Victoria & Abdul

Play trailer

2:24

Victoria & Abdul

PG-13

2017

1h 51m

History

Drama

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

195 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Victoria & Abdul reunites Dame Judi Dench with the role of Queen Victoria -- which is all this period drama needs to overcome its imbalanced narrative.

Read Critics Reviews

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Oct 13, 2017

2/4

Victoria & Abdul may capture the ugly side of Britain's colonial past, but its demeaning portrait of Abdul reinforces the Orientalism it purports to lampoon.

Go to Full Review

Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

Oct 5, 2017

2.5/4

It's hard not to like Victoria & Abdul-but it's all shiny surfaces. I can't help but to wonder how much deeper Frears might've dug into this rich material had he directed it 20 years ago.

Go to Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Oct 5, 2017

2.5/5

There's not a whole lot to Victoria & Abdul, but fans of stories about the royals should find their thirsts satisfied.

Go to Full Review

Hosea Rupprecht

Catholic News Service

Aug 12, 2021

An endearing historical drama...

Go to Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Mar 1, 2021

3/5

If the recent film mother! was an attempt, as one writer suggested, "to shock its audiences out of complacency," Victoria & Abdul is an attempt to lull its audience into complacency.

Go to Full Review

Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

Oct 1, 2020

2.5/5

Victoria and Abdul exposes itself as being just as shallow as the bigots it derides; the only difference is the purity of its intentions.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Brad A

@RT04437610 Jan 4, 2026

Abdul comes across as a con man. Maybe he really was? But either way he's not someone you want to pull for in the story. It just come across as he's exploiting the queen for his own personal gain, and you understand why everyone resents him. Not a fun movie to watch.

See more

Marit Risto F

@MaritRisto Dec 16, 2025

I love Dench. And the way that a handsome, young man can bring her back to life. I dislike strongly the way that Muslims cover up, and control women though. And also imperialism. Karim's ways, also in dressing, is pleasant to me. As the men I saw in Sri Lanka 50 years ago. But already then, they took the awful European fashion of shirts, bell bottoms, and even plateu shoes. In 50°C...

See more

Mithun monish K

@RT78017294 Dec 5, 2025

We all are humans not a beast, the queen treated the man like a friend and a son.I cried a lot when the flim begins to end ,such a beautiful heartwarming flim.

See more

Damien S

@RT47420453 Nov 27, 2025

Thoroughly enjoyable.

See more

Weighty Connected L

@RT15043548 Apr 29, 2024

The portrayal of an unlikely yet real-life friendship between the British Queen Victoria and an Indian muslim servant Abdul Karim during her final years, this 2017 Stephen Frears film shows the beauty of friendship and the ugliness of racialist prejudice and greed for power, seen in the beautiful performances of the cast, esp. Judi Dench.

See more

Felix Anthony L

@FlixAntoniLim Apr 17, 2024

The story showcases a friendship that was ahead of its time - unbiased, transcends generational, religious and cultural differences. Victoria and Abdul shares the idea of openness and kindness in friendships where an age difference is not a hindrance, rather the focus is on curiosity, appreciation and acceptance. Although some aspects of the movie may have been fictionalised to enhance the story, the emotional roller coaster and sparks of comedy is on point.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Stephen Frears

Director

Judi Dench

Queen Victoria

Ali Fazal

Abdul Karim

Michael Gambon

Lord Salisbury

Olivia Williams

Lady Churchill

Suzy Eddie Izzard

Bertie, Prince of Wales

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - Absolutely No Eye Contact

1:42

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - I Will Accept Your Resignations

2:17

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - The Banquet Hall of Eternity

2:55

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - The Queen's Munshi

3:21

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - Anything But Insane

3:07

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - Life Is Like a Carpet

2:33

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - The Queen's Song

2:32

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - I Will Be Courteous

3:33

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - You Really Are Beautiful

2:49

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Official Clip - I Am the Sultan of Persia

3:02

Now Playing

View more videos

Radioactive

63%

43%

Radioactive

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Radioactive

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

40%

73%

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Marshall

80%

84%

Marshall

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Marshall

The Zookeeper's Wife

64%

76%

The Zookeeper's Wife

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Zookeeper's Wife

Suffragette

72%

68%

Suffragette

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Suffragette

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Where to Watch Every 2018 Oscar Nominee

2018 BAFTA Winners Announced

2018 Oscar Nominations Announced: The Shape of Water Leads with 13 Nominations

Victoria & Abdul: Behind the Scenes - B-Roll #2

5:36

Now Playing

Victoria & Abdul: Behind the Scenes - B-Roll 1

5:28

Now Playing

Victoria and Abdul: Trailer 1

2:24

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.

Director: Stephen Frears
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Beeban Kidron, Tracey Seaward
Screenwriter: Lee Hall
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Working Title Films, Cross Street Films, BBC Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.2M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings