A United Kingdom

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A United Kingdom

PG-13

2017

1h 51m

History

Drama

Biography

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

161 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the 1940s, Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana shocks the world when he marries a white woman from London.

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted, solidly crafted, and all-around worthy, A United Kingdom presents an absorbing look at a singular true-life love story.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

I love that [Asante] has found a particular narrative that means something to her... But still, A UNITED KINGDOM is a disappointing effort from a promising director.

Rated: C

Mar 22, 2017

Full Review

Steve Davis

Austin Chronicle

It honors this extraordinary couple's defiant and unwavering love for each other, but it doesn't celebrate it much beyond a cliched falling-in-love montage and a chaste wedding-night scene.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 2, 2017

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Scott Marks

San Diego Reader

Screenwriter Guy Hibbert and Asante pull off a precision balancing act, illuminating the intensity of the love the couple shared and never once allowing their romance to take a back seat to the issues.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 24, 2017

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A welcome reminder that, even in the direst of situations and in the most impossible of times, love can indeed trump hate.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 17, 2021

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Kip Mooney

Fresh Fiction

The film plays like every other staid British historical drama you've ever seen.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 10, 2021

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A beautiful looking movie, with solid if histrionic performances that has trouble balancing the romantic and partisan aspects of this touching real life tale.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 4, 2021

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Keith B B

It was a good film with decent acting and storyline and I really liked that it was based on true events. It's worth the watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

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Marit Risto F

Such a beautiful love story. So full of courage, and guts. Delightful couple, Oyelowo and Pike, Interesting story about Botswana.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

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Georgan G

What a movie! Beautiful cinematography and great acting (especially Oyelowo). What this inspirational true story says about materialism and racism is sad. However, standing together, this couple overcomes it all!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

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Andrea C

Storia vera di coraggio e di perseveranza che ha tutti gli elementi per creare un buon film; e che viene giustamente messa in risalto dalla presenza di due grandi attori come protagonisti. La sceneggiatura racconta in modo chiaro e senza grandi raggiri la vera sequenza degli eventi; senza romanzare eccessivamente seppure non si riesca ad entrare veramente nel cuore dello spettatore; sembra sempre presente un sottile strato trasparente che impedisce di emozionarsi come sarebbe lecito attendersi visti i contorni della storia. Non ottimale la fotografia, soprattutto nelle sequenze girate in Inghilterra; in cui viene data una patina lucente ai personaggi che fa invecchiare molto le riprese.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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steve d

extremely powerful and beautifully acted. This is one not to miss.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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isla s

This is a sad and sobering watch. Rosamund Pike gives a particularly powerful performance as Ruth Williams (someone clearly very much in love and keen to defend her marriage and speak out when needed) while David Oyelowo does well as her partner, Seretse Khama. Its nice to see that people were fighting against such prejudice back when this film was set, which I believe to be the late 1940s. Apart from the obvious racial issue/theme, it also covers thematic ground including that of power and authority, corruption and deception. I thought this was a good film overall.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Amma Asante

Director

David Oyelowo

Seretse Khama

Rosamund Pike

Ruth Williams

Jack Davenport

Alistair Canning

Tom Felton

Rufus Lancaster

Laura Carmichael

Muriel Williams

The Iron Lady

51%

51%

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67%

73%

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Mary Shelley

41%

48%

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Effie Gray

43%

41%

Effie Gray

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Maudie

90%

89%

Maudie

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A United Kingdom: Trailer 1

2:23

A United Kingdom: 'Independence' Trailer

0:40

A United Kingdom: International Trailer 1

2:26

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Synopsis

In the 1940s, Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana shocks the world when he marries a white woman from London.

Director: Amma Asante
Producer: Brunson Green, Peter Heslop, Charlie Mason, Rick McCallum, Justin Moore-Lewy, David Oyelowo
Screenwriter: Guy Hibbert
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Pathé, Perfect Weekend, Harbinger Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Racial Epithets|A Scene of Sensuality|Some Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.9M
Runtime: 1h 51m

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