If you are looking for an action-packed adventure film set in classical times, there’s nothing more ideal than knight movies. The exciting, gripping, and thrilling experience is something you won’t get enough of! Here are the 15 best knight movies you can enjoy, alone or with your buddies.
1. Braveheart (1995)
English, French, Latin, Gaelic, Italian 2h 58m IMDb
Mel Gibson
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
This movie recounts the adventures of William Wallace. He is a Scottish patriot living in the Middle Ages who was prompted to rise in rebellion against the English. The conflict started because of the killing of his one true love. The situation sparked his progress into England as he fought for the freedom of Scotland. His action consequently intimidates King Edward I’s rule. This film is an entertaining masterpiece that offers an impressive cast that gives outstanding performances. The film’s authenticity is bolstered by the fact that the fight scenes are extremely grim and bloody. Braveheart effectively depicts both the heroics and horrors of battle.
2. The Last Duel (2021)
English, German, French, Latin 2h 32m IMDb
Ridley Scott
Stars: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer
The Last Duel is a movie about a legendary knight Jean de Carrouges, renowned for his valor and prowess. Jacques Le Gris, a witty squire, admired in the courts, attacks Carrouges’s wife. After the incident, she comes forward to press charges, but her tenacity and resistance put her in danger. And so, the series of events lead to a trial by battle. The movie is entertaining and has a good flow from beginning to end. In addition, The Last Duel features intense action sequences. It is a film that contains a lot of tense moments with outstanding acting, good cinematography, editing, and technicalities.
3. A Knight’s Tale (2001)
English, French, Latin 2h 12m IMDb
Brian Helgeland
Stars: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell
This story is about William Thatcher, a young man from the countryside who sets out on a mission to change his destiny. On an adventure to persuade an incredibly beautiful damsel, William faces the realities of the world and tries to prove how he has what it takes to become a legend. With his friends, William proves his bravery by participating in jousting. This film gives a fresh and excellent perspective on jousting and the medieval world. A Knight’s Tale offers a beautifully curated movie that combines the contemporary story-telling of the jousting era.
4. Black Death (2010)
English, Latin 1h 42m IMDb
Christopher Smith
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, Carice van Houten
This movie occurs in England in the fourteenth century amid the bubonic plague. The knight Ulric enlists the help of a monk named Osmund to guide several warriors over some swamps and into a strange community. This village is home to a supposed necromancer who revives plague victims. Osmund concurs, but with another goal: to track down Averill. The group runs into unbelievable darkness along the road. Black Death combines both the good and grim in historical horror films. It’s a wonderfully intriguing movie with excellent twists and turns.
5. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
German, English, Arabic, Latin, Italian 2h 24m IMDb
Ridley Scott
Stars: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson
Here, we follow Balian, a blacksmith from a small town, as he reunites with Baron Godfrey, his father, whom he grew distant with. His wife’s unexpected death has left him devastated, and he makes this decision out of sorrow. Balian follows in his father’s footsteps and becomes a crusader for Jerusalem. The brave Balian joins the entourage of King Baldwin IV. Both the narrative and the cinematography in this movie are excellent. Also, it’s great fun seeing so many different characters in action. Although it is a relatively old movie, it can still produce amazing scenes and a strong and heartfelt plot.
6. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
English 2h 6m IMDb
Guy Ritchie
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law
This movie is about Arthur. After the assassination of his father, Arthur’s ambitious uncle acquires the kingdom’s throne and becomes king. Because his inheritance was stolen from him, he had to fend for himself in the seedy back streets of the city as he was growing up. He grew up never discovering his true identity. After being nudged by destiny to remove the sword Excalibur from its scabbard in the stone, Arthur accepts his destiny as both a leader and a warrior. Everything about the film is good, from the acting to the direction to the score. Each scene and word of dialogue was finely tuned. It was thrilling and mysterious, with much ancient mysticism thrown in for good measure.
7. Excalibur (1981)
English 2h 20m IMDb
John Boorman
Stars: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay
First held by British lord Uther Pendragon, the legendary sword Excalibur eventually passes into the hands of his illegitimate son, Arthur, a rogue man fated to be king. Arthur accomplishes his destiny with the help of Merlin, a sorcerer. He reunites the Knights of the Round Table and unifies the nation. But, this imperfect ruler will have to overcome even greater challenges in the future to save his country, find love, and obtain the Holy Grail. This film is an epic tale of duty, passion, and treachery all rolled into one. Excalibur’s scenes are as true to the period as possible. Each frame is handled with complete emotional realism.
