The world knows many films about the myths and legends of ancient Greece and other civilizations. In this abundance of plot twists, amazing monsters, heroes that can defeat them, and gods intervening in human affairs, one will find lots of surprises in the stories. We’ve put together an impressive collection of 7 films that delve into these captivating myths and legends.
Content
- 300 Spartans
- Troy
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
- Immortals
- Clash of the Titans
- Gods of Egypt
- The Legend of Hercules
300 Spartans
IMDb: 7.6/10
2006, Action, Drama
USA, Canada, Bulgaria, R
Director: Zack Snyder
Top cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham
Zack Snyder’s 300 is an action film inspired by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s comic series, bringing their graphic storytelling to life on the big screen. It draws inspiration from the real-life Battle of Thermopylae during the Second Greco-Persian War, but it would not aim to represent historical events. The film transports viewers to the 5th century BC and focuses on King Leonidas I of Sparta, who is a great-grandson of Hercules. One day, Leonidas kills an envoy who has come to demand compliance with the Persian emperor Xerxes. Rejecting the ultimatum, Leonidas conceives a strategy to defeat the Persian army, which had a greater number of soldiers, by drawing them into the narrowpass of Thermopylae. He sends 300 Spartan warriors to wait for them under his leadership.
Troy
IMDb: 7.3/10
2004, Adventure, Drama
USA, UK, Bulgaria, R
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Top cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom
Wolfgang Petersen's historical film adapted from Homer's great poem ‘The Iliad’ and other stories related to the Trojan War turns millennia of ancient legends into flesh and blood. The plot started with Spartan ruler Menelaus making a fragile peace with Trojan princes Hector and Paris, which was immediately violated. Paris falls in love with Menelaus' wife, Helen, and she, in turn, falls in love with him; both run away to Troy. It is to regain his lost honor and his wife that Menelaus turns for help to his brother Agamemnon, who rules over Mycenae. This will be the alliance that ushers in an epic siege of Troy—an epic siege that will begin an epic war, long and bloody.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
IMDb: 5.9/10
2010, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
USA, UK, Canada, PG
Director: Chris Columbus
Top cast: Logan Lerman, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan
Dive into the world of Percy Jackson, a seemingly ordinary high school student from New York with an extraordinary secret. Percy is the son of Poseidon, though he doesn’t know it yet. His life takes a dramatic turn when Zeus accuses him of stealing his lightning bolt. Percy must navigate encounters with Olympian gods, a centaur, the Minotaur, Medusa the Gorgon, and other mythological creatures. He also finds himself at a camp for demigod children located on Long Island.
Immortals
IMDb: 6.0/10
2011, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
USA, Canada, R
Director: Tarsem Singh
Top cast: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt
Tarsem Singh’s fantasy action film, inspired by ancient Greek myths of the Minotaur’s labyrinth and the Titanomachy, transports viewers to 1228 BC in ancient Greece. The film centers around the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a quest to find the Epirus Bow. With this powerful weapon, he aims to free the Titans imprisoned under Mount Tartarus, seize control of the world, and overthrow the gods of Olympus. To achieve his goal, Hyperion kidnaps the seer Phaedra, hoping to use her gift. As Hyperion’s army advances, they capture a village where the young demigod Theseus lives. It seems that only Theseus can stand against Hyperion.
Clash of the Titans
IMDb: 5.8/10
2010, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
USA, UK, Australia, PG-13
Director: Louis Leterrier
Top cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes
Clash of the Titans is a fantasy film based on a series of Greek myths, particularly the story of Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danaë. The tale begins with King Acrisius of Argos, who imprisons his daughter Danaë, fearing an ancient prophecy that foretells his grandson will be the cause of his death. Despite this, Zeus transforms into a golden shower and enters her chambers, resulting in the birth of Perseus, a demigod. Enraged by this turn of events, Acrisius places Danaë and her newborn son in a chest and casts them into the sea, unwittingly bringing harsh punishment upon himself. Perseus survives and grows into a strong and courageous hero, destined for a life filled with dangerous adventures.
Gods of Egypt
IMDb: 7.6/10
2004, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
USA, R
Director: James Wan
Top cast: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
The film’s plot is based on ancient Egyptian mythology. The kingdom is ruled by brothers Osiris, the god of life, and Set, the god of the lifeless desert. Everything changes when Osiris decides to pass the throne to his son, Horus. During Horus’s coronation, Set kills Osiris and seizes absolute power. Horus, along with a group of brave humans and gods, forms a resistance movement. Together, they aim to overthrow the usurper and restore the rightful heir to the throne.
The Legend of Hercules
IMDb: 4.3/10
2014, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
USA, Bulgaria, Germany, PG-13
Director: Renny Harlin
Top cast: Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins
Renny Harlin’s fantasy action film brings to life the legendary tale of the Greek hero and demigod Hercules. Set in the 13th century BC in ancient Greece, the story centers on Alcmene, who desperately tries to stop her husband Amphitryon from his bloody conquests and the devastation of their people. In her despair, she turns to the goddess Hera, who foretells that she will bear a son by Zeus. True to the prophecy, Alcmene gives birth to a boy named Hercules. As he grows, Hercules is destined to become a hero, performing many great deeds for the benefit of humanity.
