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Adventure horror film

The Green Knight (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Green Knight (2021) movie poster

The Green Knight is a 2021 adventure horror film directed by David Lowery, starring Ralph Ineson as Green Knight, Dev Patel and Sean Harris. It is partly based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous and Bernard O'Donoghue. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes and earned $18.9 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards 2022. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$18.9M
award nomination
1
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The Green Knight (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 10m (130 min)
Director
David Lowery
Genres
Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$15M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is The Green Knight About?

The premise of The Green Knight without spoilers, adapted from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous and Bernard O'Donoghue. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

In a realm steeped in honor and danger, the young Sir Gawain accepts a mysterious challenge from the Green Knight. This daring act sets him on a perilous quest, facing supernatural encounters, formidable giants, and treacherous adversaries. Gawain's journey becomes a profound test of his chivalry, courage, and ultimately, his worthiness before King Arthur and his court.

The Green Knight Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • medieval knight
  • sir gawain character
  • myth
  • middle ages
  • based on legend
  • christmas
  • horse
  • fox
  • knight
  • prostitute
  • christmas day
  • gay kiss
+38 more
  • decapitation
  • talking fox
  • green knight character
  • king arthur character
  • axe
  • horseback riding in the woods
  • man bound and gagged
  • bound and gagged
  • ghost
  • knights of the round table
  • horseback riding
  • medieval times
  • king
  • legend
  • morgan le fay character
  • uncle nephew relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • seduction
  • forest
  • chapel
  • death of a king
  • regret
  • beheading
  • headless horseman
  • surrealism
  • the color green
  • the color red
  • moss
  • honor
  • witchcraft
  • ejaculation
  • childbirth
  • coin
  • quest adventure
  • hand job
  • brothel
  • walking into a trap
  • chivalry
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Cast & crew

The Green Knight Cast & Characters

Ralph Ineson leads the cast as Green Knight, with Dev Patel as Gawain and Sean Harris as King. Directed by David Lowery; 16 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from David Lowery

More films directed by David Lowery, best-rated first: A Ghost Story, Pete's Dragon, Ain't Them Bodies Saints and The Green Knight.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Green Knight Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Green Knight 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (45).

64 /100

The Green Knight Echo Score Breakdown

The Green Knight delivers striking visual craftsmanship but struggles to maintain narrative cohesion, resulting in a divided audience response. Critics highlight the film's original medieval aesthetic, lush cinematography, and immersive sound design, while many viewers cite sluggish pacing and an opaque storyline that diminish engagement. Performances, particularly Dev Patel's, receive mixed appraisal, with some praising the nuance and others finding the characters underdeveloped. Consequently, the film offers a memorable sensory experience that may appeal on repeat viewings for some, yet its uneven narrative limits broader rewatch appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of direction and visual execution, the film excels with a distinctive medieval palette and meticulous camera work. Critics commend Lowery's inventive framing and Palermo's stunning cinematography, and users echo admiration for the breathtaking shots. A few reviewers note occasional pretension in the editing, but the overall craftsmanship remains impressive. The artistic ambition therefore translates into a high visual and technical quality.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    Character portrayal receives a mixed assessment, with Patel frequently cited as a bright spot amid a generally sparse ensemble. Critics praise the cast's suitability, yet some viewers find the protagonists lacking depth or clear motivation. The emotional resonance is further diluted by ambiguous character arcs, leading to a sense of detachment. Overall, performances contribute positively but do not consistently elevate the film's emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Narrative structure and pacing emerge as the film's most criticized elements. Several users describe the plot as slow, confusing, and intermittently nonsensical, while critics acknowledge the intentional deconstruction of the hero's journey but note its cryptic delivery. The lack of clear action and resolution leaves viewers unsatisfied, underscoring a disconnect between thematic ambition and coherent storytelling.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Sensory components, including score, sound design, and visual style, are widely praised for their atmospheric impact. Reviewers highlight Hart's evocative music and Marshall's immersive sound effects, which deepen the epic's mood. The combination of striking visuals and rich audio creates a compelling sensory tapestry that many viewers find captivating, despite other flaws.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch potential appears moderate, with some critics noting the film's haunting allure and others finding it overly cryptic. While the visual and auditory strengths invite repeat viewing, the narrative opacity and pacing issues deter many from returning. Consequently, the film offers limited lasting appeal for a broad audience, though it may reward dedicated fans on subsequent watches.

