80 Best Medieval Movies Of All Time Ranked

There are dozens of movie genres but few have had the longevity (and popularity) of medieval films. These releases can take the form of romances, epic historical dramas, or even musical comedies — however, the one thing that remains is a familiar Middle Ages setting.

There have been a number of very successful medieval-themed movie projects from across the globe — the United Kingdom, Japan, Czech Republic, and France to name a few geographical locations. That means viewers can see films based on the likes of Arthurian legends, French heroines like Joan of Arc, European peasants suffering the hardship of medieval life, and even samurai warriors in feudal Japan. And there's a wide array of fantasy films with a Middle Age flair to choose from.

With such a rich history of movies based in these times it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to watching the best of the best. Fortunately, we've assembled the cream of the crop when it comes to movies set during the age of knights, castles, powerful warriors, and bloody battles. So settle in and kick your feet up — because here are the greatest medieval movies of all time.

Hitting cinema screens in 2017, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" is a fanfiction action-adventure film directed by English filmmaker Guy Ritchie. It stars "Sons of Anarchy" actor Charlie Hunnam as Arthur, and Jude Law as his antagonist King Vortigern. The story follows Arthur as a crime boss who was brought up by prostitutes in a brothel following the murder of his parents by Vortigern. But when he is able to pull the legendary sword Excalibur from the stone, he asserts his claim for the throne of Britain and leads an army against the despised king.

"King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" bombed at the box office, grossing just $146 million worldwide. According to Deadline Hollywood, the movie may have lost the studio more than $150 million in total after marketing costs were accounted for, making it one of the biggest losses of the year. Its critical reception was little better, with Rotten Tomatoes awarding the movie an approval rating of 31%.

"Tristan + Isolde" is a rom-com that stars James Franco and Sophia Myles in the two main roles. The likes of Henry Cavill, Mark Strong, Rufus Sewell, and David O'Hara also have roles in the Kevin Reynolds-directed film. Ridley Scott began working on a possible film adaptation of the medieval legend in the 1970s and acted as a producer on the film. Taking place in the Dark Ages just after the Roman Empire has collapsed, the plot is focused on Tristan as he attempts to fight against the Irish occupation of Britain until he eventually meets Princess Isolde.

It opened in eighth place at the U.S. box office during its debut weekend, making $6.5 million and later went on to bring in a total of $28 million around the world. With an approval rating of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics largely had mixed or negative reviews. Most of them focused on the lack of exciting action or meaningful plot development throughout.

"Heaven and Earth" is a Japanese film that was released in 1990. Directed by Haruki Kadokawa, the film didn't see a Western launch until 1991. The movie charts the feudal Lord Kagetora as he protects his land from an invasive warlord and defends the people that live there. Inspired by real-world events, it includes the Battles of Kawanakajima. Takaaki Enoki, Masahiko Tsugawa, Atsuko Asano, and Naomi Zaizen have roles. Ken Watanabe was originally set to appear, but he was forced to miss the production as he was ill during filming.

According to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, "Heaven and Earth" was the biggest selling movie of 1990 in that country. It went on to have a worldwide box office of more than $5 million. While the film hasn't been reviewed enough to receive a critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it does have an audience score of 90%.

"First Knight" is a 1995 film that is largely based on the Arthurian Legend and focuses on Sir Lancelot and his relationship with Lady Guinevere. Sean Connery stars as King Arthur, the man meant to marry Guinevere while Richard Gere and Julia Ormond play the two other main roles, with Ben Cross taking on the role of villain Prince Malagant. Unlike many other films featuring the tales of King Arthur, this movie does not include any magical elements and instead focuses on the scheming of Malagant as he attempts to take the throne himself by betraying Arthur and the other knights.

When it became available in cinemas, "First Knight" quickly grossed some $127 million. It was beaten only by "Apollo 13" and "Species" on its opening weekend, where it managed to earn more than $10 million. Based on almost 50 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes awarded the film an approval rating of 43% and suggested that bad casting and lack of meaningful on-screen chemistry was part of the problem.

"Robert the Bruce" is a 2019 film that was directed by Richard Gray and tells the story of the Scottish leader as he is almost defeated and is forced to seek help from a peasant family that nurses him back to health following a deadly injury. After recovering and coming to a better understanding of what it means to be Scottish, he is able to return to the battlefield and achieve freedom for the country in the war with the English. The movie stars Angus Macfadyen, Jared Harris, Anna Hutchison, and Patrick Fugit and acts as a sequel to the classic 1995 blockbuster "Braveheart."

