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Anonymous

PG-13 Released Nov 4, 2011 2h 10m History Drama List
47% Tomatometer 176 Reviews 53% Audience Score 10,000+ Ratings
As royal troops set fire to the Globe Theatre, Elizabethan-era playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) is tortured by Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg), who demands to know if Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), is the true author of the writings attributed to William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall). Flashbacks reveal Oxford's passionate affair with Queen Elizabeth I and how -- in his younger days -- Oxford charmed her with plays like "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Read More Read Less
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Anonymous

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Critics Consensus

Roland Emmerich delivers his trademark visual and emotional bombast, but the more Anonymous stops and tries to convince the audience of its half-baked theory, the less convincing it becomes.

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Critics Reviews

View All (176) Critics Reviews
Deborah Ross The Spectator This is a stupid person's idea of what a clever film might be and, although I adore Ifans, not even he can save it. Aug 31, 2018 Full Review Roger Moore Tribune News Service Bad history beautifully done. Rated: 3/4 Dec 29, 2012 Full Review Judith Newmark St. Louis Post-Dispatch Will Shakespeare, whose words shine on, bright and brave, Is turning o'er with laughter in his grave. Rated: 1/4 Nov 4, 2011 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Few will walk away from Anonymous convinced of its historical legitimacy, yet interests will be piqued, perhaps inspiring some to read up on the subject from more credible sources. Rated: 3/4 Mar 6, 2023 Full Review Jane Freebury The Canberra Times (Australia) This is a clever concoction for those who enjoy an enduring mystery. Aug 18, 2022 Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times "Anonymous," while not coming close to being convincing that "Willy the Shake" was a fake, gives one pause regarding the subject matter, in addition to being quite a fun movie. Rated: 4/5 Mar 13, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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R C Preposterous - but I kept watching! The good acting, coherent (by it's own lights) storyline and lush production values were deserving of more than this absurd conspiracy theory. Correction: conspiracy theories in the plural. At least it was value for money in presenting us with a quite startling array of daft historical improbabilities. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/07/24 Full Review David J A richly informed presentation of the Oxford theory, executed impeccably. After seeing this I fell into the Oxford vs Shaksper YouTube rabbit hole for a year and climbed out with a 90% certainty that Oxford was...is...the author of the Shakespeare cannon. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/04/22 Full Review Audience Member The sets and the script are superb, as to the historical accuracy - not sure. Beautifully filmed and scripted, highly entertaining and highly recommended. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Really interesting and thought provoking to what is fiction and what is fact and that well probably never know. It's one of those that you enjoy and understand it better the more times you watch it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review nuveau s An adventurous theory indeed! ...or is it? This period spectacle is a marvelous concept that is deftly delivered and makes for an enjoyable jaunt into speculation. The mores of the times make it feasible that sufficient subterfuge that would have been possible to keep up appearances. How many surprising truths have ne'er been told? Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I've watched "Anonymous" a couple of times before and enjoyed it, but it wasn't until I started delving into the Shakespeare authorship. Upon reflection, I now consider it one of my favorite films. The period atmosphere, acting, and admittedly creative narrative are all first rate. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Anonymous

Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth I in "Anonymous." Rafe Spall as William Shakespeare in "Anonymous." Jamie Campbell Bower as Earl of Oxford in "Anonymous." Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth I in "Anonymous." (L-R) Sam Reid as Earl of Essex, Xavier Samuel as Earl of Southampton and Rhys Ifans as Earl of Oxford in "Anonymous." Joely Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I in "Anonymous." Rhys Ifans as Earl of Oxford in "Anonymous." Rhys Ifans as Earl of Oxford in "Anonymous." Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth I in "Anonymous." Joely Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I and Jamie Campbell Bower as Earl of Oxford in "Anonymous." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As royal troops set fire to the Globe Theatre, Elizabethan-era playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) is tortured by Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg), who demands to know if Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), is the true author of the writings attributed to William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall). Flashbacks reveal Oxford's passionate affair with Queen Elizabeth I and how -- in his younger days -- Oxford charmed her with plays like "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Director
Roland Emmerich
Producer
Roland Emmerich, Larry J. Franco, Robert Leger
Screenwriter
John Orloff
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Centropolis Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence|Sexual Content)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 4, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 7, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.5M
Runtime
2h 10m
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