KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD
A gritty, confusing Arthur tale with occult magic and moral conflict.
Should You Watch It?
This is a flawed but increasingly entertaining reimagining of King Arthur. The first act is confusing and over-the-top, with bizarre magical creatures, a demonic-looking knight, and unexplained fantasy elements. The story becomes clearer and more fun once Arthur and his men begin fighting and outsmarting the evil king’s soldiers.
The cost is significant. The movie contains strong occult magic, intense and sometimes scary violence, foul language, and a mixed worldview in which good characters fight occult evil while also using a magical sword. Its moral and Christian elements offer something worthwhile, but they do not erase the content concerns.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle those elements, this may be worth your time. For children and young teens, choose something else. The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter his father and mother are murdered, young Arthur escapes to Londinium, where women in a brothel adopt him. He grows up in the city’s back alleys and becomes a street criminal.
Years later, Arthur pulls the magical sword Excalibur from the stone and is forced to face his royal heritage. To reclaim the throne from his tyrannical uncle, Arthur must learn to use the sword’s power and lead a rebellion.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a worthwhile but uneven fantasy. The opening is confusing, bizarre, and over-the-top, and the magic does not initially make much sense. The pounding soundtrack can also be annoying.
The movie improves when Arthur and his men begin fighting and outsmarting the king’s soldiers. The magic behind Excalibur is eventually explained, the characters have some fun repartee, and Charlie Hunnam becomes more comfortable and likable as Arthur. The result is entertaining in places, but its strange first act keeps it from being a stronger film.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong mixed pagan worldview with strong occult elements. It also includes positive Christian and moral elements, especially in the conflict between those fighting tyrannical evil and the evil forces seeking power.
The central conflict is morally clear in one respect: tyranny and occult evil are opposed, and Arthur is called to resist his uncle’s abuse of power. Yet the film’s heroes also use an occult sword, and magic is central to the story’s solution. That mixture creates a significant departure from a biblical view of spiritual power, even though the film contains Christian, moral allusions.
The movie’s strongest moral idea is that evil should not be allowed to rule unchecked. Scripture gives that theme a clearer foundation: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Worldview:<strong> </strong>Strong mixed pagan worldview with strong occult elements mixed with strong Christian, moral elements where the good guys fight to <span style="font-size: 11pt;">overcome tyrannical, occult evil but they themselves also use an occult sword.</span></span> Language: Eight obscenities (including two “f” words, one of which was muffled), plus man appears to mouth an “f” word when he’s surprised by something. Violence<strong>:</strong> Strong, intense and sometimes scary violence with some light blood includes war battles with swords, battles with arrows, some stabbings, man has bloody wound in stomach, it’s implied man cuts off another man’s ear and talks into the severed ear as a joke, but the cutting is not shown, giant snake, man bitten in neck by small snake, man stabs snake with sword and gets blood on his face, villain murders two women (including his own daughter in one scene; they’re implied to be some kind of pagan sacrifice to an evil sorceress giving the man magical power), scary giant elephants attack another army and a castle, scary octopus creature in water, man stabbed in back with magical sword and turns to stone, two me battle giant demonic-looking armored knight, implied torture of captured man who has blood running down parts of his face, man fights multiple soldiers with magical sword, woman falls dead, and it’s implied a thrown spear caused her death, physical combat, etc.
Sex
No sex scenes, but young boy is adopted by women in a brothel, and there are about three shots of women with men in rooms, but the doors are shut.
Nudity
Upper male nudity. Other Content: Alcohol use; no smoking, but snake bite appears to give man hallucinogenic vision; and, man haunted by tragic dreams of traumatic past event, montage sequence implies some stealing by boy growing up on the gritty streets of a tumultuous city, and a power-mad villain.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Arthur must decide whether to use power against a tyrannical ruler. How should Christians respond when power is used to harm others?
Romans 13:1–4 · Micah 6:8The film presents good characters fighting occult evil while also using an occult sword. What does Scripture teach about the difference between opposing evil and adopting its methods?
Romans 12:21 · Deuteronomy 18:10–12Arthur’s life changes when he is forced to face his heritage and responsibilities. What responsibilities come with influence, leadership, or family identity?
Luke 12:48 · Philippians 2:3–4What kind of ruler does the film suggest Arthur should become, and how does that compare with the biblical picture of a servant leader?
Mark 10:42–45 · 1 Peter 5:2–3The Final Word
This Arthur tale becomes more enjoyable once its confusion settles, and its fight against tyranny carries meaningful moral weight. But the occult magic, strong violence, and foul language make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
