Historical films are difficult to do well. They require endless research to prevent them from becoming inaccurate, huge budgets to cater to the elaborate sets, costumes, and props required, and must often strike a balance between staying true to history and entertaining a modern audience. It’s certainly no easy feat. Despite the difficulties, there are many medieval films that have been incredibly successful, both commercially and critically. From A Knight’s Tale to Henry V to The Name of the Rose, the best medieval movies are must-watches for any film fan.
The medieval period is fertile grounds for epic tales of glory on the battlefield and romanticized reimaginings of historical events, but it seems to have fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years. High fantasy stories set in fictional worlds seem to be much more prevalent, but, as great as Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones may be, they shouldn’t be a complete replacement for the medieval setting. Still, from the pioneering years of cinema in the first half of the twentieth century to the huge blockbusters of the modern day, there are more than a few medieval movies that are more than worthwhile.
20. The Green Knight (2021)
Though it was somewhat overlooked when it was released, The Green Knight will likely become a beloved favorite of many fans in years to come. The movie stars Dev Patel as Gawain, a young and ambitious knight who finds himself on a quest to prove his nobleness when he is challenged by the mysterious Green Knight. The Green Knight adapts the poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and includes fantasy elements just as the source material did. However, it is also a medieval tale that deconstructs tales of heroes and holds an impressive 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
19. The King (2019)
One of the more recent medieval releases, Netflix’s The King proved there was still interest in the genre. Though based on several plays by William Shakespeare, the film takes its own approach to chronicle the life of Henry V (Timothée Chalamet) after becoming the King of England in the 15th century. Chalamet proved he could carry his own movie outside the indie movie world and appeal to a larger audience. He delivers a layered performance as a brave warrior who is perhaps not as wise of a politician as he likes to pretend he is. The movie also features an impressive supporting cast including Robert Pattinson with an amusing French accent.
18. El Cid (1961)
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The 1961 film El Cid starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren highlights one of the last movies made in the era of old Hollywood when such studio epics were common. The film chronicles the life of Spanish legendary figure Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, also known as El Cid. The film is set in the 11th century against a backdrop of Christian Spain that is being overrun by the Moors. The charismatic knight El Cid tries to unify his divided country and rally his people against foreign invaders. The star power of the movie is one of the selling points as Heston and Loren received plenty of praise while the musical score and art direction are also standouts, earning several Oscar nominations in technical categories.
17. Valhalla Rising (2009)
The Viking movie genre is not a very prevalent one but Valhalla Rising is one of the examples of why these brutal adventure movies should be seen more often. This Nicolas Winding Refn film features Mads Mikkelsen in one of his most visceral performances. Buoyed by the gorgeous Scotland landscape on which it was shot, Valhalla Rising is a worthy screening for both Mikkelsen fans and anyone who can get on Refn’s wavelength and comfortably stay there. Far from the director’s Drive, the film follows a Norse Warrior called One-Eye and a young boy as they travel with Christian Crusaders in 1096 AD.
16. The Northman (2022)
Famed for his brooding and unrelentingly strange horror-adjacent efforts, director Robert Eggers knows how to establish drama, build tension, and cultivate a bizarre climax that makes the film’s heroes seem no more well-intentioned than its villains. That’s very much on display in one of 2022’s best action movies, The Northman. A Norse tale of revenge that reverts into a tale of questioned allegiances and misinterpreted memories, it’s a visually stunning adventure that’ll leave audiences wondering why more movies don’t opt for the troubled antihero storyline. Though a box office disappointment, the movie’s battle sequences and authentic feel stood out among modern action movies.
15. Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
Following Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning Gladiator, the idea of the filmmaker making another historical epic sounded like a great idea. Kingdom of Heaven follows a blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) who joins his father (Liam Neeson) as a crusader on the road to the Holy City. Years before fans started demanding the director’s cut of Justice League, the film Kingdom of Heaven showed how a director’s cut could save a movie. The messy film that was released in theaters was recut in its intended form as a massive epic that showed off Scott’s talent for big battle sequences while also making the historical aspects of the movie more gripping and effective.
14. Excalibur (1981)
Some of the best medieval movies combine the mythology of classic tales while also setting themselves in the heightened historical world. Such is the case with the wonderful fantasy adventure Excalibur. As expected from the title, this is a story about King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. The cast was heavily praised with Nigel Terry as Arthur, Patrick Stewart as Leondegrance, Liam Neeson as Gawain and Helen Mirren as Morgana. The movie picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography while Boorman won an award at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.
13. The Last Duel (2021)
Though it was one of the biggest box office bombs of 2021, The Last Duel recounts a real-life story lost in history that has stunning relevancy to modern society. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was written and features performances by both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck while also starring Adam Driver and Jodie Comer in an acclaimed leading role. The movie is told through the perspectives of two knights and a lady all surrounding a horrific incident that leads to a deadly confrontation. Despite the fact that it was overlooked and Affleck scored an undeserved Razzie nomination, the performances, the telling of the tale, and the epic final battle led to an 85% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
12. A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Though fans know Heath Ledger best as The Dark Knight’s Joker, A Knight’s Tale is one of the films that cemented the late star as a leading man. Ledger stars as William Thatcher, a man who impersonates a knight and rises up through the ranks by jousting in a series of tournaments. The highly entertaining film centers around the idea that humans can choose their own destinies and is much more comedic than most medieval movies. Instead of taking itself too seriously with historical facts and accuracy, the movie incorporated modern music in a fun and unexpected way.
