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The Promised Land

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for The Promised Land R 2024 2h 7m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 130 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero -- sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power. Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.
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The Promised Land

The Promised Land

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Critics Consensus

Mads Mikkelson leads us through the savage terrain of The Promised Land with a glimmer of hope in this epic Nordic tale with Western bones.

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Critics Reviews

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Stephen Romei The Australian Jun 27, 2024
3.5/5
There are times in the impressive Danish historical drama The Promised Land where Dr Lecter peeks from the eyes of the main character... Go to Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times Feb 24, 2024
4/5
The anti-immigrant and Romani sentiment expressed by Danes in 1755, although tinged with superstition, sounds eerily familiar. Mostly, though, The Promised Land, in common with its hero, ploughs a furrow as a rough-hewn costumed adventure. Go to Full Review Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times Feb 20, 2024
The only problem here is that the whole ends up feeling a bit didactic and leaning towards the narrative style of Hollywood simplicity, yet does not take away from the power of a film that definitely deserves to be seen. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Sep 10, 2025
This is clearly a high budget, professional production, the kind of thing Hollywood used to more regularly churn out for grown mainstream audiences who liked a little bit of class with their popcorn. Go to Full Review Maxance Vincent Film Speak Jul 14, 2025
A
Arcel gives The Promised Land enough time to develop its characters inside a richly-developed and striking world, filled with evocative images from cinematographer Rasmus Videbæk, that immediately recall Sergio Leone’s tableaux of the West. Go to Full Review Leonardo Garcia Tsao La Jornada Feb 10, 2025
The story is conventional, but at no time does it give off the stench of the old-fashioned. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gray S Feb 7, 2024 Fantastic, evocative, timely story, beautifully told. See more Janis Feb 3, 2024 Great story and actors. Very sad story but realistic about life in the 1700s . Written well. See more Norman D @ndudzik28 3 days ago This movie has everything. See more Juris O @Juris100 Aug 30, 2026 The film was a pleasant surprise. See more Lisa W @Lisa_Rocket Aug 2, 2026 Not always an easy watch as I found some scenes disturbing. It was gripping and captivating and one week on I still think of it. See more Dominick C. @domcipp252525 May 5, 2026 This was an outstanding movie, one of the best Ive seen in long time!!! Amazing acting, great storyline, under dog story for sure!!! See more Read all reviews
The Promised Land

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Cast & Crew

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Nikolaj Arcel

Director

Mads Mikkelsen

Ludvig Kahlen

Amanda Collin

Ann Barbara

Gustav Lindh

Anton Eklund

Melina Hagberg

Actor

Kristine Kujath Thorp

Edel Helene

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The Promised Land

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The Promised Land

The Promised Land (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero -- sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power. Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.
Director
Nikolaj Arcel
Producer
Louise Vesth
Screenwriter
Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Zentropa Entertainment
Rating
R (Brief Nudity|Bloody Violence|Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Danish
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 2, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 23, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$256.3K
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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