Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Seventh Seal

Original title: Det sjunde inseglet
  • 19571957
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
188K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,511
146
The Seventh Seal (1957)
DramaFantasy
A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
188K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,511
146
    • Ingmar Bergman
    • Ingmar Bergman(play "Trämålning")
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Bengt Ekerot
    • Ingmar Bergman
    • Ingmar Bergman(play "Trämålning")
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Bengt Ekerot
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 397User reviews
    • 146Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #199
    • Awards

    Photos206

    Max von Sydow in The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)
    "Sjunde inseglet, Det" (aka "The Seventh Seal") Gunnar Bjornstrand 1957 SF
    "Sjunde inseglet, Det" (aka "The Seventh Seal") Gunnar Bjornstrand 1957 SF
    "Sjunde inseglet, Det" (aka "The Seventh Seal") Bengt Ekerot 1957 SF
    "Sjunde inseglet, Det" (aka "The Seventh Seal") Bengt Ekerot, Max von Sydow 1957 SF
    The Seventh Seal (1957)
    The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Max von Sydow and Bengt Ekerot in The Seventh Seal (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Antonius Block
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Jöns, squire
    Bengt Ekerot
    Bengt Ekerot
    • Death
    Nils Poppe
    Nils Poppe
    • Jof…
    Bibi Andersson
    Bibi Andersson
    • Mia…
    Inga Gill
    Inga Gill
    • Lisa, Blacksmith's Wife
    Maud Hansson
    Maud Hansson
    • Witch
    Inga Landgré
    Inga Landgré
    • Karin, Block's Wife
    Gunnel Lindblom
    Gunnel Lindblom
    • Girl
    Bertil Anderberg
    Bertil Anderberg
    • Raval
    Anders Ek
    Anders Ek
    • The Monk
    Åke Fridell
    Åke Fridell
    • Blacksmith Plog
    Gunnar Olsson
    Gunnar Olsson
    • Albertus Pictor, Church Painter
    Erik Strandmark
    Erik Strandmark
    • Jonas Skat
    Siv Aleros
    • Flagellant
    • (uncredited)
    Sten Ardenstam
    • Knight
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Asklund
    • The Landlord
    • (uncredited)
    Benkt-Åke Benktsson
    Benkt-Åke Benktsson
    • Merchant at the Inn
    • (uncredited)
      • Ingmar Bergman
      • Ingmar Bergman(play "Trämålning") (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Wild Strawberries
    8.1
    Wild Strawberries
    Persona
    8.1
    Persona
    The 400 Blows
    8.1
    The 400 Blows
    Rashomon
    8.2
    Rashomon
    Barry Lyndon
    8.1
    Barry Lyndon
    Seven Samurai
    8.6
    Seven Samurai
    The Virgin Spring
    8.1
    The Virgin Spring
    Stalker
    8.1
    Stalker
    Ran
    8.2
    Ran
    The Third Man
    8.1
    The Third Man
    Bicycle Thieves
    8.3
    Bicycle Thieves
    The Seventh Seal
    7.9
    The Seventh Seal

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ingmar Bergman credited the film with helping him overcome his crippling fear of death. Because the film dealt so overtly with the subject, he found it a highly cathartic experience.
    • Goofs
      The chess players focus on capturing the Queen. The Queen was not a super-powerful piece until centuries later when a recent chess-variant initially called "chess of the mad queen" became more popular than the classic game.
    • Quotes

      Antonius Block: We must make an idol of our fear, and call it god.

    • Connections
      Edited into Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Hållas Mellan Rona
      Music by Erik Nordgren

      Lyrics by Ingmar Bergman

      Sung by Gunnar Björnstrand

    User reviews397

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Compelling Drama From Ingmar Bergman
    A compelling contemplation of death and the nature of Man's existence, Ingmar Bergman's `The Seventh Seal' is uncompromising, riveting drama that is every bit as striking conceptually as it is philosophically. In the Fourteenth Century a knight, Antonius Block (Max von Sydow), and his squire, Jons (Gunnar Bjornstrand), have returned after ten years away at the Crusades to their native Sweden, and are beginning their journey home. For Block, it is a pensive time; he is troubled by what he perceives as God's silence, and thirsts for knowledge and some meaning to his life, as well as a resolution of faith, which has deserted him. Jons, meanwhile, is a study in jaded indifference, who believes in nothing beyond the present and whatever his senses and current circumstances dictate. Shortly after their arrival on the coast of Sweden, Death (Bengt Ekerot) comes for Block. But Block strikes a bargain with him, challenging him to a game of chess, to be played as they continue on with their journey. As long as Block prevails, they will go on; if he wins, he will be released. And though Block knows what the outcome must inevitably be, he welcomes Death's acceptance of his challenge, for the game affords him perhaps enough time to fulfill his quest, while adding purpose to what promises to be an arduous trek through a land being ravaged by the Black Plague. Von Sydow brings a commanding presence to the screen as Block, his very countenance bespeaking strength and poise. His subtle, stoic approach to this enigmatic character is captivating, and lends a depth and dignity that makes Block truly memorable. By contrast, Jons' strength seems born of his indifference; he takes things as they come, and is governed by a somewhat fatalistic philosophy. Bjornstrand, a gifted, eloquent actor (and veteran of numerous Bergman films), invests an earthy, gritty quality to Jons that plays effectively opposite von Sydow's more ethereal portrayal of Block. It is significant that in the closing scene the final speech, in the presence of Death, is accorded to Jons; for it elevates the character to a station equal to, if not surpassing, that of the protagonist, Block. The supporting cast includes Nils Poppe (Jof), Bibi Andersson (Mia), Inga Gill (Lisa), Gunnel Lindblom (Girl), Anders Ek (The Monk), Ake Fridell (Plog) and Erik Strandmark (Skat). Written and directed by Bergman, `The Seventh Seal' is a thought provoking, earnest meditation on faith and mortality that is filled with stunning metaphoric and visual images that will forever be indelibly inscribed in your memory. One scene in particular, in which the players link hands and, silhouetted against a twilight sky are led by Death in a dance across the crest of a distant hill, is breathtaking in it's simplicity. It stands (as does this entire film) as an example of why Ingmar Bergman is one of the greatest directors in the history of the cinema. I rate this one 10/10.
    helpful•93
    37
    • jhclues
    • Nov 4, 2000

    FAQ7

    • What is 'The Seventh Seal' about?
    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • To what does the "seventh seal" refer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 13, 1958 (United States)
      • Sweden
      • Swedish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Hovs Hallar - Naturreservat, Skåne län, Sweden
    • Production company
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 36 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Mono

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Seventh Seal (1957)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of The Seventh Seal (1957) in Australia?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.