Best Movies About Cleopatra, Ranked

Cleopatra was the Queen of Egypt over two thousand years ago, and her life has captured the imagination of artists ever since. She’s been the subject of a famous play by Shakespeare and has appeared in countless movies. In fact, early silent films featured Cleopatra prominently, beginning with a 1912 production, and a 1917 version helped create the glamorous image of her that we still see today.

Numerous films have portrayed Cleopatra, but we’re highlighting the most compelling ones. While earlier, silent films have a unique beauty, we’ll focus on the best sound films – the definitive Cleopatra movies, leading up to what is considered the ultimate portrayal of the iconic Egyptian queen.

‘Serpent of the Nile’ (1953)

Columbia Pictures

Serpent of the Nile is a colorful adventure movie from the 1950s, directed by William Castle and produced by Sam Katzman. Rhonda Fleming plays Cleopatra, and Raymond Burr stars as Mark Antony. The story begins in 44 BC, after Julius Caesar’s death, and focuses on the relationship between Cleopatra and the Roman general Mark Antony.

Despite being made on a small budget, the film’s costumes are surprisingly good. There’s even a moment where Cleopatra wears a 1950s-style bullet bra, which feels out of place for the historical setting. The story itself isn’t very original, simply retreading well-known events from Cleopatra’s life and love affairs. However, Rhonda Fleming delivers a flawless performance and is arguably one of the most captivating actresses to portray the Queen of the Nile.

‘Two Nights with Cleopatra’ (1954)

Monando Film Distribution

“Two Nights with Cleopatra” is a funny Italian movie directed by Mario Mattoli. The screenplay was written by Ruggero Maccari and Ettore Scola. Sophia Loren stars in a dual role, playing both the seductive Queen Cleopatra, known for her many lovers, and a stunning slave who is her double. A bodyguard mistakenly believes the slave is the real Queen and begins to court her.

The movie shows Cleopatra having a secret affair with one of Mark Antony’s guards, who is then poisoned to keep the encounter quiet. The film portrays Cleopatra as the legendary seductress who captivated powerful Romans with her beauty. It’s visually stunning, with impressive sets and costumes, and Sophia Loren gives a beautiful performance as Cleopatra.

‘Cleopatra’ (1970)

Nippon Herald Films

Cleopatra is an R-rated anime fantasy movie from Japan, directed by Eiichi Yamamoto and Osamu Tezuka. Chinatsu Nakayama voices Cleopatra, with Hajime Hana as Julius Caesar and Osami Nabe as Marcus Antonius. The story follows three people who learn that a future alien race, the Pasateli, plans to take over Earth using something called the Cleopatra Plan. To uncover and stop this plan, they use a time machine to send their minds into the bodies of people who lived in Cleopatra’s court.

The movie didn’t do well with audiences in either America or Japan, and it wasn’t a financial success. However, over time, it’s gained a following. Cleopatra, one of three films from Mushi Productions, stands out because of its unusual style, mature themes, and blend of psychedelic elements, ultimately achieving a cult status decades after its initial poor reception.

‘Antony and Cleopatra’ (1972)

Warner Home Video

The movie Antony and Cleopatra is based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. Filmed in Spain and directed by Charlton Heston, it stars Hildegarde Neil as Cleopatra and Heston himself as Mark Antony. The film depicts the love affair between these two characters, with Neil giving a strong performance as Cleopatra. Despite this, the movie wasn’t a success and only had a limited showing in American theaters.

While this is a fantastic production, it didn’t feel as innovative as Laurence Olivier’s Shakespeare adaptations. It’s unclear why some people dismiss it, because the film is beautifully made in every way – the acting, directing, writing, editing, costumes, and sets are all excellent. It’s a truly underrated movie.

‘Asterix and Cleopatra’ (1968)

Walt Disney

Asterix and Cleopatra is a funny animated movie from Belgium and France, and it’s the second Asterix story adapted for the big screen. The animation is impressive with lots of detail, and the music is well-produced. In the film, Asterix and Obelix travel to Egypt to assist architect Numerobis in building a palace for Cleopatra.

I really enjoyed this movie! It’s basically a musical with three big song numbers and a really diverse soundtrack. It’s definitely the most well-known animated film about Cleopatra, and it’s packed with funny characters, visual gags, and smart jokes. Most fans seem to love it too – it has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty awesome.

