A Knight's Tale

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A Knight's Tale Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

Edgy medieval tale with rock music, some cursing.

PG-13 2001 132 minutes
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 13 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 26 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Knight's Tale is a 2001 medieval movie in which a man born a peasant sets out to prove that he's worthy of being a knight. There's frequent jousting and sword-fighting violence: Characters fall off horses, sustain severe bruises, some blood. A man is shown hanging dead from the gallows. As the quest begins, a naked man suddenly appears and walks past the knight-to-be's entourage; brief male nudity (buttocks). There's some sexual innuendo: talk of breasts, a mention of having "uncrossed her legs." Some language occurs: frequent use of "s--te," the UK variant of "s--t." The word "fonging," used frequently by one of the characters, can sometimes mean beating someone up, but in other contexts it has an "F" word connotation. There are some modern nods throughout the movie, primarily in the form of classic rock songs like "We Will Rock You" and "The Boys Are Back in Town," but this nod to modernity takes a turn into product placement territory when the blacksmith of the group, upon giving the knight his newest armor, distinguishes it by carving swooshes that look like the Nike symbol.

Community Reviews

RyDel81
RyDel81 Adult
November 28, 2018
age 10+

A fun time for the whole family!

This movie is clearly a work of historical fiction - heavy on the fiction. It does not try to be more than that. It is a fun tale of a peasant squire who sees an opportunity to improve his station in life, and with the help of his trusted sidekicks, he sets out on his quest to become a real knight and “change his stars.” There’s brief male nudity (buttocks only) in two parts, and it is used for comic relief. It is completely appropriate, as everyone has a butt, and we all know what they look like. When I show this movie in my 7th grade social studies class, with parent permission of course, I edit out the one scene where it is implied that the two main characters are about to engage in sexual activity. I do this, not because you actually see anything, but moreso because no middle school kid wants to watch a bedroom scene with their teacher, and no teacher wants to watch that with their students. That being said, it’s tasteful and they don’t even show anything, they simply cut scene from them laying in a bed, to the next morning. This is one of my favorite films and it helps my students have a better understanding of feudalism and the shift from knights being hired to protect the land, to knights being more like celebrities or professional athletes. Two thumbs up!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Tawnda A.
Tawnda A. Adult
January 22, 2018
age 7+

Proceed with Caution

We are a homeschooling family, and thus have been studying knights/jousting/feudal system/melee/etc. We have a 10 year old and triplet 7 year olds as well as a 2 year old. We watched this to cement some of our learning and make it fun too. Caution regarding sexual tension between two lead characters, which you may want to fast forward through as well as a a man's naked butt. Movie with this much "violence" should be discussed with children but to it is a piece of history and it's ridiculous to allow children to play violent video games etc. but not want to expose them to historically relevant films.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Heath Ledger plays William Thatcher, a knight's squire who steps into his liege's armor when the knight is killed in a jousting match. All he is thinking of is winning the match so that he can get some food for himself and the other two squires (Mark Addy as Roland and Alan Tudyk as Wat). But once the armor is on and the lance is in his hand, his childhood dream of being a knight is awakened, and he persuades Roland and Wat to help him pretend to be a nobleman so that he can continue to compete.

Is It Any Good?

This is Ivanhoe crossed with Rocky for a new generation, and it's great silly movie fun. Of course William meets a beautiful princess (Shannyn Sossamon) and an arrogant champion who competes with him for the princess and the title (Rufus Sewell, wonderfully brooding as Count Adhemar). The secret of William's low birth is revealed at the most dramatic moment. But there's a happily-ever-after ending that is just right for this fairy tale. Ledger holds his own well in his first leading role, and Paul Bettany is completely winning as Chaucer, who may have a gambling problem but who knows the value of words. Sossamon, in her first role, is pretty but unimpressive. The art direction sets the scene beautifully, and, if you're willing to give it a chance, the music works very well, especially in a dance sequence that shifts about 600 years into David Bowie mid-step. If Bachman Turner Overdrive had been around in the 1400s, they would have played "Taking Care of Business" during combat.

If the idea of a medieval jousting movie set to classic rock songs like "We Will Rock You," "Low Rider," and "The Boys Are Back in Town" bothers you, forget A KNIGHT'S TALE and rent Ivanhoe instead. But if the idea appeals to you, get some popcorn and get ready for a ravishingly good time. In other words, leave skepticism behind, and it will rock you.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the music. Does it distract or add to the story?

  • How does this story compare to other medieval quest movies?

  • How was Geoffrey Chaucer, the author of the immortal work The Canterbury Tales, presented in this movie? To what extent do you think this was an adequate representation, and where do you think the movie exaggerated or took liberties?

Movie Details

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