This period movie has been described as the “best Netflix film ever made” by fans, and it has a stellar cast lineup. The King is an epic historical drama film directed by David Michôd and released in 2019. It is based on several plays from William Shakespeare’s Henriad, and the screenplay was written by Michôd and Joel Edgerton, who both produced the film with Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Liz Watts.
The ensemble cast led by Timothée Chalamet as the Prince of Wales and later King Henry V of England, alongside Edgerton, Sean Harris, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Pattinson, and Ben Mendelsohn. The film’s synopsis reads: “Young Henry V encounters deceit, war and treachery after becoming King of England in the 15th century, in the aftermath of his brother’s death.”
Fans of the film have taken to IMDb to share their views on the movie, which holds a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The critics consensus states: “While The King is sometimes less than the sum of its impressive parts, strong source material and gripping performances make this a period drama worth hailing.”
Many have criticised the film for its historical inaccuracies, whereas others recognise that it is a dramatisation inspired by real life events.
One fan said: “We are crying out for more,” and added: “Netflix got this one spot on. No romance, just a gritty historical story that keeps you gripped from start to end. And you’ll want to watch it again. That’s my measure of a good film, one I’d happily watch again. It’s Braveheart quality, if a bit better, and the young lad who plays Hal does a fine job, as do all the supporting cast. We are crying out for more of this type of film and content.”
Another fan said: “I would say this is the best Netflix movie ever made! The acting and the writing are Oscar-worthy.”
“In my opinion, the best movie on Netflix and one of the best movies I have ever seen. Incredible medieval climate and beautiful pictures,” added a third.
A viewer on IMDb described the film as “movie of the year”, adding: “A true masterpiece, brilliant acting and directing, with an engaging soundtrack that touches you deeply and the deafening silence among certain scenes is pure empathy. Highly appreciated.”
The King is available to stream now on Netflix.