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The Best Sword-and-Sandal Films in Cinema History

The Best Sword-and-Sandal Films in Cinema History

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

50. Wrath of the Titans (2012)

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49. The 300 Spartans (1962)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

48. The Eagle (2011)

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

47. The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

46. King Arthur (2004)

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

45. Immortals (2011)

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44. The Three Musketeers (1993)

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43. First Knight (1995)

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42. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

41. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

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40. Hercules (2014)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

39. Centurion (2010)

Courtesy of Magnet Releasing

38. Robin Hood (2010)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

37. The Robe (1953)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

36. The Young Messiah (2016)

Courtesy of Focus Features

35. Knights of the Round Table (1953)

George Stroud / Express / Getty Images

34. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Courtesy of United Artists

33. Last Days in the Desert (2015)

Courtesy of Broad Green Pictures

32. The Nativity Story (2006)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

31. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

30. Luther (2003)

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29. Risen (2016)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

28. Samson and Delilah (1949)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

27. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

26. Troy (2004)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

25. Cleopatra (1963)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

24. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

23. Clash of the Titans (1981)

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22. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

21. Ivanhoe (1952)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

20. The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974)

George Freston / Stringer / Getty Images

19. The Three Musketeers (1948)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

18. Barabbas (1961)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

17. Excalibur (1981)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

16. 300 (2006)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

15. King of Kings (1961)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

14. Quo Vadis (1951)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

13. The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

12. The Three Musketeers (1973)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

11. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

10. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

9. El Cid (1961)

Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

8. Julius Caesar (1953)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

7. Braveheart (1995)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

6. Gladiator (2000)

Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

5. The Ten Commandments (1956)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

4. Ben-Hur (1959)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer

3. Spartacus (1960)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

50. Wrath of the Titans (2012)
49. The 300 Spartans (1962)
48. The Eagle (2011)
47. The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
46. King Arthur (2004)
45. Immortals (2011)
44. The Three Musketeers (1993)
43. First Knight (1995)
42. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
41. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
40. Hercules (2014)
39. Centurion (2010)
38. Robin Hood (2010)
37. The Robe (1953)
36. The Young Messiah (2016)
35. Knights of the Round Table (1953)
34. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
33. Last Days in the Desert (2015)
32. The Nativity Story (2006)
31. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
30. Luther (2003)
29. Risen (2016)
28. Samson and Delilah (1949)
27. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
26. Troy (2004)
25. Cleopatra (1963)
24. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
23. Clash of the Titans (1981)
22. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
21. Ivanhoe (1952)
20. The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974)
19. The Three Musketeers (1948)
18. Barabbas (1961)
17. Excalibur (1981)
16. 300 (2006)
15. King of Kings (1961)
14. Quo Vadis (1951)
13. The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
12. The Three Musketeers (1973)
11. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
10. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
9. El Cid (1961)
8. Julius Caesar (1953)
7. Braveheart (1995)
6. Gladiator (2000)
5. The Ten Commandments (1956)
4. Ben-Hur (1959)
3. Spartacus (1960)
2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

There’s something uniquely captivating about a great sword-and-sandal film. This timeless genre, though often overlooked, offers some of the most thrilling and fun movie experiences. While these epic tales may not be as frequently produced as they once were, they continue to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences.

Swords and sandal epics are often set in ancient times, in civilizations like Greece, Rome, Egypt, or biblical times. Their storylines can draw from historical events or ancient mythology, and they’re known for their grandiose scale that incorporates big sets, big casts, and big special effects. There’s usually a larger-than-life hero who goes on a journey and fights in some epic battles along the way, and there’s usually no shortage of action sequences, with maybe some sword fights and chariot races thrown in for good measure.

To determine the best sword-and-sandal epics, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. Cast information is from IMDb.

So sit back, grab your popcorn (you’re gonna need it!), space out for a couple hours, and get ready to take a trip back in time for a story of romance, betrayal, and plenty of action. And if you’re looking for some really light fare, check out the highest-rated romantic comedies of all time.

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