Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot (1958): cast, story & where to watch
1958 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1958, Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot is a drama and history film directed by Sergei Eisenstein, running about 86 minutes.
What it’s about. This is the second part of a projected three-part epic biopic of Russian Czar Ivan Grozny, undertaken by Soviet film-maker Sergei Eisenstein at the behest of Josef Stalin. Production of the epic was stopped before the third part could be filmed, due to producer dissatisfaction with Eisenstein's introducing forbidden experimental filming techniques into the material, more evident in this part than the first part. As it was, this second part was banned from showings until after the deaths of both Eisenstein and Stalin, and a change of attitude by the subsequent heads of the Soviet government. In this part, as Ivan the Terrible attempts to consolidate his power by establishing a personal army, his political rivals, the Russian boyars, plot to assassinate him.
Who’s in it. Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot stars Nikolai Cherkasov as Czar Ivan IV, Serafima Birman as Boyarina Efrosinia Staritskaya, Pavel Kadochnikov as Vladimir Andreyevich Staritsky and Mikhail Zharov as Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot page.
If you liked it. Fans of Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot (1958)?
- In US, Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot worth watching?
- Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot?
- Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot stars Nikolai Cherkasov, Serafima Birman, Pavel Kadochnikov, Mikhail Zharov and Amvrosi Buchma.
- When was Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot released?
- Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot was released in 1958, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.