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Burton and Taylor

Burton and Taylor

TV movie201383 minMidcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Director
Richard Laxton
Starring
Dominic West, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Hadland, Lenora Crichlow

Legendary acting duo and married couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor prepare for a 1983 theatrical production of the play "Private Lives."

Where to watch

Where can I watch Burton and Taylor?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Burton and Taylor to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Burton and Taylor?

Burton and Taylor earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Burton and Taylor worth watching?

Burton and Taylor's Midcredits score is the 60th percentile of all films, from 5K ratings across 4 sources. 53% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

60th percentile

Better received than 60% of films

37th percentile among Biography60th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)62nd
Approval (how many liked it)56th

65 /100

62nd percentile of all films

43rd percentile among Biography62nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.5 — solid but not unanimous.

53% liked it

56th percentile of all films

32nd percentile among Biography56th percentile among 2010s
53% rated it 7–1047% rated it 1–6

Critics 100% · Audience 60%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 17 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Leading Actor

Reach

How many have seen it

60th percentile

5K ratings across platforms

36th percentile among Biography63rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 57% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A TV-drama centered on the 1983 'Private Lives' stage reunion, buoyed by committed lead performances but limited in scope and dramatic impact.

Fans praised

  • Dominic West's vocal mannerisms and weathered look capture Burton's essence
  • Helena Bonham Carter's performance as Taylor is remarkably convincing
  • Strong on-screen chemistry between the leads sells the volatile relationship

Detractors panned

  • Feels like a sterile TV movie lacking dramatic bite
  • Unconvincing body language and miscast actors fail to embody the icons
  • Narrow focus on 1983 misses the more compelling earlier story

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Bonham Carter and West give credible impersonations of Taylor and Burton, though detractors find them unconvincing

CharactersDivisive60

Both come across as weary, self-destructive figures rather than fully fleshed-out characters

Dialogue55

Adept at capturing their public bickering but lacks wit of Coward's play

Emotional impactDivisive50

Pathos of two faded stars is felt by some, but others find it emotionally flat

Plot and storyDivisive45

Limited to the 1983 play reunion, felt too narrow and slow to many

Pacing45

Bland tempo, fails to build dramatic tension

Originality35

Formulaic TV-biopic structure, doesn't add new insight into the relationship

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is Burton and Taylor like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It has a few laughs and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
BittersweetTenseMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Melodramatic · 9% of films: Heightened emotion, played large.Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its subjects with solemn respect, playing the drama of their relationship and stage venture straight.
The rideThe mood swings between tender nostalgia and sharp conflict, with the emotional weight concentrated in the play's failure and their final parting.
StructureTold chronologically, following the preparation, rehearsal, and run of the stage production.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves you with a mix of sadness and admiration for the pair's enduring bond and the tragicomedy of their final collaboration.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% (this title) · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Obsession: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).

9% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story follows two fading stars reuniting for a stage play, their obsessive relationship and professional clashes leading to a poignant separation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4% (this title)
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsObsession · 3% of films: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Legacy · 4% of films
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film examines the tangled love between two icons who cannot fully separate, even when their union is destructive and public.
StanceThe film mourns a love that could never settle into a stable form, even as it celebrates the sparks it produced.

The world

Late 20th centuryInstitutionalUrbanStylized realism
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · John Lunn
SettingThe 1980s theatre and celebrity world, spanning stages, hotel rooms, and press conferences.
MusicLunn's score underscores the emotional swings without overwhelming the period dialogue.

Content guide

Is Burton and Taylor okay for kids?

As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (11/100), sexual content at moderate (42/100), language at moderate (50/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (16 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Burton and Taylor have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Burton and Taylor?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Dominic West
as Richard Burton
BAFTA nominee: BAFTA Award nomination — Best Leading ActorTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Helena Bonham Carter
as Elizabeth Taylor
Emmy nominee: Primetime Emmy nomination — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Sarah Hadland
as Kathryn Walker
Lenora Crichlow
as Chen Sam
Stanley Townsend
as Milton Katselas
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lucille Sharp
as Liza Todd Burton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Isabella Brazier-Jones
as Maria Burton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
William Hope
as John Cullum
Trevor White
as Journalist
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Greg Hicks
as Zev Bufman
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Burton and Taylor?

Movies like Burton and Taylor include Infamous (2006), Those People (2015) and Another 9½ Weeks (1997). Of the 10 closest matches, most are stories of obsession, and half are films set in high society.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

9 of these 10 share its character type: toxic codependency. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Burton and Taylor?

2.8K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: biopic. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.