King Lear (1971): cast, story & where to watch
1971 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1971, King Lear is a drama film directed by Peter Brook, running about 137 minutes.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. King Lear stars Paul Scofield as King Lear, Irene Worth as Goneril, Cyril Cusack as Albany and Susan Engel as Regan, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, King Lear has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch King Lear page.
If you liked it. Fans of King Lear tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch King Lear (1971)?
- In GB, King Lear is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is King Lear worth watching?
- King Lear holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in King Lear?
- King Lear stars Paul Scofield, Irene Worth, Cyril Cusack, Susan Engel and Tom Fleming.
- When was King Lear released?
- King Lear was released in 1971, with a runtime of about 137 minutes.