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IMDbPro

Excalibur

  • 1981
  • PG
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
928
24
Excalibur (1981)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:30
3 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaFantasy

Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.

  • Director
    • John Boorman
  • Writers
    • Thomas Malory
    • Rospo Pallenberg
    • John Boorman
  • Stars
    • Nigel Terry
    • Helen Mirren
    • Nicholas Clay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    64K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    928
    24
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Thomas Malory
      • Rospo Pallenberg
      • John Boorman
    • Stars
      • Nigel Terry
      • Helen Mirren
      • Nicholas Clay
    • 423User reviews
    • 119Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos3

    Excalibur
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch Excalibur
    Excalibur
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch Excalibur
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27
    Video 29:09
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27

    Photos188

    Helen Mirren and Cherie Lunghi in Excalibur (1981)
    Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)
    Cherie Lunghi and Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)
    Excalibur (1981)
    Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)
    Excalibur (1981)
    Cherie Lunghi, Nigel Terry, and Nicol Williamson in Excalibur (1981)
    Excalibur (1981)
    Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)
    Helen Mirren in Excalibur (1981)
    Cherie Lunghi and Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)
    Nigel Terry in Excalibur (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nigel Terry
    Nigel Terry
    • King Arthur
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Morgana
    Nicholas Clay
    Nicholas Clay
    • Lancelot
    Cherie Lunghi
    Cherie Lunghi
    • Guenevere
    Paul Geoffrey
    Paul Geoffrey
    • Perceval
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Merlin
    Robert Addie
    Robert Addie
    • Mordred
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Uther Pendragon
    Keith Buckley
    Keith Buckley
    • Uryens
    Katrine Boorman
    Katrine Boorman
    • Igrayne
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Gawain
    Corin Redgrave
    Corin Redgrave
    • Cornwall
    Niall O'Brien
    • Kay
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Leondegrance
    Clive Swift
    Clive Swift
    • Ector
    Ciarán Hinds
    Ciarán Hinds
    • Lot
    • (as Ciarin Hinds)
    Liam O'Callaghan
    • Sadok
    Michael Muldoon
    • Astamor
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Thomas Malory
      • Rospo Pallenberg
      • John Boorman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Excalibur

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The initial fight scene had to be filmed three times. It was filmed at night, and all of the film came out underexposed the first two times, due to a fault in the exposure meter. The cameraman had a nervous breakdown over the issue and quit.
    • Goofs
      During the final battle scene against Mordred, the background audio track of men yelling and swordplay is clearly a re-tread of the Leon De Grance castle battle. In the final battle scene, one can clearly hear the "throw the rope" line that Merlin yells to Arthur from Leon De Grance castle battle, as well as the yell from Arthur as he jumped from the castle into the moat. (00:37:02 same as 02:88:18, 00:40:12 same as 02:09:58).
    • Quotes

      Merlin: STAND BACK! Be silent! Be still!... That's it... and look upon this moment. Savor it! Rejoice with great gladness! Great gladness! Remember it always, for you are joined by it. You are One, under the stars. Remember it well, then... this night, this great victory. So that in the years ahead, you can say, 'I was there that night, with Arthur, the King!' For it is the doom of men that they forget.

    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 20 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wizards and Warriors: The Kidnap (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Prelude to Parsifal
      by Richard Wagner
      Specially recorded by London Philharmonic Orchestra (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
      Conducted by Norman Del Mar

    User reviews423

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    The Best Version of the Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ever Made
    "Excalibur" is the best version of the Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ever made by the cinema industry. John Boorman´s version has inconsistencies with the legend but it is a perfect blend of fantasy, drama and adventure. Visually stunning, it is worthwhile watching this film in Blu-Ray. The magnificent soundtrack is supported by music of Wagner and Carl Orff. My vote is nine.

    Title (Brazil): "Excalibur"
    helpful•41
    4
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Feb 10, 2019

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    FAQ8

    • What is Excalibur about?
    • What are the differences between the R and PG-rated versions?
    • Is this film based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1981 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Knights
    • Filming locations
      • Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland(waterfall)
    • Production companies
      • Cinema '84
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,967,437
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,519,706
      • Apr 12, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $34,971,136
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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