Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sensual
- melodramatic
- opulent
- historical drama night
- costume drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually sumptuous and entertaining in moments, but too soap-operatic, underwritten, and unevenly paced to succeed as substantial historical drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film dramatizes the Boleyn family’s rise at Henry VIII’s court and is widely described as playing fast and loose with English history.
Anne and Mary Boleyn compete for Henry VIII’s affection while their family’s ambitions place pressure on their relationship.
The Boleyn family treats the sisters’ access to the king as a route to influence, status, and political power.
The film foregrounds sumptuous interiors, aristocratic costumes, royal ceremonies, and heritage-landscape imagery.
Films like The Other Boleyn Girl, and why
Elizabeth
shared lavish historical romance, royal intrigue, and themes of ambition and betrayal
The Favourite
shared Tudor court setting, political power struggles, sensuality, and women navigating patriarchal institutions
Atonement
shared sumptuous costume drama, forbidden desire, aristocratic manipulation, and tragic romantic stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Justin Chadwick
- Release Date
- 2008-02-28
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (2288)
Cast
- Natalie Portman
- Scarlett Johansson
- Eric Bana
- Jim Sturgess
- Mark Rylance
- Kristin Scott Thomas
- David Morrissey
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Oliver Coleman
- Ana Torrent
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- 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 The Other Boleyn Girl about?
- At the Tudor court, two ambitious sisters become rivals when their family turns royal desire into a ladder to power.
- What is The Other Boleyn Girl like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Other Boleyn Girl as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Other Boleyn Girl violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Other Boleyn Girl as mild.
- What did critics think of The Other Boleyn Girl?
- Critics broadly found the film visually sumptuous and entertaining in moments, but too soap-operatic, underwritten, and unevenly paced to succeed as substantial historical drama.
- Which films are like The Other Boleyn Girl?
- Films with a similar feel include Elizabeth, The Favourite, and Atonement.
- How long is The Other Boleyn Girl?
- The Other Boleyn Girl runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Other Boleyn Girl?
- In United States, The Other Boleyn Girl streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
