Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- muscular
- gritty
- action movie night
- historical epic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a dreary, generic, and incoherent action epic, though production value and charismatic performances earned some praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur and his knights are portrayed as Sarmatian cavalry serving the Roman Empire in Britain around 400 AD.
The knights undertake one last mission after fifteen years of compulsory service before earning freedom to return home.
Critical descriptions emphasize murky fog, battlefield smoke, brutal combat, and an austere Dark Age atmosphere.
Arthur leads Sarmatian knights who serve Rome while confronting the collapse of Roman authority in Britain.
Films like King Arthur, and why
Gladiator
shared sword-and-sandal action, historical revisionism, battlefield spectacle, and mythic warrior ensemble
Robin Hood
shared medieval historical setting, heroic resistance against invading forces, and large-scale combat
Excalibur
shared Arthurian legend, chivalric warriors, political conflict, and dramatic romance
The Last Legion
shared historical action, cavalry warfare, imperial decline, and grim battlefield atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Antoine Fuqua
- Release Date
- 2004-07-07
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (3017)
Cast
- Clive Owen
- Ioan Gruffudd
- Keira Knightley
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Joel Edgerton
- Hugh Dancy
- Ray Winstone
- Stephen Dillane
- Ray Stevenson
- Til Schweiger
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 King Arthur about?
- A battle-hardened Arthur and his Sarmatian knights fight one final campaign in a grim, historically revisionist Roman Britain before they can claim their freedom.
- What is King Arthur like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of King Arthur as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is King Arthur violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in King Arthur as brutal.
- What did critics think of King Arthur?
- Critics broadly found the film a dreary, generic, and incoherent action epic, though production value and charismatic performances earned some praise.
- Which films are like King Arthur?
- Films with a similar feel include Gladiator, Robin Hood, Excalibur, and The Last Legion.
- How long is King Arthur?
- King Arthur runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch King Arthur?
- In United States, King Arthur is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
