10 Best Medieval War Movies

Directed by Australian filmmaker David Michôd, The King combines aspects of a collection of Shakespeare’s plays (but leaves the iambic pentameter behind) to tell the coming-of-age style story of young Prince Hal (Timothée Chalamet), a drunken slob with no intention of ruling England, and his rise to become King Henry V, England’s famed warrior king.

Making full use of its whopping $23million budget, The King is superbly shot and a surprisingly historically accurate take on how the eponymous ruler became king alongside his conquest against the French.

With perhaps the exception of Robert Pattinson’s Monty Python-esque French accent, this historical drama is a solid outing from Michôd. Chalamet once again proves himself as one of the finest young actors working today. A supporting cast of Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, and Joel Edgerton only add to the overall greatness of the film.

Accompanying the political intrigue and character study that make up the heart of this film, another highlight is its massive battle sequences. Satisfyingly hard-hitting and suitably grimy, the climactic depiction of the Battle of Agincourt exemplifies everything this film does right as viewers feel every visceral sword slice and guttural choke.