To lovers of medieval movies - those with great battles, dark castles, princes and princesses - we've made a list of 17 classics of the genre for you to see and review endlessly. In addition to entertainment, we guarantee good hours of immersion in the fictional and sometimes fantastic world of the "Dark Ages".
1. The Name of the Rose
- Year: 1986
- Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Genre: suspense
Based on Umberto Eco's famous novel, The Name of the Rose is the story of a series of murders that took place in an Italian monastery in the first half of the XNUMXth century. Franciscan monk William de Baskerville (Sean Connery) is called in to investigate. Do you like dark thrillers? Then you will love this movie!
2. Highlanders
- Year: 1986
- Directed by: Russell Mulcahy
- Genre: Action and Fantasy
It can be said that Highlander is not just a medieval film, since the story of the immortal Scottish warrior takes place in two very different times: the beginning of the 80th century and the XNUMXs of the XNUMXth century. For those who enjoy a good action movie and good performances (Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery are the two stars of this film), this is a great entertainment option.
3.Excalibur
- Year: 1981
- Directed by: John Boorman
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Perhaps the best film, among many that exist, about the medieval fable of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table is Excalibur. The story you probably already know: the King of England, before dying, buries the Excalibur sword in a stone. Detail: the sword had been given by the Wizard Merlin. The kingdom is divided, and the new king will only be known to those who are able to unscramble the sword from the stone.
The film had two Academy Award nominations and won an award at Cannes.
4. Joan of Arc
- Year: 1999
- Director: Luc Besson
- Genre: Action, Biographical Drama
This film tells the incredible story of Joan of Arc (1412-1431), the peasant woman who received messages from saints and even led troops in the French army during the Hundred Years' War. But her popularity and support from King Charles VII eventually turned against her. Joan became a heroine who is still revered by the French and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1909.
5. Braveheart
- Year: 1995
- Directed by: Mel Gibson
- Genre: War, Biographical Drama
Mel Gibson is William Wallace (1270-1305), one of the leaders of the Scottish army during the war of independence against the kingdom of England. Wallace becomes famous after his heroic victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
This film was a sensation at the 1996 Oscars: of the 10 nominations, it won no less than 5, including best film. Mel Gibson won the award for best director at the Golden Globes in the same year.
6. Ran
- Year: 1985
- Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
- Genre: war drama
Based on William Shakespeare's King Lear, Ran is a true classic by the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Set in feudal Japan, it is about the conflict between 3 brothers that started after the father's decision, following tradition, to divide his properties and nominate the eldest son as the next lord.
It won the Oscar for best costume design in 1986 and was nominated for best foreign film at the Golden Globes in the same year.
7. Lancelot, the First Knight
- Year: 1995
- Directed by: Jerry Zucker
- Genre: Romantic Adventure
Another film about the legend of King Arthur? Yes, yet another film about the legend of King Arthur. But it is worth checking out, especially for the performances of Sean Connery (King Arthur), Julia Ormond (Guinevere) and Richard Gere, the latter playing Lancelot, who falls in love with Lady Guinevere and is reciprocated, after saving her from an attack. The problem is that she is going to marry King Arthur, and Lancelot must fight to defend Camelot, which is being attacked by Malagant, former knight of the Round Table.
8. Monty Python - In Search of the Holy Grail
- Year: 1975
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
- Comedy genre
Yet another film about the legendary King Arthur, but this time what is at stake is the search for the chalice of Christ: the Holy Grail. For this, Arthur needs to find the best knights to accompany him in his glorious task. In 2000, readers of the British magazine Total Film chose In Search of the Holy Grail as the 5th funniest film of all time.
9. Henry V.
- Year: 1989
- Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
- Genre: historical drama
It is an adaptation of the homonymous play by William Shakespeare by Kenneth Branagh, an important interpreter of the work of the English poet. During the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), King Henry V advances with his men on France to try to conquer it. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning Best Costume Design.
10. The Lion in Winter
- Year: 1968
- Directed by: Anthony Harvey
- Genre: historical drama
This film classic tells the story of the succession of Henry II of England in the 60th century and the struggle for power by the king's heirs. This film was very successful in the late 7's, having received XNUMX Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor. It won in the categories of best actress (Katharine Hepburn), best score and best adapted screenplay. It was actor Anthony Hopkins' debut on the small screen.
11. Robin Hood
- Year: 2010
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
- Genre: Action
Robin Hood is a good film about the legend of the hero-thief, who stole from the rich to give to the poor. With Russell Crowe in the lead role, the film explains the origins of Robin Hood, an archer in the British army who would have served King Richard I. It has good action scenes and humorous dialogues.
12. Knight's Heart
- Year: 2001
- Directed by: Brian Helgeland
- Genre: adventure
For those who enjoy an Afternoon Session-style adventure movie, this is a great option. Far from being a movie, Heart of a Knight is good entertainment with all the ingredients of a medieval action movie: deadly duels, armed knights, sharp swords, armor, etc. The story, based on one of the classic tales from the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400), is that of a peasant whose goal is to become a knight.
13. The 13th Warrior
- Year: 1999
- Directed by: John McTiernan
- Genre: adventure
In the XNUMXth century, Antonio Banderas is Ahmad Ibne Fadalane, an Arab courtier who, having fallen in love with the wrong woman, is sent by the Caliph (the Muslim ruler) to the "barbaric" north to be Tossuk Vlad's ambassador. In Viking lands, Amade is faced with unexpected, terrifying and supernatural challenges.
14. The Seventh Seal
- Year: 1956
- Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
- Genre: drama
This super classic of European cinema can be classified as an existential drama. A film for those who like to philosophize and are not satisfied with easy answers to humanity's greatest dilemmas. In the XNUMXth century, a knight returns from the Crusades and finds his native country completely devastated by misery and plague. One of the most important scenes in the film is the protagonist's encounter with Death, who is challenged to a game of chess, during which certain subjects are dealt with, including the meaning of existence.
15. The Man Who Didn't Sold His Soul
- Year: 1966
- Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
- Genre: Biographical Drama
If we are going to respect the history books strictly, O Homem Que Não Sold His Soul, because it takes place in the XNUMXth century, it could no longer be classified as a medieval film. But for its intrigues and its theme, it is very medieval. It is the story of Sir Thomas More, the famous author of Utopia, who was chancellor to Henry VIII. It so happens that the king decides to separate from his current wife and marry another, aiming at succession to the throne. For More, this would violate the laws of God.
This film won many awards in 1967. There were a total of 6 Oscars (including best film, best director and best actor) and 4 Golden Globes.
16. Arn - The Knight Templar
- Year: 2007
- Directed by: Peter Flinth
- Genre: Action
You know those good forbidden love stories? And, to spice it up even more, imagine that this love story takes place in the middle of the Middle Ages, with all the restrictions and moral prohibitions typical of an extremely religious historical context... Arn Magnusson, raised in a monastery, falls in love with Cecília and he impregnates her, ignoring one of the basic principles of the Knights Templar: chastity. From then on, the warrior and the woman he loves will suffer all the consequences of that impossible love.
17. El Cid
- Year: 1961
- Directed by: Anthony Mann
- Genre: epic
Don Rodrigo Díaz de Bivar, better known as El Cid, was a noble Christian warrior who lived in the 60th century and became famous for his glorious deeds (some of them gilded by the force of myth) in the battles fought between Christians and Moors during the Middle Ages for the political control of the Iberian Peninsula. The film was very successful in the early 4's and had 3 Golden Globe nominations and 1962 Oscar nominations in XNUMX. Perfect for anyone who enjoys the greatest classics of world cinema.
