A Royal Affair (2012)

UNKNOWN

Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes, Microsoft Store

88%

2012, Drama/Romance, 2h 17m

RT Critics’ Score: 90% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
21 wins & 42 nominations total

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Critics Consensus

A Royal Affair is a lavish and sumptuous costume drama with a juicy story to back it up

Audience Consensus

If you’re looking for a movie that’s equal parts scandalous and historical, A Royal Affair is the perfect pick. With a cast that’s absolutely killer and a story that’s so wild it’s hard to believe it’s true, this film is a must-see. Sure, it might be a bit slow at times, but the stunning visuals and gripping drama more than make up for it. Plus, who doesn’t love a good forbidden romance? All in all, A Royal Affair is a sumptuous and exciting ride that’s not to be missed.

Storyline

In 1767, British Princess Caroline is betrothed to mad King Christian VII of Denmark, but her life with the erratic monarch in the oppressive country becomes an isolating misery. However, Christian soon gains a fast companion with German Dr. Johann Struensee, a quietly idealistic man of the Enlightenment. As the only one who can influence the King, Struensee is able to begin sweeping enlightened reforms of Denmark through Christian, even as Caroline falls for the doctor. However, their secret affair proves to be a tragic mistake that their conservative enemies use to their advantage in a conflict that threatens to claim more than just the lovers as their victims.

Production Company(ies)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Stanley Kubrick Productions,

Distributor
Magnolia Pictures

Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical

Filming Location(s)
Ploskovice Chateau, Czech Republic

MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content and some violent images

Year of Release
2012

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio:

2.35 : 1
Runtime:

2h 17m
Language(s):

Danish, English, German, French
Country of origin:

Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2013

Genre(s)
Drama/Romance

Keyword(s)
starring Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander, David Dencik, Trine Dyrholm, Thomas W Gabrielsson, William Jøhnk Nielsen, directed by Nikolaj Arcel, written by Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel, drama, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, Deborah Ross, Liam Lacey, Connie Ogle, Joe Williams, Lisa Kennedy, Mads Mikkelsen as Johann Friedrich Struensee, Alicia Vikander as Caroline Mathilde, David Dencik as Ove Høegh-Guldberg, Trine Dyrholm as Juliane Marie, Thomas W Gabrielsson as Schack Carl Rantzau, William Jøhnk Nielsen as Frederik VI, produced by Jessica Ask, Gillian Berrie, Anna Duffield, Meta Louise Foldager, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Madeleine Ekman, MPAA rating R, Danish history, political and social ideals, passionate love affair, period piece, costumes, set design, Enlightenment ideals, faith and science, Danish language, Magnolia Pictures

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $14,758,997
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,027,659
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,732
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,074,990

US/Canada gross: $1,546,761
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,994,122
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,036
US/Canada opening weekend: $38,212
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $49,264
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,215

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA

Cast & Crew

Mads Mikkelsen

Alicia Vikander

David Dencik

Trine Dyrholm

Thomas W. Gabrielsson

Johann Friedrich Struensee

Caroline Mathilde

Ove Høegh-Guldberg

Juliane Marie

Schack Carl Rantzau

Mads Mikkelsen – Johann Friedrich Struensee
Alicia Vikander – Caroline Mathilde
David Dencik – Ove Høegh-Guldberg
Trine Dyrholm – Juliane Marie
Thomas W. Gabrielsson – Schack Carl Rantzau
William Jøhnk Nielsen – Frederik VI

Nikolaj Arcel

Rasmus Heisterberg

Jessica Ask

Gillian Berrie

Anna Duffield

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Nikolaj Arcel

Writer(s)
Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel

Producer(s)
Jessica Ask, Gillian Berrie, Anna Duffield, Meta Louise Foldager, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Madeleine Ekman

Film Festivals
Berlin, Telluride, Toronto

Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
21 wins & 42 nominations total

Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees

Top Reviews

Sara Michelle Fetters

Deborah Ross

Liam Lacey

Connie Ogle

Joe Williams

MovieFreak.com

The Spectator

Globe and Mail

Miami Herald

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A ROYAL AFFAIR
All Critics (111) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (100) | Rotten (11)
If the story presented in A Royal Affair wasnt true, its doubtful anyone would believe it.

March 29, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4

Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Although, at times, this is rather coolly aloof in tone, the cast is knock-out, and it is so excellently and expertly done, I’m pretty sure it will float your boat.

September 1, 2018

Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
For all its incident, A Royal Affair is slow and picturesquely framed – more of a languorously animated coffee-table book than a gripping drama.

February 1, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4

Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The film ends not on a happy note, naturally, but on a moment of hope. Love may not conquer all, but it has a power all its own.

January 18, 2013 | Rating: 3/4

Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Although the brazen lovers, bellicose ministers and backstabbing handmaidens are familiar elements, the film is so handsomely mounted that we happily endure the ride until the turning of the screws in the tragic last act.

January 17, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4

Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
What a piece of work is this historical drama.

December 7, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4

Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
An interesting and worthwhile movie.

November 19, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5

David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Mads Mikkelsen is emerging as one of Europe’s most intriguing actors.

August 14, 2019

Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
There’s a sumptuous vibrancy to the film, especially in many of the film’s outdoor sequences. But it’s the three leads of A Royal Affair that solidify this as a delightful endeavor.

August 6, 2019

Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Featuring a commanding performance from the ever-impressive Mads Mikkelsen, there is much here to admire — and even more to decadently enjoy.

January 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/5

Daniel Green
CineVue
It is a polished, exciting piece of work.

December 19, 2018 | Rating: 3/4

Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner
As a period piece based on a true story, it’s not surprising A Royal Affair is long. But it’s also fascinating and will keep audience’s attention the full two-plus hours. This story was made for the screen.

December 14, 2018

Sarah Gopaul
Digital Journal…

Plot
In 1767, British Princess Caroline is betrothed to mad King Christian VII of Denmark, but her life with the erratic monarch in the oppressive country becomes an isolating misery. However, Christian soon gains a fast companion with German Dr. Johann Struensee, a quietly idealistic man of the Enlightenment. As the only one who can influence the King, Struensee is able to begin sweeping enlightened reforms of Denmark through Christian, even as Caroline falls for the doctor. However, their secret affair proves to be a tragic mistake that their conservative enemies use to their advantage in a conflict that threatens to claim more than just the lovers as their victims.

Trivia