Review: Royally Screwed is a Passionflix Crown Jewel

Since its debut in 2022, my favorite Passionflix movie has always been Tangled. It’s fitting that another Emma Chase movie, Royally Screwed, is now one of my very favorites. Royally Screwed is a crown jewel in the pantheon of Passionflix movies, impeccably acted with the perfect blend of humor, heart and drama. I had a chance to watch the movie ahead of its February 12 release on the streaming platform, and here is my spoiler-free review.

I’ve been waiting years for Royally Screwed to be made and I absolutely loved it. It was everything I was hoping for and so much more. Royally Screwed is pure escapism. It’s the kind of movie you can watch over and over again and find new reasons to love it with each viewing. It’s a great choice for a movie night with friends, a rainy day watch party or whenever you need an escape. The movie is a fitting tribute to Chase’s masterful storytelling and the beautiful way the movie translates from page to screen through the script from Joany Kane and Tosca Musk.

Royally Screwed features Jenny Boyd as Olivia Hammond, a young woman trying desperately to keep the family cafe afloat under trying circumstances, and Max Rinehart as Prince Nicholas, the reluctant royal whose date with duty is growing uncomfortably close. The movie also features Academy Award–nominated, Emmy-winning actress Shohreh Aghdashloo as Queen Lenora, Nicholas’ grandmother who is trying her best to balance her roles as queen and family matriarch.

Once again, Passionflix nails the casting with this movie. Boyd and Rinehart are mesmerizing, with off-the-charts chemistry from the start. Rinehart is a very convincing prince, balancing duty and desire, and Aghdashloo plays a queen with aplomb and grace. The supporting cast is phenomenal, too, and I truly hope that we get to see them again in the future should Passionflix greenlight the other books in series.

Most of all, though, I was blown away by Boyd’s performance. Olivia is a different kind of female main character, walking a razor-thin line between steely strength and falling apart. Boyd effortlessly conveys Olivia’s profound vulnerability in her expressions alone, capturing every nuance of her personality – often without saying a word. Boyd’s deep, soulful eyes convey Olivia’s pain and resilience, giving Rinehart room to play the white knight trying to ride in and save the day.

Royally Screwed marks the directorial debut for Sophia Kiapos, which is hard to believe given how skillfully she brings the story to life. Between the phenomenal cast, lavish settings (including a castle!) and a live orchestra (marking the first time an orchestra was used in a Passionflix movie), Royally Screwed is on a whole other level for the romance streamer.

Royally Screwed is a must-watch movie that sets a high bar for future Passionflix movies. I’m hopeful that the other books in Chase’s The Royally Series – Royally Matched, Royally Endowed and Royally Yours – will get the green light soon. Now that we’ve had a taste of Passionflix doing royal romances, we need more!