14 best movies about knights that will impress you

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Historical dramas, fantasy and hooligan comedies about the noble representatives of the Middle Ages.

14. First Knight

• USA, UK, 1995.
• Action, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

The noble knight Lancelot travels to Camelot Castle to serve King Arthur. But he falls madly in love with Guinevere, who is to marry the ruler. Lancelot has to choose between feelings and dedication to duty.

It is ironic that Sean Connery had previously played in the film adaptation of the Arthurian legends, namely in the film The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. But in this picture he has already grown to the image of the greatest ruler.

13. King Arthur

• USA, UK, Ireland, 2004.
• Historical, action, adventure.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 3.

King Arthur and his assistants are sent on the instructions of Rome to dangerous lands. They have to transport one family, passing through the territory inhabited by hostile Picts led by Merlin.

Action master Antoine Fuqua in this film mixed legends with real historical events, suggesting that King Arthur was the commander Artorius Cast. It turned out to be a silly, but entertaining action movie.

12.13th warrior

• USA, 1999.
• Adventure, action movie.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

The poet Ahmed ibn Fadlan is expelled from the court of the Caliph. He travels north to the Vikings and joins a group of warriors who are preparing to fight the savage tribe. The barbarian order seems strange to the enlightened hero, but gradually he is imbued with respect for his new comrades.

This film, directed by the original Westworld, Michael Crichton, combines fragments from the 8th century Beowulf epic, real historical figures from two centuries later, and fantasy plots. So there is no need to look for at least some credibility in the plot.

11. Ivanhoe

• USA, UK, 1952.
• Historical, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Knight Wilfred Ivanhoe returns from the Crusade, planning to raise money to ransom the captured King Richard the Lionheart. In England, the hero discovers that the ruler's brother, Prince John, has seized power. Now Ivanhoe must participate in a knightly tournament in order to get money.

The film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Walter Scott, directed by Richard Thorpe, gave rise to a whole series of historical films by this director. Later he directed "Quentin Dorward" based on the book by the same author and, of course, transferred the legends about the Knights of the Round Table to the screens.

10. The story of the knight

• USA, 2001.
• Comedy, melodrama.
• Duration: 132 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

Squire William Thatcher dreams of becoming a real knight. Therefore, after the death of the owner, he changes into his armor and, under a false name, participates in tournaments, invariably winning them. But he will have to face the most dangerous rival.

Brian Helgelend's painting combines a classic plot with a completely modern comedy: characters often refer to modern pop culture and even to advertising. Well, the greatest interest in the film is attracted by the excellent acting performance of Heath Ledger.

9. Lady Hawk

• USA, Italy, 1985.
• Fantasy, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

The beauty Isabeau and the noble knight Etienne are cursed. The sorcerer made it so that during the day the girl turns into a hawk, and at night her lover becomes a wolf. But the heroes want to break the curse. To do this, they need to enter the city where the villain lives.

Interestingly, according to the original idea of the director, Rutger Hauer was supposed to play the villain. But after Kurt Russell refused the lead role, the actor got the image of Etienne.

8. Kingdom of Heaven

• USA, Spain, 2005.
• Military, drama.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

The father of the blacksmith Balian invites his son to go with him on the Crusade. At first he refuses, but then he has to flee from his native place. Soon, his dying father gives him the title of knight, and he goes on a campaign to Jerusalem.

After the success of "Gladiator", the producers expected another brutal action movie from Ridley Scott. But the director wanted to shoot a larger canvas about the era of the Crusades. Due to conflicts, a cut-down version was released, which was edited without the author's knowledge, and the film failed.

7. Don Quixote

• USSR, 1957.
• Drama.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

A poor nobleman Alonso Kejano, who adores romances of chivalry, decides to follow the example of the book heroes himself. He takes the name Don Quixote and, together with his squire Sancho Panza, sets out to perform feats. True, in fact, he often does stupid things and gets into ridiculous situations.

The legendary book by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, parodying numerous novels of chivalry, was transferred to the screens more than a dozen times. So everyone can choose the version to their liking. But the Soviet film adaptation with the magnificent Nikolai Cherkasov in the title role is considered one of the best not only in his homeland, but also in many other countries.

6. Excalibur

• USA, UK, 1981.
• Fantasy, drama, adventure.
• Duration: 140 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Merlin retrieves the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake to give to King Uther. Also, the magician helps the ruler to seduce the beautiful Igraine, and in return takes her child Arthur to raise him as a great king.

The classic picture shows famous legends from a more down-to-earth point of view: Merlin here is more a cunning than a wizard, and Arthur is not alien to human weaknesses.

5. Alexander Nevsky

• USSR, 1938.
• Drama, military, historical.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Teutonic knights attack Russia. Pskov has already been captured, and the invaders are dividing future possessions. But Prince Alexander Nevsky with his squad decides to give them a fight on the ice of Lake Peipsi.

The great film by Sergei Eisenstein conquered everyone with an amazing film language and an impressive image of Teutonic knights in heavy armor. And although their sluggishness and the weight of their equipment do not correspond to reality, such assumptions are normal for an artistic picture.

4. The Adventures of Robin Hood

• USA, 1938.
• Adventure, melodrama.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

After King Richard the Lionheart was captured, his brother Prince John seizes power. He imposes an unbearable tribute on the surrounding lands, with which the aristocrat Robin of Locksley does not agree. Having expressed everything to the ruler in the face, the hero turns out to be an outlaw and gathers in the forest a gang of noble robbers who are fighting for justice.

There are many on-screen versions of the Robin Hood legends, from Soviet to more modern Western productions, as well as parodies like Mel Brooks' films. The painting by Michael Curtitz and William Keely is recognized as a world classic: it is often referred to in other works, and some theatricality only adds to the charm.

3. Seventh seal

• Sweden, 1957.
• Drama.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Knight Antonius Blok returns from the Crusade to his homeland. On the way, he passes the cities covered by the plague. Against the background of these horrors, Blok thinks more and more about the meaning of life and begins a chess game with Death itself.

Ingmar Bergman's philosophical parable is not devoted to battles or knightly tournaments, but to the inner reincarnation of a hero who has been an egoist all his life. However, it is the fear of imminent death that makes him think about true values.

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

• Great Britain, 1975.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 91 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

King Arthur and his companions go in search of the Holy Grail. Along the way, they encounter anarchist peasants, knights who say "Ni", a cannibal rabbit and other insane characters.

The British comedian Monty Python has produced one of the brightest absurd comedies of all time with minimal investment. It so happened that it is about knights, although the jokes go far beyond the boundaries of medieval themes.

1. Brave heart

• USA, 1995.
• Military, historical.
• Duration: 178 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

After the death of the father of the young Scotsman, William Wallace, he was taken to Europe, where he received a good education. Returning years later, William leads the struggle for his country's independence from the British.

Mel Gibson himself staged this picture, taking real historical events as a basis, and personally played the main role. The film was an Oscar winner, receiving 10 nominations and five awards.