The Favourite

The Favourite has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 5,954 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Emma Stone's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

There is a reason The Favourite keeps coming up in conversation. The Favourite gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. England, early 18th century. The close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite. Emma Stone and Olivia Colman lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2018. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Favourite holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Favourite. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Emma Stone's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.