Robert Eggers has established himself as one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood and continued his artistry with his latest film, The Northman. This historical epic follows a legendary warrior prince, Amleth, who seeks vengeance following the tragic death of his father.
The narrative incorporates mystical elements and a revenge plot, yet The Northman elevates these aspects with beautiful visuals and breathtaking performances from the incredible cast. Other epic movies have materialized storylines of the revenge quest and historical settings, with a different style and aesthetic that are also worth watching.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
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Guy Ritchie delivers a different spin on the original story of the legendary King Arthur. In King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, an orphaned Arthur is not aware of his legacy as heir to the throne, but the course of his destiny could change with the search for the Excalibur. However, he must face his uncle, who took the crown and sought to kill the living heir.
The Northman and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword are epic tales based on legendary stories of popular figures. Given the altered backstory of the legend, Arthur and Amleth experience conflict with their ruling uncles and search for a hero's masculinity. Even though the epic film sways from the classic story and can be underwhelming, Ritchie invigorates his origin story with violent action sequences and energetic spectacle, and his vision of King Arthur remains one of the better portrayals on the big screen.
Braveheart (1995)
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Perhaps, one of the greatest historical epics to this day is the 1995 movie Braveheart. Mel Gibson portrays the Scottish warrior Sir William Wallace. Spurred by the loss of his lover, he rounds up a Scottish army to fight for their freedom against the English tyranny.
Like The Northman, Braveheart is another historical epic propelled by a hero's vengeance, but it also dives into the patriotism to free one's nation. Of course, Gibson's Braveheart remains one of the most renowned epics due to its violent action sequences and romance, similar to story aspects seen in The Northman. This epic earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning five awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Beowulf (2007)
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Stories about legendary tales are a big theme in The Northman, but another perfect example is the Robert Zemeckis fantasy, Beowulf. The king summons a Gaetish warrior to kill a demon named Grendel. However, Beowulf he soon encounters the fiery of Grendel's vindictive mother.
Beowulf shares its inspiration from a legendary tale and its periodical surrounding like The Northman. However, the style and aesthetic are very different by integrating computer-generated visuals. This fantasy flick elevates this adaptation of the old epic poem with its beautiful spectacle and impeccable cast performance.
Gladiator (2000)
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In Gladiator, Maximus, a general, has developed a trusting father-son relationship with the emperor. However, the emperor's own son grows jealous, killing his father and the general's family and selling Maximus into slavery. The general turned gladiator slowly wins Roman hearts in the arena and soon becomes a threat to the crown.
Some of the greatest epics have become Oscar-winning movies, including Ridley Scott's Gladiator. This historical epic emulates the intense action and themes of revenge and the hero's journey, like The Northman. Of course, many critics and audiences consider Gladiator a cinematic masterpiece due to its nuanced storytelling, beautiful visuals, and Russell Crowe's powerful portrayal of Maximus.
The Revenant (2015)
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In The Revenant, Hugh Glass must fight to survive after a brutal bear attack. However, to make matters worse, a hunting team leaves him for dead after one member kills his young son.
Alejandro González Iñárritu's drama delivers a similar story of vengeance and oozes the grim and cold ambiance like Eggers' The Northman. Of course, this drama produces a powerful and beautiful narrative about humanity and survival, aggrandized by the impeccable and raw performance of Leonardo DiCaprio. The Revenant earned 12 Oscar nominations and won three awards, including Best Director and Best Actor, the first for DiCaprio.
Robin Hood (2010)
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Continuing on the lines of legendary heroes, Robin Hood is one of the most popular stories adapted on the big screen. Ridley Scott took the helm with his iteration in the 2010 action film, Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe. Robin Hood is the famous hooded archer who hopes to save a village from the English tyrants.
Compared to other film versions of Robin Hood, Scott's epic resembles the grimmer atmosphere of The Northman. Furthermore, plenty of great action sequences and sophistication makes this Robin Hood iteration worth watching. Robin Hood is one of Scott's most expensive movies to date.
Valhalla Rising (2009)
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Valhalla Rising follows One Eye, an enslaved man who works with a group of Christian followers attempting to mission their faith. However, even this adventure won't be easy, as they face brutal attacks on water and land.
A big part of The Northman is the nod to medieval Vikings as seen from the production, costume design, and references to Nordic myths. Valhalla Rising also shares these aspects and further emulates the grim and eerie tone, making it the perfect movie for viewers who want a similar dark vibe and Vikings aesthetics to The Northman.
The 13th Warrior (1999)
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In The 13th Warrior, a Muslim ambassador is banished after being enamored by a nobleman's wife. He soon takes refuge in the north, where he crosses paths with a group of Vikings. As the respect grows between the two parties, the former ambassador must transform into a warrior to help the Vikings stop an evil being.
Like The Northman, The 13th Warrior also features Nordic mythos, which popularized the Viking storyline. Despite its less than stellar plot, this historical drama does have outstanding set design and exhilarating action that make the viewing doable.
Outlaw King (2018)
Stream On Netflix
In Outlaw King, Robert the Bruce is a Scottish King who has waged war against the English army. This event causes his exile, which furthers his acrimonious pursuits to regain his title.
Although this Netflix drama does not share the story aspects of revenge, it does echo the bleak, medieval atmosphere and narrative of the hero's grit to fulfill their journey, like Amleth in The Northman. Furthermore, Outlaw King also has plenty of violent and bloody action, which brings forth an entertaining and beautiful take on this historical period.
Hamlet (1996)
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Since The Northman has a Shakespearean-like essence, Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet is perhaps one of the best masterpieces with a familiar revenge narrative. Based on the William Shakespeare tragic play, Hamlet follows the titular character who learns of his father's untimely death. When information emerges that his father was murdered, an obsessively vengeful Hamlet seeks revenge against his newly crowned uncle.
Many moviegoers may have noticed the familiarity of The Northman to Hamlet, echoing the exposition and storytelling like vengeful spirits, vengeance, and betrayal. Even the character roles in The Northman parallels the ones in Hamlet. Of course, given the number of Hamlet adaptations, Branagh's iteration is far superior. Although Branagh's Hamlet has a more modern setting, this version gracefully enlivens the source material with finesse, including powerful portrayals and cinematic visuals.