Everyone knows the story of King Arthur and his legendary sword Excalibur. But not everyone has seen the 1981 medieval fantasy epic,Excalibur.Loosely based on the 15th-century Arthurian romanceLe Morte d’Arthur, Excaliburretells the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, capturing their efforts to unite a kingdom that’s under threat by dark forces.
Excaliburwas a commercial success that garnered positive reviews. But in the years since its release, it’s gone largely forgotten. Here are 8 reasons to revisit this forgottenfantasygem from the1980s.
9It’s the Film Debut of Gabriel Byrne
Excaliburis notable for launching the careers of multiple actors, and one of them was Gabriel Byrne. This name may not immediately ring a bell, but you’re definitely familiar with Byrne’s work. He’s most famous for his role as Dean Keaton in 1995’s crime thriller classic,The Usual Suspects.He also appeared in the Coen brothers' classicMiller’s Crossing,as well as 1994’sLittle Womenand 2005’sAssault on Precinct 13.
Byrne may not have snagged any of these roles if it wasn’t forExcalibur.Prior to 1981, he worked largely as a stage actor.Excaliburwas his film debut. He played Uther Pendragon, the father of the future King Arthur.
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8It’s Also the Film Debut of Ciarán Hinds
Ciarán Hinds is another name that you may not recognize, though you’re definitely familiar with his work. He’s perhaps best known for playing Mance Rayder inGame of Thrones,Aberforth Dumbledore inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,and most recently, the Dark Wizard inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.Hinds also appeared in other notable films, such asRoad to Perdition, The Phantom of the Opera, There Will Be Blood,andIn Bruges.
He also lent his voice to play the characters Steppenwolf inJustice Leagueand Grand Pabbie in theFrozenfilm series. Hinds' resume goes on and on, but it all started withExcalibur.It was his film debut, effectively launching his prolific career. Hinds played King Lot, a British monarch in Arthurian legend.
7It Helped Establish Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart is famous for portraying iconic characters. He plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in multipleStar Trekfilms and TV shows and Professor Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X, in theX-Menfilm franchise. But long before that, Stewart was known primarily as a stage actor. He had appeared in several films before 1981, though none of them were major releases.
Excaliburwas the actor’s biggest film at that time. He portrayed Leodegrance, Guinevere’s father, and his role in the filmhelped launch his career and establish him as a Hollywood actor.
6It’s Zack Snyder’s Favorite Movie
It’s always interesting to learn the favorite movie of a prominent filmmaker. What was the film that inspired them, moved them, and forged their career path? In the case of director Zack Snyder, the answer isExcalibur.If you’re a fan of modern cinema, then you’re undoubtedly familiar with this filmmaker. Snyder rose to prominence in 2004 with his directorial debut,Dawn of the Dead.Since then, he’s become largely known for stylistic blockbusters and big-budget comic book adaptations, such as300,Watchmen,Man of Steel,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,andJustice League.
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Snyder is a pioneer of modern cinema and one of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood right now. In a 2009 interview withNewsweek,Snyder calledExcaliburhis favorite film and described it as “the perfect meeting of movies and mythology”, making this a must-watch for any Zack Snyder fanboys. Speaking of directors..
5It Was Directed by Celebrated Filmmaker John Boorman
Excaliburwas directed by renowned filmmaker, John Boorman. He’s best known for 1972’s controversial thriller, Deliverance, as well as 1977’sExorcist II: The Heretic. While he may not be as famous as Christopher Nolan or Martin Scorsese, Boorman is a highly celebrated filmmaker.
He’s received five Academy Award nominations, twice for Best Director. Boorman was also awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to cinema. If you happen to be a fan of Boorman’s work, thenExcaliburis the film for you.
4It Features Stunning Cinematography
Upon its release,Excaliburwas praised for its impressive cinematography by film critics, including the iconic Roger Ebert. Although he had issues with the film, Ebert claimed thatExcaliburwas “wonderful to look at.”
Excaliburwon the award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival and received an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. Although it didn’t win, the film’s stunning visuals continue to be one of the film’s biggest draws.
3Yet Another Hollywood Debut, This Time It’s Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson is a Hollywood treasure. He’s starred in countless iconic films over the years, such asSchindler’s List, Taken, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins,and, of course,Excalibur.Although it wasn’t his first onscreen appearance,Excaliburwas his Hollywood debut and only his third film role ever.
Neeson played the character Gawain, one of the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur’s nephew. During production, Neeson began dating one of his costars – Helen Mirren, who played Morgan le Fay inExcalibur.His role in this filmmarked the beginning of a long and fruitful movie career for Liam Neeson.
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2It’s a Great Blend of Genres
Excaliburhas a little something for everyone. It’s action, fantasy, mythology, romance, and an epic all rolled into one film. Upon its release,Excaliburwas lauded for its efficient blend of genres.Variety,in particular, called the film, “a near-perfect blend of action, romance, fantasy and philosophy.”
Its striking visual style, courtesy of director John Boorman, brought a dreamlike intensity to the Arthurian legend. The film also helped launch the careers of several now-famous actors, including Liam Neeson, Helen Mirren, and Patrick Stewart. With its sweeping score and operatic tone,Excaliburremains one of the most ambitious and visually arresting adaptations of Arthurian lore ever made.
1It’s Considered To Be One of the Best King Arthur Films of All Time
This is the number one reason to revisitExcaliburin 2025.There have been many film adaptations of the legend of King Arthurover the years, from Disney’sThe Sword in the Stoneto Guy Ritchie’s critically pannedKing Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Excalibur is regarded as one of the best adaptations of the Arthurian legend by numerous film critics. It fires on all cylinders, from its stunning visuals to its stellar cast, particularly Nicol Williamson’s memorable take on Merlin.
