Myths, legends, and fantasies have always made for good movies. They transport you to a different world. A magical kingdom that immerses you in the world of make-belief. When it comes to folklore, there have been many fantastic movies down the years, from comedies to cartoons and action to adventure. But what are the best movies inspired by folklore? With so many to choose from, we’ve narrowed down our favourite legends and explored the movies based upon them…
Robin Hood
He stole from the rich and gave to the poor. A working-class hero that’s long been a favourite of people worldwide. The story of Robin Hood dates back to the 13th century and such is the power of the outlaw, he’s still as popular today. You’ll find all manner of things paying homage to him, from games to comics, and even a bingo site is named after the hero. Yes, https://www.robinhoodbingo.com/ has become one of the most popular bingo sites in the UK thanks to its charming mascot. This example looks at the nicer side of Robin, in much the same way Robin Hood Men in Tights and the animated movie does. Even Shrek features the legend.
The best Robin Hood movie is perhaps Kevin Costner’s version though. Prince of Thieves was released in 1991 and has since become a modern classic. Starring Costner alongside Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, and Alan Rickman, it follows the full tale of Robin Hood and even features a cameo appearance from Sean Connery, who has himself played Robin Hood in Robin and Marian.
Loch Ness Monster
Nessie has long been a favourite with tourists, and in particular US tourists, so it’s no surprise that the Loch Ness Monster has been given the Hollywood treatment a number of times. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep is perhaps the most critically acclaimed of these movies, with this inspired by rather than a carbon copy of the monster. The movie has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Emily Watson and David Morrissey.
Other films about Nessie include Scooby-Doo! and the Lock Ness Monster, where the gang look to seek out the monster that’s been terrorising Blake Castle, while Incident at Loch Ness is a mockumentary that earned rave reviews and even picked up the New American Cinema Award at the 2004 Seattle International Film Festival.
King Arthur
You could spend all day watching movies about the legend of King Arthur, and many famous Hollywood stars have played the English king down the years. Charlie Hunnam most recently portrayed him in the Guy Ritchie effort, while Clive Owen, Sean Connery, and Richard Harris have also played the legend. All genres have covered the legend of King Arthur, with action and adventure movies the most frequent, while the likes of Monty Python and the Holy Grail have pretty much nailed it when it comes to comedy. 1967’s Camelot is often considered the very best, based upon the Broadway musical of the 1950s. Released in 1967, it’s a sweeping romance that includes a love triangle with Guinevere and Lancelot, and features all the most popular characters from the story of the Knights of the Round Table.
