The King

On the surface, The King reimagines Henry V through the eyes of Hal, a prince who lives among commoners rather than in the palace. When a chain of political and military pressures pushes him toward the throne, he must shoulder a heavy burden he did not seek. The story traces Hal’s slow shift from a pleasure-loving heir to a ruler deciding England’s fate, navigating loyalty, reputation, and the demands of war. Alongside him move Falstaff, a loyal if roguish advisor, and Hotspur, a rival commander whose bravado tests Hal’s resolve. The result is a lean, tense portrait of power.

David Michôd directs The King, adapting Shakespeare's Henry V with Timothée Chalamet starring as Hal and Joel Edgerton as Falstaff. The 2019 production rolled out on Netflix, with a high profile ensemble including Lily-Rose Depp.

Box office figures are modest for The King, given its streaming release rather than a wide theatrical run, reflecting its role as a Netflix prestige title rather than a traditional hit.

Critics largely respond to the film as a focused study of leadership, favoring Chalamet's restrained performance and Michôd's stark visual language. The themes revolve around duty, legitimacy, personal doubt, and the costs of war, presented without the usual pageantry of Renaissance cinema.

While not a blockbuster cultural phenomenon, The King contributes to conversations about Shakespeare on screen by pairing a modernized sensibility with period material. Its emphasis on character and political maneuvering has influenced conversations around future adaptations and streaming first releases.