From Nomadland to Top Gun, here are all the movies that the characters from House of the Dragon would call their favorite films.
House of the Dragon is finally back on our screens with season 3. In the long wait to go back to Westeros, we could not help but think about our favorite characters and their tastes and preferences. In particular, I had to start wondering: if the character we know and love lived in today’s world, what would they like? And what would be their favorite films? In this list, we look at what each character would pick: Rhaenyra, Viserys, Corlys, Jacaerys, Aemond, and Daemon would each have their own unique taste.
1. Nomadland (2021)
Rheanyra
In season 1 of House of the Dragon, young Rheanyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) dreams of travelling the world on dragonback. While there are no dragons in Nomadland, Fern (Frances McDormand) travels across the United States in her van. It may seem a far way to go for the heir to the Iron Throne in terms of lifestyle, but Rheanyra would long for the freedom of packing your entire life up in a van and going wherever you please. Not only would this film show her new places in the world, but Rheanyra would sadly be able to relate to the grief that Fern experiences after the loss of her husband and see an experience not so dissimilar to her own portrayed on the big screen.
2. The King’s Speech (2010)
Viserys
While he died in season 1 of House of the Dragon, the King Viserys I Taregaryen (Paddy Considine) still very much haunts the narrative to this day and remains a core element of the story, thanks to Considine’s excellent performance as the late king. In the present day, King Viserys would enjoy a historical drama, and especially Tom Hopper’s The King’s Speech. The movie portrays the personal struggles and internal battles of King George VI (Colin Firth) who has to privately overcome his stammer thanks to the help of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The intimate portrayal of such a public figure is something that the show does with Viserys too, focusing on him as an individual rather than exclusively as a King.
3. Wuthering Heights (2026)
Alicent
Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated and heavily criticised Wuthering Heights screams Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) from beginning to end. With its tragic love story, doomed and forbidden love, and a marriage of convenience, Alicent would see a lot of her own struggles portrayed in this modern-day film. While the circumstances might be different, Cathy (Margot Robbie) bears some resemblance to Alicent herself both in personality and the element of a marriage that involves very little love. The overall atmosphere of the film with its mix of modern music and costumes with period drama aesthetic and beautiful location also fits in with Alicent’s character in the House of the Dragon series quite well.
4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Corlys
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, directed by Peter Weir, is easily one of the most famous and best regarded films on naval combat. Set in 1805, the movie follows the HMS Surprise, a British frigate that is ambushed by a French privateer. Naturally, this is the perfect film for Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). The latter, also known as the Sea Snake, is known in House of the Dragon as the greatest seafarer in Westos and an expert in ships and naval warfare. It seems only right, then, that Corlys’ greatest passion and biggest strength would reflect in his choice of movie.
5. Top Gun (1987)
Jacaerys
Dragon, air fight, and the need for speed: what else would Prince Jacaerys Velaryion (Harry Collett) be interested in when it comes to present day filmmaking if not Top Gun? Directed by Tony Scott, the film explores themes of courage, duty, and working as a team. Much like Jace, Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) has to learn a painful lesson in working as part of a team and doing the right thing, regardless of individual ambitions, while he attends fighter weapon school during the movie. As a dragon rider virtually from birth, Jace is shown to love flying on dragonback and get involved in any important battle personally in the war to claim the throne for his mother, Rheanyra. Needless to say, Jace’s character would very much still enjoy flying and air combat in today’s world.
6. A Few Good Men (1992)
Aemond
Directed by Rob Reiner, A Few Good Men is a legal drama film set in Washington DC where Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) defends two young soldiers accused of murdering a fellow Marine in the court martial trial. With a wonderfully written script by Aaron Sorkin, the movie explores themes of justice, insubordination, and disrupting the system hierarchy. These are all elements that would appeal to none other than Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), a warrior with little empathy, but impressive skills and a strong sense of what he thinks he deserves. Well-spoken and argumentative, Aemond would also enjoy the legal parts of this movie and perhaps be inspired in his very own speeches.
7. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Daemon
No film says Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) quite as much as Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. In many ways, the movie is a cautionary tale for Daemon himself, a man who constantly searches for more power and occasions to prove himself. His ambition and desire for authority take him to the point where he will face his ultimate demise, much like the Jordan Belfort (Leonardo di Caprio) in this film. The movie is also very well known for its controversies, profanities, and sexual content, all of which we are sure that the House of the Dragon’s King Consort would very much be on board with.
With a wide option of genres, time periods, and themes, our list of most beloved movies by the characters of House of the Dragon can give you some new ideas of what to watch, or perhaps remind you of films that you already know and love. And while you wait for the next episode of House of the Dragon season 3, why don’t you check out one of the films that your favourite characters from the show would love?