King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017): Ratings, Box Office & Plot
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a 2017 action drama directed by Guy Ritchie. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $149.2 million worldwide on a $175 million budget. Critics gave it 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 6m (126 min)
- Director
- Guy Ritchie
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
- Budget
- $175M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is King Arthur: Legend of the Sword About?
The premise of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Orphaned as a child after his father's assassination by his uncle Vortigern, Arthur grows up unaware of his true royal lineage. Relying on his wits to survive on the streets, his life takes a dramatic turn when he pulls the legendary sword Excalibur from stone. This act reveals his destiny, forcing him to embrace his birthright and challenge Vortigern's tyrannical rule to claim the throne.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- folklore
- excalibur
- tyrant
- knights of the round table
- historical fiction
- arthurian legend
- camelot
- revenge
- prophecy
- sword and sorcery
- based on book
- medieval times
+38 more Show fewer
- revisionist history
- origin of hero
- burning building
- swordsman
- round table
- father daughter relationship
- lake
- rebellion
- royalty
- beating
- assassination plot
- oppression
- londinium
- bell
- evil king
- traitor
- death threat
- ambush
- fortress
- castle
- tattoo
- black magic
- beard
- coronation
- crown
- prostitute
- brothel
- collapsing building
- bridge
- public execution
- final showdown
- tower
- face mask
- heir to throne
- heir
- archer
- friendship
- army
The Director of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Directed by Guy Ritchie.
-
Director Guy Ritchie
More from Guy Ritchie
More films directed by Guy Ritchie, best-rated first: The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and In the Grey.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave King Arthur: Legend of the Sword 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 53/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in story & flow (40).
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Echo Score Breakdown
This adaptation of the Arthurian legend balances energetic direction and committed performances with narrative unevenness and inconsistent effects. Critics and users alike noted moments of stylish imagery and engaging action sequences, yet many pointed to story holes and tonal collisions that hinder cohesion. Performances by the leads are often praised, even as the film’s pacing feels either frenetic or dragging. Ultimately, it registers as a moderately entertaining yet flawed summer spectacle.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of Art & Craft, the film displays a bold visual approach but is undermined by uneven effects and editing. The direction frames dynamic set pieces with inventive compositions, yet several CGI moments seem undercooked. Reviews highlight stylish color grading and engaging production design, even as technical inconsistencies persist. The net result is a visually ambitious but uneven craft presentation.
- Character & Emotion 60
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are a consistent highlight despite limited depth. Reviews praise the lead actor’s committed portrayal and supporting roles that bring occasional wit and gravitas. However, some note underdeveloped arcs and a lack of emotional grounding amid the film’s frenetic tone. Overall, characters engage intermittently but seldom achieve lasting resonance.
- Story & Flow 40
In terms of Story & Flow, the narrative is marked by energetic ambition but hampered by coherence issues. Critics and viewers point to rapid pacing that masks problematic plot holes and tonal shifts. While some action set pieces maintain engagement, others stumble amid underexplained character motives. The overall plot feels fragmented and struggles to sustain a cohesive arc.
- Sensory Experience 58
When considering Sensory Experience, the film delivers a distinctive audio-visual style with a dynamic soundtrack and bold color schemes. Reviews commend the score’s energy and moments of stylish sound design, yet note occasional imbalance between loud action and subtler cues. Visually, the palette and editing choices stand out, though some sequences suffer from distracting technical roughness. The net effect remains engaging but uneven.
- Rewatch Factor 50
In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film offers sporadic enjoyment but limited lasting appeal. Audiences acknowledge memorable action moments and a unique stylistic flair that invite repeat viewing. However, narrative inconsistencies and tonal imbalances tend to reduce the desire for subsequent watches. Despite a handful of entertaining sequences, the overall experience feels exhausting rather than comforting on re-examination.
