Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Outdated fantasy comedy has bloody violence, rape "joke."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Erik the Viking
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ERIK THE VIKING, our hero, Erik (Tim Robbins) is tired of the Viking ways, so sets out on a fantastic quest to end the age of Ragnarok and bring about a more peaceful and humane way of life.
Is It Any Good?
With a legacy of two beloved surreal, satirical movies (Monty Python and The Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian), director Terry Jones always had a lot to live up to with this solo project. And sadly, with Erik the Viking, he stumbles twice. For not only is it not an exciting fantasy adventure, it's also not a very funny comedy. Maybe in response to the serious, bronzed Adonis fantasy adventures popular in the 1980s, Jones' vehicle looks grimy, grubby, and often plain ugly. While a similar look worked for The Holy Grail, without the charm and alchemy of the familiar Python actors it's just unpleasant.
If you're starting a movie with an extended attempted "rape joke," you're going to have to be very sure it's got the wit, smarts, and charm to pull off such a brazen feat. Erik the Viking lacks in all these departments. The fact that a 2004 version of the film was released -- with the removal of almost half an hour of original footage -- suggests the filmmakers are now aware too. A handful of jokes land but on the whole, Erik is best left to see out his days in Valhalla, undisturbed by new viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the jokes in Erik the Viking. Did some of them feel outdated? If so, which ones and why? Discuss how comedy evolves over time.
Discuss the violence in the movie. Did the fact that the movie is largely a comedy make the violence any less shocking? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
What did you know about the Vikings before watching this movie? Are you interested in learning more about them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 22, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2007
- Cast : Tim Robbins , Terry Jones , John Cleese
- Director : Terry Jones
- Studio : Orion Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , History
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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