Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul

History's most unlikely friendship.

Directed by Stephen Frears

Produced by Working Title Films, BBC Film

2017112 min6.9 / 10

A warmly intimate historical drama about an unlikely cross-cultural friendship that defies court expectations and social convention.

Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Victoria & Abdul easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 77% of films.

  • Is Victoria & Abdul violent? Not especially. Less violent than 74% of films.

  • Does Victoria & Abdul end with hope? Somewhat. More hopeful than 71% of films.

  • Is Victoria & Abdul sad? Somewhat. More sad than 70% of films.

  • Is Victoria & Abdul scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

55/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity62

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise41

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love65

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Victoria & Abdul, and what each one shares →

Like Victoria & Abdul

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Victoria & Abdul

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Victoria & Abdul, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Victoria & Abdul, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Victoria & Abdul, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

Share thisXBlueskyReddit