--- title: "The Lion in Winter: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-lion-in-winter/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-lion-in-winter" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 12 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 Lion in Winter (1968): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 12 reviews: 10 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it, and the praise falls almost entirely on the two leads. Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole are named again and again for their sparring as Eleanor and Henry II, and the screenplay is the second most common point of admiration: literate, quick and savage in its account of a royal family carving up an inheritance. Several reviews also note the early appearances of Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton, and Anthony Harvey’s direction is credited with keeping out of the way of the script. The reservations are about the film’s stage origins. The New York Times finds the climaxes and the specifically cinematic passages the weakest parts, and The New Yorker goes further, arguing that campy material has been treated with too much solemnity and that Hepburn leans on her own persona. Eye for Film, otherwise admiring, finds some of the supporting turns hammy. The spread is narrow apart from that one outright dissent, and more recent reviews tend to see it as a Christmas film about a family that cannot stand each other. ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 21 February 2025. The critic calls it the original Succession and highlights the star-studded cast and literate screenplay. The verbal sparring and inheritance drama at Chinon castle are singled out as the film's strengths. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-lion-in-winter-1968-review-original-succession-njb8ptrlz) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2016. This restored classic still roars with its splendid language, pageantry, and spectacular lead performances by Hepburn and O'Toole as battling royals. The focus on verbal jousting and the strong cast, including early turns by Hopkins and Dalton, keeps it compelling despite its theatrical roots. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-lion-in-winter-review-20161209-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 November 1968. The film succeeds with its literate script and intelligent direction, standing out for handling ideas and emotions effectively in a believable historical setting. Ebert praises the strong performances, especially by Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, and newcomers Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-in-winter-1968) ## The Guardian Rating A-. 2 April 2009. The critic praises the film as a lively Plantagenet family soap opera full of savage catfights and witty dialogue. Hepburn and O'Toole are singled out for their matching, delicious performances as the scheming royal couple. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/apr/01/the-lion-in-winter-reel-history) ## Variety Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1968. An intense, fierce personal drama put across by outstanding performances from Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, with excellent work by director Anthony Harvey and a generally strong cast. The literate adaptation stands out for its treatment of treachery in Henry II's family. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1967/film/people-news/the-lion-in-winter-2-1200421509/) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2006. The critic praises this rousing historical melodrama for its two powerhouse performances from Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. Director Anthony Harvey is singled out for creating a splendid medieval setting that supports the family intrigue. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lion-winter-review/) ## Film Comment — Farran Smith Nehme Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2016. The critic notes the film's 1968 critical reception and commercial success despite some detractors, highlighting its enduring appeal as a holiday favorite centered on a dysfunctional royal family. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/lion-winter-roars-back/) ## The New York Times — Renata Adler Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 1968. The movie is mostly outdoorsy and fun with witty, if dated, dialogue and solid acting from the ensemble, particularly the younger actors. It remains faithful to the play with energetic scenes but feels weakest in its climaxes and cinematic touches. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1968/10/31/archives/screen-james-goldmans-lion-in-winter-arrivesotoole-and-katharine.html) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 1968. The film suffers from too much inappropriate integrity, elevating the campy stage material into ponderous historical drama with overwrought emotions. O'Toole gives a robust, histrionic performance that almost saves it, while Hepburn's portrayal draws too much on her own persona. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1968/11/09/1968-11-09-189-tny-cards-000092868) ## Eye for Film — Keith Dudhnath Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2003. The film is made stunning by the performances of Hepburn and O'Toole, who thrive on the tight script and deliver pure brilliance in their roles as Eleanor and Henry II. Anthony Harvey's direction keeps the focus on the performances and script without overdoing it, resulting in a wonderful film that one must see, though some supporting performances veer toward hammy. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-lion-in-winter-film-review-by-keith-dudhnath) ## Collider — Rhianna Malas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2023. The critic presents the 1968 film as an ideal holiday movie due to its depiction of a royally dysfunctional family feuding over power during Christmas. She singles out the sharp dialogue, Katharine Hepburn's sass, and the relatable messiness of family gatherings for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-lion-in-winter-holiday-movie/) ## The Skinny — Cara McGuigan Rating ★★★. 17 August 2008. The review praises the venomous family power struggles and especially Katherine Hepburn's magnificent performance as the scheming Eleanor, calling the cast's energy a sight to behold. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/dvd-reviews/the-lion-in-winter) --- © 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-lion-in-winter.md