Unlike its predecessor, "Robert the Bruce" was not anywhere near as successful. And the critical reception was almost as disappointing — Rotten Tomatoes awarded the film a score of 44%. This approval rating was based on 50 reviews, with the consensus indicating that it failed to live up to the heights of "Braveheart."

There is no shortage of Robin Hood movies and this 1991 adaptation is probably one of the best known, even if it is not one of the most well-received. Starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Rickman, the film sees Robin Hood returning home from the Crusades to find his father has been killed and his land confiscated. Teaming up with a group of peasants who have been cruelly treated by the Sheriff of Nottingham, he takes the fight to the villain with the help of Little John and Will Scarlett.

With a budget of only $48 million, the movie went on to be a box office success grossing $390 million. Reviews for "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" were mixed but there was some praise for the musical score along with the performances of both Freeman and Rickman. On the other hand, Costner was criticized for his strange accent. Despite a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of just 51%, the film was nominated for a number of awards.

In 1973, Disney released "Robin Hood," an animated adaptation that featured the voice talent of Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, and Roger Miller. Each of the characters is portrayed by a different anthropomorphic animal, with Robin being a fox, Little John a bear, and the Sheriff of Nottingham as a wolf. It largely follows the traditional legend of the hero as they fight against Prince John as he attempts to take control of the crown while his brother King Richard is away fighting in the Crusades.

"Robin Hood" is one of Disney's earliest animated feature films and was a commercial success upon its release. It has box office takings of $33 million and has continued to have strong home media sales in the decades after it first hit cinemas. Although it has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 55%, the critical reception has lowered over the years as reviewers reappraised the movie, especially for its recycled use of animated sequences from other Disney movies.

"Joan of Arc" is yet another adaptation of the story of the Joan of Arc, charting her life after helping lead the French to victory against the English. Starring Lise Leplat Prudhomme, the story focuses on her arrest and trial as she is accused of heresy and ultimately executed by being burned at the stake. The movie is itself a sequel to the 2017 musical "Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc," although it forgoes the musical elements.

Unlike its predecessor, "Joan of Arc" was not quite as successful and received largely mixed reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 57%, with the site noting that it offers a distinct take on the story but struggles to decide what type of movie it wants to be. Meanwhile, Metacritic assigned the film an average score of 50 out of 100 based on a selection of reviews.

Based on "The Crusades" trilogy by author Jan Guillou, "Arn: The Knight Templar" is a medieval epic that follows a Knight Templar from Sweden who is sent to fight in the Crusades as punishment for engaging in premarital relations. It is here that his fighting skills from his training under another Knight Templar at the monastery lead to a decisive victory against the Saracens attacking Jerusalem. The cast includes a number of Swedish actors including Joakim Nätterqvist, Sofia Helin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Gustaf Skarsgård along with other stars from across Europe.

According to The Guardian, "Arn: The Knight Templar" has its positive aspects and critics praised the performances of the actors. However, the idea that the Knights Templar were a force for good is revisionist, making the story unbelievable to those who have any understanding of history. There are not enough Western reviews of the movie for Rotten Tomatoes to give it an approval score but it does have an audience score of 61% based on more than 5,000 reviews.

In 2018, the romantic comedy "Ophelia" hit cinema screens around the world. The film stars "Star Wars" actor Daisy Ridley in the title role, with Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, and George MacKay having supporting parts — "Harry Potter" performer Tom Felton also has a role. The movie is essentially a reimagining of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" but told from the perspective of Ophelia rather than the other characters from the play. The movie is based on a novel by Lisa Klein that tells the story of Ophelia.

Making its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, "Ophelia" was then given a limited release in the UK and the United States. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie has a worldwide gross of just $338,940. Meanwhile, Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 62% based on 138 reviews, while the movie also has an audience score of 60%, suggesting that critics and viewers had a very similar opinion of it.

Based on the 1928 pulp magazine that features the character and was created by Robert E. Howard, "Solomon Kane" is an action-adventure film. It tells a completely original story that gives an origin story to the puritan avenger, explaining how he left his life as a privateer and gained absolution for the crimes he had committed. Starring James Purefoy as Solomon Kane — the film also sees Max von Sydow, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Pete Postlethwaite portray various characters. In development for more than a decade, it eventually launched in 2009 and made its debut at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.

