Period dramas have become more popular with time. Everyone loves seeing kings and knights on horses riding to battle, big ballrooms with women dressed in beautiful gowns, large courtrooms with the king or the queen sitting at the far end, and the forbidden love of a prince and a princess who meet in the secrecy of the night in a forest.
Audiences want to be transported to those medieval times through the movies. So here is a list of the ’20 Best Medieval Movies’ of all time and where to stream them.
1. Braveheart (1995)
- Director: Mel Gibson
- Writer: Randall Wallace
- Cast: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfayden and Catherine McCormack
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
The movie Braveheart is about a man named William Wallace who starts a rebel with the help of Robert- the Bruce against the tyrannical ruler King Edward also known as Longshanks after he kills Wallace’s wife.
Braveheart was not only critically acclaimed, but it also helped Mel Gibson bag the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director in the 68th Academy Awards making it one of the best medieval movies ever made.
2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
- Directors: Michael Curtiz and William Keighley
- Writers: Norman Reilly Raine, Seton I. Miller, and Rowland Leigh
- Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patrick Knowles, Eugene Pallette, and Una O’Connor
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
The movie is based on the legend of Robin Hood from the middle ages when King Richard the Lionheart was taken captive by the Austrian usurper Leopold V. The story follows a young Robin who gathers a bunch of men to help the poor. However, he finds himself helping King Richard when his lover Marion is taken captive by the men of the usurper.
3. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- Director: Kevin Reynolds
- Writers: Pen Densham and John Watson
- Cast: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth, and Mastrantonio
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 51%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
The movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves is about the Robin of Locksley who while was on the Third crusades with Richard the Lionheart, his father was killed by Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin comes back to England to seek revenge for his father’s death.
4. Robin Hood (2010)
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Writer: Brian Helgeland
- Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Eileen Atkins, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Mark Addy, and Max von Sydow
- IMDb Rating: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
- Streaming Service: Netflix
The movie is about a veteran from King Richard’s crusade named Robin Longstride. The movie mainly focuses on the pre-greenwood days of Robin Hood and how he formed his band of Merry men. The movie ends with them fleeing and taking shelter in the woods while fighting the usurper.
5. Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
- Directors: Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
- Writer: Monty Python
- Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Service: Netflix
Based on the Arthurian legend of medieval times, Monty Python and The Holy Grail is about the holy grail crusades of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a historical comedy set in the middle ages is about the different obstacles like the dangerous Castle Anthrax, a chasing black knight, or a house of virgins that King Arthur and his crusaders face during their conquest.
6. A Knight’s Tale (2001)
- Director and Writer: Brian Helgeland
- Cast: Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy, and Alan Tudyk
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
Based on a story from Canterbury Tales by the medieval times’ writer Geoffrey Chaucer, the film is set in the 14th century revolving around jousting tournaments. The story is about a young man named William Thatcher who impersonates his master after his death with the help of two other servants Wat and Roland.
7. The King (2019)
- Director: David Michod
- Writers: Joel Edgerton and David Michod
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, Lily-Rose Depp, Sean Harris, and Ben Mendelsohn
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- Streaming Service: Netflix
The movie The King is about King Henry V of England’s accession to the throne as a result of unpredictable circumstances. The story unrolls as Henry V struggles with his duty as a ruler in a world where everyone has some hidden intention.
The King is one of the best medieval movies in recent times and was especially appreciated for the amazing performance of the actors.
8. Black Death (2010)
- Director: Christopher Smith
- Writer: Dario Poloni
- Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice van Houten, and John Lynch
- IMDb Rating: 6.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- Streaming Service: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Black Death is a film set in the times of the bubonic plague. The story follows a monk named Osmund who with Ulric takes up the task of uncovering the mystery of the apparent resurrection of people.
9. The Princess Bride (1987)
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Writer: William Goldman
- Cast: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Parkins, Chris Saradon, Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Christopher Guest, Andre the Giant and Billy Crystal
- IMDb Rating: 8
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
This romantic fairy tale film is set in medieval times. This is a typical classic in terms of the story where a boy after being separated from his lover goes on an adventure to find, and rescue her from the villains.
10. Outlaw King (2018)
- Director: Davis Mackenzie
- Writers: Bash Boran, James MacInnes, and David Mackenzie
- Cast: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Callan Mulvey, Sam Spruell, Stephen Dillane, Tony Curran, and James Cosmo
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
- Streaming Service: Netflix
The film Outlaw King is based on the story of the King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce. The film is about how he is made an outlaw and thrown into exile, his rebellion against his usurper, and the regaining of his honor.
