10 Movies To Watch If You Like The Green Knight | ScreenRant
There have been several Arthurian adaptations, but few can claim to be as visually stunning, compellingly written, and strongly acted as The Green Knight. Following Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), one of the famed Knights of the Round Table, viewers embark on a quest to slay the mythical creature the movie is named for, becoming lost in a surreal landscape of chivalry and symbolism along the way.
For fans of sword-and-sorcery, epic adventure, knightly heroism, and provocative themes, The Green Knight cannot be bested, but there are several other movies that properly capture some of its most winning traits. Whether they also take place in a medieval setting, feature a tortured hero, or simply have a fascinating theme to make viewers think about, these movies offer fans of the new A24 release more of what they love.
10 Willow (1988)
When a young farmer -and aspiring sorcerer- suddenly finds a baby with a strange marking in the reeds near his village, he has no idea that the bouncing bundle will lead him on an epic quest to keep her safe from the evil Queen Bavmorda and her dark legions. Along the way, Willow hones his magical skills, befriends eccentric friends in the forest, aligns himself with the world's great swordsman, and comes to learn that anyone can be a hero no matter their origins.
Ron Howard's Willow (based on a story by George Lucas) features fun practical effects and a cast of colorful characters, ensuring that there's nothing but pure fantasy fun with this '80s classic. Like The Green Knight, it vacillates wonderfully between whimsical and scary, thrilling and somber.
9 Legend (1989)
When two young lovers are separated by the horned demon Darkness, it's up to Jack and his friends to save Princess Lili before the world is plunged into eternal night, and all the unicorns are slaughtered.
Rarely have tales of knights rescuing princesses featured such surreal and dreamlike imagery, making Legend an "experience" and a very underrated 80's fantasy movie. Featuring a soundtrack by the synthwave band Tangerine Dream and unicorns galloping through sun-dappled forests, it's truly transportive. Just like The Green Knight, it features a truly memorable magic foe to be dispatched.
8 Excalibur (1981)
There are other movies about King Arthur, and then there's Excalibur. It chronicles Arthur's rise from being the illegitimate son of lord Uther Pendragon to being Camelot's beloved king, and the formation of the Knights of the Round Table. But unlike other legends, it describes the troubles Arthur acquires as the king, as he faces the perversities of war.
Known for its sumptuous costumes, grand scale, and bombastic performances, Excalibur is not for the faint of heart. Overwhelming at times, it remained the gold standard for the Arthurian legend - until The Green Knight came along.
7 Valhalla Rising (2009)
Taking place in 11th century Scandinavia, an indentured man (Mads Mikkelsen) decides to mount an uprising against his captors. Teaming up with others like himself, he makes a violent quest to Jerusalem, where the journey brings unforeseen difficulties that challenge the group's belief in themselves, their purpose, and their faith.
A brutal story told with a scope that's both gritty and expansive, Valhalla Rising does not shy away from the violence of the era in which it takes place, often taking time to reveal the beauty that can exist in such a maelstrom. And like The Green Knight, it forces viewers to confront problematic interpretations of long-held beliefs concerning valor and heroism.
6 Dragonslayer (1981)
When the land of Urland is besieged by a dragon, the kingdom turns to its resident wizard to defeat it, having been unsuccessfully appeasing it with virgin sacrifices. When the wizard dies, his apprentice is left to slay the dragon and with any luck, win the hand of the princess.
Dragonslayer may seem like a classic fable, but like The Green Knight, it has the capacity to subvert a few tropes inherent to the fantasy genre. It's also a compelling coming-of-age story, with a boy learning what it takes to be a man.
5 Sauna (2008)
In the 16th century, two Finnish warriors are tasked with marking the border of Swedish-ruled Finland and the Tsardom of Russia. However, on the way there, they stumble upon a small village in the middle of a mysterious swamp. Circumstances force them into the village's sauna, created by ancient monks, where they hope to wash away the sins of war, but soon discover that the ghosts that haunt them are more than real.
Along with the fact that it focuses on the Russo-Swedish War, Sauna is unique in its story and cerebral presentation, as well as the dark beauty inherent in its stark landscape. Akin to The Green Knight is its ambiguity, especially surrounding moral conflict, that will really make viewers think long after the movie's end.
4 The Fall (2006)
Though it isn't set in the medieval era, The Fall is still a fantasy adventure that promotes the honor, valor, and integrity of knights. It begins in 1915, where a stuntman is recovering in hospital from injuries and regales to a young girl (and fellow patient) with an adventure he creates based on the things he's no longer able to do (where they feature as the main characters).
At its heart, aside from being about fantastical quests and adventures, The Fall is about storytelling and the power it wields over the minds of its recipients and its originators. Incredibly artistic and explosively imaginative, it has the same soulful quality as The Green Knight and makes viewers question their definitions of heroes, villains, and fate.
3 Clash Of The Titans (2010)
A remake of the 1981 movie of the same name, Clash of the Titans focuses on one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology -- Perseus, and his compulsion to defy the gods, whose own internal war threatens to destroy all of humankind.
More sword-and-sandal rather than sword-and-sorcery, the movie is still the epitome of the Hero's Journey, with Clash of the Titans adapting the Greek myth of Perseus fighting the infamous Medusa and The Kraken, and expanding it to account for the sort of person Perseus was beneath his hero's mantle. Like Sir Gawain from The Green Knight, honor and duty place him in increasingly obligatory situations he feels he cannot retreat from.
2 Conan The Destroyer (1984)
While Conan the Barbarian showed the mighty Conan transforming himself into a legendary warrior, Conan the Destroyer involved the barbarian adhering to his code of honor even when he didn't agree with what he'd pledged it to (including protecting a young princess on his way to find a fabled relic).
Conan's second adventure is far more surreal and strange than the straightforward revenge story of his first and with mind games. It also shows Conan's epic feats of strength. There are times when Conan could turn back but must fulfill his obligation, becoming much like Sir Gawain, a servant of destiny.
1 Labyrinth (1986)
After wishing for the Goblin King to come to take her irritating baby brother away, teenager Sarah immediately regrets her decision but finds she only has 13 hours to navigate Jareth's labyrinth and find Toby before he must remain there forever. Together, with a band of loyal friends, she does her best to solve the Goblin King's riddles and take back the child that he stole from her.
Another coming-of-age tale that highlights the repercussions of impulsive decisions, Sarah's journey mirrors Sir Gawain's even as her choices aren't nearly so sordid. In both Labyrinth and The Green Knight part of growing up will mean taking accountability, but it doesn't have to mean losing a sense of wonder.