Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sex, violence in knight's dreamlike, entrancing adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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The Green Knight
What's the Story?
In THE GREEN KNIGHT, Gawain (Dev Patel) attends a Christmas celebration hosted by his uncle, the king (Sean Harris). The king asks to hear a story, but Gawain has none to tell. Suddenly, a strange being -- a tree shaped like a man -- enters. This "Green Knight" (Ralph Ineson) offers a game: Whoever dares to strike him with their sword wins his powerful ax, but then the striker must meet the Green Knight again in a year's time to receive a return blow. Gawain volunteers, and, with the king's sword, severs the Green Knight's head. However, the Green Knight simply picks up his head and rides off, laughing. A year later, Gawain realizes that he must keep his bargain or else face shame and dishonor. He rides off on an incredible adventure, facing bandits, giants, ghosts, enchantments, and more. And at the end of it, he must face the Green Knight once more -- and possibly lose his life.
Is It Any Good?
Many movies have been made around the legend of King Arthur and his knights, but none quite like this unusual, entrancing adventure, with its dreamlike touches, stirring movements, and quiet poetry. Prior to The Green Knight, writer-director David Lowery made a neo-Western, a children's fantasy about a dragon, an existential ghost story, and a true-crime story. This wide array of genres all showcased his special style: gentle, observant, and yet with a touch of the impossible. After Gawain's encounter with the woodsy title character in The Green Knight, Lowery lets us know that virtually anything can happen on Gawain's noble quest, and he fulfills that promise. Here, our hero can meet a cunning thief (a scene-stealing Barry Keoghan), a talking fox, a headless ghost, or a band of traveling giants.
All of it feels genuinely imaginative and surprisingly cohesive, perhaps touching a bit on the filmic styles of Kubrick or Malick but also diving into the uncharted unknown. Lowery even refrains from referencing the familiar names "King Arthur," "Guinevere," or "Morgan le Fay," deepening the film's dreamlike feel. Throughout, The Green Knight also wonders about the central purpose of Gawain's quest. Just what does honor actually mean, and what does it cost? What is the point of the Green Knight's game, if it has any point? And -- as Alicia Vikander's character, Essel, wonders -- why do we search for greatness, when goodness might be good enough?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Green Knight's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Why must Gawain go on his adventure? What does he have to gain? What does he have to lose? How does he demonstrate courage?
What do you think the movie's ending means? What can we learn from Gawain's quest?
How are sex and nudity depicted in the movie? What values are imparted? Is sex here about love? Trust? Power? Why do you think so?
Is drinking glamorized in any way? Are there consequences for drinking? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 30, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : August 18, 2021
- Cast : Dev Patel , Alicia Vikander , Joel Edgerton
- Director : David Lowery
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, some sexuality, graphic nudity
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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