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The Vikings

Play trailer Poster for The Vikings 1958 1h 54m Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Viking Prince Einar (Kirk Douglas) doesn't know it, but his most fearsome enemy, the slave Eric (Tony Curtis), is actually his half brother. Their feud only intensifies when Einar kidnaps Princess Morgana (Janet Leigh), the intended bride of the brutal King Aella (Frank Thring). Einar intends to make the beautiful girl his own. Unfortunately for him, Morgana has eyes only for Eric -- leading to much bloodshed and the capture of their father, King Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine).

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The Vikings

The Vikings

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Critics Consensus

Despite moments of excess, The Vikings has enough balance in its larger-than-life action sequences and characters to entertain.

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Critics Reviews

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Alex von Tunzelmann Guardian 03/17/2020
C+
Though it avoids many of the obvious pitfalls of Viking lore, The Vikings suffers from being both sillier and less outlandish than the real thing. Go to Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine 03/17/2020
3/5
Proper Hollywood overblown Viking adventure with not a shred of authentic detail but lots of glam and ham. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
The Vikings is spectacular, rousing and colorful. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 04/06/2024
[C]inematographer Jack Cardiff turns his Norway locations into a lush Valhalla on Earth and journeyman director Richard Fleischer, faced with an absurd story, goes for the gusto in brawling Viking parties, furious sieges, and clanging broadsword battles. Go to Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times 03/17/2020
5/5
[T]remendously exciting, if gory, adventure epic... Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/31/2019
The film, gory and raucous, is a worthy specimen of its kind, and camera-ace Jack Cardiff's color photography deserves an Oscar nomination. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joaquin U @Joaquin1 Apr 30 Entertaining. This is cinema—epic battles, crowds of extras, impressive locations, and an eye for detail. The script is OK. The direction is adequate, though it doesn't offer much guidance for the actors, who often go over the top—still, a solid cast. Don’t expect anything close to real Vikings, and you’ll have some fun. See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic 06/19/2024 A very old school Vikings movie about the great northman and all their stereotypical troupes of their culture being played out in this enjoyable historical drama. See more Jolige D @Jolige 05/13/2024 Great nostalgia. They made movies with love and care in those days, and that is something rarely seen nowadays. See more Shirley J @Bowiewhist 10/11/2023 My favourite of all time and I want the theme music at my funeral See more Zusu B @RT95802544 01/16/2023 A lot of fluff but the real detraction is the over the top hysterics of J. Leigh and the arrogance (hamery) of T. Curtis. Not alot of visuals either. Pity. See more delysid d @RT67044741 03/19/2022 a dumb old hollywood snore-fest See more Read all reviews
The Vikings

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Kirk Douglas

Einar

Tony Curtis

Eric

Janet Leigh

Morgana

Ernest Borgnine

Ragnar

James Donald

Egbert

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The Vikings

The Vikings (1958) The Vikings (1958) The Vikings (1958) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Viking Prince Einar (Kirk Douglas) doesn't know it, but his most fearsome enemy, the slave Eric (Tony Curtis), is actually his half brother. Their feud only intensifies when Einar kidnaps Princess Morgana (Janet Leigh), the intended bride of the brutal King Aella (Frank Thring). Einar intends to make the beautiful girl his own. Unfortunately for him, Morgana has eyes only for Eric -- leading to much bloodshed and the capture of their father, King Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine).
Director
Richard Fleischer
Producer
Jerry Bresler
Screenwriter
Calder Willingham
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Adventure, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2016
Runtime
1h 54m