If you enjoy dark and quirky fantasy films, you should definitely check out the ARD media library and not miss this true genre highlight.
What kind of film is it? The Green Knight is a fantasy film from 2021. It was directed by David Lowery, who is known for works like Elliot the Dragon, A Ghost Story, and Outlaw & Gentleman. For Star Wars, he shot two episodes of the series Skeleton Crew.
Anyone who has seen A Ghost Story knows the idiosyncratic style of the director, characterized by powerful imagery, intense atmosphere, and slow narrative pace. The Green Knight is just such a film.
Head off and into the adventure
What is The Green Knight about? The plot and main character are very loosely based on the English tale “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”. The titular knight Gawain is the nephew of the much more famous King Arthur.
Because he lets life and its advantages drift him along, his mother decides that her son should face a challenge. He encounters a green knight in the famous castle Camelot. This knight presents those present with a task: Whoever dares to strike him will receive his axe as a reward.
However: If the green knight survives the attack, he may return the same blow in a year. What must happen, happens. Gawain faces the mysterious figure, beheads him, and believes he has won the challenge. But the green knight suddenly stands up again and places his head back where it belongs.
What follows is Gawain’s journey into the unknown. A year will pass in which he must face numerous trials before he meets the green knight again. His character will be tested above all. And this is where it becomes clear what kind of film The Green Knight is – and what it is not.
What makes the film so good? The Green Knight is not a classic knight film where the protagonist is a shining hero. Gawain is an ambiguous character full of small, human flaws. He knows himself poorly and must discover who he really is or wants to be throughout his adventure.
The real battle, therefore, rages within the protagonist. However, director David Lowery shapes this journey spectacularly: The imagery of the film is all beautiful in its own way and remains memorable for a long time. Some scenes feel surreal, others eerie, and many have symbolic significance. Fans of cryptically told and atmospheric stories like those in Dark Souls will enjoy this film fully.
What you need to know before watching: The Green Knight takes its time. Typical for the director is a slow narrative pace. So if you need an action highlight every few minutes to stay engaged, you should steer clear of The Green Knight. All others who enjoy contemplating their interpretation of a story can currently stream the film easily.
Where can the film be seen? The Green Knight can be seen until December 28, 2025, in the ARD media library. And that, apart from the broadcasting fee, is free of charge. By the way, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a critic rating of 89% based on 331 reviews.
We would be interested to know if you have perhaps already seen the film and what you think about it. Please feel free to share your opinion in the comments. If this has made you curious for more from the genre, you can check out the top films we have compiled in a special list on MeinMMO: These are the 7 best fantasy films of all time via IMDb