At first, "Solomon Kane" was intended to be the first in a trilogy of films featuring the character. However, poor financial performance of the movie quickly put a halt to those plans. It grossed less than $20 million according to Box Office Mojo, not even half of its production budget. The critical reception for the film was better and it has been certified as fresh by Rotten Tomatoes with an approval score of 66%.

"Knights of the Round Table" is a 1953 British film that adapts the legend of King Arthur from a historical point of view. When Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere begin an affair, it causes friction between Arthur and his knights, giving his enemies a chance to strike at the kingdom and attempt to take the throne for themselves. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the story was largely based on the 1485 book "Le Morte D'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Malory. Actors Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer, and Felix Aylmer.

Filmed in England and Ireland, the movie was nominated for two Academy Awards for its art direction and sound recording. It was also well received at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Prix, and was a moderate financial success. Rotten Tomatoes gave the "Knights of the Round Table" an approval rating of 67%, although this is based on just six reviews.

"The War Lord" is a historical drama that was released in 1965 and stars Charlton Heston and Richard Boone. The plot follows a Norman knight who is sent by his duke to help construct a fortress to defend against the oncoming Frisian invasion. Set in 11th century Normandy, the film also features a doomed romance between two central characters. Other than the two main actors, Rosemary Forsyth, Maurice Evans, and Guy Stockwell all have major roles. Meanwhile, Franklin J. Schaffner directed "The War Lord" while the musical score was composed by Jerome Moross.

For the most part, "The War Lord" received positive reviews and was widely praised by critics for its realistic and dark depiction of the medieval period. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes awarded the movie an approval rating of 67% from nine different reviews. It has a similar audience score, with more than 500 viewers giving it an average score of 60%.

"Highlander" is a 1986 movie that tells the tale of an immortal Scottish swordsman who is forced to battle against another immortal foe attempting to be the last of his kind standing. Born in the 16th century, Connor MacLeod was exiled from his clan after surviving a mortal wound and was trained by Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez. The two characters are portrayed by Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, while Clancy Brown, Roxanne Hart, and Beatie Edney have major roles.

"Highlander" wasn't a hit when it was initially released. Yet, in the years since, it has become something of a cult film and has developed a strong following. This led to a number of sequels and television series based on the initial movie, despite the fact that it failed to make back its budget of $16 million during the original release. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval score of 70% and much of the praise focused on its over-the-top action and soundtrack, which features songs from the band Queen.

"Beowulf" is a 2007 fantasy that became well known for its use of CGI animation and visual effects. Based on the epic poem from Old English history, the screenplay was written by famed author Neil Gaiman and "Pulp Fiction" co-writer Roger Avary. Among the star-studded cast were Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, and Robin Wright. The plot sees the famed warrior Beowulf fighting a monster known as Grendel that has been causing destruction across Denmark.

For the most part, "Beowulf" earned positive reviews and received praise for its visual effects and voice acting. However, many critics also lamented the changes made from the original poem that didn't make sense. The good elements of the movie outweighed those issues, though, and led to Rotten Tomatoes awarding it an approval score of 71% and has been certified as fresh. Unfortunately for backers, the film was not a financial success and earned $196 million at the box office against a budget of $150 million.

"Army of Darkness" tells the story of a hardware store clerk who is sent back to the year 1300 in a medieval world. Here, he is forced to lead a band of fighters against an evil army of the dead known as Deadites as he battles to reach the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis in order to discover a way to return to his own time. Bruce Campbell takes on the role of Ashley Williams, while Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, and Ian Abercrombie are also in the movie. "Army of Darkness" was directed by Sam Raimi, who also played a role in writing and producing it.

The third film in the "Evil Dead" franchise, "Army of Darkness" acted as a sequel to "Evil Dead II" and proved to be a financial success, grossing almost double its $11 million budget. According to Rotten Tomatoes, "Army of Darkness" has an approval score of 74% and perhaps more impressively an audience score of 87% based on more than 100,000 ratings.

