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The Best Medieval Movies

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Listing Of The Best Medieval Movies Ever Made

Here you will find my list of the best medieval movies of all times. Names like Braveheart, Robin Hood, Lord of the Rings will all be featured here.

Be it historical, science fiction, romantic, adventure or fantasy, medieval movies have long captured the hearts and imagination of people all over the world. These are the glorified times of magical and legendary heroes, of times that we can no longer bring back.

No wonder Hollywood treats the topic of middle ages movies so often, even going as far as remaking older films with the same title. Jean d'Arc, Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, and many more, have been done and re-done almost to nausea. Yet, we are always eagerly awaiting the new movie to come out so we can watch it - over and over again.

Enjoy this listing of my top medieval movies. Hope you agree with these, and if you find something more to your preference, do mention it in the comments section below.

Image is the poster for the movie Braveheart featuring Mel Gibson. A truly gigantic movie!

Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves In Movies

Without a doubt, Robin Hood is one of the best medieval movies ever made. This movie has been made so many times with different actors (remember the early version with Errol Flynn?), that I'm sure everyone will have their own favorite. But we've got to agree: the Robin Hood movie is great!

Robin Hood (Single-Disc Unrated Director's Cut)

This is the latest version of this awesome movie with Russel Crowe (one of my favorite actors).

Other Robin Hood Movies

Robin Hood has been made into movies tons of time ever since the very first one has been released and it proved to be a major success. Here are some of my favorites editions that I watched - some I watched even twice. Absolutely wonderful.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

This is the 1997 edition with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. Kevin Costner was great, but if you like Morgan Freeman (like I do), you'll love this movie!

Robin Hood - Men in Tights

Robin Hood - Men in Tights

Here is a fun 1993 comedy made by the famous Mel Brooks. I really had a few chuckles and the film improved greatly my mood (first time I watched it I had something major going on in my life, so this film somehow lifted my spirits. It will always remain a favorite for me).

Robin Hood: The Complete Series

Robin Hood: The Complete Series

This is a new 2010 BBC series about Robin Hood. All 3 seasons are included in this gift set.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition)

An oldie, but goodie. Remember Errol Flynn? He's featured in this great classic of all times.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood

Another beautiful version of Robin Hood with Uma Thurman, Patrick Bergin and a few other great actors. Well worth watching.

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Braveheart With Mel Gibson

This is truly an epic movie that not only made Mel Gibson really popular all over the world, but also revitalized the entire historical movie industry. Mel Gibson plays here William Wallace, the 13th-century Scottish leader of a popular revolt against England's tyrannical Edward I.

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

A fantasy movie of the highest caliber, The Lord Of The Ring is a classic movie that will always capture the hearts and souls of everyone. In a small village in the Shire a young Hobbit named Frodo has been entrusted with an ancient Ring. Now he must embark on an Epic quest to the Cracks of Doom in order to destroy it.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Special Extended Edition)

This is the extended edition (the one I also bought) as it has a ton of extra parts that were cut in the regular movie set.

Excalibur - The Legend Of King Arthur In Movies

King Arthur is a historical person who has been depicted in movies countless times based on the various Arthurian legends that usually include Merlin, King Arthur's wife Guenevere and the Knights of the Round Table.

Excalibur

Retelling of the myths of King Arthur, the legendary 5th-6th century monarch, as well as Merlin, Uther Pendragon, the Holy Grail and the Lady of the Lake.

Other King Arthur Movies

Just like Robin Hood, Kind Arthur is a character that has been made into numerous movies and books as well. Here are some of my favorites listed (in no particular order, I really like all of them).
Avalon

Avalon

Avalon with Aidan Quinn, what a movie! I loved this one back in 1990 when it was first shown.

Merlin (Special Edition)

Merlin (Special Edition)

A beautiful film about Merlin, with great actors like Sam Neill, Martin Short, Miranda Richardson. Well worth watching even just to see the cast and the mood the film sets. Recommended.

Guinevere

Guinevere

Somebody said about this movie that it is 'spellbound', and I fully agree. It's not the typical storyline that we know about Guinevere, but it is a moving film nonetheless.