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IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 31% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 69%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 41 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
586 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Plot Summary
What happens in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Mordred, an iron-fisted warlock portrayed by Rob Knighton, launches an onslaught against Camelot, aiming to enforce the supremacy of magic-wielding Mages over humanity. In a bold move, Uther Pendragon, the Briton king played by Eric Bana, infiltrates Mordred’s hideout and decapitates him, leading to the disbandment of his armies and the salvation of Camelot. However, that very night, Uther’s treacherous brother, Vortigern (Jude Law), who yearns for the throne, stages a coup. In a shocking act, he sacrifices his wife Elsa (Katie McGrath) to summon a demon knight, which results in the tragedy of slaying Uther as well as his wife.
Full summary
The whole story of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, scene by scene
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Box Office & Budget
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword grossed $149.2 million worldwide on a $175 million budget, 85% of what it cost. $39.2 million came from the US and Canada and $110 million (74%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$149.2M
85% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $39.2M
- International
- $110M
- Budget
- $175M
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 3 trailers, 3 clips and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Clip Fight :30 TV Spot
- Clip I'm Ready
How Well Do You Know King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main antagonist seeking to take control of Camelot?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Also Known As
43 alternative titles, including “Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur” and “亚瑟王:圣剑传奇”.
- Also known as
-
- Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur
- 亚瑟王:圣剑传奇
- Меч короля Артура
- King Arthur - Legend of the Sword
- Rei Arthur - A Lenda da Espada
- 킹 아서: 제왕의 검
- 킹 아서_제왕의 검
- Rey Arturo: La Leyenda de Excálibur
- Rey Arturo: la leyenda de la espada
- King Arthur: il potere della spada
- Rei Artur: A Lenda da Espada
- King Arthur։ Legend of the Sword
+31 more Show fewer
- King Arthur։ Legend of the Sword 3D
- キング・アーサー:2017, მეფე არტური: ლეგენდა მახვილზე
- Le Roi Arthur : La Légende d'Excalibur
- Rey Arturo: la leyenda de Excalibur
- King Arthur - Il potere della spada
- Βασιλιάς Αρθούρος: Ο Θρύλος Του Σπαθιού
- Король Артур: Легенда меча
- Arthur király: A kard legendája
- Rei Arthur: A Lenda da Espada
- קינג ארתור: אגדת החרב
- Kral Arthur: Kılıç Efsanesi
- Крал Артур: Легенда за меча
- Kong Arthur: Legenden om sværdet
- Краљ Артур: Легенда о мачу
- Král Artuš: Legenda o meči
- 亚瑟王:斗兽争霸
- 亞瑟:王者之劍
- Król Artur: Legenda miecza
- Kráľ Artuš: Legenda o meči
- キング・アーサー
- King Arthur: Legenda sabiei
- คิง อาร์เธอร์ ตำนานแห่งดาบราชันย์
- El Rey Arturo: La Leyenda de la Espada
- Kralj Artur: Legenda o meču
- Karalius Artūras. Kalavijo legenda
- 神劍亞瑟王
- El rei Artús: La llegenda d’Excalibur, მეფე არტური: ლეგენდა ხმალზე
- Karalis Arturs. Leģenda par zobenu
- Huyền Thoại Vua Arthur: Thanh Gươm Trong Đá
- شوالیههای میزگرد: شاه آرتور
- Kralj Arthur: Legenda o maču
Seen King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?
Movies Like King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including King Arthur, Excalibur and Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot.
-
King Arthur 2004 -
Excalibur 1981 -
Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot 2020 -
King Arthur, the Young Warlord 1975 -
Knights of the Round Table 1954 -
Sword of Camelot 1998 -
Siege of the Saxons 1963 -
Arthur the King 1985 -
The Kid Who Would Be King 2019 -
Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 1984 -
Camelot 1967 -
Arthurs Quest 1999
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword FAQ: Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, each answered in a sentence.
How long is King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).
When was King Arthur: Legend of the Sword released?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was released on May 12, 2017.
Who directed King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was directed by Guy Ritchie.
More films by Guy Ritchie How much did King Arthur: Legend of the Sword make at the box office?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword grossed $149.2 million worldwide ($39.2 million domestic, $110 million international) on a budget of $175 million.
How is King Arthur: Legend of the Sword rated?
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
Does King Arthur: Legend of the Sword have a post-credit scene?
No. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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