Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay

Another retelling of the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

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75% liked it

15,344 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

21 critics

R, 140 min.

Directed by: John Boorman

Release Date: April 10, 1981

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DVD Release Date: September 21, 1999

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Stats: 1,745 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,745)


  • January 13, 2009
    i was mesmerized by this version of the Arthur legend when it came out. It played like a phantasmagorical dream, not the sword & sorcery epic I expected. (This was the time of Conan, remember.)

    This was mature and I knew early on that it wouldn't have the feel good storyline ...( read more)that so many try for with this material. (Monty Python excepted.)

    This is one of the finer examples of Boorman's direction in an uneven career. His cast was unknown to me at the time. (Except Nicole Williamson, who I enjoyed in the Seven Percent Solution.) But, God, look at them now. Hard to believe you could get them together now. This effectively combined the fantasy summer block buster studios wanted after Star Wars with a more early 70;s sensibility. Holds up even today, and don't get fooled into getting the cut down PG version.
  • May 15, 2008
    Bwahaha!! Merlins a chrome dome and Arthur is bug-eyed but oh-lalaa! Lancelot is sooo freakin hot! Hahaha!!

    Well, this movie was good-ish, I mean, you have to take in the fact that this was made in the 80s!
  • January 27, 2008
    A gory, sexy, beautifully photographed epic retelling of the legend of King Arthur and Merlin (a memorable comic/tragic performance by Nicol Williamson). It bulls its bloody way forward, driving audiences before it in an irresistable tide of over-the-top entertainment.
  • August 20, 2007
    Makes a fine addition to my collection.
  • July 14, 2007
    Possibly the best telling of the Arthurian legend (The Holy Grail aside!), this deconstruction of the myth adds an element of realism missing from most of the competition. Grittily filmed, gory battle sequences counterpoint the mysticism, and the characters are much more three di...( read more)mensional and human. Nicol Williamson's portrayal of Merlin as a bumbling eccentric rather than the usual enigmatic mystic is particularly memorable.
  • October 17, 2009
    where the tale began
  • September 20, 2009
    Good story but the bad music drives me mad
  • September 14, 2009
    My wife loves this movie, I on the otherhand abhor it. Its only redeeming value in my book is Patrick Stewart.
  • September 11, 2009
    One of those classic Arthurian legend movies that you just have to watch. Excellent version.
  • September 4, 2009
    Liam Neeson is in it so I NEED 2 SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • QueenOfSparta
    September 18, 2007
    great movie......love it;)
  • thantos665
    June 28, 2007
    OMG this is one of the greatest story ever told I dont know about you butt i grew up with this movie and i still watch it about every 6 months, who knew that a story could have this much effect on you. This movie made me the way I am and im glad for that The king and the land are one

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Excalibur Trivia


  • What is the name of the sword, in The Sword in the Stone?  Answer »
  • "FORGED BY A GOD. FORETOLD BY A WIZARD. FOUND BY A MAN." Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren starred in this 1981 Mid-evil movie:  Answer »
  • in this movie, king arthur's broken excalibur was caught on camera but i guess they didnt re-take the scene anymore :) (take a good look after lancelot's fight scene)  Answer »
  • In this movie the main character unknowingly has sex with his sister, which leads to the eventual downfall of his kingdom  Answer »

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