The Queen and the Coup (2020): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2020, The Queen and the Coup is a notable film.

What it’s about. Planned by Britain’s MI6 and then executed by America’s C.I.A., the coup d’état which follows will destroy Iran’s last democracy, and relations between Iran and the West until the present day. Most shocking of all, the truth about Her Majesty’s role will be hidden from the Queen herself, and even the all-powerful Shah who will be used by Britain and American to replace Iran’s last democratic Prime Minister. The coup will lead to political upheaval all over the Middle East for decades to come, eventually resulting in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 which will end the reign of the Shah, and British and American influence in Iran, inspiring countless other Islamist revolutions around the world.

Who’s in it. The Queen and the Coup stars King George VI of the United Kingdom as Self (archive footage), Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran as Self (archive footage), Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as Self (archive footage) and Clement Attlee as Self (archive footage), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Queen and the Coup has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Queen and the Coup page.