13 Films About Knights And Medieval Warfare
Steel clashes, loyalties shatter, and kingdoms hang in the balance.
Knightly battles and medieval rivalries fuel stories built on honor and betrayal, with high stakes at every turn.
These films make the Middle Ages feel fierce, dramatic, and impossible to ignore.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and entertainment purposes, offering commentary on films that depict medieval themes.
1. The King (2019)
Craving a gritty, realistic portrait of medieval royalty leads straight to this film. Timothée Chalamet plays a young Henry V who must evolve from a reluctant prince into a hardened warrior king.
During the Battle of Agincourt sequence, muddy, chaotic combat unfolds with a raw intensity that feels strikingly authentic.
Rather than polished knights in shining armor, these fighters appear exhausted, bruised, and very human. Themes about the heavy burden of wartime leadership make the story especially rewarding for fans of character driven historical drama.
2. Outlaw King (2018)
Chris Pine trades starships for Scottish battlefields in this thrilling tale of rebellion. The movie follows Robert the Bruce as he fights for Scotland’s independence from English rule.
What makes it special is the stunning cinematography that captures the rugged beauty of medieval Scotland.
Battle sequences feel visceral and immediate, with sword clashes and shield walls that put you right in the action. The film balances epic warfare with intimate moments, showing how one man’s courage can inspire an entire nation to rise up.
3. King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017)
A fast paced, sharp edged style drives Guy Ritchie’s take on the Excalibur legend.
Rather than a dusty retelling, the story leans into magical creatures, big battles, and sleek visual spectacle.
In the lead role, Charlie Hunnam plays Arthur as a street smart underdog forced to step into a crown he never asked for. During combat, the sword feels like a living force, unleashing bursts of power that turn fights into full scale set pieces.
Even while taking big creative swings with the myth, the film delivers nonstop fantasy action with a medieval bite.
4. Robin Hood (2010)
Fresh spin on an iconic outlaw arrives with Russell Crowe stepping into the role. Long before stealing from the rich, Robin Longstride fights as a common archer in King Richard’s army.
Across muddy fields and stone walls, siege warfare and castle battles land with a gritty, historically minded punch. Behind the camera, Ridley Scott leans into epic scale and frames a Robin Hood who feels more soldier than trickster.
By the final act, a darker, more mature tone spotlights justice, loyalty, and defiance against tyranny in medieval England.
5. Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
Ridley Scott’s crusades epic is a masterclass in historical filmmaking.
Orlando Bloom plays a blacksmith who becomes a knight defending Jerusalem in the events leading to the Third Crusade. The siege of Jerusalem remains one of cinema’s most spectacular battle sequences, with thousands of warriors clashing at the city walls.
What sets this film apart is its balanced portrayal of both Christian and Muslim forces, showing honor and brutality on all sides. It’s both a thrilling war movie and a thoughtful meditation on faith and conflict.
6. A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Who says medieval movies can’t rock?
This film brilliantly blends jousting tournaments with classic rock anthems, creating something totally unique. Heath Ledger shines as William, a peasant who pretends to be a noble knight to compete in tournaments across Europe.
The jousting scenes are spectacular, capturing the danger and excitement of medieval competition. It’s funny, romantic, and action-packed, proving that stories about knights can be both historically inspired and wildly entertaining.
Perfect for a fun movie night!
7. El Cid (1961)
Sweeping historical storytelling brings the true legend of Spain’s medieval hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar to life. At the center, Charlton Heston commands attention as a noble warrior who unites Christians and Moors against shared enemies.
Across the screen, enormous battle sequences broke new ground for the era, using thousands of extras in convincingly detailed medieval armor. Even decades later, themes of honor, loyalty, and sacrifice continue to strike a powerful chord.
Through wide, majestic cinematography, the film captures the scale and beauty of medieval Spain, making it essential viewing for history enthusiasts.
8. Ivanhoe (1952)
Based on Sir Walter Scott’s beloved novel, this adventure brings medieval England to vivid life.
Robert Taylor plays the Saxon knight Ivanhoe, who returns from the Crusades to find his homeland under Norman oppression.
The film features thrilling sword fights, castle sieges, and a spectacular jousting tournament finale. Elizabeth Taylor adds star power as the beautiful Rebecca, caught in the conflict between Saxons and Normans.
It’s old-school Hollywood at its finest, capturing the romance and adventure of the medieval era with colorful costumes and exciting action.
9. Henry V (1944)
Created during wartime, Laurence Olivier’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play feels both stirring and visually beautiful. Opening on a theatrical stage before expanding into sweeping medieval battlefields, the film uses a bold and imaginative storytelling approach.
In the leading role, Olivier portrays the young English king guiding his outnumbered army against the French at Agincourt.
Among its most memorable moments, the St. Crispin’s Day speech still stands as one of cinema’s great calls to courage. Though produced during World War II as a morale booster, its message about leadership and bravery reaches far beyond that moment in history.
10. Alexander Nevsky (1938)
Sergei Eisenstein’s Soviet masterpiece depicts the legendary Russian prince defending his homeland from Teutonic Knights.
The Battle on the Ice sequence is absolutely legendary, showing medieval warriors fighting on a frozen lake that cracks beneath their weight.
Prokofiev’s powerful musical score elevates every scene, creating an operatic quality to the warfare. Though made as propaganda, the film’s artistic achievements are undeniable.
Its influence on later medieval films is enormous, establishing visual techniques still used today in battle cinematography.
11. The Crusades (1935)
Hollywood grandeur takes center stage as Cecil B. DeMille’s epic spectacle brings the Third Crusade to the screen.
Following King Richard the Lionheart’s campaign to capture Jerusalem, the story unfolds through massive battle sequences and lavish medieval pageantry.
Even with numerous historical liberties, the film embraces the bold, larger than life spirit of crusader legends.
Across the production, ornate costumes and towering castle sets highlight old Hollywood’s devotion to visual spectacle.
Viewed today, it stands as a fascinating time capsule of how early cinema imagined the medieval world.
12. Ivan The Terrible (Part I, 1945)
Returning to historical drama, Sergei Eisenstein delivers a haunting portrait of Russia’s first tsar and his hard-edged reign. Although set in the 16th century, the film embraces medieval aesthetics and warfare with striking authenticity.
Every frame is composed with painterly care, resembling a Renaissance canvas brought vividly to life. Across the story, Ivan shifts from an idealistic ruler into an increasingly guarded ruler with an almost operatic intensity.
Battle scenes reveal medieval Russian tactics and the harsh cost of consolidating power, blending art house cinema with sweeping historical epic.
13. The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)
Errol Flynn defines the swashbuckling hero in this technicolor masterpiece.
Robin Hood and his Merry Men battle Prince John with sword fights, archery contests, and daring rescues that never get old. The film’s vibrant colors and energetic action set the standard for adventure movies for decades to come.
Flynn’s charisma and athleticism make every scene crackle with excitement. It’s the most fun you’ll have watching medieval heroes outsmart self-serving nobles while swinging from castle rafters and shooting perfect bullseyes!
