The Queen of Versailles

PG

Released Jul 20, 2012

1h 40m

Documentary

List

95%

119 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The 2008 global economic crisis threatens the fortune of Florida billionaires David and Jackie Siegel just as they are in the middle of building a 90,000 square-foot estate.

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Critics Consensus

The Queen of Versailles is a timely, engaging, and richly drawn portrait of the American Dream improbably composed of equal parts compassion and schadenfreude.

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Gretchen Sisson

Bitch Media

[Jackie's] story can show the ways in which the economic crisis can bring out not only the hierarchical differences that divide us, but the hopes and flaws that unite us.

Jan 11, 2021

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

The Atlantic

The Siegels are fascinating because they both are and aren't us, and the film's pleasures are correspondingly-a la reality tv-made up of equal parts jealousy, sympathy, and schadenfreude.

Aug 28, 2019

Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

[Siegel] is now suing Greenfield for "misrepresentation". Well, I know whose side I'm on.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 7, 2012

Full Review

Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield effectively captures an excessive side of the American dream, which includes ventures in Las Vegas.

Aug 11, 2021

Full Review

Matt Warren

Battleship Pretension

The Queen of Versailles is one of the best films of the year, nonfiction or otherwise.

Mar 10, 2021

Full Review

Andy Dehnart

Reality Blurred

The Queen of Versailles is an exceptional, must-watch film that's better reality TV than most reality television. We need more documentaries-and more reality television-like this.

Mar 6, 2020

Full Review

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linda g

Am I supposed to feel sorry for these people? They're fucked up!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Eric P

A movie about rich people doing rich things. All the while homelessness and child hunger are an issue in the US. This shows how elitist have lost touch with modern society.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/14/22

Full Review

cinephile f

It is an exceptional and disturbing documentary that everyone in the western world should watch. It documents the absolute excess of our culture. Fantastic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's great because it's from big to rags and it's a great movie. I love to see watch is as motivation. Great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fantastic documentary that makes you wonder why on Earth the couple at the center of the film agreed to put their wasteful, self-centered, and disturbingly consumer-centric lives on full display. A fascinating look at the disturbingly vapid lives and how neglected children can be when parents are obsessed with material things. Sadly, one of the daughters died of an overdose 3 years after this film - she wasn’t getting much substance from either money obsessed parent. Surprisingly engaging documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/20

Full Review

john m

A complete reality check and honest depiction of the devastating conditions of the 2008 economic crash. Living within this absurd family's walls for a doc feature is already relentless entertainment regardless of their financial circumstances, but the obvious dilemma at hand here throws it into some really fascinating areas. This is a great doc.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Lauren Greenfield

Director

Lorraine Barrett

Self

Jaqueline Siegel

Herself (as Jackie Siegel)

Lauren Greenfield

Screenwriter

Danielle Renfrew Behrens

Producer

Lauren Greenfield

Producer

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96%

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Brooklyn Castle

88%

86%

I.O.U.S.A.

95%

86%

Found

90%

88%

Inequality for All

98%

77%

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Synopsis

The 2008 global economic crisis threatens the fortune of Florida billionaires David and Jackie Siegel just as they are in the middle of building a 90,000 square-foot estate.

Director: Lauren Greenfield
Producer: Dan Cogan, Frank Evers
Screenwriter: Lauren Greenfield
Production Co: Danmarks Radio (DR), Candescent Films, Evergreen Pictures, Impact Partners, Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO), BBC Storyville, Plus Pictures
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 2012, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 40m

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