Cast and Crew: Shekhar Kapur (director), Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Emily Mortimer, Daniel Craig, Lily Allen

What It’s About: The early life and transformation of Elizabeth I from young woman to the Virgin Queen of England. This film is the first of a planned trilogy, the second installment of which was released 9 years later in 2007, and the third is still being planned. Elizabeth transcends the standard period piece through the use of creative editing, non-traditional camera angles, and a visual approach quite dissimilar to most films about English monarchy.

Why Watch it Today?: Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII, was born on this day in 1533.

Where to Get It: iTunes and Vudu, Netflix (rental only), libraries