The Seventh Seal

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The Seventh Seal

1956

1h 36m

Drama

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death (Bengt Ekerot) to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof (Nils Poppe) and his wife, Mia (Bibi Andersson), and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

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Critics Consensus

Narratively bold and visually striking, The Seventh Seal brought Ingmar Bergman to the world stage -- and remains every bit as compelling today.

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Jonas Mekas

Village Voice

Obsessed with the ideas of love, life, death, good and evil, [Bergman] mediates as he goes, taking in symbols, in parables and images that are often of breathtaking beauty.

Apr 20, 2022

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Guardian

You can hunt about in the history of the cinema and bring up a distant cousin or two for Bergman's great work. Yet, when all the delving is done, this film remains something quite distinct, a wonderful film which is not quite like any other.

Mar 21, 2018

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Elliott Stein

Village Voice

Bergman's visually striking medieval morality play [was] the work that gained him an international reputation.

Jul 23, 2013

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Claire Fulton

Loud and Clear Reviews

It’s a masterpiece of filmmaking from a master of the profession, and remains an impactful viewing experience even if you can’t tell a knight from a rook.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 7, 2024

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Like many of his greatest works, Bergman uses The Seventh Seal as an existentialist vehicle, exploring a landscape where God may have turned his back on humanity, leading to disillusionment, conflict and destruction.

Jan 23, 2024

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A formidable film in which Bergman, with symbols and metaphors, builds a philosophical treatise that points out the impossibility of man to defeat death. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Dec 13, 2023

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Diana S

It trips me out that a movie that reimagines Jesus as a woman came out in 1957!! The Swedish have always been ahead of their time, man. This is a movie you could almost see today in the American indie market. Totally recommend!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

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Ari V

Not without some interesting and even funny moments, but seemed like some undercooked, fragmented, meandering philosophy for the most part.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

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Max W

Almost a surreal experience watching this. The dialogue is gripping and the filmography stunning.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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João Gabriel R

história: 8 atuação: 8 fotografia:9,5 som: 7 final: 8,5 média: 8,2

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

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James J

A film I admire more than I connect with. The Seventh Seal is cold, distant, and emotionally hollow, but maybe that’s the point. Its characters feel like hollow archetypes, chess pieces rather than people, overshadowed by the inevitability of death. And yet, I couldn’t look away. Bergman’s thematic execution is flawless. He doesn’t hide behind ambiguity, instead he presents death front and center (literally). The film is gorgeously shot, loaded with iconic imagery, and despite its detachment, I found myself genuinely invested in Blocks journey and how it would all come together. It didn’t necessarily resonate with me on an emotional level, but It absolutely had me thinking. It’s the kind of film that lingers in the background of your mind, the kind you recommend after a heavy conversation about life’s biggest questions. Not one of my personal favorites, but a clear cinematic landmark worthy of respect.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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Thomas S

Overrated in my opinion. High marks obviously come from atheists for its attack on the power of religion at the time. We’ve kinda moved on from then and it was overstated as well

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Ingmar Bergman

Director

Max von Sydow

Antonius Block

Gunnar Björnstrand

Jöns, squire

Nils Poppe

Jof

Bibi Andersson

Mia, Jof's wife

Bengt Ekerot

Death

Monika

100%

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Synopsis

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death (Bengt Ekerot) to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof (Nils Poppe) and his wife, Mia (Bibi Andersson), and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Producer: Allan Ekelund
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Distributor: Janus Films, Criterion Collection, Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2011
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Mono

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