A Knight's Tale

2001
PG-13
2h 12m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

206K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:22

Feel-Good Romance Action Adventure Romance

After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

206K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

697

267

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 wins & 13 nominations

Videos7

Trailer 2:22

A Knight's Tale

Clip 1:09

A Knight's Tale Additional Scene

Clip 1:09

A Knight's Tale Additional Scene

Clip 0:58

A Knight's Tale Scene: We Will Rock You

Clip 0:58

A Knight's Tale Scene: Training

Clip 0:55

A Knight's Tale Scene: Concentrate

Featurette 4:37

A Knight's Tale: Epk

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When Chaucer first introduces "Sir Ulrich" in his speech, the crowd doesn't react at first because the Czech extras didn't understand it. Mark Addy's loud prompt tipped them off to start cheering. The awkward moment was left in because it made the scene funnier.

Goofs
This is a satirical romance, not a historical documentary. While nominally set in the middle of the 14th century (when Edward the Black Prince and Geoffrey Chaucer were active), it freely amalgamates the costume, custom and slang of many different centuries to create a unique world. The Chaucer character (who mentions his signature Canterbury Tales) bears almost no resemblance to his historical counterpart. Matte replicas of the London Eye and the Eiffel Tower are included to drive home the anachronistic intentions.

Quotes
Chaucer: You're good. You're very good. My lords, my ladies, and everybody else here not sitting on a cushion!
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: Today... today, you find yourselves equals.
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: For you are all equally blessed. For I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure of introducing to you to a knight, sired by knights. A knight who can trace his lineage back beyond Charlemagne. I first met him atop a mountain near Jerusalem, praying to God, asking his forgiveness for the Saracen blood spilt by his sword. Next, he amazed me still further in Italy when he saved a fatherless beauty from the would-be ravishing of her dreadful Turkish uncle.
[crowd, boo]
Chaucer: In Greece he spent a year in silence just to better understand the sound of a whisper. And so without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give to you, the seeker of serenity, the protector of Italian virginity, the enforcer of our Lord God, the one, the only, Sir Ulllrrrich von Lichtenstein!
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

Crazy credits
After the credits finish, Roland, Wat, Kate, and Geoff have a flatulence contest/drinking game. Wat loses, but Kate is the obvious winner.

Alternate versions
There is a slight difference between the UK cinema version and the UK DVD release. In the cinematic release, the queen/Robbie Williams version of We Are The Champions starts playing when William and Jocelyn kiss just before the credits, whereas the DVD release has a different song play. However, We Are The Champions still plays over the last half of the credits.

Connections
Featured in HBO First Look: The Making of 'A Knight's Tale' (2001)

Soundtracks
We Will Rock You
Written by Brian May
Performed by Queen
Courtesy of Hollywood Records and Courtesy of EMI Records UK Ltd.

User reviews751

Review

Featured review

9/10

Makes Braveheart Look Historically Accurate

I first saw "A Knight's Tale" by chance. A few of us had decided on an ad hoc visit to the local cinema and selected "A Knight's Tale" simply because it sounded the least "teen" movie on the bill. We slapped down our cash and took our seats.

The movie began...

A crowd of peasants are assembled to watch the jousting. And they're singing "We Will Rock You."

My initial response was "God, this is going to be bad."

But as the movie continued, it suddenly dawned on me - I wasn't hating the movie at all! On an intellectual level, I should have been booing and throwing stuff at the screen but there's something about the sheer verve and energy of "A Knight's Tale" that just drags you in on an emotional level.

A clever script with many modern references, a good cast of likeable characters and a fantastic soundtrack (the reveal of "Golden Years" is particularly good) all add up to make "A Knight's Tale" one of the most entertaining mainstream movies I've seen in a long time.

Normally I hate "popcorn" movies - not because I consider them "low brow" or an insult to the intelligence, but because they're shallow, tired and lack soul. Yet "A Knight's Tale" is different. No, it won't change your life and it won't make you ponder your place in the universe. But it will entertain you.

If you're looking for an "old fashioned" good vs. evil movie with a twist, or your copy of "The Princess Bride" is wearing thin, check out "A Knight's Tale."

8/10