The Empress dominated the series charts on Netflix this week with its second season. But the English-language historical drama with Devrim Lingnau in the title role is of course far from the first cinematic portrayal of Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary. The first silent film was released in cinemas in 1921, just a few years after Sissi’s death in 1898.
Below we have other films and series compiled for you about the Austrian monarch. Of course, these are by no means all of them, but only those that can currently be streamed.
The Sissi trilogy (1955-1957)
The Austrian homeland film classic with world star Romy Schneider is not only the most famous film series about the Empress, which is a regular part of many Christmas programs. It is also one of the most successful German-language film productions of all time. Ernst Marischka directed. In 1973, Schneider played the role again in the film Ludwig II, which revolves around her husband.
The three Sissi films can be found at Netflix and RTL+.
Elisabeth Empress of Austria (1973)
Elisabeth Empress of Austria is an Austrian TV film with actress Marisa Mell in the title role. You can stream the 70s production at Amazon Prime Video.
Sisi and the Emperor’s Kiss (1991)
You’ll probably look in vain for real feelings in Sisi and the Emperor’s Kiss, because Christoph Böll’s film is a parody of local films. The French actress Vanessa Wagner played the leading role of Sissi. The Alleskino channel on Amazon has this long-forgotten title on offer.
Lissi and the Wild Emperor (2007)
Fans of German comedy know Michael Herbig aka Bully from Der Schuh des Manitu or today LOL. In the 2000s, with Lissi and the Wild Emperor, he tried to make an animated film about the Austrian Empress and her husband Franz, which was at least theoretically funny, after years of playing the historical figure in drag as part of his sketch show Bullyparade. The film is not available in flat format, but is available as a rental or purchase title Amazon and Co.
Sisi – Part 1 and 2 (2009)
Xaver Schwarzenberger’s two-part film Sisi, starring Cristiana Capotondi, premiered on German and Austrian TV 15 years ago. Part 1 begins in 1853 with the engagement of the imperial couple, part 2 covers their career and their coronation as Queen of Hungary from 1857 to 1867. The 197-minute production is included Amazon Prime Video to stream.
Sisi and the Anarchist (2020)
Sisi and the Anarchist is the only documentary on this list. This is about a chapter that many perfect world Sissi films and series still like to leave out today: her killing by the Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni in 1898. The project by Anna Maria Sigmund and Franz Riess is only available for rent – and purchase titles Amazon and Co. to find.
Sisi (2021-?)
There have been three seasons of the series Sisi with Dominique Devenport as Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary. However, there is no end in sight for the German-Austrian production, as a fourth season has already been filmed. Fans of the Netflix series The Empress who want to see a similar format about Girlboss-Sissi are probably best served here and can find all previous episodes on the streaming service RTL+.
Corset (2022)
In Marie Kreutzer’s feature film Corsage, the award-winning Vicky Krieps plays an empress in a crisis of meaning who tries to overcome established Sissi clichés. At the age of 40, she senses that she is losing her status as an aristocratic beauty symbol and stylish fashion icon and sets off from Vienna to England and Hungary to follow in the footsteps of her youth. If you want to accompany them, you have to rent or purchase the film Amazon and Co. acquire.
Sisi & I (2023)
Even more unusual and intentionally anachronistic is Sisi & Me by filmmaker Frauke Finsterwalder. Susanne Wolff plays the Empress, while German superstar Sandra Hülser accompanies her as Irma Countess Sztáray on her aforementioned travels through Europe. The Filmstarts review says: “Between rough comedy and fearlessly drastic drama, Frauke Finsterwalder succeeds in a reinterpretation of the eternal Sisi myth that is as idiosyncratic as it is brilliant.”
If you want to see for yourself, you can find the film in the flat rate Amazon Prime Video.