There might be bloodier and more violent fantasy action movies out there. But, trust us, you’ve probably never seen a fantasy film as beautiful as this one. A24 has cemented itself as the go-to studio for “art house” movies, which film bros would class as “absolute cinema” (we know you’re picturing the Martin Scorsese meme in your head), and, in 2021, it reaffirmed that status by releasing one of the most gorgeous fantasy films in years. The likes of The Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, the Harry Potter franchise, and even Spirited Away might all be fan-favorite action fantasy movies. But The Green Knight sits in a sub-genre all of its own, and it’s about to stream for free.
The Green Knight will stream for free on Tubi this December. A24’s dark fantasy adaptation of the Arthurian legend will be available to stream for free from December 1. The Green Knight, based on the Arthurian legend, Sir Gawain & The Green Knight, was directed by David Lowery (The Old Man and the Gun), and stars the now bona fide action star (thanks to Monkey Man) Dev Patel as the eponymous Sir Gawain. The film features a great supporting cast, including Joel Edgerton, Alicia Vikander, Sarita Choudhury, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan, Erin Kellyman, and Ralph Ineson as the titular Green Knight (based on the pagan and Celtic figure of The Green Man).
The Green Knight is far from your usual dark fantasy movie. There aren’t any excessive sword fights, gruesome bloody murders, or dragons turning entire cities to ash. Instead, The Green Knight is an incredibly personal story of Sir Gawain’s journey to uphold his death oath to the Green Knight. It’s a movie about ego, fear, heroism, and honor that’s slower than you might want from a fantasy film, but certainly worth the time. The official synopsis reads:
“An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, THE GREEN KNIGHT tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table.”
‘The Green Knight’ Completely Divided Critics and Audiences
Unfortunately, because it isn’t your typical fantasy action fodder, The Green Knight was weaponized by audiences who disliked the movie, labeling it as a pretentious “art house film” made for the critics and The Academy. That opinion is reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes score, which stands at 98% from the critics, and just 50% from audiences.
However, those who loved The Green Knight for what it is can’t speak highly enough of the dark fantasy film. “Beautiful fantasy epic that offers a fresh spin on a classic tale, all while creatively opening the audience’s mind to hard-to-swallow subjects such as mortality and honor,” wrote one user. “This was an absolute masterpiece,” wrote another, keeping things more succinct and to the point. Meanwhile, a third fan of the film wrote:
“Truly an amazing achievement wrought by a visionary (and American) young director. Unforgettable atmospherics. Surprising but insightful casting. A brilliant new version of several venerable tales.”
- Release Date
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July 30, 2021
- Runtime
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125 minutes