Sean Connery has starred in his fair share of medieval films — and "Robin and Marian" is one of the better ones. The 1976 movie was directed by Richard Lester and is yet another version of the Robin Hood story that was developed for the big screen. Alongside the veteran Scottish actor, Audrey Hepburn took on the role of Lady Marian, Nicol Williamson played Little John, and Robert Shaw portrayed the Sheriff of Nottingham. The story sees an older Robin Hood return from the Crusades where he has been fighting with King Richard and attempting to win the love of Marian.

While there is little information about how much money "Robin and Marian" grossed at the box office, the critical reception for the movie was positive. It currently holds an approval rating of 74% based on more than 30 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2002, the film was nominated for AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Passions list, a collection of the greatest love stories in movie history, according to the American Film Institute.

"Valhalla Rising" is a 2009 Danish adventure movie that is entirely English language rather than subtitled and was filmed almost completely in Scotland. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, it stars Mads Mikkelsen in the main role of One-Eye, while Maarten Stevenson, Ewan Stewart, Gary Lewis, and Alexander Morton are also in the cast. The story follows One-Eye as he escapes the life of a slave and joins up with soldiers who are intending to go to the Holy Land on a Crusade.

Based on more than 60 reviews, the movie has an approval score of 74% according to Rotten Tomatoes — although the audience score is far lower and currently stands at just 49% after more than 10,000 votes. All of this was not enough to make "Valhalla Rising" a financial success. According to The Numbers, the movie made less than $1 million at the box office. Compared to its budget of $5.7 million, this made it a box office bomb.

"Becket" is a 1964 historical drama that tells the story of Thomas Becket and King Henry II. The two, who had been strong friends, soon come into conflict when Becket becomes Archbishop of Canterbury and sides with the Church against his King. The plot follows their deteriorating relationship and Becket's eventual death. Richard Burton was cast in the role of Becket and Peter O'Toole as King Henry II. John Gielgud, Paolo Stoppa, Donald Wolfit, and David Weston all have roles in "Becket."

The movie grossed more than $9 million against its budget of $3 million according to The Numbers. It currently has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 76%. As an important cultural release, "Becket" was preserved in the Academy Film Archive in 2003. It was also nominated for a number of Academy Awards and won for Best Writing, while both O'Toole and Burton were nominated for Best Actor.

Kirk Douglas stars in the 1958 epic "The Vikings" where he plays opposite the swashbuckling hero Eric as his half-brother Einar. Tony Curtis plays Eric and Ernest Borgnine, Janet Leigh, and James Donald all have significant roles in the film. The plot sees Eric brought up by Vikings after his father is killed and he is abducted while being sent to Italy. He is then forced to fight his half-brother when they two desire the same woman and eventually leads an invasion of Northumberland against King Aella.

"The Vikings" made an estimated $6.2 million at the box office and in video rentals, not far shy of double what the budget for the movie was. That made it a financial success and the film was popular enough to lead to a spin-off television series called "Tales of the Vikings," which ran for 39 episodes. Rotten Tomatoes awarded "The Vikings" an approval score of 76% based on 21 reviews, indicating that critics mostly enjoyed it.

Disney and Pixar teamed up for "Brave" in 2012. The movie marked the directorial debut of Mark Andrews, who was assisted by Brenda Chapman. The story focuses on Princess Merida, the daughter of a medieval leader in the Scottish Highlands. Unwilling to marry her betrothed groom, she strikes out on her own but sets in motion a chain of events that threaten her family and kingdom. It was the first Pixar film to feature a sole female protagonist, who was played by Kelly Macdonald. Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane all had major roles in "Brave."

"Brave" was a huge financial success for Pixar and Disney. It grossed $540 million worldwide, far outstripping its $185 million budget and performing similarly to Pixar's prior film "Cars 2." Although the movie was not as well received as many other Pixar projects, it still achieved a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 78% based on more than 250 reviews.

First released in 2017, "Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc" is a musical that tells the story of the early life of Joan of Arc. Beginning with the young girl at just 8 years old, the movie is set during the Hundred Years' War in 1425. Having spent her life tending to her sheep, Joan of Arc realizes she can no longer endure the suffering of the French people and so she takes up arms to help drive off the English and protect the faith in her home country. The movie is based on Charles Péguy's play "The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc." It stars Lise Leplat Prudhomme as Joan of Arc — with Lucile Gauthier, Aline Charles, and Elise Charles all having roles.

