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IMDbPro

Excalibur

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,071
188
Excalibur (1981)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:30
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,071
188
  • Director
    • John Boorman
  • Writers
    • Thomas Malory(book "Le Morte d'Arthur")
    • Rospo Pallenberg(adaptation)
    • John Boorman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nigel Terry
    • Helen Mirren
    • Nicholas Clay
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Boorman
  • Writers
    • Thomas Malory(book "Le Morte d'Arthur")
    • Rospo Pallenberg(adaptation)
    • John Boorman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nigel Terry
    • Helen Mirren
    • Nicholas Clay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 417User reviews
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos3

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

    Photos187

    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)
    Excalibur (1981)
    Nicol Williamson in Excalibur (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nigel Terry
    Nigel Terry
    • King Arthuras King Arthur
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Morganaas Morgana
    Nicholas Clay
    Nicholas Clay
    • Lancelotas Lancelot
    Cherie Lunghi
    Cherie Lunghi
    • Guenevereas Guenevere
    Paul Geoffrey
    Paul Geoffrey
    • Percevalas Perceval
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Merlinas Merlin
    Robert Addie
    Robert Addie
    • Mordredas Mordred
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Uther Pendragonas Uther Pendragon
    Keith Buckley
    Keith Buckley
    • Uryensas Uryens
    Katrine Boorman
    Katrine Boorman
    • Igrayneas Igrayne
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Gawainas Gawain
    Corin Redgrave
    Corin Redgrave
    • Cornwallas Cornwall
    Niall O'Brien
    • Kayas Kay
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Leondegranceas Leondegrance
    Clive Swift
    Clive Swift
    • Ectoras Ector
    Ciarán Hinds
    Ciarán Hinds
    • Lotas Lot
    • (as Ciarin Hinds)
    Liam O'Callaghan
    • Sadokas Sadok
    Michael Muldoon
    • Astamoras Astamor
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Thomas Malory(book "Le Morte d'Arthur")
      • Rospo Pallenberg(adaptation) (screenplay)
      • John Boorman(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    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 reviews417

    Review
    Top review
    No Richard Gere, guaranteed
    This is by far the best Arthurian film offering - sure, sure it gets a bit loopy with the Quest for the Grail, but I'm pretty sure such a Quest would involve some loopiness. The acting is v. good given the material, the atmosphere is strong and the use of Wagner is, at times, inspired. Oh, and there's no Richard Gere looking purty...
    helpful•52
    28
    • KGersen
    • Apr 22, 2002

    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
    • 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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