Mary Queen of Scots

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Mary Queen of Scots

R

2018

2h 4m

Biography

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

294 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her sister in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence.

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Critics Consensus

Mary Queen of Scots delivers uneven period political thrills while offering a solid showcase for the talents of its well-matched leads.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

It's a shame that everything collapses when the queens finally meet in a sequence that has all the heft of a gauzy Chanel fragrance spot.

Feb 21, 2020

Full Review

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

In spite of being handcuffed by uninspired storytelling, [Ronan and Robbie] excel in communicating strength, vulnerability and isolation as two monarchs ruling in a man's world.

Jul 29, 2019

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Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

Few movies make a better case for reexamining the patriarchal historical truths we've come to accept than the impassioned, intricate Mary Queen of Scots.

Feb 7, 2019

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Greg Carlson

Vague Visages

Dramatic license is so much a given that discussions of authenticity are as damned as they are damning.

Nov 8, 2023

Full Review

Andrea Thompson

A Reel of One's Own

“Mary Queen of Scots” could've at least been an average, or even above average effort to explore a history that is so often misconstrued. Instead, both women are done a disservice in a more modern way...

Rated: D

Dec 19, 2022

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Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

Willimon and Rourke focus on issues of gender and sexuality in fascinating ways, although it is sometimes jarring to see Mary as a paragon of contemporary tolerance.

Dec 7, 2022

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Paige W

I wanted to love this movie, and there was a lot of potential. It's just hard to actually watch it when there's barely any plot.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/03/25

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J B

Had so looked forward to this because too few historical dramas reach the big screen these days. But what a disappointment. I could’ve forgiven the agenda-driven casting had the dialogue and plot been at least a bit historical or interesting. Not even a hint of Mary’s complexities such as her involvement in plotting against Elizabeth and Elizabeth herself being portrayed as a caricature.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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Rob A

I think time will look very favourably upon this misunderstood masterpiece. There is some incredible casting, some stunning acting performances and as a whole it is a beautiful feast for the eyes. Ronin is spectacular. Spellbinding. Lowden is amazing. A truly stunning film and one which lives with me, and deserves so much more praise than it seems to get. Beautiful. I think it’s excellent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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Audience Member

Entertaining, well-acted

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Alec B

Even if the final 10 minutes are quite compelling, the rest of the movie isn't much more than a elaborately costumed tawdry melodrama.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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Dan S

HORRIBLE!! Cast was awful! Use more Scottish people or English not people that do not fit into the history! Ridiculous! Musician was suppose to be Italian!! I am half Italian. Couldn't they get someone British thats Italian by ancestry with the Scottish ancestry? Gets me annoyed. I love history especially European and British history and I watch period films like most people who love history like I do. Be authentic with the cast!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

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Josie Rourke

Director

Saoirse Ronan

Mary Stuart

Margot Robbie

Queen Elizabeth I

Jack Lowden

Lord Darnley

Joe Alwyn

Robert Dudley

David Tennant

John Knox

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Synopsis

Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her sister in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence.

Director: Josie Rourke
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward
Screenwriter: Beau Willimon
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features, Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films
Rating: R (Some Violence and Sexuality)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.4M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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