One of my coming-of-age moments as a young reader was when my father introduced me to the Old English poem Beowulf. A true classic, the story should already be familiar to anyone with any interest in poetry, the fantasy genre, or “heroes of old.” One of the most significant works of Old English literature, its anonymous author relates a tale of the feats of the heroic Beowulf, who, having sailed across the seas from his native Geatland, must defend a Scandinavian kingdom besieged by two monsters — the evil Grendel and his monstrous mother. Even with its unfamiliar alliterative style, the poem captured my imagination as few other stories had at that early stage, and it remains among my favorites to this day.
The influence of Beowulf can be seen across the history of heroic storytelling. Contemporary novelist and screenwriter Andrew Klavan has this to say about the tale in the essay collection Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, summing up why it continues to resonate with so many readers:
“It may not be a thriller in the modern sense of the word, but it holds the kernel of the idea that gives our genre one of its key reasons for being. In modern fiction, only genre novels — crime, horror, fantasy, sci-fi — regularly dramatize the existence of evil, the need for courage, and the glamour of physical strength and fighting skill. It’s an essential and too often neglected role of the arts to portray these things.”
I think Klavan really nails the thematic appeal of Beowulf, to which I would add the fantastical trappings of the tale itself — the image of a ship-full of ancient warriors crossing the stormy seas; mead halls full of song and dance on the eve of battle; primordial monsters crouching in the dark as they stalk their human prey; a powerful dragon hoarding its golden treasure. These elements are the stuff of true fairy tales, and some would argue that they are sorely neglected ingredients in today’s popular culture (Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises notwithstanding).
But for filmgoers willing to do some digging, there are a number of movie options that offer something of what we might call the Beowulf spirit. The following is not an exhaustive list, nor do they all technically contain dragons or adhere to the rigid structure of Beowulf, but each film does owe something to Beowulf’s mysterious author, whose identity was lost to history all those centuries ago.
As a man once said, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
*Note: As these movies were not filmed specifically with religious audiences in mind, they include content unsuitable for certain viewers. See disclaimers below each film title for content advisory.
1. Dragonslayer (1981)
Rated PG. This film contains content (including creature-related violence and brief nudity) that makes it unsuitable for younger audiences in this reviewer’s opinion. However, Common Sense Media advises ages 10 and up, so parents are encouraged to judge for themselves.
Directed by Matthew Robbins, Dragonslayer introduces us to a medieval kingdom under siege by a fire-breathing beast whose destructive tendencies can only be curbed by ritualized maiden sacrifices. Appalled by the king’s barbaric “solution,” a small band of villagers ventures into the wilderness to seek the aid of a wizard (Ralph Richardson) and his young apprentice (Peter MacNicol). What follows is an epic confrontation between men and monsters, with the many magical elements in the story standing for something akin to divine grace. Although a Disney co-production, the film’s mature themes and somewhat more adult content prevented it from finding its footing upon theatrical release, only achieving its present cult success following its home video release.
Although audiences and critics were lukewarm towards the film (Disney was expected to be family-friendly, after all), even its critics praised the combination of puppetry and stop-motion animation utilized to bring the titular monster to life. These effects were revolutionary for the time, and they remain impressive to this day.
2. The 13th Warrior (1999)
Rated R. This film’s action is suitable for ages 16-18 and up.
Based on author Michael Crichton’s (Jaws, Jurassic Park) novel Eaters of the Dead, and directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard), The 13th Warrior relates the experiences of a court poet for the Caliph of Baghdad who finds himself exiled to Viking country following his affair with a nobleman’s wife. Arriving in this less-civilized setting, the poet (Antonio Banderas) is reluctantly recruited as the thirteenth member of a band of warriors being sent on a mission farther north. Led by the formidable Buliwyf, they have been tasked with rescuing another kingdom from a nightmarish inhuman enemy raiding them under a curtain of mist. A financial failure at the time, the film has steadily gained in popularity over the years due to strong lead performances and a stirring portrayal of Viking honor.
3. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)
Rated G. A Golden Age classic, this film is suitable for ages 12 and up.
To be sure, Sinbad is more of a freewheeling adventure story than most of these entries, but ultimately, I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you. Featuring the legendary special effects work of stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen (Clash of the Titans, The Valley of Gwangi), this fantasy film follows Sinbad the sailor (John Philip Law) on a quest to stop an evil magician (Tom Baker) from reaching the mystical Fountain of Destiny, which is said to grant both youth and power to the one who finds it. Apart from entertaining performances and gorgeous set pieces, the real stars of the film are Harryhausen’s spectacular creatures, which include a Griffin, a cyclopean minotaur, and the six-armed idol Kali, along with others.
Part of a three-film series that also includes The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, this is one rip-roaring experience that has only improved with age.
4. Reign of Fire (2002)
Rated PG-13. Including a number of relatively frightening scenes of creature violence, this film is suitable for 12 and up, per Common Sense Media.
