20 Best Sword and Sorcery Movies of All Time!
In honor of the premiere of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' Moviefone counts down the twenty greatest sword and sorcery movies of all time.

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in Prime Video's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.' Photo: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy stories characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures, with elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural.
With a prequel to 'Prime Video, it is clear that the sword and sorcery genre is more popular now than ever.
In honor of the release of 'The Rings of Power,' Moviefone counts down the twenty greatest sword and sorcery movies of all time.
To be included on this list, the film in question must feature at least one character wielding a sword, and some element of magic introduced in the plot.
Without further ado, let's begin!
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Charlie Hunnam) comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy... whether he likes it or not.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
DragonHeart (1996)
In an ancient time when majestic fire-breathers soared through the skies, a knight named Bowen (Sean Connery). Taking up arms to suppress a tyrant king, Bowen soon realizes his task will be harder than he'd imagined: If he kills the king, Draco will die as well.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Bilbo Baggins (Ian McKellen) and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Conan the Destroyer (1984)
Conan (Tracey Walter). Together the hero and his allies must defeat both mortal and supernatural foes in this voyage to sword-and-sorcery land.
Conan the Destroyer
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
A rogue prince (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time – gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Eragon (2006)

Legend (1986)

Universal Pictures
Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller (Tim Curry), or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.
Red Sonja (1985)
The tyrant Gedren (Brigitte Nielsen), sister of the keeper, sets out with her magic sword to overthrow Gedren.
Krull (1983)
A prince (Lysette Anthony) from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet.
The Scorpion King (2002)
In ancient Egypt, peasant Mathayus (Kelly Hu), who are ready to overtake Balthazar's village. Amid betrayals, thieves, abductions and more, Mathayus strives to bring justice to his complicated world.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Frodo (Christopher Lee) awaits the Fellowship at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Highlander (1986)
He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). He is immortal.
Ladyhawke (1985)

Warner Bros.
Captain Etienne Navarre (John Wood ) and in doing so break the spell.
Ladyhawke
Willow (1988)
The evil Queen Bavmorda (Val Kilmer also star.

Willow
Clash of the Titans (1981)
To win the right to marry his love, the beautiful princess Andromeda (Harry Hamlin) must complete various tasks including taming Pegasus, capturing Medusa's head, and battling the Kraken monster.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Princess Bride (1987)
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Carol Kane), and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

The Princess Bride
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom (Max von Sydow), who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has ed Doom in the hills.
Conan the Barbarian
Excalibur (1981)
A surreal adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur,' chronicling Arthur's (Ciarán Hinds as King Lot.
Excalibur
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

New Line Cinema
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the other of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron's (Christopher Lee) forces. Meanwhile, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) take the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark lord's realm.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
