Comingsoon.net is next in line to be crowned the rightful authority on the best movies about royalty. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
From the perspective of those of us here in the United States, the idea of a royal family controlling our government is strange to imagine in the modern day. The closest we’ve gotten to such a form of government came in the form of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush both earning the presidency, but any hope of this bloodline continuing to keep hold of the throne, so to speak, was squandered when Jeb! failed to secure the votes back in 2016 (please clap).
Still, for whatever reason, stories about royalty continue to be incredibly pertinent in the pop culture pantheon. From Netflix’s The Crown to HBO’s Game of Thrones to the countless films and novels that’ve explored the idea of a royal lineage, royalty has been eradicated from the government but keeps a firm grasp on the things we watch. These are the best films about royalty.
Royalty movies
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Coming to America (1988)
One of the most important comedies of the 80s, Eddie Murphy stars in Coming to America as an African Prince who goes undercover to find a woman to marry. Its influence on films like Sasha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator is undeniable, making it one of the best (and most influential) movies about royalty to date.
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The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
One of many Disney films to grapple with royalty, The Emperor’s New Groove just might be the funniest of the bunch. Starring John Goodman and David Spade, among many others, the film sees an emperor who transforms into a llama in order to learn a bit about class.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The third entry in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King sees good and evil clash in the most monumental way in the franchise’s history. J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels have proven themselves to be some of the most seminal touchstones in fantasy filmmaking, and this third film’s royal touch only adds to that.
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Marie Antoinette (2006)
Sofia Coppola’s films carry an aesthetic that is often very delicate and frilly, making her touch perfect for a story about royalty. Especially in the case of Marie Antoinette, who is infamous for being one of the most lavish and luxurious members of a royal family in history.
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Following King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they set out to find the Holy Grail, this well-known entry in Monty Python’s hilarious filmography is definitely deserving of a spot here in this slideshow. Set in 10th century England, the film serves as a great satire of royalty.
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Princess Mononoke (1997)
One of the most notable entries in Hayao Miyazaki’s illustrious filmography, Princess Mononoke is a profound fairytale about gods and princesses, heroes and wolves. It’s thrilling and heroic and breathtakingly crafted, with the titular Princess Mononoke proving to be one of the most interesting takes on royalty in recent memory.
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Roman Holiday (1953)
Starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, William Wyler’s Roman Holiday tracks a princess tired of the royal life and a journalist in need of a story as they peruse around Rome (against both of their better judgements). It’s a great story of forbidden love and an even better examination of the mentality of someone thrust into a royal life they didn’t ask for.
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Star Wars (1977)
Like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars presents royalty a little differently than some of the other entries in this collection—instead of ruling Britain or another worldly country, Star Wars sees Princess Leia take royalty to space. Hailing from Alderaan, Leia is joined by all kinds of other space kings and queens throughout this film franchise.
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The Lion King (1994)
Easily one of Disney’s most impressive 2D animated films, The Lion King trades in humans for animals. It follows the tumultuous power struggle within a pride of lions in the African pride lands.
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The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Princess Diaries might be the epitome of the subgenre of royal films about people who didn’t know they were royalty. Starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, the live-action Disney comedy is very heartfelt and very sweet.
