15 best films and cartoons about the Vikings: from historical classics to fantasy

The best viking movies

1. Vikings

USA, Germany, 1958.
Adventure, action, historical.
Duration: 116 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 1.

Brothers Einar and Eric were separated as children. They met after many years. One of them is the heir of King Ragnar, and the second is a slave, unaware of his origin. But soon the brothers fall in love with the same woman.

A bright representative of the "golden age" of Hollywood attracts primarily the performers of the main roles. The great Kirk Douglas starred here with Tony Curtis. Such an on-screen duo ensured the film's popularity both at home and in other countries. In particular, the Vikings went to the USSR with great success.

2. And trees grow on the stones

USSR, Norway, 1985.
Adventure, drama.
Duration: 136 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 1.

Films about Vikings: "And trees grow on the stones"

During a raid on the village of Ilmen Slovens, the Norwegian Vikings capture the young man Kuksha. He turns out to be a very smart warrior and is adopted by one of the leaders of the attackers. Soon a girl falls in love with Kuksha, who was promised to be the wife of the best berserker of the Vikings.

This picture was shot by the Soviet director Stanislav Rostotsky ("We'll Live Until Monday") together with Knut Andersen. For more credibility, the cast was also international: Kuksha is played by Belarusian Alexander Timoshkin, and the Vikings, respectively, are Norwegian actors. In addition, the authors turned to the famous historian Aron Yakovlevich Gurevich for advice, who helped to convey the events close to the real basis. And the action scenes were staged with the support of sambo athletes.

3. The flight of the raven

Iceland, Sweden, 1984.
Action, drama.
Duration: 109 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 7.

During the next raid on Ireland, the Vikings killed all the men in the settlement, and the women were taken prisoner. Only one boy survived. Years later, he sails to Iceland to take revenge. The guest pits two clans against each other, forcing former comrades to kill each other.

The film partially copies the plot of "The Bodyguard" by Akira Kurosawa and his remake "For a Fistful of Dollars." But here a familiar story was transferred to the time of the Vikings, who did often attack the Irish settlements. Later, the same director shot the films "The Shadow of the Crow" and "The White Viking". Their plots are not directly related, but the similar timing, dark atmosphere and twisted plot allowed fans to combine them into an unofficial trilogy.

4. The saga of the people of the Salmon Valley

UK, 2011.
Documentary.
Duration: 59 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 7.

Hundreds of years ago in Iceland, Vikings recorded dozens of stories, calling them sagas. These were fictional stories based on real events. Ioannina Ramirez of Oxford University understands ancient stories. She believes that the sagas are not just works of art, but real documents that bring the Viking world to life. Ramirez travels to Iceland to learn more about one of the most important stories, the Salmon Valley People Saga.

The BBC is renowned for its documentaries and series. Therefore, those who are tired of fiction can see this picture. Stunningly beautiful footage here frames the scientific analysis of historical events.

5.13rd warrior

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

The poet Ahmed ibn Fahdlan, expelled from the caliph's court, goes to the North to the Vikings. There he joins the warriors as they prepare to fight a mysterious tribe of savage Vendols. At first, the order of the Vikings seems strange to a foreigner, but over time he is imbued with respect for his new comrades.

Jurassic Park author and original Westworld director Michael Crichton directed the film based on his own book, Eaters of the Dead. There is no need to look for historical accuracy in the picture. The Arab official Ahmad ibn Fadlan turned into a poet, and the plot, which unfolds in the 10th century, is partly taken from the epic Beowulf, published a couple of centuries earlier. So "The 13th Warrior" is just an adventure thriller set in a historical setting.

6. Eric Viking

Great Britain, Sweden, 1989.
Adventure, comedy, fantasy.
Duration: 107 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 3.

The world is waiting for the onset of Ragnarok, and therefore cruelty and chaos reigns around. But the young Viking Eric, accidentally killing the girl, decides to end the violence and stop the end of the world. They want to interfere with the blacksmith Loki and the cruel king Halfdan the Black, because the war is beneficial to them.

Former Monty Python troupe member Terry Jones made this film based on his own children's book. The legacy of famous comedians is easy to notice: there is a lot of black humor and other provocations in the picture. And Halfdan the Black was played by another member of "Monty Python" John Cleese.

7. Alfred the Great

Great Britain, 1969.
Drama, historical, military.
Duration: 122 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 3.

In the 9th century, England was split into many independent kingdoms. After the middle of the century, the Vikings destroyed a significant part of the settlements in the east. And then the young king Alfred decided to unite the country in order to repulse the enemy.

This picture no longer tells about the Vikings, but about those who became victims of their raids. Alfred the Great is an important figure in history, because he was the first to call himself the king of England. In the film, he was played by the magnificent David Hemmings, and he was accompanied by such legends as Michael York, Ian McKellen and many others.

8. Vikings vs. Aliens

USA, Germany, France, 2008.
Science fiction, action, adventure.
Duration: 115 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 2.

