Ridley Scott might best be known for directing sprawling historical epics and intense sci-fi thrillers, but, as the director knows first-hand, they can’t all be winners. After seeing tremendous success with the likes of Gladiator, Alien, Blade Runner, and The Duelists, Ridley Scott returned to the historical action genre for arguably his biggest movie to date. But, despite its gigantic size and sprawling action, the film was panned by critics back in 2005, and is often cited as one of Scott’s worst movies. However, the film has garnered a serious cult following in the two decades since, and that cult fandom is ready to follow it to its new streaming home this month.
Directed by Scott and penned by William Monahan, the gargantuan action movie is set in the 12th Century, following the Christian crusades in Jerusalem. Orlando Bloom leads as Balian de Ibelin, a widower who joins his father on the Crusades, and must navigate the complex politics of the Christian army, and defend the Holy City from invaders. Calling Kingdom of Heaven a historical epic might be an understatement. After all, the Crusades were one of the most violent periods in human history, and Scott doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutality and cruelty experienced by those fighting at the time.
Kingdom of Heaven also stars Liam Neeson as Balian’s father, Godfrey, alongside Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Martin Sheen, Edward Norton, Alexander Siddig, and many, many more. Ridley Scott is known for gathering some amazing casts for his films, but Kingdom of Heaven might be one of his best gatherings. After underperforming in theaters 21 years ago, Kingdom of Heaven has set off on another crusade on streaming, this time on Peacock. The film was added to Peacock on Jun. 1.
‘Kingdom of Heaven’ Was Unfairly Slated by Critics
Kingdom of Heaven is one of Ridley Scott’s worst movies, at least in the eyes of critics. The film was torn apart by critics during its theatrical run, holding a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although some critics absolutely adored it, like the late Roger Ebert, who scored the film 3.5/4, back in 2005.
Roger Ebert’s opinion might not align with that of his fellow critics, but it follows the majority of people who watched the movie. With over 250,000 registered user ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Kingdom of Heaven holds a far stronger 72% audience score, cementing its status as a cult classic. That cult status is enhanced by the film’s poor box office performance. Against a budget of $130 million, Kingdom of Heaven grossed just over $214 million. That’s far from chumps’ change. But a movie with a $130 million budget is at least expected to clear the $300 million mark to be considered remotely successful.
Which Version of ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is Best?
Kingdom of Heaven‘s Rotten Tomatoes audience score might be slightly unreliable, only because Ridley Scott has released multiple versions of the movie. Just like Blade Runner‘s endless re-releases, Kingdom of Heaven also received a director’s cut in 2005. Adding 45 minutes of new footage, it completely transforms the movie from a great historical action film into a fantastic redemption arc set against the backdrop of the Crusades.
- Release Date
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May 6, 2005
- Runtime
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144 Minutes
