Robert Eggers, who started his career in New York theater, is now known for the instant classic horror filmThe Witchand the award-winningThe Lighthouse. Fans of his work have reason to celebrate now with the streaming release of his latest project,The Northman, a historical fiction odyssey based on Scandinavian lore. Eggers co-wrote the upcoming film withSjón, who is a renowned Icelandic poet and novelist. The project is rooted in the legend of Amleth, which was the direct inspiration for William Shakespeare’sHamlet.
Swedish actorAlexander Skarsgårdplays Viking prince Amleth, son of Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) and King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke). Amleth is on a lifelong quest for vengeance after the murder of his father by the hand of his uncle, Fjölnir, played by Danish actorClaes Bang. Golden Globe Award-winnerAnya Taylor-Joy, who previously worked with Eggers onThe Witch, stars as a supporting character, Olga, who meets Amleth on his harrowing journey. Thenotable castincludesWillem Dafoeas Heimir the Fool, Icelandic singerBjörkas the Seeress, andKate Dickieas Halldora the Pict.
Full of bloodlust, gory fight sequences, and the harsh reality of the Viking Age, alongside Eggers’s taste for entertaining horror,The Northmanis a unique thriller that will keep audiences on edge as Amleth risks all to avenge his father’s name and reclaim his kingdom. That said, this isn’t the only story to transport viewers into a different time or even the only tale to experiment with Vikings.In honor of The Northman now being available to stream on Peacock,here’s our list of eleven movies that capture similar vibes asThe Northman, whether in terms of the genre, time period, or plot.
Related:‘The Northman’: Here’s How to Train Like Alexander Skarsgård
The 13th Warrior
A combination of fiction and historical accounts,The 13th Warrioris a 1999 epic that illuminates what follows when one world meets another. Award-winning actorAntonio Banderasplays real-life Ahmad ibn Fadlan, a 10th-century Muslim traveler, who becomes an ambassador of Baghdad to the Vikings in Volga Bulgars. His role as an ambassador quickly changes when he joins a team of Viking warriors, becoming their thirteenth warrior and thereby fulfilling prophecy.John McTiernan, who is known forDie Hard, directs the film which sheds a realistic light on the Viking Age in waysThe Northmandoes.
Valhalla Rising
Audiences venture into Scandinavian Scotland with the 2009 filmValhalla Rising. Dr. Hannibal Lector actorMads Mikkelsonstars as a captive Norse warrior who’s aptly known as One-Eye. A young boy, played byMaarten Stevenson, helps One-Eye escape. The fleeing duo joins a team of Christian Crusaders who recruit them to take the crusade to the Holy Land. The historical fiction piece’s title is a Viking spin on theKenneth AngerfilmsScorpio RisingandLucifer Rising.Valhalla Risingis a violent journey into the past, with One-Eye reminding viewers ofThe Northman’s own warrior, Amleth, in terms of skill and vengeance.Nicolas Winding Refn, who is known forDriveandThe Neon Demon, directs the film.
The Last King
Sámi directorNils Gaupdirects the 2016 Norwegian filmThe Last King. The movie’s events are based on the true story of the Birkebeiner rebels who managed to rescue the true heir to the Norwegian throne, Haakon Haakonsson, by delivering him safely from Lillehammer to Trondheim.The Last Kingbegins with the Baglers usurping King Haakon in Norway in 1204. The king is prepared for this, however, and sends two Birkebeins, Torstein (Kristofer Hivju) and Skjervald (Jakob Oftebro), to protect his secret heir.The Last King, based on even more truth thanThe Northman, is a worthy watch for its depiction of medieval drama and the survival of a royal bloodline.
Related:Robert Eggers on ‘The Northman,’ How the Theatrical Release Is His Director’s Cut, and Why He Loves the Dolby Atmos Mix
The Revenant
Next up is the Golden Globe-winning 2015 historical survival drama,The Revenant. The film is largely based on a Michael Punke novel and 1915 poem “The Song of Hugh Glass,” both of which tell the story of frontiersman Hugh Glass, whose life is shrouded in legend and myth. Three-time Golden Globe winnerLeonardo DiCapriobrings Glass to life as the fur trapper guiding his party through the Dakota wilderness in 1823. Brutally mauled by a grizzly bear, his party, now led by John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), leaves him to die from his wounds. Like Amleth inThe Northman, Glass defies the odds and makes a death-defying journey to seek his revenge.The Revenantis directed and co-written byAlejandro G. Iñárritu, who is known for his work on theDeath Trilogy.
