorious, both melodramatic and savagely funny. O'Toole and Hepburn play off each other so well, a great melding of two generations of acting styles.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

A E

A classic & deserving of the designation. O'Toole & Hepburn are superb.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

Full Review

John R

Extraordinarily well-written and well acted. Nothing but intriguing, back-biting, plotting and machinations all the way down.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

Full Review

Shioka O

An epic scale period drama, the inside is a family melodrama. This owed to acting by Hepburn and O'Toole, strong Shakespeare company style. I liked the cinematography of its landscape.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Christina B

A sparse drama from a period when historical cinema was still trying to distinguish itself from theatrical productions. Atmospheric on-set locations with stern 'Laurence Olivier at the Royal Shakespeare Company' type performances from most of the cast. The most memorable performance from Katherine Hepburn, who is hypnotic as she oscillates between scorned wife and ambitious queen

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Leaburn

This film is was good 👍🏼

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/22

Full Review

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Anthony Harvey

Director

Peter O'Toole

Henry II

Katharine Hepburn

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

There’s lots of double-dealing, a bit of back-stabbing, and a whole lot of familial dirty laundry strewn out on the table for all to see. All-in-all, it’s gloriously entertaining.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 14, 2024

Full Review

Ben Kern

Minneapolis Star Tribune

I think all concerned in The Lion in Winter deserve Academy Awards for strangeness. They achieve a measure of believability in the face of it.

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

Chuck Wilson

Village Voice

All that's ever mattered about The Lion in Winter are Hepburn and O'Toole, and the pleasure we take from watching two masters inspire each other to greatness. Scenery chewing has rarely been so artful.

Dec 12, 2016

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The scripting is superb – a masterfully caustic examination of medieval politics and familial rebellion.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 31, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Plenty of swords and knives make appearances in The Lion in Winter, but none can possibly cut as deep as the caustic dialogue.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 30, 2021

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

O'Toole's bluster echoes off the walls, leaving no space for anything else.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 18, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

It's Christmas 1183, and King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) is planning to announce his successor to the throne. The jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John (Nigel Terry) to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), has other ideas. She believes their son Prince Richard (Anthony Hopkins) should be king. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive king choose their option.

Director: Anthony Harvey
Executive Producer: Joseph E. Levine
Screenwriter: James Goldman
Distributor: Nelson Entertainment [us], Embassy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 30, 1968, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.9K
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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