Best Movies About Cleopatra

No film sums up the madness and grandeur of Hollywood better than this version with Elizabeth Taylor. It nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox but gave us the most iconic images of Cleopatra. The budget, adjusted for inflation, runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars; Taylor changed costumes around 65 times; and the affair between Taylor and Richard Burton (Mark Antony) began on this set, becoming the biggest gossip story of the era. It's number one because it's the definitive visual depiction of the queen: when you think of Cleopatra, you see Elizabeth Taylor in her golden gown.

Director Cecil B. DeMille went all out with Claudette Colbert in the lead. Because it was made just before strict Hollywood censorship was enforced, it's surprisingly daring. The sets are gigantic, and Colbert plays Cleopatra with a humor and sharpness that make hers one of the most modern portrayals ever.

This '90s miniseries brought history into the living room in a modern way. Leonor Varela delivers a powerful, intelligent version of the queen, alongside Timothy Dalton as a very believable Caesar. The series clearly explains the political relations between Egypt and Rome without losing sight of the romance.

Monica Bellucci may be the most beautiful Cleopatra ever seen on screen. This French comedy is a visual feast with a huge budget. Bellucci plays a proud diva who makes a bet with Julius Caesar. It's full of anachronisms and absurd humor, but Bellucci's presence is 100% royal. An absolute cult classic.

Charlton Heston directed and starred as Mark Antony in this faithful adaptation of Shakespeare's play. It's serious, heavy and stays very close to the original text. Not easy viewing, but for lovers of classical theater it's one of the most respectful versions of the tragic love story.

In this British film, based on George Bernard Shaw's play, Vivien Leigh plays a young, inexperienced Cleopatra. Rather than a steamy romance, it's more a story about a mentor and his pupil: Julius Caesar (Claude Rains) teaches her how to rule a country and outwit her enemies. An intelligent film showing that Cleopatra was far more than a pretty face.

Rhonda Fleming plays Cleopatra here as a true film noir femme fatale. It's a typical '50s B-movie: colorful, overacted and full of costumes that look more like Vegas outfits than Egyptian robes. Campy and entertaining, it shows how obsessed people were with Cleopatra as the ultimate seductress.

For real history nerds, this BBC miniseries is a goldmine. Instead of just showing the famous Cleopatra VII, it dives into the earlier women of the dynasty who bore the name. A raw look at centuries of lust for power, betrayal and political games. No Hollywood glitter, but sharp British dialogue.

This Italian production doesn't focus on the queen herself but on her legacy. It's a classic sword-and-sandal adventure full of intrigue and melodrama. Historically very little of it is accurate, but as an adventure film it's delightful pulp.