There can’t be a list of violent revenge films, especially historical ones, without mentioning the 2000 dramaGladiator.Russell Crowewon an Academy Award for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in this film. In 180 AD, Emperor Marcus Aurelius intends to give power over the empire to Maximus rather than his own son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Upon discovering this, Commodus kills his father, becomes Emperor, and crucifies Maximus’s wife and son. Maximus is then stripped of his station and hope as he is trained to be a gladiator. Despite being an enslaved warrior for entertainment, Maximus plots his revenge on Commodus, reminding viewers of Amleth’s grit and resolve.Ridley Scott, who also directedAlienandBlade Runner, directs the award-winning and bloody masterpiece.
Braveheart
Mel Gibsondirects, co-produces, and stars as the lead in the 1995 filmBraveheart. The story is based on the First War of Scottish Independence, which was partially led by the Scottish knight known as William Wallace. A 15th-century minstrel, known as Blind Harry, wrote the epic poemThe Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallaceapproximately 172 years after Wallace’s death and served as a major inspiration forBraveheart.
Gibson plays a vengeful Wallace who, after the deaths of his loved ones at the hands of English invaders, leads a rebellion against King Edward I. Amleth leads a similar revolt against usurping powers inThe Northman.Braveheartwon five Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and one Golden Globe Award.
Related:Movie Twins: How ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Gladiator’ Are the Same Movie
The Count of Monte Cristo
Kevin Reynolds, who directedRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves,Fandango, and more recentlyRisen, directs the 2002 drama and adventure filmThe Count of Monte Cristo. The film is a cinematic adaptation of French author Alexandre Dumas’s classic novel of the same name.Jim Caviezel, known forThe Passion of ChristandPerson of Interest, plays the wrongly imprisoned Edmund Dantés. Over the course of several years, Dantés escapes prison, finds fortune, and returns to France with a new name–Count of Monte Cristo. With this disguise, he seeks revenge on those who betrayed him. While a less violent tale of vengeance compared toThe Northman,The Count of Monte Cristofeatures one man’s clever long game to retrieve what was stolen from him.
Conan the Barbarian
Twentieth-century American authorRobert E. Howardcreated the character Conan the Barbarian, who would later be the inspiration for the 1980s films featuringArnold Schwarzenegger. In 2011,Marcus Nispeldirected the reboot, titledConan the Barbarian. The film follows Conan (Jason Momoa), son of a barbarian chieftain, who sees his entire tribe murdered by a zealous warlord, Khalor Zym (Stephen Lang). Zym is on a mission of necromancy, and Conan embarks on a quest to stop Zym at all costs while seeking revenge for his tribe.Conan the Barbarianis a markedly different film on this list, as it is considered high fantasy or part of the sword and sorcery genre. Nonetheless, it holds similarities withThe Northman’s Amleth in that Conan is a rugged and violent warrior whose entire story revolves around vengeance.
LikeThe Northman, the tale of Beowulf stems from legend. The Old English epicBeowulfinspired English authorsNeil GaimanandRoger Avaryto write the screenplay for the 2007 filmBeowulf.Ray Winstoneplays the titular character, the Geatish warrior Beowulf, who travels to Denmark upon King Hrothgar’s (Anthony Hopkins) summons. The king assigns Beowulf to slay the man-beast Grendel (Crispin Glover) as justice for murder and to defend the kingdom. Beowulf succeeds, only to incur the wrath of Grendel’s mother (Angelina Jolie), a demon.Beowulfis the only film on this list that isn’t live-action-filmed but created with 3D computer animation.
The mysterious disappearance of the Imperial Roman legion, Legio IX Hispana, in 120 AD inspired the 1954 novelThe Eagle of the Ninth, whichJeremy Brockthen adapted into the 2011 historical fiction filmThe Eagle.Channing Tatumstars as Marcus Flavius Aquila, a Roman centurion, whose father was part of the Ninth Legion that disappeared. Determined to restore the honor of his father’s name, Marcus journeys to Scotland to retrieve the legion’s eagle standard. On this quest, he risks his life and that of his slave, Esca, a Brigante who originated from Britain. Less on a mission of revenge compared toThe Northman, and more of one restoring honor,The Eagleis an exciting adaptation that gives the lost Ninth Legion an alternative ending.
