Movies about the Crusades: Best Films
Covering the best films about the Crusades, this watch list prioritizes exceptional filmmaking, historical depth, and cultural significance. Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal is one of cinema's greatest masterpieces, using a knight's return from the Crusades as a springboard for profound existential meditation.
Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven (preferrably the Director's Cut) offers the most accomplished modern epic treatment of the Third Crusade with stunning battle sequences and balanced perspective. Saladin the Victorious provides essential representation of the Muslim viewpoint, while El Cid delivers classic Hollywood grandeur. Valley of the Bees and Arn: The Knight Templar round out the collection with a haunting Czech arthouse examination of religious fanaticism and a compelling Swedish Knights Templar saga, respectively.
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List not ranked (sorted by Release Date)
The Seventh Seal
A disillusioned Swedish knight returning from the Crusades challenges Death to a chess match as the Black Death ravages his homeland. Tormented by questions of faith and God's existence, he seeks to perform one meaningful act before his fate is decided.
El Cid
Epic tale of Rodrigo Diaz, the legendary Spanish knight known as El Cid, who leads the fight to drive the Moors from medieval Spain while maintaining his unwavering code of honor.
Saladin the Victorious
The story of Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, who led the Muslim forces against the European Crusaders during the Third Crusade in the 12th century.
The Valley of the Bees
A young man cast out by his father joins the austere Order of the Teutonic Knights, only to escape years later and return home to claim his inheritance and pursue a forbidden romance with his former stepmother.
Kingdom of Heaven
A blacksmith named Balian finds himself drawn into the political intrigue and bloody conflicts of the Crusades after personal tragedy changes his fate.
Arn: The Knight Templar
A young Swedish nobleman is sent to serve as a Knight Templar in the Holy Land as penance for a forbidden romance.
Other Film Series
Airport
A 1970s disaster movie franchise featuring airline catastrophes and all-star ensemble casts.
Akira Kurosawa
One of cinema's greatest and most influential filmmakers, whose bold visual style and humanist storytelling shaped modern filmmaking.
Once Upon a Time in China
A martial arts film series following the legendary Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung and his adventures in late 19th century China.
Planet of the Apes
A science fiction franchise that explores the complex relationship between humans and intelligent apes across multiple timelines and eras.
The Mummy Universe
A franchise spanning ancient Egypt to modern times, following adventurers who encounter supernatural forces tied to Egyptian mythology, including the core Brendan Fraser trilogy and various Scorpion King spin-offs.
Vikings
Films exploring Norse warriors, mythology, and the Viking Age across diverse styles from Hollywood epics to arthouse cinema.