King Lear

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King Lear

TV-14

2018

1h 55m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

91%

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22 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

King Lear divides his kingdom among his three daughters -- Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. The kingdom and family soon collapse into chaos and warfare as Lear goes mad and tragedy strikes.

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Critics Consensus

Led by dual mesmerizing performances from Sir Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and rounded out by a solidly stocked ensemble, this King Lear is a highly watchable adaptation.

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Isaac Butler

Slate

Yet the film is such a cracking good entertainment I barely even noticed that its world makes no sense.

Nov 26, 2019

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Matt Zoller Seitz

New York Magazine/Vulture

It's as political a production as it needs to be, and at its best, it feels as current and as timeless as a nightmare.

Nov 26, 2019

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Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

The whole cast - top-notch - takes Anthony Hopkins' lead and chews the scenery down to gristle and bone.

Oct 4, 2018

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James Walton

The Spectator

And naturally, with Hopkins on board, the rest of the cast was pretty terrific as well - to the point of unexpectedly turning King Lear into something of an ensemble piece.

Nov 26, 2019

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Ani Bundel

WETA

Any Lear with Hopkins is a good Lear, and while this version may be thinner than most, it's still got all the moments one would wish for.

Jan 31, 2019

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Marty Brown

Common Sense Media

A simple, accessible version of one of Shakespeare's best.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2018

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Andrei D

Much too traditional and most of the actors fail to find a way to push it to its more modern setting

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Sheldon C

If you are familiar with the original King Lear, quite a lot is cut from the original play. Scenes are shuffled about, and parts are cut that create a lack of continuity and reason. Trimming is not necessarily a bad thing, but much of the heart and pathos of Lear is lost. I love Anthony Hopkins, but here he's just a loud and angry Lear, chewing the scenery with the best of them. Lost are his passages of fear, regret, and love, making him feel more a raving, demented old man, rather than a man faced with demons of his own making, then coming to understand the consequences of his actions. I would recommend it if you'd like a good overview of Lear and the scope of its action, but I'd be worried that a newcomer might become lost as to who is doing what to whom, and why. If you are new to King Lear, don't let this be the only version you watch, as you will miss out on the emotions of a man as he suffers from the repercussions of his own vanity and pride.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

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Alec B

Even with a great cast I think this adaptation falls prey to one of the greatest dangers with "King Lear" . . . getting lost in the plot when its the characters and their own little misadventures that should be the real focus. If the Fool isn't memorable, you've gone astray.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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cale c

Watch for anthony hopkins

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/23

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Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 55 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

a great movie with a lot of wisdom

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Richard Eyre

Director

Anthony Hopkins

Lear

Emma Thompson

Goneril

Emily Watson

Regan

Florence Pugh

Cordelia

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Synopsis

King Lear divides his kingdom among his three daughters -- Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. The kingdom and family soon collapse into chaos and warfare as Lear goes mad and tragedy strikes.

Director: Richard Eyre
Producer: Noëlette Buckley
Screenwriter: Richard Eyre
Production Co: Playground Television UK Ltd, Amazon Studios, Playground Entertainment, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Sonia Friedman Productions
Rating: TV-14
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2018
Runtime: 1h 55m

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