Cinema loves to turn monarchs and rulers into larger-than-life figures. Sometimes they emerge as tragic heroes, sometimes as villains, and often as exaggerated symbols of power, ambition, or scandal. But film doesn’t always capture the complexities of governance, politics, or daily rule. Instead, it tends to amplify drama, romance, and spectacle. Looking at these portrayals, we can ask: were these rulers fairly represented, or reshaped excessively for storytelling’s sake?
#1: Richard III – Richard III (1995)
Ian McKellen’s Richard III, reimagined in an alternate 1930s England, presents a ruler defined by ruthless ambition and cruelty. His performance captures political genius and chilling charisma, but the film relies heavily on Shakespeare’s distortion of deformity as villainy. Historically, Richard was more complex, yet McKellen immortalized him as the quintessential cinematic schemer.