‘Cleopatra’ (1999)

Hallmark Home Entertainment

I recently watched the 1999 TV movie Cleopatra, and it’s a pretty standard historical drama. Franc Roddam directs, and Leonor Varela does a solid job as the iconic queen. The film focuses on Cleopatra’s life – the political maneuvering, the relationships with figures like Julius Caesar (played by Timothy Dalton) and Mark Antony (Billy Zane), and her constant fight to safeguard her kingdom. It’s a familiar story, but Varela really carries the film.

This production about Cleopatra originally aired as a four-hour mini-series, and a shorter film version also exists. We recommend watching the full mini-series if possible, as it’s truly one of the best historical dramas ever made. The longer runtime allows for a much richer and more detailed portrayal of Cleopatra’s life, complete with stunning visuals and outstanding acting. It’s the best option for viewers who appreciate historical accuracy.

‘Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra’ (2002)

Buena Vista International

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra is a funny fantasy film from France and Italy, directed and written by Alain Chabat. Monica Bellucci plays Cleopatra, Gerard Depardieu is Obelix, and Christian Clavier plays Asterix. The story begins with Queen Cleopatra making a bet with Julius Caesar (played by Alain Chabat). If Egypt can build a more impressive palace in Alexandria than Caesar’s in Rome, he’ll have to acknowledge Egypt as the greatest country. To achieve this, Cleopatra hires the architect Numerobis, who in turn asks for help from his friends, Obelix and Asterix.

While this film takes more inspiration from the Asterix & Obelix comic books than from the historical Cleopatra, it’s a really fun movie. The acting is fantastic, especially Monica Bellucci as Cleopatra, and it successfully captures the comics’ blend of silly humor and clever writing, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.

‘Caesar and Cleopatra’ (1945)

United Artists

The film Caesar and Cleopatra is a British adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s 1901 play of the same name, directed by Gabriel Pascal. It’s a story of love and power struggles set in Ancient Egypt and Rome, focusing on Julius Caesar’s arrival in Alexandria following his victory over Pompey. Vivien Leigh stars as Cleopatra, and Claude Rains plays Caesar.

As a movie buff, I was fascinated to learn this film was a real spectacle – shot in vibrant Technicolor and built on incredibly lavish sets. It was the most expensive British film ever made back then! The director was totally committed to getting the look just right, even importing sand all the way from Egypt for the colors. Sadly, despite all that effort, it didn’t make its money back at the box office. But honestly, the performances from the two leads were amazing – they really shone, even if the film itself wasn’t a financial success.

‘Cleopatra’ (1934)

Paramount Pictures

As a classic film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra. It’s an American epic, and while it’s based on historical events – adapted from a work by Bartlett Cormack – it’s actually a bit shorter than most historical films of that era. What really struck me was DeMille’s direction; it was truly fantastic and even earned an Oscar for its stunning cinematography. The cast was incredible too – Claudette Colbert was Cleopatra, and Henry Wilcoxon made a compelling Mark Antony, with Warren William perfectly capturing Julius Caesar.

This film tells the story of Cleopatra’s romantic relationships, starting with Julius Caesar and continuing with Mark Antony. Claudette Colbert’s performance as Cleopatra was stunning, showcasing her at the peak of her career. While a previous 1917 film showed what Cleopatra looked like, this 1934 version truly captured her personality – her elegance, intelligence, and strength – and set the standard for all future films about her.

‘Cleopatra’ (1963)

I’ve always been fascinated by Cleopatra, that incredible historical drama directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It really cemented Elizabeth Taylor’s status as a legend, I think – it’s the role she’s best remembered for. And the cast! Rex Harrison as Julius Caesar and Richard Burton as Mark Antony – it was a powerhouse. The story itself is just captivating, following Cleopatra as she tries to rule, find love, and deal with the ever-expanding power of Rome.

This film was one of the most costly ever produced, largely due to its elaborate recreation of ancient Alexandria. You can definitely see where the money went, especially in the stunning costumes, which would inspire countless memorable fashion moments. It received nine Academy Award nominations, winning four, and continues to be the definitive cinematic portrayal of Cleopatra for movie lovers.

2026-03-19 17:52