Pendragon: Sword Of His Father - DVD

Pendragon: Sword Of His Father - DVD

This movie has Christian undertones, but if you don't care about the religious aspect, you can still greatly benefit from watching it and even put that part aside.

The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon

A true classic, I couldn't leave it out. Anjelica Huston plays it wonderfully in this adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's books. If you've read the books and haven't watched the movie, do give it a chance.

Did You Know...

that the Middle Ages (the Medieval times) were named so after a period in the history of Europe lasting from the 5th to the 15th century?

Kingdom of Heaven

Directed by Ridley Scott, Kingdom of Heaven is a movie around the Middle Ages times in Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 12th Century. I loved this film and whenever it's shown on TV, I always watch it - again and again.

Kingdom of Heaven (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

From Ridley Scott, the visionary director of Black Hawk Down and Gladiator, comes this spectacular epic of courage, honor and adventure. Orlando Bloom stars as Balian, a young Frenchman in Medieval Jerusalem during the Crusades, who, having lost everything, finds redemption in a heroic fight against overwhelming forces to save his people and fulfill his destiny as a knight.

The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery

Who won't watch a movie with Sean Connery? Especially when he's playing so well in the movie adaptation of Umberto Eco's novel with the same name.

The Name of the Rose

"The Name of the Rose" is a gothic medieval mystery thriller set in a 14th-century Italian monastery. Franciscan monk William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) and a young novice (Christian Slater) arrive for a conference to find that several monks have been murdered in mysterious circumstances. To solve the crimes, William must rise up against the Church authority and fight the shadowy conspiracy of monastery monks using only his wit and intelligence.

Conan The Barbarian With Arnold Scharzenneger

Yeah yeah it's Schwarzenegger, we know that, but c'mon this IS a great movie, whether you now like the actor or not. It's actually the movie that made him quite popular among the Americans.

Conan the Barbarian

Conan the Barbarian, the movie that turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into a global superstar, is a prime example of a match made in heaven. It's the movie that macho maverick writer-director John Milius was born to make, and Arnold was genetically engineered for his role as the muscle-bound, angst-ridden hero created in Robert E. Howard's pulp novels.

Conan The Barbarian Without Arnold Scharzenneger

You want Connan the Barbarian without Schwarzenneger? Well then check out this 2011 rendition of the same movie with fresh new actors. And if you like Stargate Atlantis, then you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.

Conan the Barbarian

You think your childhood was rough? Check out the opening 20 minutes of Conan the Barbarian, a bone-cracking coming-of-age prologue that fully explains the "Barbarian" part of the name.

The Chronicles Of Narnia

For me the Narnia Chronicles are up there right along with The Lord Of The Rings. I love medieval fantasy and this series doesn't disappoint. If you haven't watched it yet, it's high time you catch on!

The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis's classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote.

Chronicles Of Narnia - The Rest Of The Set

Joan D'Arc In Movies

Joan d'Arc is another such character several times depicted in movies. She was a French historical figure that played a major part in the French Revolution during the Middle Ages.

Joan of Arc

The 140-minute feature follows Joan D'Arc's odyssey from peasant obscurity to notoriety as the "Maid of Orleans," spiritual fulcrum for the beleaguered French forces struggling to halt English invaders. As played by Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), her evolution from naive farm girl to seasoned soldier is convincing, as is her gradual awakening to the underlying agendas of church and state. Most critically, Sobieski radiates the young girl's fervent spiritual devotion.

Other Joan D'Arc Movies

Joan D'Arc is a true legend in the French Revolution and pretty much an idol all over the world. No wonder her character has been depicted so beautifully in so many wonderful movies worth checking out. Here are some of my favorites.

Did You Know...

that the first ever medieval film was called Jeanne d'Arc and it was the first version of Joan D'Arc made in 1900, in France?

Ivanhoe

This is the classic movie from the Ivanhow novel by Sir Walter Scott. I read that book back in high school and I loved it to bits. And the movies that were made from this medieval novel did make it justice, every one of them.

