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Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Dennis Storhøi, Vladimir Kulich, Omar Sharif ... see more see more... , Anders T. Andersen , Richard Bremmer , Tony Curran , Mischa Hausserman , Neil Maffin , Asbjørn 'Bear' Riis , Clive Russell , Daniel Southern , Oliver Sveinall , Sven Wollter , Albie Woodington , Sven Ole Thorsen , Erick Avari

A cultured diplomat joins a band of savage warriors in time to meet an even more fearsome enemy in this historical adventure. In 922 A.D., Ibn Fadlan (Antonio Banderas) is a Muslim emissary from Baghd... read more read more...ad en route to meet with the King of Saqaliba when he is captured by a gang of Vikings. While Ibn and his people are intelligent and well-mannered, the Vikings are a rowdy and sometimes unpleasant lot, with an unquenchable appetite for food, alcohol, and women. However, in time he develops an understanding and respect for the Viking warriors and is welcomed into their society by their leader, Buliwyf. However, Ibn must now join them as they return to their homeland once they receive word of an invasion by a huge pack of bloodthirsty invaders who will destroy and eat anything in their path -- including the flesh of the men they have killed. The 13th Warrior was based on the book Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton, which was in turn adapted from tales of Viking folklore. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

109,520 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

87 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: John McTiernan, Antonio Banderas, Michael Crichton, Diane Venora, Erick Avari, Omar Sharif, Tony Curran, Vladimir Kulich

Release Date: August 27, 1999

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

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Stats: 4,959 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,959)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 12, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Interesting action film that delivers on action and thrills. Although at times lacking, The 13th Warrior is good entertainment. Although lacking at times, the film has some solid action, and in the end it's what makes this film worth watching. The 13th Warrior is a mindless actio... read moren romp set against a historical background. Directed by John McTiernan, director of Die Hard, this film delivers action and thrills that will please any action movie fan. Antonio Banderas is pretty good here, and along with The Mask of Zorro, this is one of his more enjoyable film. Although lacking at times in story, the film delivers effective action that makes this film worth watching. There's a good cast here, nothing ever too grand, but they all give decent enough performances to make this film interesting. The film relies on the action to deliver the thrills, thus the 13th Warrior is short on a epic story, but in the end it's not a big deal. The film is a popcorn flick in the end, and it most certainly delivers the action you'd expect. Despite its imperfections, this is a well made actioner that's simply designed to entertain you. 13th Warrior is fun from start to finish and is very violent, action packed and moves at a fast pace.Not a great film, but still worth watching for an entertaining evening of mindless action.
  • phubbs1
    October 10, 2011
    phubbs1
    Historical Vikings vs barbarians, hack n slash flick made by 'Die Hard' director John McTiernan? should be kick ass right? well sort of, it is a decent flick but its abit messy and not overly as memorable as you'd think. Based on a Michael Crichton novel (which was all the rage b... read moreack in the 90's) which involved the curious mix of a travelling exiled Arab poet who befriends and joins a small village of Norsemen (Vikings) and ends up fighting a tribe of barbarian cannibals that dress as bears because they believe they are bears.

    The film isn't accurate of course, it is based on actual fact but has been hugely exaggerated and made more exciting for both the novel and film. The lead character 'Fadlan' was a real Arabic traveller and he did go north and experience Viking life but all the battles with cannibals (based on the Beowulf folklore) is complete fantasy.

    So the film has a touch of grounding in reality which makes it more interesting and urges you to learn more which is good, the film itself isn't too bad, compared to the novel I don't know but there isn't too much happening in the film other than time wasting dialog inter-spursted with pitched battles. The dialog is very wooden really and somewhat 'state the obvious' all the time, the film does feel a little rushed and choppy probably due to the problems whist being made and really the battles, which are the focal point, aren't all that good either.

    The film is solid and is reasonably interesting but it just feels very underwhelming, as if there is a really really good kick ass film somewhere in there wanting to get out. Banderas looks the part of the Arab and the Viking cast also look good as does the cold looking muddy location work but Sharif seems to have been stuck in there simply for big name status and to try and elevate the film to epic levels as he does pretty much nothing of importance and disappears very quickly.

