The Royal Game

1h 50m · 2021 · Directed by Philipp Stölzl · 3.5 / 5 on Letterboxd

The Royal Game (2021) runs 1h 50m, directed by Philipp Stölzl. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

1938. While the Nazi troops march into Vienna, the lawyer Josef Bartok hastily tries to escape to the USA with his wife but is arrested by the Gestapo. Bartok remains steadfast and refuses to cooperate with the Gestapo that requires confidential information from him. Thrown into solitary confinement, Bartok is psychologically tormented for months and begins to weaken. However, when he steals an old book about chess it sets him on course to overcome the mental suffering inflicted upon him, until it becomes a dangerous obsession.

Genres: History, Drama, War, Thriller

No US streaming listed when we last checked (9 July 2026). Availability changes often.