The Madness of King George

Play trailer

The Madness of King George

PG-13

1994

1h 50m

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Thanks largely to stellar all-around performances from a talented cast, The Madness of King George is a funny, entertaining, and immensely likable adaptation of the eponymous stage production.

Read Critics Reviews

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Aug 17, 2016

4/5

Visually sumptuous, energetic and classy, The Madness of King George is British film theatre at its most seductive.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Aug 22, 2006

A-

Hytner's version of Bennett's comic-tragic drama of the tormented king who almost lost his mind confirms that power games, family scandals, and personal intrigues have always been integral to the British Crown, an institution both revered and reviled.

Go to Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 18, 2002

3/4

In its own shambling, elliptical way it's an entertaining, memorable movie whose 2 1/2 hours go by without strain.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Feb 9, 2026

2/4

...a sluggish historical drama that’s never quite able to disguise or overcome its theatrical origins...

Go to Full Review

Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

Apr 21, 2022

The film, though English in subject matter, was far from English in style. It was grand, not parochial; crude, not genteel, and very funny.

Go to Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Mar 14, 2022

3/4

Hawthorne plays madness with restraint. It's only when he hears the news from Yorktown that he goes really bananas.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

YIYI X

@yiyi11 Nov 8, 2026

The performances of both the King and Queen were outstanding. I was surprised that the King eventually managed to regain some control over his illness and return to ruling the country. One scene that particularly struck me was when the Queen, surrounded by people laughing at her, turned to her eldest son and begged him to let her stay by the King's side. It was painfully realistic. If an ordinary person can dream of becoming a king, what does a king dream of? Perhaps, as an ordinary person, I will never truly understand the loneliness and sorrow that come with standing at the very top of the world. I just hope that one day I will meet someone like the Queen—someone who offers unwavering support, unconditional love, and the kind of devotion that endures even through life's darkest moments.

See more

Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 May 7, 2026

Entertaining. A great cast and competent direction. This is a well-made movie—nothing misplaced, everything carefully crafted, never slipping into caricature or homage. It runs a bit long, but never feels tiresome. Not a masterpiece, yet a solid pick for a film session.

See more

Eye C

@ECinc Jul 1, 2024

An historic movie that is interesting and the king is the whole movie.

See more

Alec B

@Alec97 Dec 13, 2023

Yeah, Bennett's screenplay is fantastic and so is the whole cast (Nigel Hawthorne in particular), but Hytner's direction is what makes the whole thing work, emphasizing the dark, dirty reality of late 18th century England through carefully chosen shots that recall "Barry Lyndon" in the best possible way.

See more

Julie H

@RT14438534 Oct 2, 2023

It's a cavalcade of great English actors like Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren and Ian Holm. Hard to watch in places for the physical tortures imposed on the King to treat him for a mental illness. Interestingly, the Prince of Wales, later George IV, is as floozily awful as caricatured by Hugh Laurie in Blackadder III and most of the attendees of the ailing George III appear to have been a million times worse than Blackadder himself

See more

david f

@dfulmer Dec 7, 2022

I loved the Royal setting but the plot, characters, and story were a little wanting.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Nicholas Hytner

Director

Nigel Hawthorne

George III

Helen Mirren

Queen Charlotte

Ian Holm

Dr. Willis

Rupert Everett

Prince of Wales

Rupert Graves

Greville

Jefferson in Paris

36%

35%

Jefferson in Paris

Watchlist

1492: Conquest of Paradise

32%

50%

1492: Conquest of Paradise

Watchlist

Henry V

97%

89%

Henry V

Watchlist

In Love and War

12%

50%

In Love and War

Watchlist

The Lady and the Duke

72%

69%

The Lady and the Duke

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Producer: Stephen Evans, David Parfitt
Screenwriter: Alan Bennett
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company, Hallmark Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 28, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.2M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings