Here is our definitive ranking of every movie about Princess Diana -- including Spencer -- from worst to best. From made-for-TV films to blockbusters, the legacy of the people's princess remains a hot topic, almost 25 years after her death. This caring person's tragic life and death have captivated both real-life admirers of Lady Di as well as film audiences.
Lady Diana Spencer rose to fame in 1981, when the then 20-year-old married the 32-year-old crown Prince of England, Charles. Her poise charmed the masses, as did her seemingly fairytale romance. Over time, however, reality began to show. It became clear that the love behind the marriage was fading, as stories of Charles' infidelity with Camila Parker-Bowles came to light. However, Princess Diana's public image remained relatively unscathed after their divorce. Her loving ease with people made her able to draw awareness to causes such as HIV/AIDS and defusing landmines. Sadly, Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997.
Her overwhelmingly positive public image contrasts sharply with her early and tragic death. Even decades after her death, audiences are still captivated by her and the royal family in general. In 2020, Diana finally appeared in the highly-rated series The Crown to the delight of audiences. The highly-anticipated Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart, was released the same year as Netflix's Diana: The Musical, as well as the poorly received Lifetime film Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace. This article focuses only on films in which Diana is the central character, leaving out several Lifetime films about her sons, as well as Helen Mirren's The Queen.
This made-for-TV film was released a year after Diana's death, with a focus on the last year of her life. It highlights her romances with Doctor Hasnat Khan and Dodi Al-Fayed respectively. There is also a strong focus on her relationship with her sons Harry and William, as well as her charitable work. As the title suggests, it was meant to be a loving tribute to the princess.
However, as is the fate of many made-for-TV films, the bad acting and low budget production are what stands out more than the remarkable true story of Princess Diana. The film was clearly rushed in an attempt to capitalize on Diana's marketability at the time, releasing this so close to her death. The actress resembles Diana well, but audiences found her and the actors playing her sons quite annoying.
Unlike most films about her, this one was released in Diana's lifetime. It centers around her affair with her riding instructor, Captain James Hewitt. It tries to emphasize how trapped she is in her dying marriage and how she finally is finding love. It's meant to be a Romeo and Juliet-style story.
While it runs into the same problems that a lot of TV films do (bad acting, poor budget, etc.), this one has a unique challenge to overcome: the source material. The film is based on Hewitt's tell-all book, which left a bad taste in the readers' mouths. Princess Diana's true story feels too raw and personal in his memoir. She struggled with the media invading her privacy all her life and this film is the product of someone she loved capitalizing on their intimacy. This film feels too much like reading a (badly made) diary.
Like Princess in Love, this film also came out during Diana's lifetime. It is based on the book Diana: Her True Story released by Andrew Morton. While not known at the time, it is now well-documented that the book is based on interviews taped with Diana's consent. In them, she revealed intimate details of her marriages, including Prince Charles's affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. The source material is therefore how she wanted to be seen in 1992, and the message she wanted to get out about her crumbling marriage and tenuous mental health.
This film has aged very poorly. There is now so much more known than could have been at the time - her eventual divorce and death are both years later. Even aside from that, the film has a gossipy tone. The poor acting and weak script don't carry the weight of Diana's original words.
When the royal engagement was announced their engagement in 1981, the world was smitten. People couldn't get enough of the young Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, and a small film recreating their courtship and fairytale wedding was a sure way to draw audiences. The film closes with a recreation of the iconic balcony kiss at their wedding. While the movie may not be historically accurate and certainly misses all of the drama and tragedy of the next decade, it's a feel-good film.
One interesting note is the cast of surprisingly well-known actors. Christopher Lee, known best for his roles in Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars prequels, plays Prince Phillip. Prince Charles is played by David Robb, known best for his role as Doctor Clarkson on Downton Abbey. Mona Washburne, known for My Fair Lady, plays the Queen Mother. Sadly, this film wasn't a highlight in any of their careers.
This film opens with the young married Charles and Diana in love and follows them until their children are about 8 and 10. As the story progresses, Prince Charles becomes more withdrawn and infatuated with Camilla Parker-Bowles, and their marriage consequently suffers. The film was released around the announcement of their separation when their issues became public knowledge and focuses on the negative.
Each of the actors is praised for giving this lackluster script their best shot. There is real emotion behind the characters and they try to stay true to the story. Interestingly, the same actress (Catherine Oxenburg) played Diana previously in The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana, number two on this list, though this film is not a direct sequel. Unfortunately, the film just didn't satisfy audiences, likely because the real story was still unfolding.
In 1992, two "commoners," Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson married into the royal family. The public became obsessed with the Queen, the British Monarchy. The film was meant to be a behind-the-curtain style look at the two women captivating the public. It focused on what the relationship between the two women might be and the challenges they'd face together. Obviously, the film was written before anyone knew the two women would both divorce their Princes.
Princess Diana's legacy has suffered many poorly made TV films and this is sadly another. It has a low budget and actors who don't seem to care about their roles. There's little basis in fact. It's a forgettable piece, though mildly amusing.
Netflix's 2021 Diana: The Musical is quite controversial. This adaption covers her entire public life, from the moment she begins courting Charles to her untimely death. It navigates her life through song, mostly pop ballads in the style she loved. The script intersperses humor with more serious moments, all the while recreating iconic moments and iconic outfits from her life.
The tone of this film was really off-putting to many audiences. Diana's death is still fairly recent, with many audience members remembering watching her funeral on television. The double-entendres and upbeat numbers made some uncomfortable. However, others enjoyed the campy music for what it was: a tribute to Diana as she wanted to live her life.
When Naomi Watts of The Impossible was cast as Princess Diana, audiences were thrilled. It felt like Diana was going to finally get the biopic she deserved, with a blockbuster budget. Diana follows the last two years of Princess Diana's life, including her divorce and private love affair with Doctor Hasnet Khan. The film ends with her death but chooses not to re-enact the car crash.
The film received lackluster reviews. While many films about Diana highlight gossip and the entertaining portions of her life, this one held back out of respect. Unfortunately, this left the film's tone far too conservative. There is no great revelation or message here. There is no new insight. Critics were mixed about Watts's portrayal of Diana, while audiences were mixed about the film overall.
As previously stated, the public went wild with the news of Prince Charles proposing to Diana. There was everything from commemorative teapots to cookie tins with their faces on them. Another made-for-TV film about the couple was inevitable. This one imagines their budding romance prior to the announcement. Somehow, it also manages to pull strong supporting actors, including Holland Taylor (Legally Blonde) and the legendary Olivia de Havilland (Gone with the Wind).
The uncomplicated story combined with the star power and public adoration of the couple all led to this film being fairly well received. Catherine Oxenburg gives a convincing and charming performance. The film does suffer in retrospect, with no Camilla Parker-Bowles to be seen in this film, for example. Overall, it's a fun piece based more on fantasy than reality.
The newest entry on this list is the biopic movie Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart. The film is set during one Christmas break at Sandringham when Diana decides to end her marriage to Prince Charles. The film focuses entirely on her perspective and inner turmoil about whether she is making the right choice for herself and her children.
Many of the film's critics simply dislike Kristen Stewart for the role, remembering her from Twilight. However, many audience members highlighted how haunting the film was. The director seems to capture just how powerless and trapped Princess Diana felt in her role, creating somewhat of a new horror film with Spencer. This new take on Diana's struggles made it a hit with audiences.
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