Top Cleopatra Movies of All Time You Must See Ranked

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Cleopatra is undoubtedly one of the most famous rulers of Ancient Egypt. The queen has been a topic of various stories, whether they’re actual historical tales or artistic interpretations of her liaisons with Caesar or Anthony; the latter was even a subject of Shakespeare’s work. Now, in this article, we are going to be dealing with Cleopatra in modern art, but not in literature, but rather in film.

We have prepared a list featuring top-rated and widely recognized Cleopatra films spanning various eras in cinematic history. The movies are arranged in descending order, with the first position indicating the highest-ranked film in terms of popularity. This diverse compilation encompasses both live-action and animated productions.

We made a list of the best-known Cleopatra movies across different times in movie history. The movies are listed from least to most popular, with the top spot being the most well-liked one. This list includes both regular and cartoon films.

10. Cléopâtre (1899)

Director: Georges Méliès
Writers: Georges Méliès
Release Date: 1899
Country: France
Duration: 2 minutes

Starring: Jehanne d’Alcy (Cleopatra), Georges Méliès (Digger)

Kicking off our list of top Cleopatra films throughout history, we begin with the 1899 production titled “Cléopâtre“. In this film, a desecration of Cleopatra’s tomb takes place, causing her mummy to be set ablaze. However, the spirit of the ancient Egyptian queen mysteriously emerges from the smoke.

9. Scooby-Doo! in Where’s My Mummy? (2005)

Director: Joe Sichta was the one in charge
Writers: The script was penned by Joseph Barbera, George Doty IV, William Hanna, Ed Scharlach, Joe Sichta, Catherine Trillo, and Thommy Wojciechowski
Release Date: The film hit the screens on May 13, 2005
Country: It originated from the United States
Duration: The runtime is approximately 75 minutes long.

Featuring: Frank Welker as Fred Jones/Scooby-Doo, Casey Kasem as Shaggy Rogers, Mindy Cohn as Velma Dinkley, Grey DeLisle in dual roles as Daphne Blake and Natasha, Ron Perlman portraying Armin Granger, alias Hotep and Ancient One #2, Jeremy Piven taking on the character Rock Rivers, and Virginia Madsen bringing Cleopatra to life.

The Scooby-Doo gang finds themselves in ancient Egypt for an unexpected visit to Velma, who’s been busy restoring the renowned Sphinx alongside Prince Omar over the last six months. It turns out that the Sphinx holds the burial place of Queen Cleopatra!

As they journey, the group meets various characters: an Egyptian nomad known as “Triple A”, the TV host of “Fear Facers” called Rock Rivers, and a woman strongly resembling Lara Croft named Dr. Amelia von Butch. However, against Velma and Omar’s objections, Dr. von Butch and her colleagues opt to employ contemporary methods to unlock the tomb.

From my perspective as a fervent movie enthusiast, I’d say it goes like this: As I, along with others, heard from Omar, disturbing the ancient tomb would unleash a chilling curse, transforming whoever ventures inside into stone statues. Initially, skepticism clouded our judgement, but when Velma, Omar, and Rock Rivers decided to explore the tomb, events soon proved Omar’s warning all too true. Their petrified remains were found not long after.

Dr. von Butch bravely steps into the tomb, prompting Mystery Inc to follow suit. Unfortunately, she triggers a hidden trap, causing the group to split. Fred, Daphne find themselves pursuing Dr. von Butch, while Scooby-Doo and Shaggy stumble upon a forgotten city instead.

8. Cleopatra (1970)

Director: Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto
Scriptwriters: Osamu Tezuka, Shigemi Satoyoshi
Premiere Date: September 15, 1970
Origin: Japan
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes

Featuring: Chinatsu Nakayama as Cleopatra, Hajime Hana as Julius Caesar, Osami Nabe as Marcus Antonius, and Jitsuko Yoshimura in dual roles as Mary and Libya.

In the far-off future, humankind is reaching out to other planets, yet every attempt at expansion encounters resistance from the inhabitants of the Pasateli system. These beings not only reject any form of contact but appear to be planning a secret strategy aimed at causing harm to Earth, now known as Project Cleopatra.

