Mrs. Brown

Play trailer

Mrs. Brown

PG,

1997,

1h 41m,

History/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

92%

51 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) withdraws from public life, so the court appoints a former servant of the prince, John Brown (Billy Connolly), to help her recover from her grief. Brown's unorthodox ways and disdain for protocol draw the queen out of her shell, and the brash Scot becomes her sole confidant. However, their growing closeness causes a stir, as scandalous rumors begin circulating about the exact nature of their relationship.

Critics Consensus

Thanks to some top notch acting, the chemistry between its stars, and a witty, thoughtful script, Mrs. Brown delivers a nuanced and entertaining, if not entirely factual, account of a seldom explored historical relationship.

Read Critics Reviews

Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

Jul 19, 2021

The director, John Madden, could have set this up as a minor tragedy, but he has the wit, especially in the first half, to play it cool and droll, and he is helped no end by finely gauged performances.

Go to Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

May 6, 2016

Mrs. Brown is reserved yet spirited.

Go to Full Review

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Dench is magnificent as Victoria, a toy-sized, black-suited, dough girl of despair, a woman slowly recovering her wits and her expectations.

Go to Full Review

Gary Wolcott

Tri-City Herald

Sep 23, 2025

4.5/5

A rich character study that features exceptional acting and superb cinematography. It's one of the year's best films.

Go to Full Review

Tom Hutchinson

Radio Times

Aug 17, 2024

5/5

Judi Dench and Billy Connolly are a wonderfully regal double act in this perceptive blend of fact and fiction. The

Go to Full Review

Ian Buruma

The New York Review of Books

Aug 17, 2018

There is something missing in the film. It is flat.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Leia R

Nov 22, 2018

Beautiful film. Bill Connolly was beyond great in this drama. And Dench? What can one say? She can do nothing wrong.

Theodore G

Oct 15, 2017

Mrs. Brown is an excellent. It is about the friendship between Queen Victoria and John Brown following the death of her husband. Judi Dench and Billy Connolly give amazing performances. The script is well written. John Madden did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. Mrs. Brown is a must see.

See more

Kylo S

Jul 7, 2017

It is year 1863 and Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert dies, she withdraws from public life, so the court appoints a former servant of the prince, John Brown (Billy Connolly), to help her recover from her grief. Brown's unorthodox ways and disdain for protocol draw the queen out of her shell, and he becomes her sole confidant, but their relationship also brings scandal and turmoil. Dame Judi Dench is perfect in that role and she demonstrated a great talent, for which she was nominated for an Oscar.

See more

Read all reviews

John Madden

Director

Judi Dench

Queen Victoria

Billy Connolly

John Brown

Geoffrey Palmer

Henry Ponsonby

Antony Sher

Benjamin Disraeli

Gerard Butler

Archie Brown

Magnificent Obsession

88%

72%

Magnificent Obsession

Watchlist

Meet John Doe

92%

82%

Meet John Doe

Watchlist

Julius Caesar

97%

81%

Julius Caesar

Watchlist

The Miracle Worker

96%

88%

The Miracle Worker

Watchlist

Born Yesterday

95%

85%

Born Yesterday

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

"Almighty" Sequel Begins Shooting in D.C.

Gillian Anderson & Forest Whitaker to Visit "Scotland"

View more photos

Synopsis

After the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) withdraws from public life, so the court appoints a former servant of the prince, John Brown (Billy Connolly), to help her recover from her grief. Brown's unorthodox ways and disdain for protocol draw the queen out of her shell, and the brash Scot becomes her sole confidant. However, their growing closeness causes a stir, as scandalous rumors begin circulating about the exact nature of their relationship.

Director: John Madden
Producer: Sarah Curtis
Screenwriter: Jeremy Brock
Distributor: Buena Vista International [us], Miramax Films
Production Co: WGBH
Rating: PG
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.2M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings