The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›Marie Antoinette (film)
Entertainment • Film

Marie Antoinette (film)

Marie Antoinette is a 2006 historical drama film written, directed, and produced by Sofia Coppola.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Marie Antoinette is a 2006 historical drama film written, directed, and produced by Sofia Coppola. It stars Kirsten Dunst as the title character, Marie Antoinette, and is loosely based on Antonia Fraser's biography *Marie Antoinette: The Journey*. The film depicts the queen's life from her arranged marriage into the French royal family through the years leading up to the French Revolution.

Plot

The plot follows Marie Antoinette from her marriage to the Dauphin of France through her years as queen, ending before the events of the October Days of 1789. The story covers her life up to 5–6 October 1789.

Production

Sofia Coppola wrote and directed the film, adapting Antonia Fraser's biography. Production companies involved include Columbia Pictures, American Zoetrope, and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation.

Release

Marie Antoinette premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. The film was released in North America by Sony Pictures Releasing on 20 October 2006, with a runtime of 123 minutes.

Reception

The film received mixed-to-positive critical responses and achieved moderate box-office success, though no single authoritative review aggregate or full critical consensus is provided in the available sources.

Key facts

  • The film presents a loosely based account of Marie Antoinette's life as dauphine and later queen of France.
  • Sofia Coppola served as the film's writer, director, and producer.
  • Kirsten Dunst plays the title role, with Jason Schwartzman portraying Louis XVI.
  • The film premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Palme d'Or.
  • It was released in North America by Sony Pictures Releasing on 20 October 2006.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was released internationally and is widely available on home-video and streaming platforms accessible to Canadian audiences; no Canada-specific production or storyline connection is indicated in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Marie Antoinette (film) about?
It is a historical drama about Marie Antoinette's life as a young Austrian royal who becomes queen of France before the French Revolution.
Who directed the film?
Sofia Coppola directed, wrote, and produced the film.
Who stars as Marie Antoinette?
Kirsten Dunst plays Marie Antoinette.
What is the film based on?
It is based on Antonia Fraser's 2001 biography *Marie Antoinette: The Journey*.
When was it released?
It premiered in 2006 and opened in North America on 20 October 2006.
What language is the film in?
The film is in English, according to the available release listings.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_(2006_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, and source material based on Antonia Fraser biography.
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Antoinette_(film,_2006)
    Supports: Runtime, countries of production, production companies, and plot range up to October 1789.
  3. Wikipedia — https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_(film,_2006)
    Supports: Cannes premiere, North American release date, and box office information.
  4. Wikipedia — https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_(2006)
    Supports: French-Japanese-American production and story premise.