What are the best knight movies of all time? This knight movies list is excellent for you to make your own list of the top 10 knight movies. In these movies, the medieval period is mostly portrayed as a time of glory and fortitude, where noble knights gallantly fought evil forces and attended prestigious jousting tournaments.
Whether factually correct or not, knight movies have given us some of the most exciting heroes, action, drama, and entertainment in movie history, so here is the list of 10 best knight movies of all time.
Best Knight Movies
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Genres: Action/Adventure
Star Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Jonathan. Based on the DC Comics superhero, Batman, it is the sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and the second installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy.
The plot follows the vigilante Batman, police lieutenant James Gordon, and district attorney Harvey Dent, who form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City. Their efforts are derailed by the Joker, an anarchistic mastermind who seeks to test how far Batman will go to save the city from chaos.
2. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Genres: Action/Thriller
Star Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway
The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan, and the story with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the final installment in Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, and the sequel to The Dark Knight (2008).
Bane, an imposing terrorist, attacks Gotham City and disrupts its eight-year-long period of peace. This forces Bruce Wayne to come out of hiding and don the cape and cowl of Batman again.
3. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Director: Ridley Scott
Genres: War/Adventure
Star Cast: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Edward Norton
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. The whole film is a heavily fictionalized portrayal of the events leading to the Third Crusade, focusing mainly on Balian of Ibelin who fights to defend the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem from the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin.
In the twelfth century, blacksmith Balian travels to Jerusalem, a city seething with religious wars. He transforms into a defending warrior who saves the city and its people.
4. A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Director: Brian Helgeland
Genres: Adventure/Action
Star Cast: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany
A Knight’s Tale is a 2001 American medieval adventure comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Brian Helgeland. The film takes its name from Chaucer’s “The Knight’s Tale” in his Canterbury Tales, and also draws several plot points from Chaucer’s work.
Medieval peasant William Thatcher wishes to better his social position and attain glory after his master dies. Adopting a false identity, he successfully participates in jousts, shocking many knights.
5. Excalibur (1981)
Director: John Boorman
Genres: Fantasy/Adventure
Star Cast: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi
Excalibur is a 1981 epic medieval fantasy film directed, co-written and produced by John Boorman, that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, based loosely on the 15th-century Arthurian romance Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.
After drawing the mystical sword that was buried in the stone, Uthur’s illegitimate son becomes the new king. Under the guidance of the wizard Merlin, he must fight against his evil half-sister.
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6. King Arthur (2004)
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genres: Adventure/War
Star Cast: Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Stephen Dillane
King Arthur is a 2004 historical adventure film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Franzoni. The film replaces the sword in the stone story with a more dark and tragic backstory of how Arthur claimed his sword Excalibur.
Arthur, a reluctant leader, wants to return the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can, a mission leads him to the conclusion that when Rome is captured, Britain will need a leader.
7. Season of the Witch (2011)
Director: Dominic Sena
Genres: Adventure/Fantasy
Star Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore, Claire Foy
Season of the Witch is a 2011 American supernatural action-adventure film starring Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman, and directed by Dominic Sena. The film reunited Sena and Cage, who had previously worked together on Gone in 60 Seconds.
Behmen, a crusader, is ordered to transport an alleged witch to a remote abbey. During their journey, Behmen and the soldiers discover the woman’s secret and know about the dangers that await them.
8. Robin Hood (2010)
Director: Ridley Scott
Genres: Adventure/Action
Star Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy
Robin Hood is a 2010 action film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Ridley Scott. It held its world premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival the same day as its United Kingdom and Ireland releases.
Robin Longstride and his band of mercenaries must bring the people of England together to fight against the invading French army led by King Philip, who has the treasonous Sir Godfrey at his side.
9. Black Death (2010)
Director: Christopher Smith
Genres: Horror/Mystery
Star Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, John Lynch, Tim McInnerny
Black Death is a 2010 action horror film directed by Christopher Smith from an original screenplay by Dario Poloni. Despite not being credited as a writer, Smith made very significant changes in the second half of the script, including a new ending.
When the bubonic plague breaks out in the city of England, killing hundreds of people, a monk decides to investigate a report, which states that some people are miraculously coming back to life.
10. Arn – The Kingdom at Road’s End (2008)
Director: Peter Flinth
Genres: Drama/War
Star Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, John Lynch, Tim McInnerny
Arn – The Kingdom at Road’s End is an epic film based on Jan Guillou’s trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knights Templar Arn Magnusson.
The Knight Arn is sent on a last mission against Saladin. He has to win this battle, before he can go back home to Sweden, and finally marry his Cecilia and start a family. But the peace back home is threatened by the Danes.
