10 Best Sword Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Sword Movies

Swordfights in some of the greatest movies ever made are known for their ferocity and entertainment value. The following are the top ten.

The sword fight has always been one of the most popular cinematic action sequences. Old Hollywood actors, like many now, took advantage of scenes like these to hone their fencing abilities or learn new ones. Several legendary actors, including Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, and Kevin Kline, have shown they can hold their own against one another in a duel.

Sword fights have been featured in a variety of films, from The Adventures of Robin Hood to the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Cinematic sword fights have been a feature of good adventure films since the golden age of cinema.

1. The Duellists (1977)

The Duellists (1977)

It is possible to choose any of the fights between Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel in a film that is effectively a year-long swordfight. The two actors take on the roles of opposing Lieutenants in 18th-century France, who launch a lengthy duel.

The first feature film directed by Ridley Scott was a character study about how a misunderstanding of a “slight” escalates into a fight for honor for the hero. In every duel sequence, Carradine and Keitel spent months perfecting their swordplay, and the results are clear to see.

2. 13 Assassins (2010)

It was a film that pays homage to both the original 1963 picture by Eiichi Kudo and the samurai flicks of Akira Kurosawa in its remake by Takeshi Miike.

There is a grouping of Samurai to fight a corrupt warlord, even though they know they will all perish in the process.

Swordfights abound in this flick, and they’re spectacular. Shinzaemon’s duel with Hanbei is the most exciting. Dueling in the mud, the two men go at it one after the other, slugging it out one after the other. The audience is enthralled by the visceral aspect of this combat, which takes place mainly in close quarters and concludes in a violent decapitation.

3. Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Conan The Barbarian (1982)

The “riddle of the steel” is answered in this film, which is a true testament to the mythos surrounding swordfights. Robert E. Howard’s iconic persona was brought to the big screen by John Milius and Oliver Stone, who made good on the promise of warriors, steel and blood.

Arnold Schwarzenegger put in a lot of time and work to prepare for Conan the Barbarian, which he portrays so casually on screen. Conan takes on the man who killed his parents when he was a child in a desert of rocks at the end of the film. As Milius and his stunt team put on one of the best sword bouts ever seen on film, the blood flies.

4. The Mark Of Zorro (1940)

It’s safe to say that Zorro and Tyrone Power are two of the best film swashbucklers of all time. Power portrays the legendary Mexican swordsman Zorro in the 1940 film The Mark of Zorro.

Captain Esteban Pasquale, played by Basil Rathbone, takes on Zorro/Don Diego in a duel to the death. In comparison to Rathbone, Power was a skilled swordsman. Fast and entertaining, their fight is an excellent example of flawless fight choreography.

5. Rob Roy (1995)

Rob Roy (1995)

Liam Nesson’s portrayal of Rob Roy MacGregor, a man falsely accused and defamed by a corrupt lord, in the 1995 film Rob Roy is spot on. When Rob Roy’s life was ruined, he went on to become an outlaw and seek justice from the man played by Tim Roth. Great performances and action sequences abound in this epic historical romance/thriller.

A battle between Neeson and Roth in the last scene of the film was an instant classic. All of the footage was captured in wide shots with no background music. It’s all in for Roth and Neeson in this one. Two guys are exhausted after a long and brutal battle that has become one of the most realistic in film history.

6. Captain Blood (1935)

One of the greatest swashbuckling adventures, Captain Blood, was directed by Michael Curtiz in 1935. An English doctor who was falsely accused of being a traitor escapes to become a pirate in order retaliate against the magistrate who had ruined his life.

The combat between Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn was choreographed by the two swordsmen. It’s believable to see how the two men complement each other gracefully. Sea breaking around them adds an element of danger to their fight on seaside rocks.

7. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

Tarantino’s Kill Bill films are an homage to his favorite sword and sorcery movies of all time. During Vol. I, Uma Thurman’s character, “Bride,” pursues retribution against those who attempted to kill her.’ A group of samurai criminals known as “The Crazy 88s” awaits her when she arrives in Japan.

The blood-spattering mayhem of 1970s samurai flicks is evoked in this sequence. Thurman is encircled by hundreds of samurai and proceeds to slaughter each and every one of them in a brilliantly choreographed scenario. As a result of this film, there is a market for films that feature strong female protagonists.

8. The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)

For the best Robin Hood film of all time, Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone teamed up. The Adventures of Robin Hood is a thrilling, action-packed tale of the outlaw hero’s exploits, depicted in full color.

Flynn and Rathbone once again choreographed their own battle scene that takes place in a vast castle ballroom, where the men swing from chandeliers and smash swords as they ascend a long and deadly staircase. The action is accompanied by a pulsating soundtrack that heightens the suspense.

9. The Three Musketeers (1973)

The Three Musketeers (1973)

One of the most well-received film versions of Alexandre Dumas’ classic story, The Three Musketeers, was Richard Lester’s. Richelieu (Charlton Heston), Rochefort (Christopher Lee), and the Cardinal’s band of merciless guards are all played by Richard Chamberlin, Frank Finlay (Oliver Reed), and Michael York (D’Artagnan), respectively.

As far as swordplay goes, Oliver Reed takes on a Cardinal’s guard in one of the most memorable scenes. Brutal and bloody, Reed leaps at the enemy with his cape in his hand, his opponent flailing in the air. In the middle of a large entryway, the two fight while his fellow musketeers continue their battles around them. Powerful and realistic, this is a moment of sheer emotion and intensity.

10. Seven Samurai (1954)

swordplay and deadly duels are featured prominently in Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece Seven Samurai, the story of farmers who hire seven samurai warriors to assist them combat robbers

There’s a great one about Kyuzo, a samurai, and an unnamed robber. The duel takes place in a field apart from the rest of the conflict, making it feel like an intimate duel. With the zen master’s concentration, Kyuzo does not allow the bandit to get the better of him. When he strikes, he stares at the bandit directly in the eye, finally frightening him.