King Lear (2008): cast, story & where to watch
2008 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 2008, King Lear is a drama film directed by Trevor Nunn, running about 150 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 Ian McKellen as King Lear, Romola Garai as Cordelia, Monica Dolan as Regan and Sylvester McCoy as The Fool, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, King Lear has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on BroadwayHD and Broadway HD Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. 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 (2008)?
- In US, King Lear is available to stream on BroadwayHD and Broadway HD Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. 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 6.7 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 Ian McKellen, Romola Garai, Monica Dolan, Sylvester McCoy and Philip Winchester.
- When was King Lear released?
- King Lear was released in 2008, with a runtime of about 150 minutes.