“Apocalypse by dragons” may sound like an absurd premise (and it is), but director Rob Bowman’s gritty vision of a world overrun by airborne fire-breathing reptiles is both dramatic and unexpectedly frightening. Imbued with an eerily desolate post-9/11 atmosphere, the film follows Quinn Abercromby (Christian Bale), the leader of a small community of survivors taking shelter in an abandoned castle. With the dragons drawing nearer to their shelter by the day, Quinn must join an American expeditionary force led by the eccentric Denton Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey) in their last-ditch mission to turn the tide by returning to ground zero of the war: the charred city of London.
Apart from grounded performances by Bale and McConaughey (as well as 300’s own Gerard Butler), the creature designs alone are worth the price of admission; with jaws dripping with natural napalm and broad, leathery wings allowing them to slither through overcast skies like hellish serpents from the netherworld, Reign of Fire features some of the most intimidating dragons ever put to film.
5. Dragonheart (1996)
Rated PG-13. This film includes some violence, including swordplay and medieval warfare, but contains powerful positive messaging for young viewers. Suitable for ages 12 and up, per Common Sense Media.
If Reign of Fire embodies the grim reality of the early 2000’s, then Dragonheart vividly recalls the blissful “holiday from history” that characterized the 1990’s. Rob Cohen’s American-British film stars Dennis Quaid as Bowen, an English knight who becomes disillusioned by the corruption of his beloved pupil, prince Einon (David Thewlis). After he receives a mortal wound during a peasant rebellion, Einon is saved by a dragon who offers half of its heart to the boy in the hopes that Einon will live one as a just ruler. But when the prince’s wickedness causes Bowen to leave the ‘Old Code’ of knighthood behind, he bitterly swears an oath of vengeance against all dragons. Years pass, and Bowen crosses paths with a dragon named Draco (Sean Connery), and after initially trying to kill each other, the two up to scam local villages with a series of fake dragon-slayings. Little does Bowen know, however, that Draco is the very dragon who saved the wicked prince Einon all those years ago…
This may not be a harrowing tale of men and monsters like the others on this list, but to neglect Dragonheart would be to risk depriving readers of a delightful movie experience.
6. Beowulf (2007)
Rated PG-13. This film includes violence and harrowing action sequences, as well as some suggestions of sexuality and depictions of drunkenness. Older teens and up, per Common Sense Media.
An obvious choice, perhaps, yet perhaps the most controversial selection. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) and starring Ray Winstone as the titular hero, Beowulf is also the only film on this list not filmed in live-action, instead featuring extensive CGI and digital motion-capture performances. A stellar cast and a killer soundtrack by Alan Silvestri elevate the proceedings, but the project also courted controversy owing to its significant departures from the source material. Far from a pure and noble hero, Beowulf is presented as a glory-hungry narcissist, given to telling tall tales of his exploits that provoke exasperated eye-rolls from his compatriots. Whereas Grendel and Grendel’s mother in the original poem were stand-ins for a deeply Biblical understanding of the sin and demonic evil at war with mankind, here the two are much more humanized. Grendel himself is presented as a tragic victim of the circumstances of his birth, and his mother (Angelina Jolie) — far from the hideous hell spawn of the poem — is reimagined as an agent of fleshly temptation for Beowulf.
Beowulf may be a bit of a letdown for fans still hoping for a faithful adaptation of its source material, but it nevertheless stands reasonably firm as a cautionary tale against the evils of hubris and the hidden perils of lust.
7. Outlander (2008)
Rated R. This film includes intense creature-related violence, and some depictions of drunkenness. Suitable for ages 16 and up, per Common Sense Media.
After his spaceship crashes in Iron Age Scandinavia, Kainan (Jim Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ) ventures into the wilderness to hunt down the ship’s only other survivor: A bioluminescent monster called the Moorwen. But before he can track the beast down, he is himself captured by the local Vikings and pulled into the drama of their community. They are led by Hrothgar (John Hurt), who is himself caught up in navigating the many duties of his kingship, which include finding a suitable husband for his fearsome and beautiful daughter (Sophia Myles) and avoiding a destructive war with neighboring Viking king Gunnar (Ron Perlman). But when the Moorwen begins raiding their stronghold, the Vikings must turn to Kainan for help in vanquishing the alien menace — which is itself a crucial element in the sins of the outlander’s own past.
Another box-office dud-turned minor cult classic, Howard McCain’s independent science fiction project isn’t shy about being a loose retelling of Beowulf, but its departures are significant enough that it manages to tell an imaginative original story all its own. While not the type of film to win awards, Outlander is truly a hidden gem, with perfectly-cast leads, special effects work by Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings), and a sincere commitment to its genre that collectively make it all but irresistible to the right viewer.
What other films would you include on this list? Let us know below!
Michael Saltis
A proud native son of Akron, Ohio, Michael currently teaches English to business professionals in Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic. While he doesn't often get away from the "City of a Hundred Spires," he enjoys exploring the rest of the Old Continent whenever possible—especially those storied corners that help him recall the vividly-imagined knights and dragons of his youth.