The Favourite
- 2019 film
Olivia Colman stars as a frail Queen Anne in this film from the director of The Lobster. Also features Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith and more.
Key details
- Genre
- Film
- Released
- 2019
- Stars
- Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith, Mark Gatiss, Jenny Rainsford and more
- Writers
- Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Producers
- Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Yorgos Lanthimos, Daniel Battsek, Rose Garnett, Josh Rosenbaum, Ken Kao and more
- Companies
The Favourite is a bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy and betrayal in the court of Queen Anne in early 18th century England. This period comedy has been made by the same production team as The Lobster.
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots.
As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
Stream and download
Additional details
- UK certificate
- 15
- Duration
- 119 minutes
- UK release
- Tuesday 1st January 2019
- Produced
- 2017
- UK premiere
- Thursday 18th October 2018, BFI London Film Festival, BFI Southbank
- Distributors
- Production
- Location
- Camera set-up
- Single camera
- Picture
- Colour
Website links
Broadcast details
- Most recent repeats
-
- Wednesday 10th January 2024 at 10:55pm on Film4
- Saturday 15th July 2023 at 10:30pm on C4
- Tuesday 30th May 2023 at 9:00pm on Film4
Recording details
- Hatfield House and Hampton Court Palace