The classic Shakespearean play about a murderously scheming King staged in an alternative fascist England setting.
Between Avengers: Endgame and "Stranger Things" it's been a huge week for trailers, but our favorite definitely involves Leo dancing ...
Related News
-
‘King Lear’ Amazon Review: Anthony Hopkins Enthralls, Chewing His Way Through a 21st-Century War Zone
29 September 2018 | Indiewire -
Bww Review: Mark Rylance Returns To Broadway in Unamplified and Candlelit Farinelli And The King
18 December 2017 | BroadwayWorld.com -
Netflix Didn’t Completely Quit Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K., As Streamers Keep Accused Assaulters’ Old Shows
14 November 2017 | Indiewire
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Richard III (1995)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Richard III
(1955)
Biography
|
Drama
|
History
Director:
Laurence Olivier
Stars:
Laurence Olivier,
Cedric Hardwicke,
Nicholas Hannen
Looking for Richard
(1996)
Documentary
|
Drama
Director:
Al Pacino
Stars:
Al Pacino,
Alec Baldwin,
Kevin Spacey
Restoration
(1995)
Biography
|
Drama
|
History
Director:
Michael Hoffman
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr.,
Sam Neill,
David Thewlis
Hamlet
(1996)
Drama
Director:
Kenneth Branagh
Stars:
Kenneth Branagh,
Julie Christie,
Derek Jacobi
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christopher Bowen | ... | Prince Edward | |
| Edward Jewesbury | ... | King Henry | |
| Ian McKellen | ... | Richard III | |
| Bill Paterson | ... | Ratcliffe | |
| Annette Bening | ... | Queen Elizabeth | |
 |
Matthew Groom | ... | Young Prince |
| John Wood | ... | King Edward | |
| Nigel Hawthorne | ... | Clarence | |
| Maggie Smith | ... | Duchess of York | |
| Kate Steavenson-Payne | ... | Princess Elizabeth | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | ... | Rivers | |
| Tres Hanley | ... | Air Hostess | |
| Tim McInnerny | ... | Catesby | |
|
|
Stacey Kent | ... | Ballroom Singer |
| Jim Carter | ... | Lord William Hastings | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
William Shakespeare's classic play is brought into the present with the setting as Great Britian in the 1930s. Civil war has erupted with the House of Lancaster on one side, claiming the right to the British throne and hoping to bring freedom to the country. Opposing is the House of York, commanded by the infamous Richard who rules over a fascist government and hopes to install himself as a dictator monarch. Written by Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
Power Conquers All See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 December 1995 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Ricardo III See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
£6,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$2,600,000Company Credits
Production Co:
Mayfair Entertainment International, British Screen Productions, Bayly/Paré Productions See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Prince of Wales: Goodnight Father.
King Henry: Goodnight son.
Prince of Wales: Goodnight your majesty.
See more »
(uncredited)
Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Sir Ian McKellen wrote the screenplay while touring the play. Originally, he thought it would be a television production, but he soon realized that the large production he envisaged would require the budget of a feature film. Still on tour, he began to consider screen actors he met for roles in this movie, including Sir Patrick Stewart, Danny DeVito, and Meryl Streep. See more »Goofs
Richard III died aged 32, after reigning for 2 years. Ian McKellen was in his mid-50s during filming and no attempt is made to hide his age. However he was not the first or last middle-aged actor to play the role. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Prince of Wales: Goodnight Father.
King Henry: Goodnight son.
Prince of Wales: Goodnight your majesty.
See more »
Alternate Versions
The UK (video) release has the cast credits in order of appearance. See more »Soundtracks
Te Deum: Marche en rondeau prelude(uncredited)
Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
Watch Hollywood hits and TV favorites for free with IMDb Freedive. Start streaming on IMDb and Fire TV devices today!
Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
I just rented this again for the 4th time. Maybe I should just buy myself a copy. It's among my top five movies of all time and perhaps my favorite Shakespeare adaptation. It's stunning, brilliant, and beautiful. If you like your Shakespeare with every forsooth and thee and thou spoken by actors poncing around in doublets, you'll want to avoid it. If you're a bit more daring, rent it. For the unbelievably gorgeous costumes and sets. For the modern fascist spin that gives the whole thing disturbing contemporary relevance. But most of all for the performances--from McKellan's mesmerizing turn as Richard to Nigel Hawthorne's sweet and simple Duke of Clarence. Even the smaller roles are perfectly cast. I enjoyed Adrian Dunbar's sadistic assassin, Domenic West's dashing Richmond, and Robert Downey Jr. as the playboy Earl Rivers. Annette Bening, I must say, is terrible as Queen Elizabeth. Completely unconvincing down to her wandering pseudo-aristocratic accent. I keep imagining her betters tittering with embarrassment every time the lesser-light Bening exited the "stage." A minor flaw, however, in a stunning movie. Rent it. Again and again!