The Vikings

Released Jun 28, 1958

1 hr. 54 min.

Adventure

Action

List

77%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Viking Prince Einar (Kirk Douglas) doesn't know it, but his most fearsome enemy, the slave Eric (Tony Curtis), is actually his half brother. Their feud only intensifies when Einar kidnaps Princess Morgana (Janet Leigh), the intended bride of the brutal King Aella (Frank Thring). Einar intends to make the beautiful girl his own. Unfortunately for him, Morgana has eyes only for Eric -- leading to much bloodshed and the capture of their father, King Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine).

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Critics Consensus

Despite moments of excess, The Vikings has enough balance in its larger-than-life action sequences and characters to entertain.

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Shirley J

My favourite of all time and I want the theme music at my funeral

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/23

Full Review

Zusu B

A lot of fluff but the real detraction is the over the top hysterics of J. Leigh and the arrogance (hamery) of T. Curtis. Not alot of visuals either. Pity.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Robert W

a most excellent entertaining movie !!! ... not a historical documentary but , it's a wholeheartedly fun movie to watch with beautiful scenery and talented actors delivering a stirring performance that is , like I said, most entertaining !!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/08/22

Full Review

delysid d

a dumb old hollywood snore-fest

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/19/22

Full Review

Audience Member

A very 1950s Hollywood presentation -- a grandiose spectacle, with 1950s storytelling and 1950s acting. The movie misses on several counts; it makes poor use of color, poor use of action, and poor use of the mystical aspects to the story. It has a good story, and this movie is worth re-making.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best I can say about the movie is that Kirk's makeup job was great.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Kirk Douglas

Einar

Tony Curtis

Eric

Janet Leigh

Morgana

Ernest Borgnine

Ragnar

James Donald

Egbert

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Alex von Tunzelmann

Guardian

Though it avoids many of the obvious pitfalls of Viking lore, The Vikings suffers from being both sillier and less outlandish than the real thing.

Rated: C+

Mar 17, 2020

Full Review

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Proper Hollywood overblown Viking adventure with not a shred of authentic detail but lots of glam and ham.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 17, 2020

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The Vikings is spectacular, rousing and colorful.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[C]inematographer Jack Cardiff turns his Norway locations into a lush Valhalla on Earth and journeyman director Richard Fleischer, faced with an absurd story, goes for the gusto in brawling Viking parties, furious sieges, and clanging broadsword battles.

Apr 6, 2024

Full Review

Tony Sloman

Radio Times

[T]remendously exciting, if gory, adventure epic...

Rated: 5/5

Mar 17, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The film, gory and raucous, is a worthy specimen of its kind, and camera-ace Jack Cardiff's color photography deserves an Oscar nomination.

Oct 31, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Viking Prince Einar (Kirk Douglas) doesn't know it, but his most fearsome enemy, the slave Eric (Tony Curtis), is actually his half brother. Their feud only intensifies when Einar kidnaps Princess Morgana (Janet Leigh), the intended bride of the brutal King Aella (Frank Thring). Einar intends to make the beautiful girl his own. Unfortunately for him, Morgana has eyes only for Eric -- leading to much bloodshed and the capture of their father, King Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine).

Director: Richard Fleischer
Screenwriter: Calder Willingham
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Genre: Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2016

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