Elizabeth

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Elizabeth

R

1998

2h 1m

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Elizabeth Tudor (Cate Blanchett) becomes queen of a divided and dangerous England in 1558. She is roundly perceived as weak by threats from within and abroad, and she is strongly advised to marry by counsel William Cecil (Richard Attenborough). But she will be married only to her country. Intelligent and cautious, she must choose where to place her trust: with her shrewd secretary Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), a master of espionage, or her secret lover, Sir Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes).

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Critics Consensus

No mere historical drama, Elizabeth is a rich, suspenseful journey into the heart of British Royal politics, and features a typically outstanding performance from Cate Blanchett.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

09/07/2011

B+

Without [Blanchett], Kapur's extravagant history lesson (written by Michael Hirst) blurs into dark doings among men in tights.

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David Rooney

Variety

07/31/2008

"Elizabeth" is superior historical soap opera that shrewdly sidesteps all the cliches of British costume drama with its bold, often modern approach.

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Time Out

01/26/2006

Kapur cunningly confuses gender roles, equates sex with death, and rattles through dark, stony passions with some considerable panache.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/08/2024

3.5/4

Kapur makes wonderful use of Blanchett’s abilities

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

09/16/2023

3/4

Sort of like Dallas with more extravagant costumes (sex and power plays lurk around every corner).

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

12/20/2022

4/4

The technical aspects are terrific, from the beautiful score, great acting and wonderful sets, all the way down to the last stitch of thread on the costumes.

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Austin S

@auskooper 08/11/2024

I definitely enjoy learning more about the British monarchy

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Ari V

@RT59419633 05/27/2024

Liked it quite a bit as a teen and perhaps in my 20s, but not so much in my 40s. The self-adulation and evangelism, though somewhat counterbalanced, are just too palpable. 2.25/5

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Alec B

@Alec97 10/13/2023

Not that I am terribly invested but this is clearly anti-Catholic propaganda.

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Ruth H

@HardheadedWoman 09/09/2023

Wouldn't blame Elizabeth if she came back and chopped off some heads but I doubt that she would even recognize herself in this wildly inaccurate version of events.

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Gareth v

@geewah 06/19/2023

Gwenyth Paltrow winning the best actress Oscar over Cate Blanchett was and still is a travesty. An excellent movie that comes across as more political thriller than biopic. Led by the mesmorising Blanchett, this is one of 1998's best movies.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 03/19/2023

This film is very good 👍🏼

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Shekhar Kapur

Director

Cate Blanchett

Elizabeth I

Geoffrey Rush

Sir Francis Walsingham

Christopher Eccleston

Duke of Norfolk

Joseph Fiennes

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

Richard Attenborough

Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley

Elizabeth: Official Clip - The Small Question of Religion

2:12

Elizabeth: Official Clip - The Burning of Master Nicholas Ridley

1:56

Elizabeth: Official Clip - I Am No Man's Elizabeth

2:12

Elizabeth: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt

2:01

Elizabeth: Official Clip - To Be Loved By the Queen

2:12

Elizabeth: Official Clip - Dancing a Volta

1:40

Elizabeth: Official Clip - Elizabeth Is Crowned

2:12

Elizabeth: Official Clip - Duc d'Anjou in a Dress

2:12

Elizabeth: Official Clip - Queen Mary

2:14

Elizabeth: Official Clip - I Have Become a Virgin

2:10

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Synopsis

Elizabeth Tudor (Cate Blanchett) becomes queen of a divided and dangerous England in 1558. She is roundly perceived as weak by threats from within and abroad, and she is strongly advised to marry by counsel William Cecil (Richard Attenborough). But she will be married only to her country. Intelligent and cautious, she must choose where to place her trust: with her shrewd secretary Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), a master of espionage, or her secret lover, Sir Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes).

Director: Shekhar Kapur
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Alison Owen
Screenwriter: Michael Hirst
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Polygram
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.1M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround