The Favourite

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2:07

The Favourite

R

2018

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

430 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots.

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Critics Consensus

The Favourite sees Yorgos Lanthimos balancing a period setting against rich, timely subtext - and getting roundly stellar performances from his well-chosen stars.

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Molly Haskell

Film Comment Magazine

It's a dark view, but dark views, like sunny views, have to come from somewhere. Where is Lanthimos's dark sun? I don't know, but I'll definitely keep watching.

Feb 27, 2020

Full Review

Cate Young

IndieWire

Yorgos Lanthimos' dryly funny historical feature is all about power, and that means literally wearing the pants in a strange time.

Mar 10, 2019

Full Review

Jourdain Searles

Bitch Media

In the end, The Favourite is a haunting reminder of the limits of control.

Feb 23, 2019

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

The Favourite is a wild and hilarious romp that is equal parts everything I love about Yorgos Lanthimos, but it’s also quite unique and different for him as well.

Aug 7, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

In between its stylish costumes and jovial soundtrack is a film with plenty to say on power, and how it’s most suited to the merciless and the conniving rather than the good natured.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Yorgos Lanthimos’ trip to 18th century England is so irreverent in its jabs at the power dynamics of high society that I half expected to see cameo appearances by the cast of Monty Python.

Jul 2, 2024

Full Review

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Andy Y

Abigail played by Emma Stone is characterized very interestingly. It is like you love this character and want to keep seeing her appearance but always subconsciously think something bad will happen to her and she will end up in tragedy. However, although she got bullied quite a few time in beginning, she is not the typical "beautiful, pitiful, brainless vase;" you can see the intelligence in her eye, which is shown more and more as the movie progresses later. Her dynamic with her later husband is also interesting: she shows desires and temptation but never fully satisfy the man, keeping him always on the hook. Later in the stories, although Abigail did some quite harmful things and you see it directly, you internally actually do not want to admit that she is bad, causing that conflict in your feeling. Yorgos's film always "pull in" all my emotions and feeling: it is not just entertaining but also consuming in a good way as you just cannot stop thinking about the character for a while. For Abigail, it is this internal "conflict" that lingered with me. Overall, this movie is a absolute must-see. But it is not a easy, totally entertaining movie. It is best when your mind is clear and is ready to put in some emotions and feeling into the experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/25

Full Review

S B

A different sort of period film with darkly subversive layers and impeccable comedic acting by Olivia Colman and Emma Stone. Colman's Queen Anne was hilariously brilliant and deliciously irreverent and she centers the film, even as the horrors of her (true story) unfold. Delightful, twisted, beautifully produced, I recommend you watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/25

Full Review

Leo T.

It’s fine I guess. Physically stunning but narratively empty imo

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

Full Review

Thomas S

“The Favourite” is a true immersion into the mechanisms of power and the lengths people will go to get closer to the fire. It’s a sharp reminder that in politics and ambition, you always have to try — because someone else certainly will. I honestly expected Emma Stone’s character to return to the stables in the end, but the film subverts that expectation entirely. Its mix of intrigue, cruelty, and absurd humor gives it a very high rewatchability potential.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/08/25

Full Review

Matheus F

The bright performance of Olivia Colman and Yorgos' powerful mind make it one of the best comedies of the year.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Funny in 2 hours flat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $34,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

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Yorgos Lanthimos

Director

Olivia Colman

Queen Anne

Rachel Weisz

Lady Sarah

Emma Stone

Abigail

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The Favourite: Trailer 1

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The Favourite: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Producer: Yorgos Lanthimos, Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday
Screenwriter: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Waypoint Entertainment, Film4
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.2M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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