The Crown (2016)
Kernel Score: 88% · 2,298 ratings
Genres: Drama
First aired: 2016-11-04
Seasons: 6 · 60 episodes
Is The Crown worth watching?
Worth watching. The Crown is a handsomely made, well-cast drama about Elizabeth II's reign, and the acting is the draw. It dramatises real events with invented private scenes, so treat it as good soap-with-history rather than a record.
Watch it if you
- like lavish period dramas with strong acting
- are curious about the royal family and postwar Britain
- enjoy long slow-moving character dramas
Skip it if you
- want strict historical accuracy
- dislike slow, talky television
Best for: Binge weekend
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Crown
- Stream: Netflix
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny. The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
The Crown parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that The Crown is a TV-MA historical drama depicting the British royal family and government, including political intrigue and mature themes.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Shows like The Crown
If you liked The Crown, these are the shows we'd watch next.
- The Tudors (2007) — 89%: Royal power, politics and intrigue, with more sex and scandal
- The Great (2020) — 88%: Court politics with a sharper, funnier edge
- The White Princess (2017) — 86%: Dynastic struggles told as intimate family drama
- Versailles (2015) — 86%: Lavish court life and ambition around a king
- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023) — 87%: Royal romance and duty in a glossier form
- The Last Kingdom (2015) — 90%: Historical power struggles on a grittier scale
Cast
- Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
- Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
- Dominic West as Prince Charles
- Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
- Marcia Warren as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
The Crown FAQ
Is The Crown worth watching?
Worth watching. The Crown is a handsomely made, well-cast drama about Elizabeth II's reign, and the acting is the draw. It dramatises real events with invented private scenes, so treat it as good soap-with-history rather than a record.
Where can I watch The Crown?
In the US you can stream The Crown on Netflix.
Is The Crown OK for kids?
The Crown is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that The Crown is a TV-MA historical drama depicting the British royal family and government, including political intrigue and mature themes.
What shows are like The Crown?
If you liked The Crown, try The Tudors, The Great, The White Princess and Versailles.