Becket

Becket (1964)

  • 75% of critics liked it
    (24 reviews)

  • 86% of users liked it
    (5,344 ratings)

A high-class costume drama with a substantive historical basis, Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket takes his duties with… More

Play Trailer

PG-13,
Directed By
Genres
Drama, Classics
In Theaters
Mar 11, 1964 Wide
Slowhand Releasing

Critic Reviews

  • Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

    Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    Becket may seem like a movie of yesteryear, but its timeliness brims over with rousing, meditative discourses between Henry and the church leaders on the separation of church and state.

  • Mark Feeney, Boston Globe

    Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not.

  • Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    The picture is being re-released in 30 cities around the country before finally appearing on DVD after years of online foment from fans.The DVD is due in May, but try to catch it in theaters first. It's worth it.

  • Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

    Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life.

Read all 17 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jim H


    In a tale of nepotism gone wrong, Henry II appoints his friend Thomas Becket as Archbishop of Caterbury but isn't prepared for the consequences when Becket takes his commitment to God seriously. Richard Burton plays Becket with a reserve and subtle conscience, and from the first… More

  • Melvin W


    Becket is a fantastic period piece. It's long and some scenes are very drawn out, but it is well worth the watch. It's visually stunning and there isn't a bad performance in the film. Becket is the true story of the friendship of King Henry II and Thomas Becket. They… More

  • AJ V


    Two best friends, one an amoral king, the other a man of God. This movie has a great story and great actors for the characters. It's kind of long, but I really liked it, and I recommend seeing it.

  • Jennifer D


    Awesome, the first real bromance picture. As actors Burton and O'Toole did fantastically well. As was expected I think. O'Toole's character a bit more, it's what you get for being animated, I guess. I will admit it dragged a bit towards the middle, but even for… More

  • Tim S


    Great film with extraordinary performances by O'Toole and Burton. This film is one of the best examples of how a historically based character study should be done. Looks great and very well written. I enjoyed this film a lot.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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