Overview
A reluctant prince must embrace his destiny as a king amidst chaos and war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- austere
- politically skeptical
- historical film night
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film compelling in its performances, production design, cinematography, and revisionist historical perspective, while judging its writing and Shakespearean adaptation uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hal's succession forces him to balance personal reluctance, palace politics, inherited conflict, and the demands of ruling England.
The battles and military environments are presented as bleak, physical, and harshly grounded rather than romanticized.
The screenplay by David Michôd and Joel Edgerton modernizes material associated with Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V plays.
The newly crowned Henry must navigate palace politics, advisers, diplomatic pressure, and the legacy of his father's rule.
Films like The King, and why
The Last Duel
Shares medieval historical drama, royal succession politics, morally complex rulership, and grim battlefield realism.
Henry V
Shares Shakespearean historical adaptation, war leadership, court intrigue, and conflicted monarchs.
Outlaw King
Shares austere medieval atmosphere, dynastic power struggles, and psychologically burdened kingship.
Kingdom of Heaven
Shares historical warfare, political manipulation, and a young ruler shaped by violence and authority.
Movie Details
- Director
- David Michôd
- Release Date
- 2019-10-11
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (3682)
Cast
- Timothée Chalamet
- Joel Edgerton
- Sean Harris
- Tom Glynn-Carney
- Lily-Rose Depp
- Thomasin McKenzie
- Robert Pattinson
- Ben Mendelsohn
- Andrew Havill
- Dean-Charles Chapman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The King about?
- A reluctant English prince is forged into a king as inherited court intrigue and medieval war test his ideals, loyalties, and authority.
- What is The King like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The King as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The King violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The King as brutal.
- What did critics think of The King?
- Critics broadly found the film compelling in its performances, production design, cinematography, and revisionist historical perspective, while judging its writing and Shakespearean adaptation uneven.
- Which films are like The King?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Duel, Henry V, Outlaw King, and Kingdom of Heaven.
- How long is The King?
- The King runs 140 minutes.
- Where can I watch The King?
- In United States, The King streams on Netflix.
