Norse Viking culture and folklore have long captivated audiences around the world, and the film industry is no exception. From epic battles to mythical creatures, these 12 fantastic films bring the rich history and lore of the Vikings to life on the big screen.

1. The Man from the North (2022)

The man from the north
Image Credit: Focus Features

Robert Eggers’ biggest-budget film to date, this revenge thriller follows a Viking prince named Amleth, who seeks revenge for the murder of his father by his uncle. The film features an all-star cast, including Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor Joy and Willem Dafoe. A viewer says that The man from the north is the only Viking movie they’ve seen that’s a really solid movie while still being historically accurate. The ensemble cast is excellent, the cinematography is jaw-dropping, and you feel fully immersed in the era.

2. 13th Warrior (1999)

13th Warrior
Image Credit: Touchstone Photos

Based on the novel Eaters of Death by Michael Crichton, this film follows a Muslim ambassador named Ahmed (Antonio Banderas) who is sent to aid a group of Vikings in their fight against a tribe of mysterious cannibalistic creatures. A viewer says: “It presents perhaps one of the best cinematic sequences I have ever seen depicting the acquisition of a foreign language. It’s absolutely amazing.

3. Beowulf (2007)

Beowulf
Image credit: Paramount Pictures/Shangri-la Entertainment

This motion-capture animated film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins, tells the classic Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Beowulf, a legendary warrior, battles the monster Grendel and his mother.

4. Valhalla Rising (2009)

Rise of Valhalla

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, this film follows a mute warrior named One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) as he escapes from a Norse leader and embarks on a journey with a group of Christian Vikings to the Holy Land.

5. The Vikings (1958)

The Vikings 1958
Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios

Directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, this classic film tells the story of two Viking brothers, Einar and Eric, who are rivals for the throne and the love of a beautiful princess.

6. Erik the Viking (1989)

Erik the Viking
Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios

Written and directed by Monty Python alum Terry Jones, this comedy fantasy adventure stars Tim Robbins as a Viking named Erik, who embarks on a quest to find the mythical land of Hy-Brasil and end the Age of Ragnarok.

7. The Last Kingdom: The Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

The Last Kingdom: The Seven Kings Must Die (2023)
Image Credit: Marcell Piti/Carnival Films

The fourth part of last kingdom TV series, this film follows the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) as he fights to reclaim his ancestral homeland and defend England from Viking invaders. However, a fan warns that the movie assumes you’ve watched the Netflix series before the movie, so to better understand the plot and references, you should watch the series first.

8. The Long Ships (1964)

The long ships
Image Credit: Keystone Features

Directed by Jack Cardiff and starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier, this swashbuckling adventure film follows a Viking prince named Rurik who embarks on a perilous journey to find a mythical golden bell.

9. Pathfinder (2007)

Scout

Directed by Marcus Nispel, this action-packed film follows a Viking boy abandoned after a battle and raised by Native Americans. When the Vikings return to his village years later, he must choose between his adoptive family and his biological roots.

10. The Headhunter (2018)

The Headhunter (2007)
Image credit: Ricky Fosheim

Directed by Jordan Downey, this low-budget film horror The film follows a medieval warrior who hunts down and kills monsters. When his daughter is killed by a creature he was looking for, he embarks on a dangerous quest for revenge. A viewer insists that despite a small budget, The headhunter“is a gorgeous film. Be warned, though; you’ll either love it or hate it because of its minimalistic plot/execution and slow pace.

11. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World
Photo credit: Dreamworks Animation

How to train your dragon is an animated fantasy film that follows a young Viking named Hiccup, who befriends a dragon named Toothless and learns that they are not the bloodthirsty beasts he was taught to fear. Together, Hiccup and Toothless work to stop a war between Vikings and dragons, ultimately bringing peace between the two groups.

12. Stranger (2008)

Foreign

Directed by Howard McCain and starring James Caviezel and Sophia Myles, this sci-fi action film follows a man from a distant planet who crash-lands on Earth in the Viking Age and must team up with Vikings to fight an alien creature that has also landed on Earth.

This thread inspired this post.

This article was produced and syndicated by Geek Wealth.