Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.
Where to Watch Excalibur
- Shannon WardJune 26, 2025Great cast great retelling of Arthur as a myth and the first damn good fantasy movie I ever saw
- YunejayJune 9, 20251. Stunning scenery, clever composition, thrilling soundtrack, and exquisitely designed sets. Old cameras come with their own texture, the highlights gleam brilliantly, and the overall image has a soft, delicate quality, almost like an oil painting. 2. The acting is solid, with a few touches of subtle humor here and there. 3. While the plot feels a bit linear and lacks dramatic highs and lows, the story is clearly told, which I appreciated as someone not too familiar with the Arthurian legends. 4. I especially love the two dance scenes, both deeply captivating. One at the beginning where Igraine entrances Uther, and one at the ball where Guinevere shines with her lively spirit. Two dances, two romances, and two generations of kings trapped by love.
- Oʂɯαʅԃσ RσყҽƚƚSeptember 2, 2026"Excalibur" is the best version of the Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ever made by the cinema industry. John Boorman´s version has inconsistencies with the legend but it is a perfect blend of fantasy, drama and adventure. Visually stunning.
- WildHunt1June 28, 2026The Arthurian Legend Forged into Cinematic Myth John Boorman’s Excalibur is not merely another retelling of the legend of King Arthur—it is an operatic vision of myth brought vividly to life. Drawing heavily from Le Morte d’Arthur, the film embraces the grandeur, mysticism, and tragedy of the Arthurian cycle with a confidence few fantasy films have equaled. Rather than modernizing the legend, it immerses viewers in a world where destiny, magic, and human frailty are inseparable. The screenplay is the film’s crowning achievement. It distills an immense body of legend into a cohesive narrative that follows Arthur from his miraculous rise to the heartbreaking decline of Camelot. Every triumph carries the seed of future tragedy, and every victory comes at a cost. The story never loses sight of its central themes: honor, temptation, sacrifice, and the impossible burden of building a perfect kingdom with imperfect people. The cast fully embraces the heightened tone, delivering performances that feel larger than life without slipping into parody. Nigel Terry’s Arthur matures convincingly from uncertain youth to weary king, while Nicol Williamson’s enigmatic Merlin dominates every scene with an unforgettable blend of wisdom, humor, and menace. Around them, the legendary figures of Lancelot, Guinevere, Morgana, and the Knights of the Round Table become compelling embodiments of virtues and flaws that have endured for centuries. Visually, Excalibur remains one of fantasy cinema’s defining achievements. Gleaming armor, mist-covered forests, ancient castles, and dreamlike landscapes create a world that feels timeless rather than historical. The rich production design, striking cinematography, and unforgettable use of Wagner and Carl Orff lend the film an almost operatic grandeur. Combined with powerful sound design, sharp editing, and confident pacing, the result is a fantasy epic that never loses its sense of wonder or impending doom. Few films capture mythology with such sincerity. Excalibur does not seek realism or revisionism; it seeks legend. In doing so, it delivers one of cinema’s greatest medieval fantasies—a majestic, haunting, and emotionally resonant interpretation of King Arthur that continues to stand as the benchmark against which Arthurian films are measured.
- Tyler SJuly 18, 2026👍👍 8/10
- Rob MacKinnonMarch 2, 2026This definitely improved for me upon a second viewing. The sudden leaps forward in time were no longer jarring and disorienting as I knew to expect them, and I noticed that they were all actually pretty well telegraphed if you’re paying attention. I was able to focus more on the story and performances (and what performances! - definitely larger than life), and I noticed the humour much more as well. As a result, I raised the rating by a full star!
- MazinEdFebruary 18, 2026An almost perfect dark fantasy film done with epic flair and surreal imagery. I had the LOTR and GOT as the best in this Fantasy genre but now I’m adding Excalibur to the list. Of course there are others but I’m not going to name all of them here. The half-a-Star is taken off because I felt there were a few awkward amateur moments for some actors. These actors I speak of are top notch nowadays, but here they show early prototype acting. Other than that I really enjoyed everything in this film. I just can’t forgive myself for not watching this sooner in my life.
- carmen.s29November 13, 2025A bit slower moving than I remember. But still a pretty good movie. Some of the plot twists could be considered corny by today's standard. But that's alright with me because the movie takes me back to when I was younger.
- drbixlerOctober 13, 2025Campy but awesome!
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Excalibur was released on April 10, 1981.
Excalibur was directed by John Boorman.
Excalibur has a runtime of 2h 21m.
Excalibur was produced by John Boorman.
Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.
The key characters in Excalibur are King Arthur (Nigel Terry), Merlin (Nicol Williamson), Morgana (Helen Mirren).
Excalibur is rated R.
Excalibur is an Adventure, Fantasy, Drama film.
Excalibur has an audience rating of 8 out of 10.
Excalibur had a budget of $11M.
Excalibur has made $35M at the box office.