King Arthur
Parents say
Based on 11 reviews
Kids say
Based on 5 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
King Arthur
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that King Arthur has many bloody battle scenes and deaths, with lots of swords flashing and arrows flying. Young Arthur sees his town burnt and knows that his parents have been killed, which will disturb some kids. Several victims of torture are shown in weakened states and refer to machines of torture. Two characters have a sensual scene with nonexplicit sex. Characters talk about women, sex, and their physical attributes. Arthur's men drink to celebrate and to mourn loss. A peasant woman is shown on the verge of being raped by a Saxon. Iffy joke made by female lead referencing rape. Occasional mild profanity: "piss," "bastards," "ass," "arse."
Community Reviews
The butt review
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
KING ARTHUR (Clive Owen) and his six knights have completed the 15-year tour of duty guarding Hadrian's Wall required of them by Rome. Arthur's knights are conscripts from Samaria, young, pagan horsemen from the Steppes of present-day Georgia/Russia, who cannot return home without safe passage papers from Rome. Meanwhile, half-Roman/half-Celtic Arthur hopes to be reunited with his friend, the moral reformer, Christian, and free-will proponent Pelagius, to partake of the democracy and equality that Arthur believes now rule Rome. However, the bishop who carries their release papers also brings the news that Arthur and his men have one final mission to complete: they must cross Hadrian's Wall to face the blue-painted tribes to the north led by the sorcerer-warrior, Merlin (Stephen Dillane), in order to retrieve a noble Roman family.
Is It Any Good?
Saying that this retelling of the King Arthur story is "The Truth Behind the Legend" is an overstatement of epic proportions, making the movie's tagline the only thing epic about it. The battle scenes, dialogue, and attractive actors all place King Arthur squarely in the realm of summer popcorn flicks: entertaining and briefly uplifting, but not destined to linger in memory, much less in history. The story sounds complicated, especially considering that it jettisons just about everything you expect in a story about King Arthur but the Round Table. It piles on the history, but there is just enough plot to fill the scenes between battles.
Those looking for the familiar terrain of King Arthur's legend -- the silvery arm holding Excalibur aloft, the search for the Grail, and the illicit love between Lancelot and Guinnevere -- should head to the library. Those in search of the true stories behind King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table can look to Celtic, Scottish, Welsh, Roman, and Assyrian legends. But those looking for some memorable battle scenes and some attractive actors without too much plot to slow things down can fill up the popcorn bucket and sit back for some mindless entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about leadership and the characteristics that inspire loyalty in King Arthur, as displayed by Arthur, Merlin, and the Saxons.
How does the movie remain true to the well-known stories of the Arthurian legend, and where does it put its own spin on the tale?
Was all the violence necessary in order to convey a sense of what medieval battle was like, or did it seem like it was forced in to make the movie exciting?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 7, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: December 21, 2004
- Cast: Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Keira Knightley
- Director: Antoine Fuqua
- Studio: Touchstone Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, History
- Character Strengths: Courage
- Run time: 120 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: intense battle sequences, a scene of sensuality and some language
- Last updated: April 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
A Knight's Tale
Edgy medieval tale with rock music, some cursing.
-
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Nonstop hilarity for families; some bawdy humor, profanity.
-
The Court Jester
Terrific family fun.
-
Quest for Camelot
Animated musical has a few tense scenes.
-
The Sword in the Stone
Delightful classic brings King Arthur legend to life.
For kids who love action
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate