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King Lear

Name: King Lear
Genre: Drama
Released: 1975-03-23
Cast: Michael Hordern, Sarah Badel, Penelope Wilton, Angela Down, Frank Middlemass

1975 | 120 min | Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
The mood: Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr.
What might put you off: Made in 1975: an older pace and style.

King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
Box office & staying powerBelow par
$500K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 29K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jonathan Miller

Michael HordernKing Lear
Sarah BadelGoneril
Penelope WiltonRegan
Angela DownCordelia
Frank MiddlemassFool
Anthony NichollsEarl of Gloucester
Michael JaystonEdmund
Ronald PickupEdgar
Ewan HooperEarl of Kent
Benjamin WhitrowDuke of Albany