To uncover its origin and reason, a trio – consisting of two men and a woman – are transported back through time in a spiritual manner, assuming control over three separate bodies. They find themselves transformed as Ionius, a Roman slave, Luba, a domesticated leopard, and Lybia, an Egyptian princess.

In the year 48 BC, Julius Caesar makes his way to Egypt. While he comes with a veneer of peace, his arrival follows a trail of pillaging and slaughter carried out by his troops. To many, this incursion appears less about peace and more about Rome’s ambition to extend its territories as far as the Nile delta.

7. Serpent of the Nile (1953)

Director: The film was directed by William Castle.
Writers: Robert E. Kent penned the script for this movie.
Release Date: This motion picture hit the big screens on May 8, 1953.
Country: The United States produced this film.
Duration: It runs for approximately 81 minutes.

As an ardent admirer, let me express that the central figures in this captivating tale are none other than Rhonda Fleming, who breathes life into the enigmatic Cleopatra; William Lundigan, who portrays Lucilius with finesse; the legendary Raymond Burr as Marcus Antonius; and Jean Byron, bringing Charmian to vibrant life. Lastly, Michael Ansara graces our screens as Captain Florus.

7th on our list of top Cleopatra films is “Serpent of the Nile,” which was released in 1953. Previously accompanying Julius Caesar to Egypt, Lucilius had seen the relationship between him and Cleopatra unfold. He considered Cleopatra as a woman who could persuasively manipulate men for her own goals.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that in this scenario, she aims to marry Marc Antoine to secure the title of Queen of Rome and ensure her son, conceived with Caesar, will one day rule the Roman Empire. However, as Lucilius observes, Cleopatra manipulates Antony by offering grand spectacles and lavish banquets, showcasing the opulence of her court, while the masses of Egypt endure hardships such as hunger and poverty.

When Lucilius shares his worries with Cleopatra, she unsuccessfully attempts to charm him, aiming to gain his allegiance. Later on, Cleopatra convinces Antoine that this widespread unrest among the people is orchestrated by her younger half-sister.

6. Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre (2002)

Director: Alain Chabat is the film’s director.
Writers: The script for this movie was written by Alain Chabat himself.
Release Date: This movie premiered on January 30, 2002.
Country: This film hails from both France and Germany.
Duration: The running time for this movie is approximately 107 minutes.

Featuring: Gerard Depardieu (Obelix), Christian Clavier (Asterix), Jamel Debbouze (Numberbis), Monica Bellucci (Cleopatra), Alain Chabat (Julius Caesar) in the lead roles.

Cleopatra, Egypt’s queen, chose to impress Julius Caesar by constructing a palace in the heart of the desert within just three months. She enlisted the help of architect Numérobis for this ambitious endeavor. However, this decision didn’t sit well with the court architect, Amonbofis, who felt resentment over not being selected to oversee the project, as he harbored feelings of jealousy.

In a hurry due to limited time, Numerobis chooses to visit Gaul seeking aid from his long-time friend, the druid Panoramix, who possesses the secret formula for a magical potion. He also intends to see Asterix and Obelix there.

Or:

Faced with a tight deadline, Numerobis decides to head to Gaul to ask Panoramix, an old friend and druid, for help. Panoramix is known to have the secret of a powerful potion. He also plans to meet up with Asterix and Obelix during his visit.

Three Gallic companions join Numerobis on a journey to Alexandria, where they must counter the plots of Amonbofis and the Romans. This is crucial because if Numerobis fails to complete the palace construction by the deadline, he faces a dire fate: being cast into the crocodile-infested waters as a sacrifice.

5. Due notti con Cleopatra (1954)

1950s Italian cinema at its finest! As I sat down to watch “The Little Foxes” directed by the talented Mario Mattoli, I was immediately captivated. The script, a collaboration between Ruggero Maccari and Ettore Scola, is nothing short of brilliant.

Set in 1954, this 78-minute masterpiece takes us on a journey through the bustling streets of Italy. From start to finish, the film is a testament to the power of storytelling, with every scene meticulously crafted to evoke emotion and engage the audience.

