King Arthur: The Sword and the Cinema

2. Nigel Terry in Excalibur

I’m sure a lot jumps to mind when you think of Arthurian Legends, but the one thing that I always think of is the trusty sword Excalibur. This magical sword is the key to the legend of Arthur, so its fitting that Nigel Terry’s take on the character gets a spot on this list. Terry has his work set out for him in order to stand out among the likes of castmates such as Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, and Helen Mirren. However, his idealism in the role makes him a worthy addition to this list. Despite being down in the dirt and mud of war, he continues to envision an ideal Camelot as the one he’s fighting for. Of course, some might find him a bit naive, but he has the power and will to make his naivety a reality as he sets out to do what is just in a world where everyone else is ready to start slitting throats at the drop of a hat. This version of the King might be the closest to the source material, but it’s still not the best.     

1. Sean Connery in First Knight

There have been some pretty incredible actors that have taken on the role of King Arthur over the years. However, if there’s one that just feels right, it’s Sean Connery. Best known for playing James Bond and being a jerk in real life, Connery starred in First Knight in the twilight of his career when he was starting to get up there in years, but that’s what probably made him so perfect for the role. He’s an older king who’s seen some stuff over the years and has become pretty adept at protecting Camelot. That doesn’t stop Richard Gere from rolling into town and snatching up his boo though. Even though he’s enraged by Lancelot’s betrayal, Connery’s King Arthur puts aside his feelings in order to protect the Kingdom from invaders in the end. If the beard and the voice don’t sell you on Connery as King Arthur, the selfless devotion to his kingdom should win you over.

Animated: Rickie Sorensen in The Sword in the Stone

When I was a kid, Disney sold me on this kid-sized version of King Arthur. While Sorensen might not have earned a spot among the actors above, his performance as Wort shaped my childhood.

Honorable Mention: Richard Harris– Camelot (1967)

A special honorable mention to the most musically inclined King Arthur to ever grace the silver screen. This chosen King was forced into battle against his old ally Lancelot for the fate of the round table. Why? Because Lancelot is a jerk who caught feelings for a married woman and decided to shoot his shot at Arthur’s gal. Okay, so the war wasn’t just because of that, but the love-triangle between Lancelot, Guenevere, and Arthur. The attraction is far from one-sided, but I can’t help feeling like Arthur is getting the short end of the stick in this film. Maybe if the royal marriage counselor was better at their job this wouldn’t have been an issue. After all, divorces were a bit complicated back in those days. All jokes aside, Camelot picked up 3 Oscars and Harris was definitely a key part in it achieving those accolades.

There are sure to be tons of King Arthur movies in the years to come, but for now, the actors above have done the ruler of Camelot justice with their takes on the character. Don’t agree with the picks above? Leave a comment about who you think the greatest King Arthur of the silver screen is. I’ll be sure to update this list as new and improved Arthurs pop up, so check back from time to time to see how the rankings change!