Based on some 44 reviews, "Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc" has an approval rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also holds an audience score of 85%, with more than 500 viewers rating the film on the review aggregator. The movie was also nominated for several awards, including the Cahiers du Cinéma, the Faro Island Film Festival, and the International Cinephile Society Awards.

Cate Blanchett stars as Queen Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 period drama "Elizabeth," alongside Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Christopher Eccleston, and John Gielgud. Directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Michael Hirst, the film largely focuses on the early reign of Elizabeth and the challenges she faced from those who wished to depose her. Much of the action takes place immediately after she takes the throne following the death of her half-sister Mary I.

On a budget of $30 million, "Elizabeth" earned $82 million at the box office. As well as being a modest financial success, the movie achieved positive reviews from the vast majority of critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 83% and it also has an audience score of 86% based on 50,000 ratings. Additionally, "Elizabeth" was nominated for a number of Academy Awards and earned the Oscar for Best Makeup.

Ridley Scott directed this movie that was written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. "The Last Duel" follows the knight Sir Jean de Carrouges who challenges his former squire Jacques Le Gris to a duel to settle a dispute after the knight accuses him of assaulting his wife Marguerite. An adaptation of "The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France" by Eric Jager, the three main characters are played by Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer respectively. Its filming was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a halt to production for a few months.

"The Last Duel" received widespread acclaim from critics, with the film holding a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 85% and an audience score of 81%. Yet, those great reviews were not enough to motivate viewers to go to the cinema to see the movie. Box Office Mojo reported that it made just $30.6 million at the box office despite a budget of $100 million, making it a big loss for 20th Century Studios.

Directed by the controversial Roman Polanski, with a screenplay by him and Kenneth Tynan, "Macbeth" is a 1971 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Scottish play. Jon Finch stars as Macbeth, with Francesca Annis playing Lady Macbeth and Martin Shaw as Banquo. Like the original play, the plot follows the ruthless Macbeth as he seizes the throne with the help of his wife and does everything he can to remain in power.

"Macbeth" proved to be a huge financial failure when it was released, with total losses of $3.5 million. Much of the criticism of the movie was due to its strong violence, with many commentators blaming Playboy Productions (which helped with financing) for its apparent influence on the more shocking elements of the release. Yet, even these criticisms were not enough to affect reviews, which were overwhelmingly positive. According to Rotten Tomatoes, "Macbeth" has an approval rating of 86% based on 29 reviews.

"Kagemusha" is a jidaigeki — essentially the Japanese genre of period pieces in medieval times — that is set during the Sengoku period. Following a petty thief who is hired by a samurai as his double because he closely resembles him, the man must later impersonate the warrior when he suddenly passes away. It stars Japanese actors such as Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken'ichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu, and Hideji Ōtaki. Famed director and painter Akira Kurosawa took on directing duties.

"Kagemusha" has won plenty of plaudits over the years. Kinema Junpo listed it as one of the best 100 films to come out of Japan, while it won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. The film was later nominated for two Academy Awards and won BAFTA awards for Best Costume Design and Best Direction. Meanwhile, it has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 88%.

"Sleeping Beauty" is one of Disney's earliest animated feature films and is based on the 1697 fairy tale that was originally created by Charles Perrault. The story sees royal princess Aurora put under a curse that can only be broken by a prince with the help of three good fairies. They work together to undo the damage caused by Maleficent and rescue the princess from her fate. Voice actors including Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Barbara Luddy, and Bill Thompson lend their voices to characters in the film.

Disney's animated movie proved to be a huge success and grossed $51.6 million in the United States and Canada alone. This was far more than Disney had spent to create the film, with "Sleeping Beauty" having a budget of only $6 million. Additionally, it was well received by critics and holds an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. The classic movie was later added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for preservation as a significant part of cinema history.

"How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" is the third entry in the fantasy series. Once again created by DreamWorks Animation, the film is directed and written by Dean DeBlois and continues the story of Hiccup and Toothless as they reach maturity and take on leadership roles. The plot follows the pair's efforts to discover a hidden world of Night Fury dragons before the evil Grimmel can get there first. Jay Baruchel reprises his role as Hiccup Haddock, with America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, David Tennant, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, and Kit Harington all having roles.

