Queen Elizabeth I faces threats from Spain, assassination attempts, and religious wars as she navigates her way through the politics of the court. She must protect her reign and her people against the powerful Spanish Armada.

Elizabeth (1998) is a movie about the early years of Queen Elizabeth I's reign in England. After her Catholic sister dies, Elizabeth, a Protestant, becomes the new Queen. With a distressed England and treasonous nobles, Elizabeth must navigate the challenges of being a monarch. She faces pressure to marry and produce an heir, but delays her decision and continues her secret affair. As she stabilizes her rule and faces assassination attempts, Elizabeth must make difficult choices to secure her place as the Queen.