Overview
A tale of love and power set against the backdrop of ancient Egypt's grandeur.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- grand
- tragic
- passionate
- classic cinema marathon
- historical epic night
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's unprecedented spectacle, historical pageantry, and several performances while finding its script, pacing, and visual direction uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film foregrounds immense sets, elaborate costumes, ceremonial crowds, naval displays, and lavish receptions.
Cleopatra's relationships with Caesar and Antony are inseparable from her efforts to preserve Egypt's sovereignty.
Caesar, Cleopatra, Antony, and Octavian are linked through ambition, intimacy, succession, and imperial rivalry.
Royal entrances, public marriages, processions, and court rituals are staged with stately theatricality.
Films like Cleopatra, and why
The Ten Commandments
lavish ancient-world spectacle, political intrigue, and doomed romance
Ben-Hur
sword-and-sandal scale, imperial conflict, and tragic romantic drama
The Last Emperor
historical epic centered on power, sexuality, and a charismatic ancient ruler
The Fall of the Roman Empire
grand historical pageantry, court politics, and destructive passion
Movie Details
- Director
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Release Date
- 1963-06-12
- Runtime
- 251 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (890)
Cast
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Richard Burton
- Rex Harrison
- Pamela Brown
- George Cole
- Hume Cronyn
- Cesare Danova
- Kenneth Haigh
- Andrew Keir
- Martin Landau
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Cleopatra about?
- A lavish, tragic portrait of Cleopatra navigating imperial power, dangerous alliances, and consuming love between Egypt and Rome.
- What is Cleopatra like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cleopatra as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Cleopatra violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Cleopatra as moderate.
- What did critics think of Cleopatra?
- Critics broadly admired the film's unprecedented spectacle, historical pageantry, and several performances while finding its script, pacing, and visual direction uneven.
- Which films are like Cleopatra?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, The Last Emperor, and The Fall of the Roman Empire.
- How long is Cleopatra?
- Cleopatra runs 251 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cleopatra?
- In United States, Cleopatra is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
