Back in 2009, Zack Snyder expressed his admiration for the film “Excalibur” in an interview with Newsweek, naming it as his absolute favorite. While “Excalibur” is often celebrated by fantasy enthusiasts as one of the best medieval films, it hasn’t achieved the widespread cultural resonance of some other cinematic ventures, maintaining more of a niche, cult status. Snyder praised the film for its unique blend of cinema and mythology, stating, “To this day, I think [director and co-writer] John Boorman’s film is the perfect meeting of movies and mythology.”

The tale of King Arthur has long proven elusive for Hollywood, which has repeatedly tried—and largely failed—to capture its essence. Many films have attempted to tap into Arthurian legend, yet few have left a lasting impression. The most well-known adaptations remain the animated Disney feature “The Sword in the Stone” and the comedic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

The film’s success lies not in reimagining the legend but in its compelling performances and production values. The cast, featuring talents such as Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne, delivers powerful performances that elevate the material. Unlike earlier films that relied heavily on soundstages, “Excalibur” was shot on location without the aid of CGI, resulting in a visually stunning epic that has stood the test of time. Even over four decades later, it continues to captivate audiences, including directors like Zack Snyder.

While 1981’s “Excalibur” might not be as widely known, it certainly deserves its place among the relatively few successful King Arthur movies. It adapts the Thomas Malory epic poem “Le Morte d’Arthur” (or “The Death of Arthur”), giving it a stronger foundation than many other retellings that far too often try to otherwise modernize or give the legends a different spin. 

Though it goes through many familiar beats, “Excalibur” succeeds not by reinventing the wheel, but in its strong performances. Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne are among its impressive cast. The production doesn’t cut corners and rely on obvious soundstages like earlier films, but also doesn’t have CGI at its disposal, resulting in a lush, shot-on-location epic. It’s the kind of movie that holds up remarkably well and still leaves an impression on viewers like Zack Snyder, even 40+ years on.