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Macbeth

Play trailer Poster for Macbeth R 1971 2h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 65 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Proud Macbeth (Jon Finch) and his power-mad wife (Francesca Annis) plot to murder King Duncan (Nicholas Selby) and usurp the throne of Scotland, despite the increasing suspicions of Macbeth's rival, Macduff (Terence Baylor), and his once-loyal friend Banquo (Martin Shaw). Roman Polanski directed this violent and sexualized revision of William Shakespeare's tragedy of madness and political intrigue, financed by executive producer Hugh Hefner, publisher of Playboy magazine.
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Macbeth

Macbeth

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Critics Consensus

Roman Polanski's Macbeth is unsettling and uneven, but also undeniably compelling.

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Critics Reviews

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Les Bridges Chicago Tribune Jul 21, 2023
4/4
At the outset, Jon Finch, who plays the title role, seems to lack the depth of emotion needed to play such a tragic figure... In the end, he has charged the role with a brooding force that is astonishing coming from an actor of 28 years. Go to Full Review William B. Collins Philadelphia Inquirer Jul 21, 2023
There are excellences in this Macbeth that would be beyond tamer talents. The play has been translated from the stage to the screen with a movement, a rhythm and a visual impact unique to the medium. Go to Full Review Perry Stewart Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Jul 21, 2023
Without a shred of "modernization," Polanski has created a film which is as contemporary and as relevant as The Godfather. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Mar 11, 2025
5/10
At times it's a historical epic in which Polanski maintains an atmospheric and violent tone, but, frankly, there is almost no power in the Shakespearean soliloquies and the characters are often as flat as a sword blade. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Bernard Drew Gannett News Service Jul 21, 2023
If it is not great Shakespeare, it is damned good moviemaking. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 2 days ago Macbeth is a 3.5 star Movie! See more Wayne K @WayneKelso May 11, 2026 Macbeth, sorry, The Scottish Play, might be one of Shakespeares’s most famous works but I’d never seen any rendition of it before watching Polanski’s 71 version. Funded partly by Playboy magazine, something very evident in several scenes, it felt far more accessible than other Shakey adaptations I’ve seen, since the dialogue isn’t so rapid fire, and plenty of moments are allowed to pay out in silence. It’s a shame we have to hear Macbeth’s every single thought, be they spoken aloud or narrated, sometimes both in the same scene, but the film does a great job of getting us into his headspace, showing how he rationalises his decisions and where his fear and paranoia stem from. It’s nowhere near as violent as some would have you believe, and a story like this necessitates a fair amount of bloodshed anyway. It might not be the most acclaimed adaptation of The Bards work, but its one of the easiest to get invested in. See more bob c @RT46426964 Dec 29, 2025 The best MacBeth on film. And probably the best Shakespeare too. Gets the essence so well. See more thiago s @Thiagostone May 19, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom. See more Gary W @RT29507686 Mar 26, 2025 This version is one of the best I've ever seen, filmed in a wonderful setting and well-acted, with Finch taking Macbeth from a likeable, reasonable human being to a seething, greedy creature goaded by his avaricious wife. Together, they plan and commit murder most foul. However, as the Moon and the Sun and the Truth will eventually reappear from the clouds, so will end Macbeth's treachery. See more Alec B @Alec97 Feb 21, 2024 Shakespeare's play as a violent fever dream. This concept for "MacBeth" has been tried a few times but only Polanski seems to have pulled it off, likely because he cast professionals who didn't need direction on the language, leaving him to focus on the imagery. See more Read all reviews
Macbeth

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Cast & Crew

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Roman Polanski

Director

Jon Finch

Macbeth

Francesca Annis

Lady Macbeth

Martin Shaw

Banquo

Nicholas Selby

Duncan

Stephan Chase

Malcolm

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Macbeth

Macbeth (1971) Macbeth (1971) Macbeth (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Proud Macbeth (Jon Finch) and his power-mad wife (Francesca Annis) plot to murder King Duncan (Nicholas Selby) and usurp the throne of Scotland, despite the increasing suspicions of Macbeth's rival, Macduff (Terence Baylor), and his once-loyal friend Banquo (Martin Shaw). Roman Polanski directed this violent and sexualized revision of William Shakespeare's tragedy of madness and political intrigue, financed by executive producer Hugh Hefner, publisher of Playboy magazine.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Andrew Braunsberg, Roman Polanski
Screenwriter
Roman Polanski, Kenneth Tynan
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, Caliban Films, Playboy Productions Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 15, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 15, 2010
Runtime
2h 20m
Sound Mix
Surround
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