The Madness of King George

PG-13

Released Dec 28, 1994

1 hr. 50 min.

History

Drama

List

94%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks largely to stellar all-around performances from a talented cast, The Madness of King George is a funny, entertaining, and immensely likable adaptation of the eponymous stage production.

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Alec B

Yeah, Bennett's screenplay is fantastic and so is the whole cast (Nigel Hawthorne in particular), but Hytner's direction is what makes the whole thing work, emphasizing the dark, dirty reality of late 18th century England through carefully chosen shots that recall "Barry Lyndon" in the best possible way.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

Julie H

It's a cavalcade of great English actors like Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren and Ian Holm. Hard to watch in places for the physical tortures imposed on the King to treat him for a mental illness. Interestingly, the Prince of Wales, later George IV, is as floozily awful as caricatured by Hugh Laurie in Blackadder III and most of the attendees of the ailing George III appear to have been a million times worse than Blackadder himself

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

david f

I loved the Royal setting but the plot, characters, and story were a little wanting.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Highly regarded and well acted for. British production but period pieces about the Royal family are of very little interest to me and the plot didn't grip me at all.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

david l

Stupendously performed by its talented cast with Ian Holm, Helen Mirren and Nigel Hawthorn being the standouts, The Madness of King George truly is one of the best stage adaptations as well as a rare period piece that is both elegantly constructed and highly engaging throughout. What started as a witty comedy about an insane king doing crazy stuff eventually transitioned into a heartfelt tragedy about said king gradually losing his mind and subsequently his power. It's an emotionally powerful movie that features stupendous dialogue and impeccable technical craftsmanship.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An absolute must-watch for any film goers, "The Madness of King George" uses fantastic costumes and convincing props to bring the story it tells to life. The acting was intriguing, and the premise was unique and interesting. The acting was fantastic from the whole cast, Holm and Hawthorne in particular. Overall, a well acted, emotional, and powerful drama that tells a great story in perhaps the best way it possibly could.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Nicholas Hytner

Director

Nigel Hawthorne

George III

Helen Mirren

Queen Charlotte

Ian Holm

Dr. Willis

Rupert Everett

Prince of Wales

Rupert Graves

Greville

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Visually sumptuous, energetic and classy, The Madness of King George is British film theatre at its most seductive.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2016

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Hytner's version of Bennett's comic-tragic drama of the tormented king who almost lost his mind confirms that power games, family scandals, and personal intrigues have always been integral to the British Crown, an institution both revered and reviled.

Rated: A-

Aug 22, 2006

Full Review

Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

The film, though English in subject matter, was far from English in style. It was grand, not parochial; crude, not genteel, and very funny.

Apr 21, 2022

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Hawthorne plays madness with restraint. It's only when he hears the news from Yorktown that he goes really bananas.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 14, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It's sometimes so loopy that one half-expects Mel Brooks to wander into the frame, muttering, "It's good to be the king."

Rated: 3/4

Sep 19, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Screenwriter: Alan Bennett
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company, Hallmark Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 28, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.2M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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