Is National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2026)
BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel, where among the glittering salons of the super-rich, one misstep can mean ruin. Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs this thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare.
✨ The Quick Verdict
For fans of Drama, Romance, Comedy cinema, National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses is shaping up to be a major event in the 2026 calendar. Early trailers suggest a high-impact theatrical experience.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
📅 The Road to Release
As we approach the debut of National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses in 2026, the excitement surrounding this Drama, Romance, Comedy project has reached a fever pitch. Early indications from the production cycle suggest that Marianne Elliott has crafted a narrative intended to challenge audience expectations and redefine genre tropes.
🌟 Talent & Vision
The casting of Aidan Turner in a pivotal role has been a major talking point among cinema enthusiasts. Given their track record for delivering high-intensity performances, expectations are that they will provide National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses with the emotional core necessary for such an ambitious undertaking. The collaboration between Aidan Turner and Marianne Elliott is considered one of the most promising partnerships in recent years.
🎯 What to Expect
While official reviews are still under embargo, pre-release tracking and promotional material point to a film that prioritizes atmospheric world-building and narrative complexity. For fans of the Drama genre, this is shaping up to be a mandatory theatrical experience. We will update this section with a full critical breakdown and audience analysis within 48 hours of the film's official release.