--- title: "The King: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-king/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-king" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The King (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 25 reviews: 10 positive, 8 mixed, 7 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, with slightly more in favour than against. Where critics do agree, it is on the cast. Most find Timothée Chalamet a compelling Prince Hal, growing more layered as the crown settles on him, and several single out Joel Edgerton’s worldly, reimagined Falstaff and Robert Pattinson’s flamboyant Dauphin as the film’s most enjoyable turns. The battle scenes, above all Agincourt, are widely praised as grim and unsentimental, and the cinematography earns steady approval. The reservations cluster around pace and purpose. A large group finds the film ponderous and self-serious, its ideas about power raised and then left undeveloped. Chalamet also divides: the Guardian, Empire and NME each find him miscast or unchanging. Consequence objects to retelling the Henriad without Shakespeare’s dialogue. The spread is wide, from near-raves at the Venice premiere to outright dismissals from The New Yorker, Vulture and Polygon once the film reached general release. ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2019. Festival review. The critic finds the adaptation stirring, lucid, and thoughtfully balanced in its treatment of power and war. He especially praises the restrained, emotionally compelling performances of Timothée Chalamet and Joel Edgerton. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/king-review-venice-2019-1236076/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2019. Turan finds the film an impressive, contemporary reimagining with strong storytelling. He especially praises Chalamet’s compelling portrayal of Hal and the film’s striking battle sequences. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-10/the-king-review-netflix-chalamet-pattinson) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2019. Festival review. The critic finds the film engrossing and praises Timothée Chalamet’s star presence as Henry V. He also singles out its grim, unsentimental depiction of battle. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-king-review-timothee-chalamet-1203320801/) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Rating 4/5. 3 September 2019. Festival review. Sexton finds the film thoroughly enjoyable, recasting Shakespeare’s history plays as a modern, violent political drama. He especially praises Robert Pattinson’s flamboyant Dauphin and Joel Edgerton’s loyal, reimagined Falstaff. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/venice-film-festival-2019-the-king-review-shakespeares-game-of-thrones-a4227601.html) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 2 September 2019. The review calls the film a sturdily entertaining historical drama. It praises Timothée Chalamet’s soulful performance as Prince Hal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-king-3) ## Screen Daily — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2019. Festival review. The accessible page identifies this as Screen Daily’s Venice review, but its verdict is unavailable. The paywall also hides any specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-king-venice-review/5142436.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2019. The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/movies/the-king-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Stephanie Watts Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. Watts finds the film’s serious approach uneven, though it becomes more engaging once the story reaches France. She praises Robert Pattinson’s entertaining performance as the Dauphin and notes the film’s thoughtful questioning of Henry’s invasion. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/festivals/the-king-venice-film-festival-review-david-michod-timothee-chalamet) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C. 2 September 2019. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the film flat and familiar, with its themes of power underdeveloped. He praises Chalamet’s performance and the realistic, emotionally revealing duel with Hotspur. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-king-review-netflix-venice-1202170476/) ## Slant Magazine — Christopher Gray Rating 2/4. 5 November 2019. The critic finds the film confused and self-serious, with its exploration of Henry’s ideals left underdeveloped. Chalamet’s performance and the tension between Henry and the Dauphin stand out, though the film fails to make enough of the latter. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-the-king-is-a-moody-and-confused-song-of-mud-and-chainmail/) ## The Guardian — Xan Brooks Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2019. Festival review. Brooks finds the film slow to win him over, though it gathers momentum and draws him into its drama. He faults Chalamet’s performance as ill-suited to the role, while praising the film’s darkening atmosphere and growing dramatic force. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/sep/02/the-king-review-rogues-gallery-timothee-chalamet-robert-pattinson-shakespeare) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 2019. Nugent finds the film lavish and occasionally effective, but ultimately too ponderous to be a definitive take on the Henriad. He praises the depiction of the Battle of Agincourt, while faulting the plodding middle and Chalamet’s unchanging performance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-king/) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). The piece frames the film as a flawed revisionist Shakespeare adaptation, with Prince Hal portrayed as an aspiring pacifist who fails his own ideals. Its central complaint is that Hal cannot live up to his standards. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-the-king-2/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2019. Lane finds the film gloomy and dramatically unconvincing, especially in its portrayal of Hal’s transformation. He praises the grimly framed battle scenes and singles out the Dauphin’s casual gesture sending his knights into combat. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/14/pain-and-glory-tells-autumnal-truths) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2019. Edelstein finds the film ethically clear but ultimately dull and conventional. He singles out Henry’s unexpected vigilante turn as a surprising exception, while criticizing the film’s treatment of Falstaff and its unconvincing moral logic. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/the-king-movie-review-timothe-chalamet-on-netflix.html) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2019. The critic finds the film a smart, taut, expectation-defying historical drama that balances battle thrills with a thoughtful critique of war and imperialism. They especially praise Joel Edgerton’s Falstaff and his on-screen chemistry with Timothée Chalamet. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-king-film-review-timothee-chalamet-robert-pattinson-netflix/) ## The Skinny — Jamie Dunn Rating ★★★★. 4 September 2019. Dunn finds Michôd’s brooding, brisk adaptation deeply satisfying and Chalamet convincing as both prince and king. He particularly praises Joel Edgerton, whose performance brings unexpected worldliness to Falstaff. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-king-timothee-chalamet-robert-pattinson-netflix) ## /Film — Joshua Meyer Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2019. The critic is pleasantly surprised, finding the film a sober and worthwhile take on power and war despite some flaws. Chalamet’s intense performance is singled out for carrying the film, with Pattinson’s scene-stealing turn also praised. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/570201/the-king-spoiler-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. Marric finds the adaptation watchable and engaging despite some imperfections. She praises Chalamet’s compelling performance and criticizes Pattinson’s miscasting and accent. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-king-lff-2019-review-timothee-chalamet/) ## Digital Spy — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2019. The critic finds the film technically impressive and worthwhile, though pacing problems and an uneven script may limit its awards prospects. They single out Chalamet’s increasingly layered performance and Michôd’s brutal, unsentimental battle scenes for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28908566/the-king-netflix-review-timothee-chalamet-robert-pattinson/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The review text is inaccessible, so its verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be identified from the page provided. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-king-timothee-chalamet-venice-review-20190903/) ## Den of Geek — Patrick Sproull Rating 3/5. 3 November 2019. Sproull finds the film visually sumptuous and well acted, but too safe and emotionally flat to make a real impact. He particularly praises the cinematography and Robert Pattinson’s entertaining performance as the Dauphin. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/netflixs-the-king-review-a-gorgeous-but-uninspiring-period-drama/) ## Consequence — Scout Tafoya Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2019. The critic finds the film gripping and perfectly watchable, but ultimately frustrated by its approach and its failure to match its Shakespearean predecessor. He praises Robert Pattinson’s comic performance and the stark cinematography, while faulting the film for remaking the story without Shakespeare’s dialogue. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2019/10/film-review-the-king-2/) ## Polygon — Karen Han Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 2019. Han finds the film dull and ultimately short of greatness, with Chalamet’s Henry lacking charisma and convincing growth. She praises Pattinson’s brief, scene-stealing turn and Edgerton’s energetic Falstaff, while noting occasional striking battlefield imagery. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/1/20942579/the-king-review-netflix-timothee-chalamet-robert-pattinson/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film a formulaic, pedestrian misstep, with Chalamet miscast and out of his depth. Edgerton’s Falstaff is singled out as the film’s one performance triumph, while the gripping ending offers some redemption. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/nme-venice-film-festival-king-review-timothee-chalamet-stars-film-loaded-cliche-2546574) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-king.md