10 Best Medieval War Movies

Directed and produced by Ridley Scott after helming both Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, the Alien filmmaker took audiences to the Crusades in Kingdom Of Heaven.

Set in 1184 between the second and third crusades, this blockbuster epic sees (a fictionalised) Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), a French blacksmith, as he journeys with his father (Liam Neeson) to Jerusalem in the hope he can seek redemption. Not long after arriving, however, Balion is acquainted with Jerusalem’s rulers and, through a series of events, finds himself commanding an army against Saladin (Ghassan Massoud).

Since its release, Scott’s film has divided critics and audiences, with some praising the performances and action whilst others have dismissing it as a dull and tedious affair. And while the film has been slated for its wild historic inaccuracies, it has nevertheless gained attention from academics for its historical and religious content.

The Crusades are a fascinating part of medieval history that are the perfect setting for a historical epic. Though this entry’s depiction of its historical context may be questionable at best, it still delivers everywhere else.

Just make sure you watch the director’s cut.