Ivanhoe

Among the most exciting of MGM swashbucklers, Richard Thorpe's 1952 Ivanhoe stars Robert Taylor as the medieval hero of Sir Walter Scott's novel. Returning to England from the Third Crusades, Ivanhoe is steadfast in his determination to raise the ransom for the captured King Richard (Norman Wooland), but the effort is full of peril.

Other Ivanhoe Versions

Lion In Winter

The Lion in Winter

Lion In Winter is yet one of the best medieval movies ever made. Granted, it's a bit older, it's a classic actually, but worth while watching if you haven't yet. Richard the Lionheart (played by Anthony Hopkins) is very realistically represented, and of course being played by one of the greatest actors ever, you'll totally enjoy watching him in action.

The movie story is set around Christmas 1183, taking place at at King Henry II's palace and home in Anjou, during the medieval France period.

Timeline

Based on the same name novel by Michael Crichton, Timeline is a wonderful medieval movie worth watching. This time we're looking at the subject of time travel, which is well executed in the movie.

Timeline (Widescreen Edition)

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group mustsurvive in 14th century france long enough to be rescued.

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Welcome To The Best Medieval Movies Guestbook

  • A Journey down memory lane. Love your list, and the presentation.
  • The movies I have seen are awesome for sure. I see some here that I will want to watch some time. Really a very nice lens my dear. Excellent. :)
  • Excalibur and Gladiator (missing from your list) are definitely my favorites. While Game Of Thrones is a TV show, I think you may want to include it, since it's such a great show.
  • Thanks for sharing this amazing list of Medieval Movies! Really enjoyed some of these movies. Nice lens! Keep it up!
  • It stands to reason that recent movies would be the basic point of reference, but the fantasy movies?

    Well, you might wish to some a couple others taking place from the early Medieval to the High Middle Ages:

    Charlton Heston, in The Warlord
    1969's Alfred The Great
    Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, in El Cid
    Sean Connery's Robin and Marian
    Richard Burton, in Beckett
  • Agree with Ragnar, "Tristan and Isolde" is a great movie that would fit the list.
  • Not completely sure that The Lord of Rings would qualify, but good list.
  • Would Willow or Legend qualify?
  • I thought King Arthur (2004) with Clive Owen did a nice job as well. Being a true fan of the Arthurian legend, starting as a kid with the Mary Stewart series, been hooked ever since!
  • I have seen almost all of them, and loved them all. I agree with Ragnar about adding Lady Hawke and Princess Bride and definitely Cadfael.
  • Hi. A couple of movies you missed that should be added:

    LadyHawke. That is probably in my type five of all time favorite medevial setting movies.

    The Princess Bride: For many of us this was the best Medieval fantasy movie growing up.

    For the King Arthur movies you forgot to add "First Knight" to the list as well.

    Oh, and I know this isn't a movie but for anyone interested in good medieval storytelling with mystery the excellent PBS series Cadfel.

    Also someone already noted your list is missing "A Knight's Tale."

    And I also think the movie: "Tristan and Isolde" should be added to the list, it was an excellent movie overall as well.

