Synopsis
England, early 18th century. The close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite.
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Cast
- Olivia ColmanQueen Anne
- Emma StoneAbigail
- Rachel WeiszLady Sarah
- Nicholas HoultHarley
- Joe AlwynMasham
- Mark GatissLord Marlborough
- James SmithGodolphin
- Jenny RainsfordMae
- Emma DelvesQueen's Maid
- Faye DaveneySarah's Maid
Recommendations
- 100
CineVue
The Favourite has ribaldry and intelligence to burn, a deliciously entertaining period piece that feels liberated by its period, rather than restrained and invigorates like a glass of wine thrown violently in your face. - 100
The Hollywood Reporter
[Yorgos Lanthimos'] fabulously entertaining tragicomedy, The Favourite, is a juicy power tangle connecting three women in the royal court of early 18th-century England, played by a divine trio who bounce off one another with obvious relish. - 100
Screen Daily
The Favourite is one of those rare films where the energy generated by three talents at the top of their game and the energy generated by their characters swirl and merge in a perfect storm. - 91
The Film Stage
Endlessly quotable and serendipitously timely — all the more so considering the whole project was conceived nine years ago — The Favourite is a zany, piercing close-up on three women so replete with swagger as to reduce their male counterparts to disposable extras. - 91
IndieWire
Lanthimos wants us to examine the different reasons we grasp at power — avarice, self-preservation, even fear — and better understand its corrosive effects. - 90
Variety
It’s a perfectly cut diamond of a movie — a finely executed, coldly entertaining entry in the genre of savage misanthropic baroque costume drama. - 90
Time
The Favourite is a wicked delight, a fantastic little cupcake of a movie laced with thistle frosting. - 88
TheWrap
Watching these three fiercely intelligent women, played by a trio of powerhouse actresses, is endlessly fascinating, as the goalposts constantly shift and their true selves become more apparent.
