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King Lear

2018·Movie
1h 55min

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

King Lear fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, emotionally cool.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Spectacle4
  • Violence4

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos10
  • Family Dynamics10
  • Melancholy9

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody2
  • Dark Humor2

World

Family, class and money, and politics

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.
TragedyShakespearean AdaptationDysfunctional FamilyPolitical IntriguePower StruggleBetrayalDespairMelancholyBritish Drama

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about King Lear

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream King Lear legally?

King Lear is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video in the United States. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is King Lear worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76/100 (IMDb 6.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 91%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is King Lear rated?

ViolenceStrong languageSuicide themes

Content advisories: violence, strong language, and suicide themes.

How long is King Lear?

1 h 55 min

King Lear runs 1 h 55 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on King Lear?

Critics91
Audiences62

Not quite. Critics rate King Lear higher (91) than audiences (62). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is King Lear in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch King Lear?

16AECACZDEEGESGBIEINJPMXPKPLSA+2

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for King Lear in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does King Lear use?

Eye ScreamAnnoying Younger SiblingTraumatic HaircutSetting UpdateKilled OffscreenMusical World Hypotheses

TV Tropes lists 6 storytelling tropes for King Lear, including Eye Scream, Annoying Younger Sibling, Traumatic Haircut.