    I tried to add the IMDB pages for the above listed movies (and one tv series) but the filters won't let me. :(
  • All but Timeline, actually, and it looks good-we'll have to see it!
  • The Lion in Winter is a favorite of mine.
  • You got a great list of Medieval Movies! Blessed!
  • A Knight's Tale would be another good addition.
  • Braveheart was OK, but only that. By far the better script, acting, production values, and WOW! music were in Rob Roy with Liam Neeson in the title role. Absolutely superb in every way, with one of the most evil villians ever filmed, and certainly the best swordfight, Rob Roy was overshadowed by the star power of Mel Gibson about six months later. I'm sure you'll find that Rob Roy is the better movie.
  • Rob Roy was great. Braveheart was well made with great battle scenes but was probably one of if not the least accurate historical movies of all time.
  • spartacus series is really awesome must be one of the best shows i ever seen
  • Hey....I watch spartacus, I love it so much, du u knw any other nice series dat can ever be compared to spartacus cos I'm goin to miss it so mucb nw its ending
  • I enjoyed this lens and I have seen most of these movies, but not all of them. Great presentation.
    TonyB
  • These are some of my favorite movies of all time! I think I will watch one tonight :)
  • Some great choices here - I love medieval movies!
  • I love this kind of movies. Can't wait to go watch another one :)
  • I don't think movies such as Narnia and Lord of the Rings really qualify in the medieval genre
  • Yeah there are some people who don't fully agree, however I added them here also due to the strong medieval influence, costumes and atmosphere. I mean J. R. R. Tolkien was heavily influenced by the medieval times - Middle Earth itself and its spoken language is strongly medieval - even though it's also fantasy...etc.
  • Troy is Bronze Age... not Medieval. I agree with your thinking regarding LOTR, but Troy should not be included in this list.
  • agree. Fantasy is all together different than an historical adaptation.
  • good list though some movies listed are from before the medieval era
  • Great list of films, you've listed some of my favorites here and some I've yet to see
  • Great list. I really enjoy this genre of films. Kingdom of Heaven was much better than I expected, as was Joan of Arc. Blessings.
  • I've seen most of these movies. My husband used to kid me all the time about how I wish I lived back in the Medieval times, but once he started watching these great movies, he has now found a love of his own for this era. :) Don't forget King Arthur- the newest version or The First Knight with Sean Connery and Richard Gere.
  • Great lens! I'm a great fan of medieval anythings - especially movies and games.
  • LOVE that Name of the Rose was mentioned here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • I think I was born in the wrong era :) Medieval is one of my favorite types of movies to watch. It drives my family nuts. Conan got me started on my travels!
  • Nice list... Though I don't think Lord of the Rings or Narnia count as medieval movies, to me fantasy doesn't count. Nor do I agree that 300 counts as a version of troy... but I am nitpicky ;)... Great lens :D
  • Nice list, I enjoyed a lot of those films, a few I haven't seen, and I'm sure there are a lot more out there, Army of Darkness perhaps?
  • I'm so happy to see Ivanhoe made your list! It is one of my favorites.
  • Gladiator was so sad, I don't think I could bear to watch it again. But a great movie. Good list, several here I haven't seen.
  • Great minds think alike! I have everyone of these medieval movies on DVD and enjoy watching them again and again - with one exception, Troy. I can't watch Troy without shrieking "no, no, that's wrong", "no, no, Achille, she's been dead for years" and many more "no, no" wails throughout the movie. I know a movie doesn't have to follow the exact storyline but I grew up with the Iliad and I'm biased.

    My absolute favourites are Name of the Rose and Kingdom of Heaven. Wait, wait, ALL of these Medieval Movies are my favourites
  • You seem to have missed the British TV series from the 1980s called - Robin of Sherwood - that was my most favourite medieval Tv Series. Starring first Michael Praed (before he was lured away by Dynasty) and then Jason Connery. The theme song was called Robin the Hooded Man and was sung/composed by the Irish group Clannad - before Enya became famous.
  • Um, actually I haven't. I was talking about medieval movies, not medieval TV series :) If I were to create a lens on those, there are plenty of TV shows to add, including all those related to Camelot and all...hm...might do that just soon...
  • I would love to watch this. I missed this one, too.
  • Yes i know this movie and is my favorite, hey!
  • Everywhere I look, people have forgotten to mention IRONCLAD. one of the best realistic medieval movies.
  • You're right indeed, I forgot about Ironclad. A bit gory for me but it fits the genre. Will add it to the reviews soon. Thanks!
  • Yes -- This Mists of Avalon! I had even forgotten the name, but I do enjoy it. It is one of the very few of that era that shows a woman's point of view and how important they were to religion and politics.
  • This lens is great, but I don't agree that Troy or Gladiator are movies from medieval period. I would say it is antique period. And Lord Of The Ring or Conan, these movies are pure fantasy :)
  • I love medieval movies, and you created a really nice list of them. Just love them.
  • I love Braveheart, Gladiator and Troy. There's a few on this list I haven't watched yet, so I will check them out. Thanks for sharing.
  • I love some of the movies you mentioned here.
  • I loved Excalibur, but Name of The Rose is a close second.
  • Loved your listing. There are a couple of them that I have not watched. Should take the time for them this holiday season! :)

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marciag

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