Lady Macbeth
A young Victorian bride turns rebellion against a suffocating marriage into a ruthless struggle for desire, status, and control.
Overview
A woman trapped in a loveless marriage discovers her true desires, leading to a dark and transformative journey.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- oppressive
- austere
- foreboding
- arthouse film night
- serious period drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a stark, narratively ruthless Victorian drama elevated by Florence Pugh's mesmerizing central performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Katherine's rebellion against an arranged marriage becomes an increasingly destructive struggle for autonomy.
The white protagonist's position is contrasted with the subordination of the estate's workers, especially Anna.
The remote estate and sparse compositions create an austere, enclosed stage for Katherine's transformation.
Katherine moves from resisting domestic oppression to removing anyone who obstructs her desires.
Films like Lady Macbeth, and why
Wuthering Heights
shared Victorian setting, oppressive gender politics, class conflict, and morally unsettling female-centered drama
Belle
shared period drama framework, racial and class tensions, forbidden desire, and feminist critique
The Piano
shared austere visual style, psychological intensity, transgressive desire, and gradual moral corruption
The Handmaiden
shared gothic atmosphere, constrained womanhood, sexual repression, and escalating violence
Movie Details
- Director
- William Oldroyd
- Release Date
- 2016-12-12
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (833)
Cast
- Florence Pugh
- Cosmo Jarvis
- Paul Hilton
- Naomi Ackie
- Christopher Fairbank
- Golda Rosheuvel
- Anton Palmer
- Rebecca Manley
- Fleur Houdijk
- Cliff Burnett
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lady Macbeth about?
- A young Victorian bride turns rebellion against a suffocating marriage into a ruthless struggle for desire, status, and control.
- What is Lady Macbeth like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lady Macbeth as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Lady Macbeth violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Lady Macbeth as moderate.
- What did critics think of Lady Macbeth?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a stark, narratively ruthless Victorian drama elevated by Florence Pugh's mesmerizing central performance.
- Which films are like Lady Macbeth?
- Films with a similar feel include Wuthering Heights, Belle, The Piano, and The Handmaiden.
- How long is Lady Macbeth?
- Lady Macbeth runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lady Macbeth?
- In United States, Lady Macbeth streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