If you’re a fan of timeless cinema, “The Little Foxes” is not to be missed. I highly recommend it!

Starring: Sophia Loren (Cleopatra / Nisca), Alberto Sordi (Cesarino), Ettore Manni (Marcantonio)

After Marc Antony leaves, Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, spends her nights with one of his guards. However, this guard is discovered dead the next morning, having been poisoned, presumably to keep him from revealing any secrets. Another Roman soldier named Cesarino, who also works as a guard, subsequently finds himself in the queen’s chambers.

4. Astérix et Cléopâtre (1968)

Directors: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (Originally Written By)
Additional Writers: Eddie Lateste, Jos Marissen, Pierre Tchernia
Release Year: 1968
Production Countries: France and Belgium
Running Time: Approximately 72 minutes (Original Duration)

Featuring: Roger Carel as Asterix, Jacques Morel as Obelix, Jean Parédès portraying Julius Caesar, and Micheline Dax in the role of Cleopatra.

Cleopatra wagers with Julius Caesar that he’ll construct an extraordinary palace swiftly, demonstrating the grandeur of the Egyptian populace to him.

Architect Numerobis, overseeing the project, seeks assistance from druid Panoramix. Accompanied by his magical elixir and companions Asterix and Obelix, Panoramix travels to Egypt to aid in the construction of Numerobis’ palace. Once there, Panoramix administers a potion to the workers under Numerobis, enhancing their strength threefold.

3. Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)

The Director for this film is Gabriel Pascal.
The screenplay was penned by George Bernard Shaw.
The movie premiered on December 11, 1945.
It hails from the United Kingdom.
The running time for this production is approximately 128 minutes.

Starring: Vivien Leigh (Cleopatra), Claude Rains (Caesar), Stewart Granger (Apollodorus)

The movie takes place in the year 48 BC. following the assassination of Pompey. Caesar, then, traveled to Egypt to mete out punishment against King Ptolemy XIII and elevate Queen Cleopatra to rule, with whom he had a romantic involvement and fathered a son named Ptolemy XV, better known as “Caesarion,” who would later become Cleopatra’s successor.

Due to the uprising among the Egyptian populace, Caesar will continue to be confined within Cleopatra’s palace, where he currently resides.

2. Cleopatra (1934)

Director: Cecil B. DeMille was the filmmaker
Screenwriters: Waldemar Young, Vincent Lawrence, and Bartlett Cormack were responsible for the script
Release Date: The movie premiered on August 16, 1934
Origin: This film hails from the United States
Runtime: It runs for approximately 100 minutes

I proudly support the captivating lineup of this epic production:

In Leading Roles: Yours truly as Cleopatra, Warren William taking on Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon portraying Marc Antony, Joseph Schildkraut assuming King Herod’s throne, and C. Aubrey Smith gracing the stage as Enobarbus.

The movie primarily explores the romantic affairs of Cleopatra. Initially smitten with Julius Caesar, she later developed feelings for his general, Marc Antoine. Tragically, after Octavian, the great-nephew and adopted heir of Julius Caesar, completed the conquest of Egypt, Cleopatra chose to take her own life.

1. Cleopatra (1963)

Movie Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Screenplay by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Ranald MacDougall, Sidney Buchman

Premiere Date: June 12, 1963

Origin: United States

Running Time: Approximately 251 minutes (4 hours and 11 minutes)

Featuring: Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, Richard Burton as Mark Antony, Rex Harrison in the role of Julius Caesar, Martin Landau playing Rufio, Roddy McDowall as Octavian, and Francesca Annis portraying Eiras.

1963’s “Cleopatra” takes the top spot on our list of outstanding Cleopatra films ever made. The story unfolds shortly after Julius Caesar’s victory at the Battle of Pharsalia, where Pompey’s forces were defeated. In desperation, Pompey sought aid from Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, the young pharaoh of Egypt, and his sister, Cleopatra VII.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: When I was in ancient Egypt, I, along with others, chose to take the life of Pompey. Upon my arrival, Caesar was presented with his enemy’s head as a gesture of friendship. To be honest, I was taken aback by the gruesome execution of such an honorable opponent.

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2025-06-04 14:16