12 Best King Arthur Movies Ranked: Worst To Best

First Knight is an unashamedly sentimental film starring Julia Ormond as Guinevere, Sean Connery as Arthur, and Richard Gere as Lancelot. Drawing heavily on the chivalric romances of the 12th century, it's an old-fashioned picture characterized by -- wait, Richard Gere as Lancelot?

First Knight suffers from a Fisher King-esque wound and that is Richard Gere's casting. It is never clear what film he is under the impression that he is in, but whatever film it is, it's bad. A third of First Knight's success hinges on the notion that an audience will find the character of Lancelot appealing. But Gere's Lancelot is smug and indifferent to all that surrounds him. Like many actors in similar roles, he's going for Harrison Ford. And like all those actors, he fails. The idea that Camelot falls because of him isn't tragic here... it's comic.

Leaving Gere aside (who is good in other movies), First Knight is still a miss. Jerry Goldsmith's score is good but almost literally one-note. Future Onion Knight Liam Cunningham is Arthur's right-hand man but never gets a moment to shine. Ben Cross' Prince Maleagant is as fully rounded a villain as the name "Prince Maleagant" would suggest. But Ormond and Connery are great. His toupée has seldom looked better.