11. Richard III (1955)
Laurence Olivier is an actor who seems to have been perfectly suited to performing these larger-than-life characters of medieval dramas. In Richard III, Olivier plays the titular nefarious character in the tale of his many plots and betrayals in order to seize the throne for himself. Olivier directed a number of movies based on Shakespeare plays, and while this was his only one not to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, Olivier’s performance was nominated. In the years since its release, many have called Richard III the best Shakespeare movie adaptation.
10. Becket (1964)
Following a restoration of the Best Picture-winning Becket in 2007, more people have been able to experience the brilliance of the movie. Starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, the film documents the relationship between Henry II of England and the bishop Thomas Becket. Now known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas Becket served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until 1170. The dynamic between Burton and O’Toole is riveting with both actors being nominated for Best Actor for their performances. The movie also spawned a spiritual sequel in The Lion in Winter.
9. Henry V (1989)
Like Laurence Olivier before him, Kenneth Branagh’s movie career is filled with Shakespeare adaptations that he both directed and starred in. He made his directorial debut with the 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Henry V starring Branagh as the titular character as he tries to claim the kingdom of France in the name of England during the Hundred Years War. Branagh has a talent for taking the dense material of Shakespeare and bringing it to the big screen in a faithful yet accessible way. The movie is considered one of the best Shakespeare adaptations and earned Branagh Oscar nominations for his acting and directing.
8. The Name Of The Rose (1986)
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While most medieval movies try to explore well-known historical figures or depict epic battles, The Name of the Rose, tells a more contained and genre-driven story that sets it apart. The movie tells the story of the fictional 14th-century Franciscan monk William of Baskerville who travels to an abbey and investigates a suspicious death. The movie is an obscure whodunnit, planting a murder mystery story within the setting of a medieval movie. The result is a gripping and highly entertaining thriller with a terrific leading man performance from Connery.
7. Hamlet (1948)
This 1948 Oscar-winning adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet stars and was directed by Laurence Olivier, and it serves as something of a paired-down interpretation of the original play. That said, it retains the playwright’s trademark dialogue and expertly reflects the tribulations of its titular lead. The story of Hamlet is a timeless tale with which most cinephiles are at least casually familiar and the movie captures Shakespeare’s original text faithfully with a commanding lead performance. Fittingly, as perhaps the most acclaimed of Shakespeare’s plays, this was the crowing adaptation of Olivier, earning him Best Actor and Best Picture Oscars.
6. The Lion In Winter (1968)
The Lion in Winter, starring Peter O’Toole as King Henry II and Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine. It tells the story of the king’s decision about which of his three sons will inherit his throne. The film also stars a young Anthony Hopkins as the couple’s eldest son, Richard the Lionheart. The film is based on a Broadway play of the same name and was one of the highest-grossing films of 1968 showing the kind of audience there once was for these prestige stories of historical politics and intrigue. It also won three Academy Awards, including Best Music Score, Best Adapted Screen Play, and Best Actress for Katharine Hepburn.
5. Braveheart (1995)
Directed by and starring Mel Gibson, Braveheart follows the life of William Wallace after the murder of his new wife transforms him from a peaceful farmer’s son to the rebellious leader of the Scottish army. Those looking for historical facts in Braveheart will be disappointed as the movie is largely made up. However, there is no denying the thrilling adventure and war movie that is on display with some of the best battle sequences ever created for a movie. The movie went on to dominate the awards season of the time, even taking home the Oscars for Best Director and Picture.
4. The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)
Released in 1928 as a silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc told the real-life story of the trial of Joan of Arc in 1431. She led the French in battle against the English during the Hundred Years’ War but stood trial in front of the French clergy, who were loyal to the English, for heresy. Film critic Pauline Kael called Renée Jeanne Falconetti’s performance as Joan of Arc the best in cinema history. For those looking to get into the silent movie era and check out some of the classics, The Passion of Joan of Arc remains engaging and a vital piece of movie history nearly a century later.
3. Ran (1985)
Moving to Japan for the medieval period, Akira Kurosawa mastered the genre. In 1985, Ran became one of Kurosawa’s later classics. The director pulled heavily from Shakespeare, and Ran was a remake of King Lear. Taking place in feudal Japan, the film centers on a dying feudal lord who lost most of his kingdom’s inheritance, and this caused a war to break out between his sons while destroying what is left of their father’s kingdom. The movie’s visual style and unbelievable cinematic movies such as chaotic climactic battle sequence cements the movie as one of Kurosawa’s best.
2. Monty Python & The Holy Grail (1975)
It’s not often that a medieval film is also a comedy, but Monty Python and the Holy Grail break all the rules. The incredibly rewatchable 1970s movie features a retelling of King Arthur with no concern for accuracy and just one hilariously absurd sequence after another. There are so many iconic moments that still deliver laughs, including the famous showdown with the persistent Black Knight. While the ending makes it questionable if it can really be considered a medieval movie, the fact that it has so much fun pretending to make it a worthy inclusion in the genre as well as one of the funniest movie comedies of all time.
1. The Seventh Seal (1957)
In 1957, Ingmar Bergman created one of his masterpieces with The Seventh Seal. The film takes place at the end of the crusades when a medieval knight, played by Max von Sydow, returned home. At the time of the Black Death, the knight was dying but wanted to see his wife one last time and challenged Death to a game of chess for his life to delay his passing. The movie helped to cement Bergman’s status as a world-class director on the international stage and gradually became viewed as one of the greatest movies ever made. The cinematography, themes and depiction of death obviously still have a huge influence on modern pop culture.