Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- grand
- tragic
- earnest
- historical epic marathon
- war movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an ambitious but ponderous and emotionally distant historical epic undermined by talky narration and limited dramatic involvement.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alexander's campaigns spread Greek culture while producing enormous loss of life across Persia, Egypt, and India.
Alexander's relationship with his boyhood friend and battle mate Hephaistion remains a central emotional thread.
The film stages campaigns across Greece, Persia, Egypt, and India with large armies, sieges, elephants, and royal pageantry.
Alexander's legendary military authority is contrasted with family conflict, personal relationships, and an emotionally exposed inner life.
Films like Alexander, and why
Gladiator
shared ancient-world warfare, imperial ambition, and large-scale sword-and-sandal spectacle
Kingdom of Heaven
shared historical epic scale, royal intrigue, conquest, and tragic leadership
The Last Emperor
shared biographical treatment of a powerful ruler, political ambition, and battlefield spectacle
Troy
shared mythic historical adventure, ancient empires, and stylized combat
Movie Details
- Director
- Oliver Stone
- Release Date
- 2004-11-21
- Runtime
- 176 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (3619)
Cast
- Colin Farrell
- Angelina Jolie
- Val Kilmer
- Jared Leto
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
- Anthony Hopkins
- Jessie Kamm
- Christopher Plummer
- Connor Paolo
- Patrick Carroll
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Alexander about?
- Oliver Stone’s expansive and tragic portrait of Alexander the Great follows a visionary Macedonian king whose conquest of the ancient world strains his loyalties, identity, and humanity.
- What is Alexander like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alexander as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Alexander violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Alexander as graphic.
- What did critics think of Alexander?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an ambitious but ponderous and emotionally distant historical epic undermined by talky narration and limited dramatic involvement.
- Which films are like Alexander?
- Films with a similar feel include Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Emperor, and Troy.
- How long is Alexander?
- Alexander runs 176 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alexander?
- In United States, Alexander is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
