Best movies like The Queen and the Cardinal
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies like The Queen and the Cardinal? Leverage your insights to navigate others toward tv shows and films you've already viewed that might likewise intrigue them. Assist in growing the cohort of people bringing up videos between each other. We value your contribution!
Plot Summary:
In the middle of the 17th century, forbidden lovers Queen Anne of Austria, the widow of King Louis XIII, and her Prime Minister, Cardinal Mazarin, face the opposition of a revengeful and power-seeking Court.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 110
Genere: History
Country: France
Duration: 197 min
Plot tags: historical drama, tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing
Best tv shows and movies like The Queen and the Cardinal (2009):
Similar in 75%
Angelique and the King (1966)
Plot Summary:
Soon after her latest husband death, the King himself (Louis XIV) meets with our heroine and begs her to help convince the Persian Ambassador to agree to a treaty. However, what they didn't realize was that the handsome Persian was in fact a sexual sadist. So, it is up to the King's half- brother, some Hungarian prince, to save Angélique from the evil troll's clutches.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, History, Romance
Country: France, Italy, West Germany
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: romantic, captivating, entertaining, scenic, stylized, sexy, exciting, disturbing
Similar in 84%
Richard the Lionheart: Rebellion (2015)
Plot Summary:
The year is 1173. England and France are at war. The destiny of the two great powers has never been so intertwined. As King Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor, is captured and imprisoned by the king himself, Richard and his brothers lead the fight against their father in a heartless war. Allegiances shift with each victory or defeat as the destinies of England and France keep swaying in a delicate balance.
IMDB Rating: 2.6
IMDB Votes: 418
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, period drama
Similar in 76%
Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (2015)
Plot Summary:
The story of Ashoka, emperor of the Maurya Empire, from his early struggles to his reign as a ruthless emperor.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 803
Genere: Biography, History
Country: India
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, captivating
Similar in 87%
The Rise of Louis XIV (1966)
Plot Summary:
Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed. Years later, in a coda, we see Louis exercizing the power of the sun.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, History
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: epic, political, historical drama, historically accurate, baroque, weird, period drama
Similar in 79%
The Royal Exchange (2017)
Plot Summary:
In 1721, the Regent of France, wanting to seal the peace with Spain, offers to the Spanish King, a marriage between their respective heirs: Louis XV, age 11, and Maria Anna Victoria, the 4-year-old Spanish infanta. The Regent of France also offers to marry his daughter, Mademoiselle de Montpensier, 12, to the Prince of Asturias, the 14-year-old heir apparent to the Spanish throne. Madrid responds enthusiastically to both proposals, and the ceremonies are promptly organized. The exchange of the princesses is to take place with great pomp on a small island, in the river bordering the two countries. Everything has been done to expect the best of the children, but nothing will proceed as planned.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France, Belgium, UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, captivating, scenic, thought provoking, art house
Similar in 84%
The Black Prince (2017)
Plot Summary:
The Black Prince follows the story of the last Sikh Maharaja — the son of the powerful ruler Ranjit Singh — who was placed on the throne at the age of five, after the death of his father. In 1849, the young prince was removed from the throne and eventually sent off to England. His attempts to return to India and reclaim his kingdom were subsequently thwarted by the British.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, India, USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 82%
Henry VIII and His Six Wives (2016)
Plot Summary:
Henry VIII is the most infamous monarch in English history. Famously he married six times over his 36 year reign. The six queens were formidable individuals. Some were ambitious, some brave, some ruthless - and between them they shaped the man who began as a Renaissance prince, became a monster and ended a regretful old man. In turn they shaped England itself. Presented jointly Suzannah Lipscomb and Dan Jones, this is 4-Part series is an original and enlightening look at the real people at the centre of the action during one of the most turbulent, passionate and violent periods in English history.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 252
Genere: History
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: light, captivating, realistic, historical drama
Similar in 80%
Royal Wives at War (2016)
Plot Summary:
The Queen Mother and Wallis Simpson look back at the dramatic events of 1936, which led to King Edward Vlll giving up the throne for the woman he loved.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 124
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 59 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, captivating
Similar in 89%
The Death of Louis XIV (2016)
Plot Summary:
August 1715. After going for a walk, Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The next days, the king keeps fulfilling his duties and obligations, but his sleep is troubled and he has a serious fever. He barely eats and weakens increasingly. This is the start of the slow agony of the greatest king of France, surrounded by his relatives and doctors.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: France, Portugal, Spain
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, disturbing, exciting, tense, touching, atmospheric, historical drama, baroque
