The Lion in Winter

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The Lion in Winter

PG

Released Oct 30, 1968

2h 12m

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

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

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 18, 2021

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Glafira Regina O

What immediately caught my attention was the unique theme—Henry II and his wife, medieval England, and Christmas. The 12th-century life is brilliantly portrayed with costumes, sets, and overall atmosphere. Although the marital life of Henry and Eleanor is somewhat “romanticised” and exaggerated, the queen’s outstanding performance and sharp humour more than makeup for it. Now is the perfect time to watch this film, as the events, as I mentioned, take place during Christmas. So, make sure to jot down the title!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/24

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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

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A E

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

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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

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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

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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

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Anthony Harvey

Director

Peter O'Toole

Henry II

Katharine Hepburn

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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
Producer: Martin Poll
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
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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