A spaceship crashes on Earth at the beginning of the 8th century. The Vikings capture his pilot. But it soon turns out that all of them are in great danger: a terrible creature was hiding in the aircraft, which now destroys everything in its path. The warriors and the alien have to join forces to fight the monster.

Another interpretation of the Beowulf saga, only this time with a fantastic basis. Initially, the picture was conceived as a high-budget blockbuster. But due to many difficulties, the film has lost much of its quality. However, the plot is still exciting.

9. Valhalla: The Viking Saga

Denmark, UK, 2009.
Fantasy, drama.
Duration: 93 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 1.

The one-eyed man escapes from slavery by cruelly dealing with his masters. He meets the Scandinavian warriors and goes with them on a crusade. But soon the ship falls into complete calm, and then finds itself in unknown lands.

Nicholas Winding Refn is known for his allegorical works with a very leisurely pace of storytelling. His Valhalla is filled with religious references, and the one-eyed warrior, played by Mads Mikkelsen, clearly alludes to the god Odin. And in the film, they hardly speak: during the entire action, only about 120 phrases sound.

10. Viking ships

Great Britain, Yugoslavia, 1964.
Drama, adventure, historical.
Duration: 126 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 1.

The Moorish prince Ali Mansukh heard the legend about a huge golden bell and now wants to get it for himself. He is ready to pay any price. Then the Viking Rolf, together with his brother, embarks on a search for the treasure.

This picture is often referred to as a sequel to 1958's Vikings. The thing is that director Jack Cardiff worked there as a cameraman, and therefore the visual style and presentation are largely the same. But still, this is an independent story that can be watched separately.

The best viking cartoons

1. How to train your dragon

USA, 2010.
Adventure, fantasy.
Duration: 98 minutes.
IMDb: 8, 1.

The Viking tribe has been waging war with dragons of various kinds for many years, the most dangerous of which is the elusive Night Fury. But one day young Hiccup meets the charming Toothless. The boy and the dragon quickly become friends.

A very kind and funny film adaptation of Cressida Cowell's books from DreamWorks studio quickly fell in love with viewers of all ages. Here, the perfectly written characters of the heroes, and the incredible variety of dragons, delight. Therefore, the cartoon soon grew into a large franchise: two full-length sequels, several short films and the series "Dragons" were released.

2. The Secret of Kells

France, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, 2008.
Adventure, fantasy.
Duration: 71 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 6.

IX century, young Brendan lives deep in Ireland at Kells Abbey. The abbot is very concerned about the Viking raids, and therefore the monks build a high wall for protection. But one day Aidan comes to them, who managed to save an incredibly beautiful unfinished book from a plundered monastery. It is Brendan who will have to complete the work on the illustrations.

This cartoon is only indirectly associated with the Vikings: they appear as cruel villains attacking Ireland, which is close to the historical truth. The plot is based on the legends about the creation of the Book of Kells (aka "The Book of Columba"). But more importantly, the authors took part of the visual series directly from this work. Anyway, "The Secret of Kells" pleases with an unusual and very beautiful picture.

3. Valhalla

Denmark, 1986.
Adventure, fantasy.
Duration: 76 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 3.

Once Thor and Loki dropped in to visit an ordinary family in which brother and sister Tjalvi and Ruskva live. The boy was guilty before the god of thunder, and he decided to take him with him as a slave. And young Ruskva followed them. This is how the fantastic adventures of earthly children begin.

The plot is based on a series of comics by Danish artist Peter Madsen. He himself directed the cartoon. And this is a very unusual combination of the ancient myth "Thor's Journey to Utgarde" and a simple children's fairy tale.

4. Ronal the Barbarian

Denmark, 2011.
Fantasy, comedy, adventure.
Duration: 86 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 6.

Cartoons about Vikings: "Ronal the Barbarian"

The evil prince Volcazar has captured an entire tribe of brave and warlike barbarians. Only Ronal remained free. But he is not at all like his relatives: frail, shy and does not want to fight at all. But it is Ronal, along with a restless bard, a strong warrior girl and a metrosexual elf, who must free an entire people.

Ronal the Barbarian is a real gift for all fans of adult animation. There are no historical references here, but there are a lot of obscene jokes. What is the dashing song with the words “I bought a codpiece made of leather, it fits my face”.

5. Beowulf

USA, 2007.
Fantasy, action, adventure.
Duration: 113 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 2.

King Hrothgar celebrates the completion of his mead hall. During the feast, the monster Grendel attacks the guests, killing everyone in its path. Experienced warrior Beowulf is called to defeat the monster and his mother - the demon of water. But it turns out that Grendel's story is not so simple.

The famous Anglo-Saxon poem has been repeatedly transferred to screens in various forms. Director Robert Zemeckis did an unusual thing: he filmed his version using motion capture of live actors, and then turned everything into a computer cartoon, which allowed adding fantastic effects. But the author dealt with the plot in a strange way: even Beowulf himself here turns from the greatest warrior into one of the causes of all troubles.