Against a budget of $129 million, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" grossed a total of $525.7 million. This impressive box office performance includes an opening weekend of $50 million where it debuted in the number one spot. The movie also holds an approval rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Peter O'Toole stars in "The Lion in Winter" (1968), alongside Anthony Hopkins, Katharine Hepburn, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, and John Castle. The story is set in 1183 and follows King Henry II's decision on who to name his successor. The King has three sons, and different members of his inner circle have their own ideas about who should inherit the kingdom when Henry II dies. The film is based on James Goldman's play "The Lion in Winter" and he returned to write the screenplay.

The Numbers estimates that "The Lion in Winter" made $22.3 million at the box office. This was more than four times the movie's budget of $4 million. It received widespread critical acclaim upon release and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an approval rating of 90%. "The Lion in Winter" went on to win three Academy Awards, with Hepburn taking home the Oscar for best actress.

"El Cid" is a 1961 epic that tells the story of the 11th-century warrior Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. The movie follows the famous Spanish hero as he attempts to defend the country against the invading Moors — all while battling to save his family's honor and keep the peace as much as possible. Directed by Anthony Mann, the film stars Charlton Heston as Don Rodrigo, Sophia Loren as Doña Ximena, and Herbert Lom as Ben Yussuf. Other actors in "El Cid" include Raf Vallone, Geneviève Page, John Fraser, and Michael Hordern.

After a month in the cinema, "El Cid" had earned $8 million and would go on to gross $26.6 million in total. Reviews were equally impressive, with critics praising the movie for its action sequences and performances. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 92% based on 13 reviews.

The 2010 film "13 Assassins" is a Japanese samurai movie that sees a group of trained killers join in an attempt to kill an evil lord. The group is aware that their mission is likely to end in death but they are determined to stop the leader of the Akashi clan from being appointed to the Shogunate Council. Directed by Takashi Miike, the movie was based on an earlier film of the same name that was created by Eiichi Kudo. Along with stars Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, and Yûsuke Iseya.

"13 Assassins" was developed with a budget of $6 million, a relatively small amount for a film in 2010. It grossed some $17.5 million worldwide, with the vast majority of that figure from sales in Japan. The movie was a big hit with reviewers as well and holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name, "Hamlet" is a 1996 film and tells the entire story of the original work. That means it runs for more than four hours in total and has a slightly updated setting compared to most other versions that have been released theatrically. Directed and written by Kenneth Branagh, he also stars as Prince Hamlet. Derek Jacobi, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Charlton Heston, and Richard Briers portrayed characters in the movie.

Widely regarded as one of the best ever Shakespearean films, "Hamlet" received a huge amount of acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes awarded it an approval score of 95% based on more than 50 reviews, with the review aggregator certifying it as fresh. It even went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards. None of that meant that it was a financial success, though, with the film grossing less than $5 million against a budget of $18 million.

"Romeo and Juliet" is a 1968 film and one of the most famous adaptations of William Shakespeare's play of the same name. An Italian production, the movie was directed by Franco Zeffirelli and features Laurence Olivier providing narration for the action. A relatively faithful adaptation of the original story, the movie follows Romeo and Juliet, two youngsters from feuding houses who fall in love. However, the conflict around them eventually leads to the tragic death of both. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey took on the two main roles while Michael York, Milo O'Shea, John McEnery, Pat Heywood, and Natasha Parry all have roles.

At the time of its release, "Romeo and Juliet" was the most successful Shakespearean movie of all time in terms of box office gross. It made $38.9 million on a budget of just $850,000 according to The Numbers. The film's critical reception was equally as enthusiastic, holding a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 95%. "Romeo and Juliet" was also nominated for four Academy Awards and took home Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.

"Ran" is a 1985 medieval Japanese film based on William Shakespeare's "King Lear." A Akira Kurosawa project, he directed the film along with co-writing the screenplay and acting as the editor. The story follows many of the same plot points as the play but was actually created before Kurosawa had decided to incorporate Shakespeare's work with his own. It sees an elderly warlord looking to pass on his land to his three sons. But the corrupting influence of their desire for power turns the sons against each other and their father. "Ran" stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Hisashi Igawa, and Mieko Harada.

The movie was Kurosawa's last big project and is often cited as one of his finest works as well one of the best war films ever made. It won praise for its huge action sequences, impressive costume design, and memorable film score. Certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 96% and an audience score of 95%. "Ran" also won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, while Kurosawa was nominated for Best Director.

