The Hollow Crown
2012 · TV Series · TV-14 · 120 min · ★ 7.5 · 94% critics
This series brings Shakespeare’s English history plays to the screen as a run of movie-length dramas. Across shifting reigns and rival factions, it follows the pressures of power, loyalty, and legitimacy as leaders face rebellion, war, and the personal cost of wearing the crown.
Based on Henry V, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry VI, Part 1
Also known as The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses
Where to watch
Not currently available to stream in the US.
15 hours to watch · 7 episodes.
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Details
- Years
- 2012–2016
- Release date
- 2012-06-30
- Network
- BBC Two
- Language
- English
- Rated
- TV-14
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Critic score
- 94/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (80 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want serious, often violent Shakespeare brought to life with political intrigue and big performances, especially if you liked Wolf Hall or I, Claudius; Not for you if you want light, fast-paced viewing.
Pros: strong ensemble acting; gripping power struggles; striking costumes and settings | Cons: dense old language; uneven pacing at times; some parts feel truncated
Themes
- period drama
Awards & recognition
- British Academy Television Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2013
- British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 2013
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie · 2014 · nominated
- British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 2013 · nominated
- British Academy Television Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2013 · nominated
Cast & crew
- JP
James Purefoy
as Thomas of Mowbray
- FK
Ferdinand Kingsley
as Sir John Bushy
- GC
Geraldine Chaplin
as Alice
Patrick Stewart
as John of Gaunt
- BH
Barney Harris
as Ned
- SV
Samuel Valentine
as Grey
- AW
Al Weaver
as Rivers
- BW
Ben Whishaw
as King Richard
- RK
Rory Kinnear
as Bollingbroke
- DS
David Suchet
as Duke of York
Directed by Richard Eyre, Thea Sharrock, Rupert Goold +1 more
Episodes2 seasons · 7 episodes
Season 14 episodes
- S1E1Richard II148m
- S1E2Henry IV (1)115m
- S1E3Henry IV (2)115m
- S1E4Henry V132m
Season 23 episodes
- S2E1Henry VI (1)111m
- S2E2Henry VI (2)122m
- S2E3Richard III128m