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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Play trailer 1:34 Poster for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword PG-13 Released May 12, 2017 2h 6m Adventure Action Fantasy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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31% Tomatometer 277 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After the murder of his father, young Arthur's power-hungry uncle Vortigern seizes control of the crown. Robbed of his birthright, he grows up the hard way in the back alleys of the city, not knowing who he truly is. When fate leads him to pull the Excalibur sword from stone, Arthur embraces his true destiny to become a legendary fighter and leader.
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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

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Critics Consensus

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword piles mounds of modern action flash on an age-old tale -- and wipes out much of what made it a classic story in the first place.

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Critics Reviews

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Karen Han Slashfilm If you can bear the bad patches, there's something dazzlingly fun at the heart of it all. Rated: 7/10 Dec 8, 2017 Full Review Jo Livingstone The New Republic Ritchie has reached into the medieval quiver of tales for material, but has not imposed the meta-narrative of Western history onto those stories. For this restraint medievalists should be thankful, and the critics should be a little more forgiving. Aug 15, 2017 Full Review K. Austin Collins The Ringer More swords, more stones, and more roundtables, please. Just not directed by Guy Ritchie. Aug 10, 2017 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …part of the reason that Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur film never seems to to get started is that it was intended to be the first entry in a six movie cycle of Arthurian films which was wisely canned the moment anyone set eyes on this shambles for the ages…. Rated: 2/5 Jul 28, 2025 Full Review Noah Berlatsky Everything is Horrible (Substack) King Arthur: Legend of the Sword has nothing particularly earth-shattering to say; it's not a profound or innovative film. But it's full of joy and energy and ridiculous nonsense. Jun 12, 2025 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The action is pretty good, and Jude Law is a hoot playing such a detestable slug of a human being. Rated: 3/5 Aug 22, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I think most critics opinions of this movie are that of a typically bored “professional” with nothing more entertaining to do than to provide a false negative image of this movie. Personally I found this move to be endearing from the get go. It has the dark, magical medieval feel whilst Ritchie also implements his own twist on the tale as he normally does. The fast paced humour mixed with the more profound elements of the story make for an interesting story to get sucked into. Now I do think they could’ve slowed the general pace of the storyline especially given that this was supposed to be the first of 6 movies. they could have focused more on uthers reign and his battle against mordred and vortigens slow betrayal of his brother and then moved on to maybe a cliff hanger at the end setting up the next movie. However I believe this film deserves more credit, the casting was excellent, plenty of talent. enjoyable watch but of course not for everybody. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Jenny B Charlie Hunnam trying to be Ragnar Lothbrok but failing miserably. God awful film with a poor story line which veers too far away from the legend. David Beckhams appearance made a mockery and after seeing his performance, I realised the rest of the film was gonna be sh*t. Guy Richies directing style has no place here and Game of Thrones/Snatch it certainly isn't. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Feroz K I think the movie was awesome. Acting , cast , direction, cinematography was brilliant. Lacking in screenplay. Still the movie is worth watching... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/19/25 Full Review Dave C Loved it the first couple of times we watched. Watched again recently, and that hasn't changed. It's a well told, brilliantly cast, cleverly directed telling of the tale Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/15/25 Full Review Glafira Regina O Definitely one of my favourite films, with huge potential for sequels that, sadly, never saw the light of day due to low box office returns. It’s worth noting that the plot strays far from the original legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table—but that’s clearly no obstacle to enjoying it. In this version, Arthur is raised in a brothel and hardened on the streets of Londinium (the future London), where Guy Ritchie has relocated the setting. With his friends, he controls the local scene and takes a cut from the earnings. But when the legendary sword in the stone resurfaces, Vortigern—Arthur’s uncle, who seized the throne after killing Arthur’s father, Uther—gathers all young men of age in search of the one who can draw Excalibur. By pure chance, Arthur, long having forgotten his royal lineage, ends up in the selection and unexpectedly pulls the sword—sparking the main chain of events. Yes, the “street kid becomes a hero” plot is nothing new, but the film convincingly shows why Arthur, who genuinely cares for his people, would make a far better ruler than the power-obsessed Vortigern. We also see that Arthur is a natural leader, not just a puppet of Merlin’s envoy or Uther’s loyalists. Vortigern, meanwhile, is genuinely menacing—a man who values power over loved ones and will do absolutely anything to keep it. The movie packs in plenty of action, keeping boredom at bay. Guy Ritchie’s signature editing style is still noticeable, even though he didn’t have full creative freedom and co-wrote the script. I especially enjoyed the sequences where characters narrate events—whether recounting a day or laying out a battle plan—while we see those events play out visually in parallel. The scenes of Arthur interacting with Excalibur are especially creative and striking. The film also introduced me to the excellent Charlie Hunnam, who forms a compelling, tension-filled on-screen dynamic with Jude Law. And of course, the music—it’s absolutely top-tier, always fitting perfectly with the scene, whether it’s Arthur’s coming of age or Vortigern addressing a crowd, making each moment even more powerful. All in all, it’s a high-quality, dynamic film with engaging characters and a fresh approach—absolutely deserving of your attention. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review DNO A Review: A Bold Reimagining That Deserves More Credit While it’s fair to say that some of the acting wavers in places — moments that don’t quite land emotionally or feel slightly overplayed — this film dares to dig deeper than most mainstream retellings. The director takes a notable risk, opting to explore more complex themes rather than playing it safe, and that gamble pays off in many compelling ways. The story, familiar to audiences across cultures, isn’t simply retold — it’s reshaped into a journey that offers both escapism and introspection. Isn’t that the very essence of cinema? To be transported from the everyday into something richer, stranger, more stirring? On that front, the film certainly tries hard to succeed. It’s no masterpiece — not a flawless five-star triumph — but it’s far more ambitious and affecting than its Critics Rotten Tomatoes score might suggest. The cinematography is charged with urgency: the handheld camera work and kinetic framing reflect a world that’s constantly in motion, mirroring the characters’ relentless pursuit of truth, safety, and freedom. Musically, the score is vibrant and evocative, adding texture and emotional depth that helps set this version apart. It breathes fresh life into a story some may think they already know — and that freshness alone is worth applauding. Of course, opinions differ — as they should. It may not be perfect, but it’s a brave, exhilarating cinematic adventure that leaves a lasting impression. My family love this film!🙂 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/05/25 Full Review Read all reviews
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

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Movie Info

Synopsis After the murder of his father, young Arthur's power-hungry uncle Vortigern seizes control of the crown. Robbed of his birthright, he grows up the hard way in the back alleys of the city, not knowing who he truly is. When fate leads him to pull the Excalibur sword from stone, Arthur embraces his true destiny to become a legendary fighter and leader.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Producer
Akiva Goldsman, Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Steve Clark-Hall, Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram
Screenwriter
Joby Harold, Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Ritchie/Wigram, Weed Road, Safehouse Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Sequences of Violence & Action|Brief Strong Language|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre
Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 12, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$39.1M
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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