We all love films about messy families who live for drama—and what kind of family is messier than a royal family? Whether they're based on real-life historical monarchs or they're totally imaginary, movies about royals are fun to watch, even if only to indulge in that privileged lifestyle. Let me muster up my best Sandra Oh in The Princess Diaries impression and say "The Queen is coming" ...to your movie night. Or the king, or prince, princess, duchess, duke, empress, or emperor...you get it.
Royal movies are not a traditional "genre" per se, but that kind of makes picking a movie to watch all the more fun! Stories about monarchs and courts span both film categories and centuries. So pause your rewatch of The Crown, put on a pot of tea, and let's get into the 25 best royal movies.
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1'Marie Antoinette'
I know it's not the point, but I would 100 percent live in this vibe forever. Sofia Coppola's comedy gives the historically mocked queen a second chance. Much deserved, if you ask me!
Based on the autobiography of Puyi, the last Chinese Emperor, this movie won Best Picture and like eight other Oscars including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director. It's good!
As a curly-haired person, this movie gave me bad self-esteem, but I understand that a lot of y'all like it. Just don't watch it with me unless you want to hear about my trauma.
Americans, at least, could probably tell you more about fictional royal families than real ones. The royal family of Gondor in Lord of the Rings and the birthright that Aragorn claimed is absolutely one of them.
Obviously, a lot of Shakespeare plays are about royalty, but I want to shout out this adaptation with Ian McKellen and a young Robert Downey Jr. — you're welcome!
It doesn't get much more epic than Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. With this film, Elizabeth became the first actress to make $1 million for a single motion picture. There's also a lot of BTS drama that would make real-life royals gossip, but I'll leave that for you to find out.
When The Crown first premiered, most of us were already familiar with Elizabeth's father because of The King's Speech. The Academy Award-winning film features a killer performance from Colin Firth and gets into what it's like to learn on the job as a royal.
Guy Ritchie's fast-paced adaptation of the iconic tale isn't everyone's favorite, but does everyone's favorite have Charlie Hunnam? The defense rests, your honor.
It's a classic film, a classic Audrey Hepburn performance, and a classic royal trope: princess sneaks out and falls in love. It's like Aladdin with vespas instead of magic carpets.
This iconic '00s "too hot for English class" version of The Iliad deserves a spot on the Hall of Fame. (Or maybe you're more of a Tristan & Isolde girlie. I respect it.)
There are a handful of royal families in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—Thor and Shang-Chiand the Legend of the Ten Rings both dabble with regal themes.But the way Black Panther introduced a detailed and complex monarchy is unmatched. Plus, only one MCU royal family has the Dora Milaje.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this film, which is low-key a sequel to The Three Musketeers, as twin brothers separated at birth who couldn't be less alike. Imagine if the prince in The Prince and the Pauper was a f*ckboy... because this is worse.
Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, and Joe Alwyn all in one movie with double the royalty and rivalry? Don't mind if I do. Soon enough, we'll be able to have a double feature with this and Barbie.
You know about the Victorian age, but how much do you know about Victoria the Queen? The Love Actually needle drop in the trailer is more than just a jump scare. The romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is one for the ages, and how can you resist Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend?!
Lana and Lilly Wachowski were wild for this one—but I kind of love it?? The royal family in question may be far away in space, but they're dramatic AF. You haven't lived until you've watched Eddie Redmayne's petty prince throw a tantrum. Even Joffrey from Game of Thrones would be shook.
Fun fact: this Versailles-set royal movie was directed by Alan Rickman, who also stars as King Louis XIV. His court was famously full of gossip, party, and scandal. It's the perfect setting for a love story like this one.
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