Similar in 86%
The King Is Dancing (2000)
Plot Summary:
Louis XIV, the French sun-king has two passions, establishing absolute rule over the realm -after decades of religious/civil wars- by divine right and artistic brilliancy as a dancer.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Music
Country: France, Germany, Belgium
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, stylized, serious, realistic, captivating, dramatic, visual, historical drama, mesmerizing, contemplative
Similar in 75%
The King's Daughters (2000)
Plot Summary:
Late 17th Century: Anne de Grandcamp and Lucie de Fontenelle, two little girls from Normandy, arrive at the Saint-Cyr school founded by Madame de Maintenon for educating the daughters of impoverished nobles ruined in wars and making them into free women. Madame de Maintenon is the secret wife of Louis XIV, and empowered by his support, she offers "her" two hundred fifty girls a playful and avant-garde education. Anne and Lucie, two inseparable friends, allow themselves to be carried away by the promise of a bright future. But Maintenon has arrived at the pinnacle of power through scheming and debasing herself and she now fears the fires of hell. She is counting on her model school to atone for her past sins.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 700
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, Germany, Belgium
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: captivating, sincere, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, epic, baroque, weird
Similar in 86%
The Confidant (2012)
Plot Summary:
"The Confidant" depicts how a group of eunuchs survive in the weakening Qing empire, and closely traces imperial eunuch Li Lianying's early life from the first day he entered the imperial palace to become one of the most powerful political figures in the latter years of the Qing Dynasty. The drama also follows Li's relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi, and how he eventually becomes her closest confidant.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 10
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Hong Kong
Duration:
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, suspense, disturbing
Similar in 90%
Versailles: The Dream of a King (2008)
Plot Summary:
Docudrama about the life of Louis XIV nicknamed "the Sun King", the King of France who ran a glamorous court, expanded the borders of France, loved women and parties and built an incredible palace for himself - the Versailles.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 364
Genere: Documentary, Biography, Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: political, historical drama, baroque, weird
Similar in 77%
A Cursed Monarchy (2005)
Plot Summary:
It is the early 1300's and the treasury of France, under the rule of Philippe IV (Philippe le Bel or Philippe the Beautiful), is empty. The king decides the only solution is to raid the treasures of the Knights Templar (amongst others) and concocts various charges of treason, heresy and deviance against the Knights and their Grand Master Jacques de Molay. Having confessed under torture to the crimes of which he is accused, de Molay is condemned to be burned at the stake. With his dying breath he curses the king, the king's advisor (Guillaume de Nogaret), the pope (Pope Clement V) and the thirteen succeeding generations of their families. There follows one of the most dramatic periods in French history, half a century of political intrigue, murder, treason, war and famine, which ultimately culminates in the 100 Years War.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 559
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France, Italy
Duration: 500 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, mysterious, disturbing
Similar in 88%
The Accursed Kings (1972)
Plot Summary:
Set during the reigns of the last five kings of the Capetian dynasty and the first two kings of the House of Valois, the series begins as the French King Philip the Fair, already surrounded by scandal and intrigue, brings a curse upon his family when he persecutes the Knights Templar. The succession of monarchs that follows leads France and England to the Hundred Years' War.
IMDB Rating: 8.6
IMDB Votes: 400
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 616 min
Plot tags: historical drama
Similar in 86%
Queens (2016)
Plot Summary:
The story of the rivalry that existed between two great European monarchs: Mary Stuart of Scotland and Elizabeth I of England. They fought for supremacy in the political, religious and personal realms, under the attentive eyes of the most feared monarch in Europe, Philip II.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 161
Genere: History
Country: Spain, UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: historical drama, tense, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 85%
Angelique (2013)
Plot Summary:
The incredible destiny of Angélique: a beautiful girl who found in her love for Joffrey Peyrac the strength to fight injustice and submission in a century plagued by power struggles, inequality and the oppression.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, History, Romance
Country: France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Austria
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: romantic, stylized, touching, compassionate, serious, erotic, exciting, sexy, realistic, costume drama
Similar in 80%
The Man in the Iron Mask (1977)
Plot Summary:
The story of Louis XIV of France and his attempts to keep his identical twin brother Philippe imprisoned away from sight and knowledge of the public, and Philippe's rescue by the aging Musketeers, led by D'Artagnan.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic, period drama
Similar in 82%
One Nation, One King (2018)
Plot Summary:
Un peuple et son roi crosses the destinies of the men and women of the population, and those of historical figures. Their meeting place is the newly founded National Assembly. At the heart of the story lie the fate of the king and the birth of the French Republic….
