SimilarScreen
The King and the Clown

The King and the Clown

Forbidden desire, sumptuous tragedy.

20056.92h 1m

Overview

Two clowns living in Korea's Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh.

Directed by Lee Joon-ik
Written by Choi Seok-hwan, Kim Tae-woong
Produced by Jeong Jin-wan, Lee Joon-ik
0

Top Cast

Kam Woo-sung

Kam Woo-sung

Jang-sang

Lee Joon-gi

Lee Joon-gi

Gong-gil

Jung Jin-young

Jung Jin-young

King Yeonsan

Kang Sung-yeon

Kang Sung-yeon

Jang Nok-su

Yoo Hai-jin

Yoo Hai-jin

Yuk-gab

Jang Hang-seon

Jang Hang-seon

Cheo-sun

Jeong Seok-yong

Jeong Seok-yong

Chil-duk

Lee Seung-hun

Lee Seung-hun

Pal-bok

Yoon Joo-Sang

Yoon Joo-Sang

Sung Hee-an

Choi Il-hwa

Choi Il-hwa

Sung Jun

Themes & Keywords

friendshipjealousygamblingsuicide attemptclownpalacebased on play or musicalhistorical figureroyaltybromancehistorical fictionkingjesterjoseon dynasty (1392–1910)boys' love (bl)bisexualpsychological romance

About The King and the Clown

The King and the Clown is a drama, history, thriller film released in 2005 exploring themes of friendship, jealousy, gambling, suicide attempt, clown, palace. Directed by Lee Joon-ik, it stars Kam Woo-sung, Lee Joon-gi, Jung Jin-young. Two clowns living in Korea's Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh.

Movies Similar to The King and the Clown

Discover titles like The King and the Clown — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The King and the Clown

If you enjoyed The King and the Clown, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The King and the Clown.

The Throne
30% Match

The Throne(2015)

Movie7.1/10

Ancient Korea, July 4, 1762. The Crown Prince Hyojang, posthumously named Sado, son of King Yeongjo of Joseon, is accused of treason. Thus, the king asks him to commit suicide, but his closest vassals prevent it, so the king orders the prince to get inside a wooden rice chest, where he suffers deprivation of food and water.

Masquerade
27% Match

Masquerade(2012)

Movie7.7/10

Though it places his own life in danger, a look-alike commoner secretly takes the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.

The King's Speech
21% Match

The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.

The Sword with No Name
19% Match

Mu Myeong is a Joseon dynasty headhunter who meets and falls in love with lady Ja Yeong who will become the future Empress Myseongseong. A few years later, Ja Yeong enters the royal palace to marry King Gojong. Mu Myeong still having feelings for Ja Yeong and in an attempt to get closer to her becomes her personal body guard.

JFK
18% Match

JFK(1991)

Movie7.6/10

Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison.

The Concubine
18% Match

Living a torturous life of poverty and barely able to survive, Hwa-yeon decides to offer herself as one of the king’s concubines. Once inside the royal palace, two men are immediately seized by the woman - the Grand Prince Seong-won, a megalomaniacal ruler drunk with power and lust, and Kwon-yoo, who has everything to lose if his desire for Hwa-yeon is exposed.

Tough Enough
18% Match

From the youth directed novel of the same name by Greogor Tressnow comes a film by Detlev Buck that is a realistic portrait of life in the section of Berlin called Neukölln. It’s about power and weakness, delinquents and victims, and the difficulties a 15-year-old faces in a poor and criminal environment.

The Handmaiden
17% Match

1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.

Elizabeth
17% Match

Elizabeth(1998)

Movie7.2/10

The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.

The Queen
17% Match

The Queen(2006)

Movie6.9/10

The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an overt display of mourning.

Untold Scandal
16% Match

In late 1700s Korea, Lady Cho challenges the playboy Lord Jo-won into seducing and sleeping with her husband's coming young, virgin concubine. Lady Cho agrees to sleep with him if he succeeds.

Malcolm X
16% Match

Malcolm X(1992)

Movie7.5/10

A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.

Memories of Murder
16% Match

A sadistic serial rapist and murderer of young women terrorizes a small province in 1980s South Korea. To prevent further crimes, three increasingly desperate detectives with conflicting methods race against time to unravel the violent mind of the killer in a futile effort to solve the case.