根据亚历山大·普希金的同名戏剧改编，讲述沙皇鲍里斯·戈东诺夫的传奇故事，他于1598年－1605年统治俄罗斯。

Praised for its fine photography and production design if not its narrative, Sergei Bondarchuk directed this adaptation of the tale by Alexander Pushkin. Boris Godunov came to the Czarist throne at the end of the 16th century, after the original heir to Ivan the Terrible had died. At first, things went well for Godunov (played by Bondarchuk), but when the Russian people began to believe he had killed Ivan the Terrible's son in order to gain the throne, an alliance sprang up against the new Czar. Events continued to spin out of control as a young monk was presented as the son Godunov had supposedly killed. Now he was openly accused of failing an assassination attempt, which seems to be even worse than succeeding. In addition to these woes, Boris Godunov began to suffer serious health problems. So much for the joys of kingship.

Действие происходит в конце XVI века, накануне «смутного времени». Главное действующее лицо этой исторической трагедии - русский царь Борис Годунов, взошедший на престол вслед за Иваном Грозным после трагических событий: смерти старшего сына Грозного Федора и гибели юного царевича Димитрия.