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William Tell

Play trailer 2:17 Poster for William Tell R Released Apr 4 2h 13m Action Adventure Drama History Play Trailer Watchlist
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54% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
1307, the Holy Roman Empire is in turmoil. As its grip on Europe loosens, new dynasties such as the Austrian Habsburg Family encroach on new lands, desperate for power. Switzerland, the once peaceful country, is overwhelmed and bows under the Austrian might. When the local huntsman William Tell sees a farmer begging for help after murdering a cruel Austrian governor, he reluctantly agrees to guide him to a safe location. But as he meets with more comrades along the way, Tell realizes that this act of violence is a larger sign of what's to come with the growing Swiss resistance. Tell is drawn into the madness when the cruel Austrian Viceroy Gessler orders him to shoot an apple from his son's head for refusing to bend the knee to Austrian authority. Once Tell's family has been threatened, there is no turning back. Tell not only commits to joining the resistance but ends up leading the fight against the Austrian forces. Scarred by his own experience in the depravity and destitution of war during the Crusades, he comes to realize what matters most: his family and preserving his country's independence for future generations.
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William Tell

William Tell

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Critics Consensus

William Tell finds a worthy embodiment of the folk hero in the capable Claes Bang, but this historical epic repeats too many familiar beats to stir up its own distinctive legend.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) Very interesting movie that tells a cool history. Apr 9, 2025 Full Review Matt Zoller Seitz RogerEbert.com It seems a bit of a stretch to think that this is going to end up as the first installment in a long-running MCU-style series of hard-edged escapist adventures loosely based on history. But stranger things have happened. Rated: 2/4 Apr 4, 2025 Full Review Helen O'Hara Empire Magazine This old-fashioned tale of folk heroism and hardy underdogs benefits from solid performances and spectacular vistas, but it loses points for a sequel-baiting ending.  Rated: 3/5 Feb 4, 2025 Full Review Alfred Castaneda Shade Studios There’s enough material here that could fill a mini-series, but as an overly long movie, the narrative still feels rushed. As if Hamm knew there was enough concept for a multi-episodic work but was forced to cut this down to size. Jul 30, 2025 Full Review Clotilde Chinnici MovieMarker Overall, William Tell is a perfectly decent film. With its compelling story and well-built tension, it is bound to catch the audience’s interest and never let it go until its very last frame, despite its rather lengthy runtime. Rated: 3/5 Jul 27, 2025 Full Review Milo Garner In Review Online Here is a film built of a solid, sturdy foundation, on which almost every superficial element is flimsy or broken. It is, in essence, a good idea badly executed. May 3, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gillian L Slow, poorly acted with a cheesy overdone script. A pity because it's an interesting story. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Kyle J Very good and interesting history!! I appreciate REAL films that are well done. The storyline flows, good dialogue, excellent sets, and has a genuine authentic feel that a lot of work went into. It should rate much higher!! Shame on critics and audience that don't appreciate quality and perhaps have attention deficits and prefer digital fakes or don't really have an interest in slivers of interesting history. WHY THOUGH DO NONE OF THE GREAT FEMALE ACTORS NOT APPEAR ON FRONT PAGE OF CAST?? Ellie Bamber, Golshifteh Farahani, and Emily Beecham are very very good! Shame on Rotten Tomatoes or whoever laid out the review pages. The only negatives are casting of Connor Swindells as Austrian Viceroy Gessler and lack of explanation as to William Tell's Asian wife and child. Gessler's wig is obvious and although his acting and passion is excellent, his face just doesn't fit the part. Maybe a different toupee or makeup. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Tony N I wanted to like it. The dialogue is absolutely awful and so inconsistent. The first half was like a cheap imitation of Robin Hood. The second half was just blustered through. WTF Claes Bang and Ben Kingsley are doing in this is beyond me. Don't waste your time. 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/11/25 Full Review Alexander S Sleeper on the character development but the William Tell film hits the bullseye with its medieval battle sequences for those a fan of medieval epics and as for depicting the conflicts of Switzerland and Austria in the 1300’s, it’s a bit of a Swiss miss in its own monotoned storytelling. Grading: C+ Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/09/25 Full Review Daveyboy J The film is enjoyable enough, lacked a little but overall a decent attempt . not sure there where Pakistani or indian people in will tells era that ruined the realism a bit to be honest Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Mr T This movie ( and I love the countryside shots ) is another in a long line of reluctant " war heroes " having to step up . Be it a warrior from the crusades against evil Austrians ( no not him ) or a viet vet / Afghan / Iraq or whatever theatre against cartels , murderous mafias , yes plural . This leading man even has PTSD , just to add to his desire not to kill . Yet as they always do , they cast off their peaceful ways and slaughter the bad guys . Of course there has to be a quirky king / drug lord / shaman . Ben Kingsley with an eye patch , go figure ? it's all the same script redone . Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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William Tell

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Movie Info

Synopsis 1307, the Holy Roman Empire is in turmoil. As its grip on Europe loosens, new dynasties such as the Austrian Habsburg Family encroach on new lands, desperate for power. Switzerland, the once peaceful country, is overwhelmed and bows under the Austrian might. When the local huntsman William Tell sees a farmer begging for help after murdering a cruel Austrian governor, he reluctantly agrees to guide him to a safe location. But as he meets with more comrades along the way, Tell realizes that this act of violence is a larger sign of what's to come with the growing Swiss resistance. Tell is drawn into the madness when the cruel Austrian Viceroy Gessler orders him to shoot an apple from his son's head for refusing to bend the knee to Austrian authority. Once Tell's family has been threatened, there is no turning back. Tell not only commits to joining the resistance but ends up leading the fight against the Austrian forces. Scarred by his own experience in the depravity and destitution of war during the Crusades, he comes to realize what matters most: his family and preserving his country's independence for future generations.
Director
Nick Hamm
Producer
Piers Tempest, Marie-Christine Jaeger-Firmenich
Screenwriter
Nick Hamm
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co
Tempo Productions Limited, Free Turn, Beta Cinema
Rating
R (Strong/Bloody Violence|Brief Nudity)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 25, 2025
Runtime
2h 13m
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