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France, Belgium
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: realistic, factual, tense, captivating, political
Similar in 86%
The French Revolution (1989)
Plot Summary:
A history of the French Revolution from the decision of the king to convene the Etats-Generaux in 1789 in order to deal with France's debt problem. The first part of the movie tells the story from 1789 until August 10, 1792 (when the King Louis XVI lost all his authority and was put in prison). The second part carries the story through the end of the terror in 1794, including the deaths by guillotine of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton, and Desmoulins.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Thriller, War
Country: France, West Germany, Italy, Canada
Duration: 335 min
Plot tags: historical drama, cult classic, exciting, uplifting, serious, captivating, realistic, epic, suspense, political thriller
Similar in 76%
Vatel (2000)
Plot Summary:
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, UK, Belgium
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: light, melancholic, tricky, captivating, visually appealing, period piece, costume drama, stylized, epic, political
Similar in 77%
Ekaterina (2014)
Plot Summary:
The life of the Russian Empress Ekaterina II (Catherine the Great), a German born princess who came to Russia as bride for the young Peter III, chosen by his aunt Elisabeth, and who, once she came into power, transformed the Russian empire.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Russia
Duration: 44 min
Plot tags: captivating, historical drama, suspenseful, sentimental, romantic, touching, lyrical, period drama
Similar in 87%
The Countess of Castiglione (2006)
Plot Summary:
Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, is an unscrupulous and beautiful woman, in love with Andrea Pieri, a patriot ready to do anything to free Italy from the foreign oppressor. Wounded during a chase, Pieri takes refuge in the castle of Virginia, which, with the approval of her husband, Count Francesco Verasis of Castiglione, takes care of him. Meanwhile, Nigra, in charge of the affairs of the Kingdom of Piedmont in Paris, discovers the relations of the countess with the subversives and sees in her the perfect tool to bring Napoleon closer to the Italian cause.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 28
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Italy, Spain, France
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: captivating, disturbing
Similar in 79%
A Vote for the King of the Romans (2016)
Plot Summary:
Czech Television's epic historical film draws on the breathtaking dramatic life of the great of Czech history, King Charles IV.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 54
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Czech Republic
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 81%
The Queen (2009)
Plot Summary:
The Queen was a 2009 British drama-documentary showing Queen Elizabeth II at different points during her life. Broadcast on Channel 4 over five consecutive nights from 29 November 2009, the Queen was portrayed by a different actress in each episode. The Queen was portrayed by Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn and Diana Quick. Katie McGrath played Princess Margaret in the first episode and Lesley Manville played Margaret Thatcher in the third episode.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 150
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: psychological, thought provoking, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 87%
Mary Queen of Scots (2013)
Plot Summary:
The life and death of the Scottish monarch.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 986
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Switzerland, France
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: stylized, captivating, realistic, serious, historical drama, romantic drama, period drama
Similar in 76%
Louis, the Child King (1993)
Plot Summary:
History buffs will glory in the riches of Louis, Enfant Roi, others will perhaps find this complex story of intrigues and betrayals in the court of the young king tough sledding. When Louis the Fourteenth (1638-1715) was born, the power of government was shared between the monarchy, the church, the nobility, and the Parlement. His predecessor had greatly centralized the powers of government following the advice of Cardinal Richelieu. Louis XIV (often called "The Sun King" for the brilliance of his rule) followed the advice of Richelieu's successor, Cardinal Mazarin (Paolo Graziosi), and brought the powers of government under the sole sway of the monarch. He expanded the territory and influence of France in a series of wars throughout his reign. How he came to be so autocratic and ruthless both personally and politically is the subject of this biographical drama.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 293
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France
Duration: 160 min
Plot tags: historical drama, baroque, period drama
Similar in 88%
Gunpowder, Treason & Plot (2004)
Plot Summary:
A BBC miniseries based loosely on the lives of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son James I of England.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 205 min
Plot tags: historical drama, serious, captivating, realistic, political, period piece, costume drama, period drama, baroque, weird
Similar in 77%
Versailles (2015)
Plot Summary:
The story of a young Louis XIV on his journey to become the most powerful monarch in Europe, from his battles with the fronde through his development into the Sun King. Historical and fictional characters guide us in a world of betrayal and political maneuvering, revealing Versailles in all its glory and brutality.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: France, Canada
Duration: 52 min
Plot tags: captivating, costume drama, historical drama, realistic, serious, political, period piece, erotic, educational, sensual
Similar in 81%
Queen Margot (1994)
Plot Summary:
The night of August 24, 1572, is known as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In France a religious war is raging. In order to impose peace a forced wedding is arranged between Margot de Valois, sister of the immature Catholic King Charles IX, and the Hugenot King Henri of Navarre. Catherine of Medici maintains her behind-the-scenes power by ordering assaults, poisonings, and instigations to incest.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, Germany, Italy
Duration: 161 min
Plot tags: period piece, sexy, epic, visually appealing, historical drama, atmospheric, captivating, bleak, costume drama, romantic