Plot

The Green Knight Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Green Knight from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Gawain finds himself alone on a grand throne, adorned in regal attire, as a crown mysteriously falls upon him. Just as it settles, flames engulf his head. He awakes on Christmas morning in a brothel, welcomed by his lover, the commoner Essel. After returning to Camelot, he faces the stern judgment of his mother, Morgan le Fay, before joining his uncle, King Arthur, at a feast at the Round Table. In a secluded tower, Morgan practices her magic. Suddenly, the enigmatic Green Knight rides into Arthur’s court, challenging any knight bold enough to strike him with the promise of a verdant axe. The catch? The knight must seek him out at the Green Chapel the following Christmas to receive an equal blow in return.

Full summary

The whole story of The Green Knight, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Green Knight Box Office & Budget

The Green Knight grossed $18.9 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $17.2 million came from the US and Canada and $1.7 million (9%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.9M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$17.2M
International
$1.7M
Budget
$15M
US & Canada 91% Rest of the world 9%
Awards

The Green Knight Awards & Nominations

The Green Knight earned 1 award nomination, including Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards 2022.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Green Knight Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers, 4 clips and 1 featurette.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser Trailer
  • Teaser Back in Theaters Promo
  • Clip Christ Is Born
  • Clip 5 Minute Preview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Green Knight?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the character Gawain in 'The Green Knight'?

Details

The Green Knight Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Зелений лицар” and “Le Chevalier Vert”.

Also known as
  • Зелений лицар
  • Le Chevalier Vert
  • เดอะ กรีนไนท์ ศึกโค่นอัศวินอมตะ
  • Zaļais bruņinieks
  • อัศวินโต๊ะกลม
  • El caballero verde
  • A Lenda do Cavaleiro Verde
  • ザ・グリーン・ナイト
  • 그린 나이트
  • Зеленият рицар
  • Yeşil Şövalye
  • Легенда о Зелёном Рыцаре
+21 more
  • Zelený rytíř
  • Легенда про Зеленого лицаря
  • Sir Gawain e il Cavaliere Verde
  • Ο Πράσινος Ιππότης
  • เดอะ กรีน ไนท์ ศึกโค่นอัศวินอมตะ
  • Zelený Rytier
  • 绿衣骑士
  • האביר הירוק
  • Zeleni vitez
  • 綠騎士
  • A Zöld Lovag
  • Zielony Rycerz. Green Knight
  • Hiệp Sĩ Xanh
  • الفارس الأخضر
  • Žaliasis riteris
  • Зелени витез
  • شوالیه سبز
  • La Leyenda del Caballero Verde
  • グリーン・ナイト
  • Cavalerul Verde
  • Roheline rüütel

Seen The Green Knight?

FAQ

The Green Knight FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Green Knight, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Green Knight?

The Green Knight runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).

When was The Green Knight released?

The Green Knight was released on July 30, 2021.

Who directed The Green Knight?

The Green Knight was directed by David Lowery.

More films by David Lowery

Who is in the cast of The Green Knight?

The Green Knight stars Ralph Ineson as Green Knight, Dev Patel as Gawain and Sean Harris as King, among 16 credited actors.

How much did The Green Knight make at the box office?

The Green Knight grossed $18.9 million worldwide ($17.2 million domestic, $1.7 million international) on a budget of $15 million.

How is The Green Knight rated?

The Green Knight has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66% on TMDB and 3.7/5 on Letterboxd.

Is The Green Knight based on a book?

Yes. The Green Knight is partly adapted from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous and Bernard O'Donoghue.

Was The Green Knight nominated for any awards?

The Green Knight received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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