Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- visceral
- morally ambiguous
- dark fantasy night
- mythology movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the Icelandic scenery, cinematography, and naturalistic approach but found the demythologized retelling unable to sustain the epic's grandeur.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Grendel is presented as flesh and blood, driven by vengeance after being wronged, while the film removes much of the source legend's mystical grandeur.
Beowulf becomes troubled by the heroic reputation surrounding his exploits and hesitates when Hrothgar's responsibility for the attacks becomes apparent.
The film's Icelandic scenery and naturalistic production design provide its most consistently praised visual quality.
Beowulf's relationship with the witch Selma deepens his confusion and contributes to his reluctance to treat killing as a simple duty.
Films like Beowulf & Grendel, and why
The 13th Warrior
mythic medieval adventure with warriors, monsters, and morally conflicted heroism
Solomon Kane
dark sword and sorcery, brutal combat, and a grounded reinterpretation of legend
The Northman
historical fantasy adventure centered on legendary warriors and violent encounters with monstrous forces
Excalibur
medieval fantasy spectacle combining heroic myth, moral ambiguity, and physical monster threats
Movie Details
- Director
- Sturla Gunnarsson
- Release Date
- 2005-09-14
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (268)
Cast
- Gerard Butler
- Spencer Wilding
- Stellan Skarsgård
- Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
- Hringur Ingvarsson
- Gunnar Eyjólfsson
- Tony Curran
- Philip Whitchurch
- Ronan Vibert
- Rory McCann
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, MovieMe
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Beowulf & Grendel about?
- A battle-hardened Norse hero confronts the human pain and political guilt behind a monster's vengeance.
- What is Beowulf & Grendel like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Beowulf & Grendel as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Beowulf & Grendel violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Beowulf & Grendel as brutal.
- What did critics think of Beowulf & Grendel?
- Critics broadly admired the Icelandic scenery, cinematography, and naturalistic approach but found the demythologized retelling unable to sustain the epic's grandeur.
- Which films are like Beowulf & Grendel?
- Films with a similar feel include The 13th Warrior, Solomon Kane, The Northman, and Excalibur.
- How long is Beowulf & Grendel?
- Beowulf & Grendel runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Beowulf & Grendel?
- In United States, Beowulf & Grendel streams on Amazon Prime Video, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
