The Favourite
The brief
Lanthimos turns Versailles into a snake pit where Olivia Colman's petulant, brilliant Queen Anne becomes the prize in a ruthless game between Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. The whole thing moves like a chess match played with poison, all fisheye lenses and acid-tongued dialogue that makes every drawing room feel like a gladiator arena. Colman is absolutely magnetic as this childish monarch who's both pathetic and terrifying, while Stone and Weisz circle each other like beautiful predators. If you loved the palace intrigue of Marie Antoinette but wished it had more venom, or you're already sold on anything Lanthimos does after The Lobster, this is your jam.
The verdict
If you crave wickedly sharp period pieces with brilliant performances and don't mind your historical drama served with a heavy dose of cruelty and absurdist humor, this is essential viewing. If you prefer your costume dramas romantic and accessible rather than acidic and deliberately unsettling, you'll find Lanthimos's venomous take on palace intrigue more exhausting than entertaining.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for date night with sharp commentary
- ⚠️ Skip if you prefer straightforward narratives
Heads up
- Sexual content and nudity throughout (frequent)
- Psychological manipulation and cruelty (moderate)
- Brief graphic violence including stabbing (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Cast
- Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, Mark Gatiss
Official synopsis
In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend, Lady Sarah, governs
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Quills (2000)
Both explore power, madness, and sexual manipulation in decadent historical settings.
Total runtime: 1h 59m + 2h 04m = 4h 3m