11. The Seventh Seal (1957)
- Director and Writer: Ingmar Bergman
- Cast: Max von Sydow, Bengt Ekerot, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Bibi Anderson, Maud Hansson, Inga Landre, Nils Poppe and Ake Fridell
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
This medieval film is about a knight, Antonius Block who after coming back from the crusade finds his country suffering from the bubonic plague. He challenges Death in a game of chess to save himself and his near ones from the impending doom.
12. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
- Director: Cark Theodor Dreyer
- Writers: Joseph Delteil and Carl Theodore Dreyer
- Cast: Renee Jeanne Falconetti, Antonin Artaud, Eugene Silvain, Andrey Berley, and Maurice Schutz
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
- Streaming Service: NA
Joan of Arc is a silent film that is set during the period of the Hundred Years War. The film revolves around Joan who is captured and put to trial on false allegations, but she stands her ground strong to endure the trial. The film is one of the best movies made in middle ages history.
13. The Name of The Rose (1986)
- Director: Jean Jacques Annaud
- Writers: Andrew Birkin, Howard Franklin, Gerard Brach, and Alain Godard
- Cast: Sean Connery, Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Ron Perlman, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., Michael Lonsdale, William Hickey, and Valentina Vargas
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
- Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
The Name of The Rose is a mystery and one of the best medieval films. The film follows a renowned monk William of Baskerville and his apprentice traveling to an abbey to investigate some suspicious deaths. But William has to work along with his nemesis Bernardo Gui there.
14. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Writer: William Monahan
- Cast: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, and Marton Csokas
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
- Streaming Service: YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
The movie Kingdom of Heaven is about a 12th-century blacksmith, Baliam who after traveling to the war-torn Jerusalem becomes a warrior and helps protect the city and its people.
15. El Cid (1961)
- Director: Anthony Mann
- Writers: Philip Yordan, Fredrick M. Frank, and Ben Barzman
- Cast: Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone, Genevieve Page, John Fraser, Gary Raymond, Herbert Lom, and Douglas Wilmer
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
- Streaming Service: NA
Set in medieval Europe, the film revolves around the hero knight, El Cid who in spite of being exiled by the treacherous ruler of his homeland fights to help the people of Spain and at the same time tries to reconcile with his wife.
16. Throne of Blood (1957)
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Writers: Shinobu Hashimoto, Ryuzo Kikushima and Hideo Oguni
- Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura, and Kira Kubo
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Streaming Service: NA
The story of this movie is based on the famous tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The film begins with a spirited encounter by Samurai warrior, Washizu. Based on this, after being instigated by his wife, Asaji, Washizu murders his lord and takes his place. But as the film progresses he starts getting paranoid about what lies in the future.
17. Excalibur (1981)
- Director: John Boorman
- Writers: John Boorman and Rospo Pallenberg
- Cast: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson, Corin Redgrave, and Patrick Stewart
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
- Streaming Service: YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
This is a middle ages drama based on the 15th century Arthurian legend of the mythical sword Excalibur. The movie focuses on the accession of the throne of King Arthur and forming the Knights of the Round Table.
18. Ran (1985)
- Director: Akira Kurosawa
- Writers: Hideo Oguni and Masato Ide
- Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Hisashi Igawa, Yoshiko Miyazaki, and Peter
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Service: NA
Based on the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, the movie follows an old Japanese lord, Hidetora Ichimonji who wishes to abdicate and divide his kingdom among his sons. But the brothers do not get along which only increases the misery of the lord. This is one of the best medieval movies ever made.
19. The Lion in Winter (1968)
- Director: Anthony Harvey
- Writer: James Goldman
- Cast: Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, and Timothy Dalton
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
- Streaming Service: NA
The movie is about King Henry II and his wife’s quest to find a suitable heir from a list of potential candidates so that he can take on the responsibility of the kingdom after Henry II’s reign is over. It is one of the top-rated medieval movies on IMDb.
20. Becket (1964)
- Director: Peter Glenville
- Writer: Edward Anhalt
- Cast: Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, John Gielgud, and Donald Wolfit
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
- Streaming Service: YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
The movie tells the story of King Henry II and Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket’s friendship. King Henry wants to use their friendship to strengthen his reign and get a grip over the church, whereas Becket does not want to serve any political cause.
The medieval films on this list are not only some of the best period dramas, but also some of the best movies produced. If one wishes to be transported to the days of sword fights and chivalry, this is the movie list to binge-watch.