"The Court Jester" is a 1955 musical comedy that also features elements of costume dramas. The product of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, it focuses on a carnival performer who is drawn into a plot. Named Hubert Hawkins, he works with a rebel group who are protecting the right king who has been deposed by an evil tyrant. He is eventually able to spy on the enemy ruler by posing as a court jester and spying on him in a plot to reinstate the rightful king. Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Cecil Parker, Angela Lansbury, and Basil Rathbone all portrayed characters in the movie.

Although "The Court Jester" was not a financial success, it did receive wide praise upon release and has become well known as a classic of the time. It holds an approval rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, went on to win a Golden Globe, and was added to National Film Registry after being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

First released in 1928, "The Passion of Joan of Arc" is a French silent film that tells the story of Joan of Arc's capture and subsequent trial. Based on actual records from the trial in 1431, the story shows how the ecclesiastical judges attempt to force the French hero to confess that she is a heretic. Renée Jeanne Falconetti (sometimes credited as Maria Falconetti) plays Joan of Arc while Eugène Silvain, André Berley, and Maurice Schutz all had major roles. The film was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, widely considered to be one of the greatest directors in the business.

Upon its release, the film was critically acclaimed and is often said to be one of the best films of all time. A Sight & Sound poll in 2012 saw "The Passion of Joan of Arc" listed in the top 50 movies ever made. It also holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 98% and has been certified fresh, with an audience score of 93%.

Released in 1989 "Henry V" is one of two movies based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name, and it's considered to be one of the greatest medieval films of all time. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, he also wrote the screenplay and stars as King Henry V of England. Derek Jacobi took on the role of Chorus and Narrator while Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Brian Blessed, Christian Bale, and Alec McCowen all take on different characters. The plot follows the action of the Hundred Years War as Henry V attempts to conquer France and join the two kingdoms together.

"Henry V" holds a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that every one of the 40 reviews of the film were overwhelmingly positive. On a budget of $9 million, it went on to gross a little more than $10 million, meaning it was not a big financial success. Yet, it was nominated for a number of high-profile awards, including Academy Awards for Branagh as actor and director. It went on to win 11 awards in total of the 13 it was nominated for.

"The Return of Martin Guerre" is a 1982 French film based on the real life story of Martin Guerre, a French peasant who disappeared and returned several years later. However, the man claiming to be Guerre was eventually found to be an imposter. Much of the film focuses on the trial of the supposed imposter as the judges attempt to discover who the man really is. Directed and co-written by Daniel Vigne, the film stars Gérard Depardieu and Nathalie Baye as Martin Guerre and his wife Bertrande de Rols. The likes of Maurice Barrier, Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, and Isabelle Sadoyan also had roles.

Based on 18 reviews, the film holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 100% and an audience score of 80% from more than 2,500 ratings. The U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures nominated "The Return of Martin Guerre" for Best Foreign Language FIlm alongside "Fanny and Alexander," "La Traviata," and "The Boat People."

Just one of many films based on the life of Joan of Arc, "The Trial of Joan of Arc" is a 1962 film that was developed in France. Filmmaker Robert Bresson took on writing and directing duties, while Florence Delay stars as the title character alongside Roger Honorat, Jean-Claude Fourneau, and Marc Jacquier. The vast majority of the cast were unknown at the time of filming, like many of Bresson films. Based directly on the trial of the legendary French leader, the story closely follows the real life capture, imprisonment, and trial of Joan of Arc by the English.

While "The Trial of Joan of Arc" did not receive particularly positive reviews when it was initially released, it has seen something of resurgence in recent times. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 100% based on 13 contemporary reviews. The film was also nominated for the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1962.

"Seven Samurai" is a 1954 samurai drama directed and co-written by legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of a village that has been devastated by bandits who continually steal their crops. The farmers hire a group of seven unemployed samurai warriors to help defend the produce and fight back against the bandits. The seven samurai were played by Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Daisuke Katō, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki, Seiji Miyaguchi, and Yoshio Inaba, with actors such as Yoshio Tsuchiya and Bokuzen Hidari taking other roles.

Regarded as one of the best Japanese films ever made, "Seven Samurai" regularly appears in lists of the best movies of all time. It is also one of the most influential films in cinema history, inspiring future filmmakers. With a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 100% based on 90 reviews, it was met with universal acclaim upon release. It was a modest financial success in Japan and has proved popular on home video internationally.