8. Arn: The Knight Templar (2007)
Swedish, English, Arabic, French, Latin 2h 19m IMDb
Peter Flinth
Stars: Joakim Nätterqvist, Sofia Helin, Stellan Skarsgård
This movie takes place during the 12th century. The story centers around a young man named Arn Magnusson as he makes his way to becoming a skillful warrior. Arn then develops romantic feelings for Cecilia Algotsdotter. However, their love becomes a victim of a conflict between the secular and the spiritual authorities. Arn: Knight of Templar has a wonderful plot and interesting premise. The movie is expressive and will surely make you feel many things.
9. The King (2019)
English, French, Latin 2h 20m IMDb
David Michôd
Stars: Tom Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher
This film tells about young Henry V as he navigates his role as King during the 15th century following the death of his brother. Immense brilliance and creativity were put into this film, making for a remarkable experience. It boasts a great script, great performances, and beautiful cinematography. Both direction and acting blend perfectly, resulting in a masterpiece. If you are particular about scoring, this film is a treat.
10. Outlaw King (2018)
English, French, Gaelic, Latin 2h 1m IMDb
David Mackenzie
Stars: Chris Pine, Stephen Dillane, Rebecca Robin
This story tells the experiences of the great warrior Robert the Bruce as he was anointed King of Scotland. However, he was exiled because of the English, and so he assembled a group of bandits to assist him in regaining his throne. One of the most impressive aspects of this movie is the performance, costume and production design. This film might not be a classic, but it’s worth your time seeing.
11. Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
English, French, Latin, Swedish 1h 31m IMDb
Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
This film is a satirical parody of the gloomy conditions that prevailed in the Middle Ages, retold through the legend of King Arthur. It is set within the context of a contemporary investigation into the homicide. On their journey to find the Holy Grail, the legendary ruler of the Britons, along with his knights, are forced to contend with a broad variety of terrifying obstacles. This film is unparalleled in terms of laughs and freshness. It’s unadulterated comedic brilliance that stands the test of time.
12. The Seventh Seal (1957)
Swedish, Latin 1h 36m IMDb
Ingmar Bergman
Stars: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot
This movie tells the story of a Swedish warrior named Antonius Block as he returns and discovers his nation is in the pangs of the Black Death. Block, troubled and cynical about God, decides to go on a trip. Along the way, he runs into interesting people resolved to outrun death. You should give this movie a shot if you enjoy contemplating more profound ideas or if you like the classics.
13. The Green Knight (2021)
English 2h 10m IMDb
David Lowery
Stars: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton
The Green Knight features the adventure of King Arthur’s nephew sets off on a perilous mission to encounter the Green Knight, a strange and unknown giant who emerges at Camelot. In an effort to validate his abilities in the eyes of his household and the court, he decides on the journey. You won’t have trouble following along with the plot, and you’ll probably find the mystery intriguing. There’s a lot up for grabs here, so if you like letting your imagination run wild, this movie is a great pick.
14. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
English, Spanish, Swedish 1h 54m IMDb
Shekhar Kapur
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush
Domestic and foreign forces threaten Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. Elizabeth, who has pledged her life to serve her nation, must fight her growing feelings for the charming sailor Sir Walter Raleigh. The queen must watch the man she loves develop feelings for her handmaiden. The film is riveting, and the performances are superb, showing a fresh perspective and good storytelling. The music is also worth praising as it complements the overall theme and goal of the film.
15. The 13th Warrior (1999)
English, Latin, Swedish, Norse, Old, Danish, Arabic 1h 42m IMDb
John McTiernan, Michael Crichton
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Dennis Storhøi
Ahmad ibn Fadlan, a Muslim envoy, sent out from his country, has found himself living among the Vikings. Initially, he is offended by the Norsemen’s actions but eventually reveres the hardy, albeit vulgar, soldiers. While on the road alongside, ibn Fadlan and the Vikings learn of the approach of a terrifying and powerful force thought to be real only in myths. The 13th Warrior is an underrated masterpiece with good acting. Despite some minor silly elements, the movie holds up quite well.
Summary
These 15 best knight movies will keep you on your guard, waiting for more. The thrill, mystery, bravery, politics, romance, and comedic features will surely be a fun journey for the viewers. If you are up for a knight movie night, take a pick on the list and enjoy the viewing experience.