The Top 10 Best Knight Movies
5. Excalibur
There haven’t been many swords and sorcery entries on this list of knight movies, but that’s going to change right now. Just like First Knight, Excalibur is a movie about King Arthur and his knights of the round. It’s got a cast filled with stars before they really became stars with the likes of Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, and Gabrial Byrne rounding it out. Excalibur’s got it all: romance, magic, action and, of course, knights. The story might not be that complex, but it sure is pretty to look at. If you’re a fan of the kind of movie that looks like it might have been inspired by a mural on a van, then you’ll definitely want to make sure you check this movie. Just be warned that it’s received some pretty mixed reviews.
4. Ladyhawke
This is one of my favorite forgotten gems of the ’80s. Ladyhawke primarily tells the tale of a thief (played by Matthew Broderick) who finds himself wrapped up in a story much bigger than himself. The basic plot of Ladyhawke is that a man and a woman who love each other are cursed to never be together. By day she is a hawk and by night he is a wolf. Thus the two are doomed never to be able to be together as humans. Well, the thief takes this tale to heart and decides to help free them from the curse by helping the knight kill the evil Bishop behind it all. Ladyhawke is a magical film brought to us from the man who brought Superman to the big screen, Richard Donner. It’s got everything you could want from a fantasy film and easily earns a spot on this list of the greatest knight movies.
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Yeah, I’m one of those geeks who love Monty Python. So, of course, I’m going to make sure I include the incredible Monty Python and the Holy Grail among the best knight movies of all time. Even if they knights in the film aren’t that heroic, they’re all incredibly funny and the film will make you laugh until you cry. Like so many other entries on this list, this film follows King Arthur and his knights on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Though this film’s take on the hero is a little unorthodox, especially given the crazy misadventures he and his knights find themselves on. This is more than just a great knight movie, it’s a pop culture phenomenon and a must-see movie for anyone who thinks they have a sense of humor.
2. The Seventh Seal
Most people know The Seventh Seal for its iconic chess scene between a man and death. However, before that part happens, the film follows a knight and his squire who return to Belgium following the crusades and find the place ravaged by plague (it was kind of a big deal back then). In order to save his home, he challenges Death to a game of chess that he plans on stalling for as long as possible in order to finish his quest. Of course, Death comes for us all eventually and no one can trick him. It’s a beautifully told metaphor, if not more than just a little depressing. The fact that the hero in this tale does all he can to protect his loved ones from Death earns this art-house classic a solid spot on this list of knight movies.
1. Braveheart
Hey, just because this is a list of knight movies doesn’t mean that they have to be the heroes of the films that earn a spot on here. Coming in at the top of this list is a film that fills the Scotts with pride. Mel Gibson plays the legendary highland hero William Wallace who rebels against the tyranny of England by leading an army against the evil King Edward and his vicious nobles. Of course, the only option England has is to send in the knights, which means this movie definitely earns a spot on this list. The heroes might not have shiny suits of armor, but they have skirts and pretty damn big swords. It’s brutal and violent film, but its one that is well worth watching, especially if you’ve got Scottish pride.
Of course, there are tons of other knight movies out there. However, for my money, the ten above are the best I’ve seen over the years. If you have a favorite that you think should have been on the list, be sure to leave a comment below. As always, I’ll be updating the rankings from time to time, so check back from time to time as new knight movies hit theaters.