Top 10 Viking Movies
The best Viking flicks? They ain’t just your garden variety sword and shield throwdowns. Today we’re exploring the dark and gritty seas of the 9th to 11th centuries, where the air’s thick with the scent of blood and metal. You got these bad-ass Norsemen, right? Polytheistic warrior types, all about their gods, sailing across the frothy seas, looting and raising hell wherever they drop anchor. Thanks to our binge-happy streaming culture, these Viking sagas are catching more eyeballs than ever.
Let’s get real—Viking raids were brutal, a bloody spectacle. How do we know? Straight from the mouths of those who caught the wrong end of a Viking blade. Stateless, godless heathens in a land of feudal lords and church bells. This centuries-long freak show morphed them into the merciless marauders pop culture loves to hype up. Negotiating with them was like talking to a wall, which only added to their otherworldly mystique. And in Viking movies? They’re always the weirdos. Think about it—whether it’s The Northman or Thor, our Viking is usually the dude on the fringes. Except in The Vikings—you’ve got Tony Curtis playing a Northumbrian slave. And then there’s the spaceman in Outlander—talk about an outsider!
Below is my list of top ten Viking flicks I’m positive you will enjoy. Be warned, the list changes constantly. You can keep track of the movies I watch for “research” for VIKINGS vs SAMURAI here.
The Northman
The Northman throws back to primal, brutal Viking tales that shaped Shakespeare. Amleth ain’t pondering existence; he’s a ripped berserker on a blood-drenched quest for vengeance: “Avenge father. Save mother. Kill uncle.” Robert Eggers crafts a raw saga straight from Viking nightmares, where reality bites hard, and mythology looms large. Amidst authentic detail and a relentless plot, this ain’t just a story—it’s a brutal, beautiful ballet of violence, stripped of irony, steeped in the stark moralities of a cruel past.
Valhalla Rising
Mads Mikkelsen slays as a Norse warrior turned gladiator in Nicolas Winding Refn’s bleak Valhalla Rising, a grim odyssey of violence and eerie silences.
The 13th Warrior
The 13th Warrior turns a cinematic mess into gold, with Antonio Banderas as an Arab diplomat among Vikings, leaping language barriers with a sick burn. Wild!
Pathfinder
Pathfinder mixes Viking and Native tales, with Karl Urban as a Norse-raised native fighting back in a bloody, action-packed Die Hard: Valhalla.
Outlander
Outlander slams Vikings vs. Aliens in a bonkers fight fest with Jim Caviezel and John Hurt. Not quite “so bad it's good,: but a wild, nutty ride.
Beowulf
Robert Zemeckis turns Beowulf into a CGI fest, making Grendel sympathetic and his mom a hot mess. It’s more video game cutscene than epic saga.
Beowulf & Grendel
A relentless hero faces a vengeful beast in icy landscapes. Visually stunning, butpulls its primal punches.
Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli
Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli rocks a Yuletide scene, making it a gritty Viking Christmas flick. Pure Norse culture with a side of chaos.
Sword of the Conqueror
6th-century France, feuding tribes, Jack Palance as Lombard king wanting Gepidaen princess. Wedding? More like a bloodbath with a hero’s rescue!
Knives of the Avenger
Mario Bava’s rushed Viking saga, Knives of the Avenger, has Cameron Mitchell saving a damsel with slick knife moves. Quick tricks in a slow-burn fight fest.
