Mary Queen of Scots

Play trailer

1:00

Mary Queen of Scots

R

2018

2h 4m

Biography

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

294 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her sister in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Mary Queen of Scots delivers uneven period political thrills while offering a solid showcase for the talents of its well-matched leads.

Read Critics Reviews

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

02/21/2020

It's a shame that everything collapses when the queens finally meet in a sequence that has all the heft of a gauzy Chanel fragrance spot.

Go to Full Review

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Livemint

07/29/2019

In spite of being handcuffed by uninspired storytelling, [Ronan and Robbie] excel in communicating strength, vulnerability and isolation as two monarchs ruling in a man's world.

Go to Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

02/07/2019

Few movies make a better case for reexamining the patriarchal historical truths we've come to accept than the impassioned, intricate Mary Queen of Scots.

Go to Full Review

Greg Carlson

Vague Visages

11/08/2023

Dramatic license is so much a given that discussions of authenticity are as damned as they are damning.

Go to Full Review

Andrea Thompson

A Reel of One's Own

12/19/2022

D

“Mary Queen of Scots” could've at least been an average, or even above average effort to explore a history that is so often misconstrued. Instead, both women are done a disservice in a more modern way...

Go to Full Review

Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

12/07/2022

Willimon and Rourke focus on issues of gender and sexuality in fascinating ways, although it is sometimes jarring to see Mary as a paragon of contemporary tolerance.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Ken s

@chibear Dec 10

I usually don’t write reviews, but this movie was such a waste of time that people should be warned. It is the perfect marriage of woke revisionism, terrible soundtrack (from a usually decent composer) and historical inaccuracies. A complete waste of your money.

See more

Paige W

Sep 2

I wanted to love this movie, and there was a lot of potential. It's just hard to actually watch it when there's barely any plot.

See more

J B

Feb 15

Had so looked forward to this because too few historical dramas reach the big screen these days. But what a disappointment. I could’ve forgiven the agenda-driven casting had the dialogue and plot been at least a bit historical or interesting. Not even a hint of Mary’s complexities such as her involvement in plotting against Elizabeth and Elizabeth herself being portrayed as a caricature.

See more

Rob A

11/15/2024

I think time will look very favourably upon this misunderstood masterpiece. There is some incredible casting, some stunning acting performances and as a whole it is a beautiful feast for the eyes. Ronin is spectacular. Spellbinding. Lowden is amazing. A truly stunning film and one which lives with me, and deserves so much more praise than it seems to get. Beautiful. I think it’s excellent.

See more

02/20/2024

Entertaining, well-acted

See more

Alec B

@Alec97 01/05/2024

Even if the final 10 minutes are quite compelling, the rest of the movie isn't much more than a elaborately costumed tawdry melodrama.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Josie Rourke

Director

Saoirse Ronan

Mary Stuart

Margot Robbie

Queen Elizabeth I

Jack Lowden

Lord Darnley

Joe Alwyn

Robert Dudley

David Tennant

John Knox

Colette

87%

70%

Colette

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Colette

Jackie

87%

60%

Jackie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Jackie

Seberg

36%

50%

Seberg

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Seberg

The King

71%

84%

The King

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The King

The Birth of a Nation

72%

71%

The Birth of a Nation

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Birth of a Nation

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Aquaman Is See-Worthy

Mary Queen of Scots: A Period Political Thriller With Smarts

The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2019 Golden Globe Nominations

Mary Queen of Scots: Trailer 2

1:00

Mary Queen of Scots: International Trailer 1

2:24

Mary Queen of Scots: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her sister in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence.

Director: Josie Rourke
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward
Screenwriter: Beau Willimon
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features, Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films
Rating: R (Some Violence and Sexuality)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.4M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now