The Lost King
IFC Films | Release Date: March 24, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
64
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
20
Mixed:
11
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The TelegraphRobbie Collin
Flawed but compelling ... [A] hallucinatory gimmick feels a few rewrites away from working smoothly, and the thematic linking of Philippa’s plight with that of her subject’s never quite convinces. But Hawkins is quietly impressive. Read full review
60
Time OutOlly Richards
Langley has a tough time persuading people to care as much about Richard III as she does, and so does this film. Read full review
60
EmpireJohn Nugent
Warmly funny and historically curious, Sally Hawkins’ spirited, humane performance helps overcome a slight lack of dramatic tension. Read full review
60
The Observer (UK)Mark Kermode
Whatever its inconsistencies, The Lost King is an underdog story that proves a perfect vehicle for Hawkins’s reliably winning screen presence. Read full review
58
IndieWireKate Erbland
By its final act ... “The Lost King” picks up enough steam ... yet even this last 40 or so minutes highlights how plodding the rest of the film is, how dull this story about literal grave-digging feels, when nothing less than elemental truth and a singular mission in life are reduced to, well, just a story, and not even an altogether real one at that. Read full review
58
The PlaylistGregory Ellwood
In a vacuum, Langley’s true story is quite remarkable, but sadly, the elements don’t truly come together in this somewhat by-the-numbers film. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleMar 20, 2023
The real story of the King Richard dig is fascinating, but the movie, directed by Stephen Frears (“Cheri,” “The Queen”), is just OK. Read full review
48
Paste MagazineJacob Oller
The writers are so afraid that we won’t feel the right thing that they embrace a self-effacing humor that ensures we don’t feel anything. Read full review
40
Screen RantAlex HarrisonApr 5, 2023
The problem is one of focus, and had the movie trusted its protagonist enough to let her be the true center, it might have provided a viewing experience worth recommending. Read full review
40
The IndependentClarisse Loughrey
Its self-congratulatory crusade to restore its subject’s reputation has, for the sake of entertainment, distorted reality to the point that it borders on farce. Read full review
40
The GuardianPeter Bradshaw
It’s a fascinating story but the resulting film insists on a kooky relatability that isn’t really there. A misfire. Read full review
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