Overview
A legendary prince rises to defend his homeland against foreign invaders in a gripping tale of courage and unity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- monumental
- patriotic
- austere
- classic cinema night
- history film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Eisenstein's historical epic as a visually monumental and politically charged landmark of cinema, strengthened by its formal control and heroic scale.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alexander's campaign and victory are presented as a collective defense of Russia and a legitimizing heroic legend.
Eisenstein uses starkly ordered formations, sculptural figures, and carefully staged battle imagery to create an epic visual language.
The medieval Teutonic invasion functions as a forceful warning about foreign aggression in the film's prewar Soviet context.
The battle at the lake is organized around large formations, geometric movement, and emblematic images rather than individualized combat detail.
Films like Alexander Nevsky, and why
Ivan the Terrible, Part I
grand historical spectacle, patriotic conflict, and formal visual stylization
The Battle of Algiers
epic historical drama shaped by monumental composition and national mythology
Braveheart
idealized medieval warfare, political stakes, and stirring collective heroism
Movie Details
- Directors
- Sergei Eisenstein, Dmitriy Vasilev
- Release Date
- 1938-11-24
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (242)
Cast
- Nikolai Cherkasov
- Nikolai Okhlopkov
- Andrei Abrikosov
- Valentyna Ivashova
- Lev Fenin
- Sergei Blinnikov
- Nikolai Arsky
- Varvara Massalitinova
- Naum Rogozhin
- Vasiliy Novikov
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Alexander Nevsky about?
- Sergei Eisenstein’s monumental medieval war epic turns Alexander Nevsky’s defense of Novgorod into a stirring Soviet vision of collective resistance.
- What is Alexander Nevsky like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alexander Nevsky as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Alexander Nevsky violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Alexander Nevsky as graphic.
- What did critics think of Alexander Nevsky?
- Critics broadly regard Eisenstein's historical epic as a visually monumental and politically charged landmark of cinema, strengthened by its formal control and heroic scale.
- Which films are like Alexander Nevsky?
- Films with a similar feel include Ivan the Terrible, Part I, The Battle of Algiers, and Braveheart.
- How long is Alexander Nevsky?
- Alexander Nevsky runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alexander Nevsky?
- In United States, Alexander Nevsky streams on Criterion Channel, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
