The Queen of Versailles

A cringe-inducing yet oddly human portrait of excess and denial, watching wealth crumble with a mix of schadenfreude and unexpected sympathy.

Directed by

Lauren Greenfield

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Jacqueline Siegel, David Siegel, Virginia Nebab

Overview

With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, The Queen of Versailles follows billionaires Jackie and David’s rags-to-riches story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of their American dream. We open on the triumphant construction of the biggest house in America, a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. Since a booming time-share business built on the real-estate bubble is financing it, the economic crisis brings progress to a halt and seals the fate of its owners. We witness the impact of this turn of fortune over the next two years in a riveting film fraught with delusion, denial, and self-effacing humor.

How it feels

Satirical, melancholic, absurd and cynical. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Greed, class, family, identity

Content

Mild language. No violence, gore or sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)