The Favourite

2018 Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

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.

Olivia Colman Emma Stone Rachel Weisz Nicholas Hoult Joe Alwyn Mark Gatiss James Smith Jenny Rainsford Emma Delves Faye Daveney Paul Swaine Jennifer White Lilly-Rose Stevens Denise Mack Willem Dalby Edward Aczel Carolyn Saint-Pé John Locke Everal Walsh Timothy Innes Basil Eidenbenz James Melville Declan Wyer Anthony Dougall Ben English Peter Brookes Wilson Radjou-Pujalte Gavin Henderson Callum Lewin Show All…

Alternative Titles

더 페이버릿: 여왕의 여자, The Balance of Power, The Favorite, A Favorita, The Favourite – Intrigen und Irrsinn, La Favorite, سوگلی, La Favorita, 女王陛下のお気に入り, Фаворитка, المفضلة, 真寵, Η Ευνοούμενη, ფავორიტი, 더 페이버릿-여왕의 여자

comedy history drama

119 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Sami🌦 ★★★★★ 23

U M
W H A T
T H E
A C T U A L F U C K

Edit: Letterboxd hid this review bc it didn’t “provide meaningful review content” so.. Loved the complex characters and dynamics explored, BIG fan of the sharp and smart dialogue. The cinematography, production design & visuals were, simply put, lush and indulging TREATS. The costumes? Loved those mfs too. Don’t even get me STARTED on Olivia, Emma and Rachel’s performances, having loved those three bitches I owe them my life! This movie made me laugh and cry and In Conclusion: this was some good! shit! Highly recommend. We good now @Letterboxd editorial team???

-2018 Ranked🍿
Review by davidehrlich ★★★★ 52

THE FAVOURITE POWER RANKINGS
1. Horatio: The Fastest Duck in the City
2. Nicholas Hoult?
3. Sandy Powell
4. Rachel Weisz
5. the bunny from the end. you'll know the one.
6. Olivia Colman
7. the naked dancing man who looks *way* too much like James Corden
8. Emma Stone
9. taylor swift's neo-nazi boyfriend from Operation Finale
Review by brat pitt ★★★★★ 21

i took my friend to see this and a week later she said it affected her so much that she cried about it for an entire therapy session, which is probably yorgos’s ultimate artistic goal and would mean more to him than any of the major directing awards that he should be earning!
Review by maddie ★★★★½ 8

wes anderson: hey yorgos would you mind centering the camera
yorgos: nah i’m just gonna set it over here in the corner
wes: ...
wes: what are you doing
yorgos, placing the camera on the floor: ah yes...perfect
david fincher, hovering near the lightswitch: a bit bright for my taste
Review by ellie ✨ ★★★★★ 6

imagine being cast in a filmé and your only job is to get beaten up and jerked off by emma stone. dream role
Review by Lucy ★★★★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

rachel weisz after being drugged and dragged around by a horse for like 10 miles: i’m a bad bitch you can’t kill me
Review by Erik Nordgren ★★★★★ 1

ALL I KNOW IS YOUR CARRIAGE AWAITS AND MY MAID IS ON HER WAY UP WITH SOMETHING CALLED A PINEAPPLE
Review by Sean Baker 58

Love it. Another film that I consider one of my faves of the year. Knock-out performances. Olivia, Rachel and Emma are of course fantastic and deserve recognition during awards season but I'm also hoping that Nicholas Hoult is recognized. I loved every minute of his performance.
Tell me you can achieve those beautiful close-ups of faces on digital and you're either lying or ignorant. Needless to say, it should be seen on the big screen.
Arricam LT, Panavision PVintage and Nikon Nikkor Lenses
Arricam ST, Panavision PVintage and Nikon Nikkor Lenses
Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2, Panavision PVintage and Nikon Nikkor Lenses
Screened at the AMC Sunset 5
Review by Erik Nordgren ★★★★★ 4

me: but professor yorgos how did people buy stuff

yorgos lanthimos, my history professor: the primary currency in 1700’s england was PUSSY
Review by Lucy ★★★★★ 6

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

best picture showcase: film #1
“go?”
at the beginning, the rabbits are kept in cages. and by the end, they roam loose in the queen’s room, free, but at what cost? were they better taken care of beforehand, or afterward? this definitely has the tightest script of the year and the most complex characters as well. the best movie nominated for best picture this year? maybe so
“go”
Review by Lucy ★★★★★ 11

CIFF 2018: film #7
“because i will not lie. that is love”
this killed me just like everyone knew it would. everything here is near perfect, and the power plays are absolutely ridiculous. the whole audience was laughing wildly during almost every scene. and it’s rare for me to thoroughly enjoy all lead characters in a film, but the three actresses really get to stretch their legs in these roles: i’ve never loved (and hated) emma stone more, and rachel weisz is brilliant as usual. and olivia colman brought emotional depth to what could have been such a dull one-note character. the combination of any or all of them had me on the edge of my seat for every single scene…
Review by Karsten Runquist ★★★★★ 37

Upon second viewing, I can confirm this is an absolute masterpiece.

Recent reviews

Review by ConorReviews ★★★★★

The Disney+ Version seems completely different and the fact I still think it perfection should show how amazing this film really is.
Review by Divine ★½

Weird, confusing and boring but great costumes tho
Review by Talia ★★★★½

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

lesbianism <3
Review by periodlesbmov ★★★★★

i love yorgos lanthimos choice of camera angle. also love that he strictly makes movie for mentally ill bitches.
Review by MyGuyRyGuy ★★★½

3 strong performances by the leading ladies. I really enjoyed the interactions between Stone and Weiss, but the ending did leave me wanting a bit more.
Review by Exalted ★★★★½

A very different Lanthimos project but a welcomed one nonetheless, I'd imagine this would have a lot to do with Yorgos not being the writer. However, just because he didn't write it, that didn't stop him from riddling it with his quirks. The cinematography is quirky as ever and it has this hollow vibe to it, and it's amazing. The performances are top notch, especially Olivia Coleman who is outstanding! Overall, absolutely one of his best pieces of work!
Review by Kim ½

I don't think I even got halfway through this film before switching it off, was awful.
Review by ouis ★★★★★

daddy rachel make me soup
Review by John Salthammer ★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

This took me longer to get through than The Irishman (which is a really good movie).
I really don't like costume drama's is the conclusion after watching this (small exception for Barry Lyndon).
The cinematography is nice, tho. Love the wide-angle shots.
As to the story, it's a really drawn out three way drama, reminding of a soap opera.
I may have to watch it again, but after my first watch: This is not my favourite.
Review by lea ★★★★★ 2

i had the absolute best time watching this. the movie looks incredible and the story is so much fun to follow. and the acting omg, just brilliant! i was captivated by everything going on - which i didn't even realized until it was almost over and got more serious. i'm in love!
Review by BigWilly5 ★★★

Not has fun as The Great. Just a nice calling card for Tony McNamara. Also the credits annoyed me.
🎬44
Review by btown18 ★★★½

You know I love a London boy