    The film does get slightly more silly as it progresses towards the end but all in all it just about does the job of keeping you entertained. The barbarian hordes the Vikings fend off are too unrealistic really I think, that's the problem, and of course most of them are all just sword fodder for the heroes so the usual thing. I think 'Pathfinder' does it better.
  • Deano78
    June 24, 2011
    Deano78
    A very average swordplay action film but has an ok cast.
  • allan913
    February 16, 2011
    allan913
    An awesome and intense epic thrill-machine. A solid and adrenaline-charged action-packed adventure thriller. It's bold, thrilling and exhilarating all the way to it's amazing finish. An edge of your seat adventure that's flat-out spellbinding with searing suspense and brutal acti... read moreon sequences. An explosive, bone-chilling and heart-pounding movie that's just spectacular to watch. I loved this movie. This stands with some of Director, John McTiernan's action classics like Die Hard. A supremely well-crafted and brilliantly performed film. Antonio Banderas is at his best.
  • gatorgirl13
    September 11, 2010
    gatorgirl13
    This movie is amazing. All of the actors play their parts perfectly and the story and scenery are perfect as well.
  • ythelastman89
    June 7, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Extremely underrated and a great movie about Vikings vs. Cannibals. While I think there is probably a better John McTiernan cut around there somewhere, this works just fine as an action/epic. I like that it's not overly flashy or sentimental, just good old battle scenes and an in... read moreteresting adventure story. The individual characters are great and fun to watch, some great acting from the entire cast. The sets and design is flawless, next to no CGI. This is definitely a forgotten classic.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 2, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    The 13the Warrior was a boring movie.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    I'm not really in to these kinds of films but I did enjoy this one. It has a very good decapitation scene!
  • puffchunk
    September 29, 2009
    puffchunk
    Vikings and Man Eating Bear People. How can you go wrong? Fun Arab Antonio only makes it better. Unfortunately it got a bit boring in the last half hour.
  • stormyweather980
    September 10, 2009
    stormyweather980
    "The 13th Warrior" stars Antonio Banderas who unwillingly becomes the 13th warrior. He is forced to go away from his people because he loved the wrong woman. Soon, he starts staying with a group of Vikings who like to kid around a lot and they frequently fight a tribe that is all... read more humans disguised as bears.
    "The 13th Warrior" is one of those movies that you have to watch from the very beginning and grasp every single word because it will leave you confused if you don't watch and listen like you should. It's a good tale about a man who must make a new kind of life for himself, and it's exciting in parts. The battles are gory and exciting, and the movie has pretty good special effects. My only complaint is that it didn't have as many battle scenes or as much action as I would've liked to of seen. But the plot and the good acting keep it from failing. If you like movies that tell old and intriguing stories of Vikings or other ancient groups from history, I'd recommend getting "The 13th Warrior." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I was being generous, I don't like Banderas and this movie was soooooooo boring!

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Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy
June 17, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Michael Crichton's story is underdeveloped and narrow in range, resulting in a tale more curious for its odd confluence of elements than for their edifying deployment. Full Review

Jeff Millar
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

The film is fascinating to watch, but I can hardly say what it's about, other than people killing each other. Full Review

Liam Lacey
March 22, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A big cathartic blast. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

With a budget said to be more than $100 million, it displays a lot of cash on the screen, but little thought. Full Review

January 1, 2000
San Jose Mercury News

It's little more than a shoddy string of action-movie cliches.

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Loaded with potential, it's puzzlingly overblown and distant, as if its huge budget were an albatross around its neck. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The 13th Warrior seems like a made-for-TV warrior movie without enough money to get really epic. Full Review

Peter Brunette
January 1, 2000
Peter Brunette, Film.com

With the possible exception of the action sequences and the very occasionally imaginative set design, it's awful.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

If the juiciest bouts of professional wrestling on television leave you feeling unfulfilled and pining for the primal howls of fight - to - the - death combat, The 13th Warrior just might be the answe... Full Review

Gary Dauphin
January 1, 2000
Gary Dauphin, Village Voice

Actually a well-marbled, albeit derivative, slab of action-movie man meat. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Herger the Joyous: Did she finish you? Or bring you back to life?
    • Ibn Fadlan: A gentleman doesn't discuss such things.
    • Buliwyf: Luck often enough, will save a man, if his courage hold.
    • Herger the Joyous: He All-Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing.
    • Ibn Fadlan: Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness.
    • Ibn Fadlan: Have we anything resembling a plan?
    • Herger the Joyous: Mm-hm. Ride till we find them... and kill them all.
    • Skeld The Superstitious: Blow-hards the both of you. She probably was some smoke-colored camp girl. Looked like that one's mother. pig-eating son of a whore!
    • Ibn Fadlan: My mother was a pure woman from a noble family. And I, at least, know who my father is, you pig-eating son of a whore!
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The 13th Warrior Trivia

  • The 13th warrior was originally named what?  Answer »
  • "Fear reigns. Pray for the living." This is the tagline for which 1999 movie?  Answer »
  • Add together the missing words to get a film title. Freaky ______ Charlie and ___ Chocolate Factory The ____ Warrior  Answer »
  • Who plays the Viking warrior Herger in the movie The 13th Warrior?   Answer »
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