Clive Owen, Hugh Dancy, Ioan Gruffudd

Historians have thought for centuries that King Arthur was only a myth, but the legend was based on a real hero, torn between his private ambitions and his public sense of duty. A reluctant leader, Ar...( read more  read more... )thur wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can head for Rome, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, and Gawain to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain needs a king--someone not only to defend against the current threat of invading Saxons, but to lead the isle into a new age. Under the guidance of Merlin, a former enemy, and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history.

Flixster Users

63% liked it

364,315 ratings

Critics

31% liked it

180 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 10 min.

Directed by: Antoine Fuqua

Release Date: July 7, 2004

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 21, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 16,689 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (16,689)


  • December 19, 2008
    Better than I expected, but maybe that's because I watched the unrated version. Looks like Fuqua finally learned how to shoot some action. Story is just different enough to keep your attention until the next battle.
  • September 27, 2008
    Utterly horrific historically and not at all true to the mythology.
  • August 25, 2008
    I enjoyed this (Clive Owen for Christ sake!), but was plagued the whole way through questioning the historical accuracy of the tale.

    On the surface it would appear to be a much more realistic look at the legend of King Arthur. But having had so many other (more traditional) ...( read more)versions of the story embeded in our psyche over the years, might make it difficult for some to embrace this grittier (and certainly more plausible) version of the legend.

    It did suffer from a lack of character development. Sure these are characters that most of us are familiar with, but when you are attempting to present them all in an entirrely different light from that with which we have grown accustomed to seeng them in...a little more development of character would have really strengthened the film as a whole.

    While it was nice to see Keira Knightley in a more gritty role...painting her up and stripping her down does not a Celtic Woad make. Even under a layer of paint & dirt, she walks through the film looking and sounding more like a character from a Jane Austen film then a Celtc Warrioress.

    All and all...a really enjoyable tale.
  • August 22, 2008
    An exhilarating, frequently thrilling and explosive action-packed adventure. Powerful, heroic, and fantastic. The best epic film I've seen since Braveheart. Made with real passion and true excellence. Spectacular and incrediable. Non-stop action and riveting drama. Stirring, rive...( read more)ting, deeply moving and breathtaking. Clive Owen gives a truly riveting and engaging performance. Ioan Gruffudd is outstanding. An amasing cast of actors all at the top of their form including Ray Winstone, Hugh Dancey, Ray Stevenson, Joel Edqerton and Mads Mikkelsen who all give exceptional and powerful performances. A fierce, bold, stylish and electrifying epic. Director, Antoine Fuqua's finest achievement as a filmmaker. A triumph. Superbly crafted and excellently told.
  • June 20, 2008
    ok - but not that memorable
  • November 17, 2009
    very very nice movie
  • November 9, 2009
    i fell in love with Clive Owen in this movie.
  • November 3, 2009
    Entretenida. Un Arthur romano y nacionalizado ingles... suena interesante
  • November 1, 2009
    Certainly was well directed, but it didn't stay true to the King Arthur legend at all.
  • October 28, 2009
    It was simply an okay and enjoyable movie.

Critic Reviews


July 15, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Gladiator lite. full review

July 10, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It's hard to care about a valiant groping for accuracy when a story is so badly told you can't tell what the devil is going on. full review

July 8, 2004
David Edelstein, Slate

Profoundly stupid and inept, but it's an endless source of giggles. full review

July 7, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

That the movie works is because of the considerable production qualities and the charisma of the actors, who bring more interest to the characters than they deserve. full review

July 7, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Combines the plodding sincerity of a Ph.D. dissertation with the brains of a high-concept Jerry Bruckheimer- produced blockbuster (which it is), and no one benefits. full review

July 7, 2004
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

There's serious intent here, but an often thudding execution. full review

July 6, 2004
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Antoine Fuqua's version of the King Arthur legend includes an element of broad, brawny camp that prevents the movie from being a complete drag. full review

April 26, 2004
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Antoine Fuqua's unremarkably competent direction never elevates the material above second-rate Braveheart schlock. full review

View more King Arthur reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • carla223
    November 12, 2008
    I hate to judge, but a lot of people out there seem to be on serious drugs....
  • carmelaballerina
    December 25, 2007
    HI.. I love your movie. And I really love Keira Knightly!! You Rock!! \m/ ü
  • justabartender2003
    September 23, 2007
    Ruuuuusssssssssss!!!!!!!!
  • ian20
    August 15, 2007
    Best Arthur film i have seen very entertaining
  • horsebyringe
    June 25, 2007
    TRhis movie!!!! i cant say how mutch i like this movie and the movie music!!!! this movie and pirates of that caribbean (see that movie) are the best movie in this history! Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen, Joel Edgerton, Hugh Dancy, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson, Antoine Fuqua, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortenssen is the best actor and actress in this world!!! Love them all! A big hug to them!
  • rockerbaby18
    March 31, 2007
    mmmmm
    clive owen.....
    *drools*
  • mirjahanfaisal
    March 15, 2007
    such a nice movie,just need to feel.........
  • phiffi
    December 27, 2006
    This movie is so great!!!!Lancelot looks so sweety...
  • BREOLESQUxGALxXXX
    December 22, 2006
    I LUV THIS FILM!!!!!!
  • PrincessofPunk
    November 28, 2006
    My favourite movie, noting could top this one. I love Ioan Gruffudd playing Lancelot, Til Schweiger playing Cynric the cool Saxon Prince, Mads Mikkelsen as Tristan... you all get the point. The only problem is that Dagonet, Tristan, Lancelot and Cynric had too die.

    Love the battle scenes and the way the actors portrayed each of their characters. Loaded with good action, war scenes, an excellent lot of bad guys and the rebel Woads.
    This movie is excellent. Most critics on here might not like it because it's a different version to the myths, but this makes Arthur and his knights seem even more real than the others normally do.

    Clive and Kiera are a good on-screen couple and the knights and Saxon actors make you feel like you're actually in the movie.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers
    The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (59%)
  • Braveheart
    Braveheart (62%)
  • Troy
    Troy (68%)
  • King Kong
    King Kong (35%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

King Arthur : Watch Free on TV


King Arthur Trivia


  • This actor played a pivotal character in Sin City, a cheating husband in Closer and the title role in King Arthur.  Answer »
  • Who played Arthur in the movie King Arthur?  Answer »
  • Clive Owen, Sean Connery, Nigel Terry, and Graham Chapman have all played this royal character. Who is it?  Answer »
  • Which movie starred Clive Owen & Keira Knightly?  Answer »

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin