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First Knight

Play trailer Poster for First Knight PG-13 1995 2h 12m Adventure Action Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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45% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Handsome swordsman Lancelot (Richard Gere) is incredibly skilled at fighting, but when he meets the lovely Guinevere (Julia Ormond), he can't seem to get past her defenses. She is betrothed to King Arthur (Sean Connery) and plans to go ahead with the wedding, despite her attraction to Lancelot. When the devious warrior Malagant (Ben Cross) rises up against Arthur, Lancelot must try to put his feelings aside and defend his king, Guinevere and all of Camelot.
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First Knight

First Knight

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Critics Consensus

This unimaginative reimagining of Arthurian legend dispenses with the magic without achieving a convincing realism in the bargain, suffering from fatal miscasting and a lack of romance.

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Critics Reviews

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Anthony Lane New Yorker It's hard not to wonder... about Ormond besieged by Connery on one side and Gere on the other. Why won't the movie let them look for someone their own age? Sep 6, 2021 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone Whenever Zucker stops piling on battle scenes as if he were directing Braveheart, his film casts a romantic spell. Rated: 3.5/4 May 12, 2001 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a slow-moving historical drama that’s generally only engrossing in fits and starts... Rated: 2.5/4 May 27, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins A few large-scale battles and lengthy action sequences can't save the film from its exhausting stereotypes and sappy storyline. Rated: 4/10 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor Excali-BORE. Rated: 2/4 Mar 30, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ace R I like this movie. It's a good film because it's not like all of the other films about King Arthur, which all are very much a like. It's a different take on it, and that's why I recommend that you see this movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Sai M The classy Julia Ormond absolutely steals the scene with her stunning beauty and how authentic she can portray compelling emotions on-screen. I also feel that Lancelot in this passionate role was one of Richard Gere's best and that he was magnetic and charming for the entirety of the film. Sean Connery, bless his soul, was a stunner til the end of his life and he portrays King Arthur with conviction and resolve that both showcase his strength and compassion while trying to build a place where justice and freedom prevail. It's a fabulous movie with so much passion, valor, and beauty that even now I still find it an enthralling watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/07/24 Full Review Laraine Anne B I thought it was supposed to be a quality movie or I wouldn't have bothered. That aside, King Arthur doesn't work without the magic. But the movie still should have been better than this. I tend to switch off when there are confusing battle scenes, one after another. Then there's the horrendous raucous soundtrack. A battle makes enough noise of its own. Who needs amy extra racket? And who needs hundreds of violins accompanying romantic scenes? This was the most disappointing version of the King Arthur legend I have ever seen. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/25/24 Full Review Alec B Gere's grating performance is the most obviously bad thing here but it's still an extremely lazy movie that makes little to no sense. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Michael S Underdeveloped King Arthur tale where everyone is British/Scottish except for Richard Gere's Lancelot. Little to nothing is done with the knights of the roundtable, except for sneering villain Malagant. Pops of violence are tempered by the PG-13 rating. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/28/22 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic movie, romance, bravery, courage, honor, personal action and war -- First Knight against the fallen First Knight from Arthur's roundtable -- a vagabond ranger defeating a would be king from skill and daring -- and a fantastic ending and fight -- critics appear to ignore the movie too obsessed with other movies and incapable of reviewing a movie on it's own merits -- merit that will endure long after the critics/reviewers. I'd put the musical score up alone against any critic any day of the year. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

First Knight

First Knight: Official Clip - Malagant's Invasion First Knight: Official Clip - Malagant's Invasion 1:11 First Knight: Official Clip - Battle at Leones First Knight: Official Clip - Battle at Leones 3:03 First Knight: Official Clip - Lancelot vs. Malagant First Knight: Official Clip - Lancelot vs. Malagant 3:13 First Knight: Official Clip - Saving Guinevere First Knight: Official Clip - Saving Guinevere 2:22 First Knight: Official Clip - Dungeon Escape First Knight: Official Clip - Dungeon Escape 2:32 First Knight: Official Clip - I Owe You a Kiss First Knight: Official Clip - I Owe You a Kiss 2:56 First Knight: Official Clip - Running the Gauntlet First Knight: Official Clip - Running the Gauntlet 2:41 First Knight: Official Clip - The Battle for Camelot First Knight: Official Clip - The Battle for Camelot 1:58 First Knight: Official Clip - Kidnapping Guinevere First Knight: Official Clip - Kidnapping Guinevere 2:31 First Knight: Official Clip - The Carriage Battle First Knight: Official Clip - The Carriage Battle 3:37 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Handsome swordsman Lancelot (Richard Gere) is incredibly skilled at fighting, but when he meets the lovely Guinevere (Julia Ormond), he can't seem to get past her defenses. She is betrothed to King Arthur (Sean Connery) and plans to go ahead with the wedding, despite her attraction to Lancelot. When the devious warrior Malagant (Ben Cross) rises up against Arthur, Lancelot must try to put his feelings aside and defend his king, Guinevere and all of Camelot.
Director
Jerry Zucker
Producer
Jerry Zucker, Hunt Lowry
Screenwriter
William Nicholson
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Adventure, Action, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 15, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$36.7M
Runtime
2h 12m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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