The King is Netflix’s historical drama about Henry V and his rule of England, loosely based on Shakespeare’s play about the historical figure, Henry V. Depicting Henry’s struggle with the difficulties of war, the movie looks at alliances, battles, casualties, and even marriage.
Timothée Chalamet - American sweetheart - was an unexpected choice to play Henry V, an English King. Not only that, but it stars Robert Pattinson as the King of France and was produced by Brad Pitt, who has praised the performances of the movie immensely. The period drama has been lauded by critics and audiences as well. If you liked The King, here are 10 other movies you would enjoy watching as well.
Troy
We all know Troy as one of Brad Pitt’s most iconic movies, but it is much more than that. It provides a convincing approach to Greek mythology, combining its most famous elements from the Trojan horse to Achilles’s heel. The movie depicts the eruption of a huge war fueled by love, honor, pride, and greed between Greece and Troy.
The tone and atmospheres of Troy and The King are rather similar. For fans of The King’s fighting sequences, its complicated love stories and, most importantly, its themes of war and conflict, Troy is perfect.
Dunkirk
Other elements outside of the storyline make The King great, some of which include its peculiar build-up of tension and suspense during scenes of danger, its captivating cinematography, and its thrilling and evocative music. All of these elements are even more prominent in Dunkirk. Dunkirk is one of Christopher Nolan’s masterpieces.
The movie is also, like The King, based on an incredible true story: thousands of soldiers desperately trying to flee Dunkirk during a losing battle against German forces. The movie draws into the action like no other.
Outlaw King
Outlaw King is a film about historical figure Robert the Bruce, a famous warrior who was crowned King of Scotland. The film recounts the King’s journey as, after being forced into exile by England, he wages a war against the English with a group of outlaws to take back his place on the throne.
Chris Pine stars as the outlaw King, who presents a boldness and ambitiousness like that of King Henry in The King. The movies are quite similar in their portrayal of the Kings with honor and conviction and of the hardships, the tensions, and conflicts between nations in the 15th century.
12 Years A Slave
Just like The King, 12 Years A Slave is a historical drama with an emphasis on characterization and historical accuracy. With beautiful cinematography and a moving performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the movie is critically acclaimed and won three Academy Awards. The film is a roller coaster of emotions: it traces the real story of Solomon Northup, an African American in the 19th century who took up a job offer only to find himself kidnapped and sold into slavery. For twelve years, he fought to escape this nightmare’s claws. If you enjoy historical dramas, this is by far one of the best out there.
The Other Boleyn Girl
The world is very familiar with Anne Boleyn, who was Henry VIII’s wife and eventually beheaded under his order. But Anne had a sister called Mary whom, much like the title tells us, The Other Boleyn Girl focuses on. A rivalry grows between the two sisters as they fight for the King’s attention, and it’s thrilling to watch.
The movie has a highly talented cast with Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn, Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn and Eric Bana as Henry VIII. Although the movie is based on real people, it is an adaptation of a book that fictionalizes the lives of these people.
Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour is not just one of Gary Oldman’s best performances, it’s an intricate movie with touches of humor that accurately portrays the story of Winston Churchill’s time as Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. The biopic shows us a torn Churchill who is struggling with a crucial choice: continuing the war against Nazi Germany or signing a peace treaty with the nation.
The movie captures Churchill’s subtle character perfectly: the weight of the decision he has to make challenges his certainty with himself and his ambitiousness.
The Favourite
The Favourite tells the story of Queen Anne of England and her relationship with women. When the Queen becomes ill, a young and poor Abigail - who is a relative of the Queen’s friend - seizes the opportunity for employment by becoming the Queen’s servant and tending to her. Eventually, the two get tangled up in a complex relationship filled with sexual tension, jealousy, friendship, and romance. Just like Timothéw Chalamet does in The King, Emma Stone rocks an English accent in this movie. And if you liked The King’s approach to the complexities of love, you will love The Favourite.
The Young Victoria
Emily Blunt plays a teenage Victoria on her way to becoming Queen of England in this biopic, The Young Victoria and she excels in the role. Her performance perfectly captures the liveliness, vigor, and flirtatiousness of Queen Victoria in her youth. The princess learns about the hardships of ruling and about love, through her romance with Prince Albert.
Although the tone is slightly different - just like The King, The Young Victoria focuses on a young ruler and it explores the challenges and downsides of having so much responsibility at such a young age.
Mary Queen Of Scots
Mary Queen Of Scots is a historical drama released in 2018 and follows Mary Stuart as she reclaims the throne in her native home of Scotland. Starring Margot Robbie as the Queen of England and Saoirse Ronan as the Queen of Scotland, the movie looks at the growing tension between these two rulers.
Despite some historical inaccuracy, the film is entertaining and compelling in the way that The King is. With incredible performances and a fascinating look at England and Scotland, as well as their respective Queens as rivals, this movie should be next on your watchlist.
Elizabeth
True to its title, Elizabeth follows the real story of Queen Elizabeth, following her rise and downfall as one of the most famous rulers of England. Played by Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth is initially a kind and fair young woman who wants nothing but the best for her country.
But the Victorian era was a harsh time, and Elizabeth has to deal with opposition, war, and religion when she is on the throne. On top of that, Elizabeth faces a disease that costs her her beauty, and she is forced to wear pounds of make-up to cover the damage, giving her her infamous pale look.
