Netflix have quietly added a ‘masterpiece’ viking drama with a star-studded cast to their roster – and viewers can’t get enough.
While rom-coms and horrors, alongside documentary series, are some of Netflix’s very best creations, some have said it’s really time we had a bit more action on the scene.
And it seems the platform have truly answered hopes and prayers, because this viking drama is up there with the very best, according to those who have watched it.
The American dark fantasy period action drama (a mouthful) was first released in 2022, but it was only when the film landed on Netflix that fans really became aware of the hype.
“You won’t be disappointed”
The film currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90 percent, and has received raving reviews from those who have sat down to watch the ‘masterpiece.’
“One of the better movies of the year that most people didn’t see,” one viewer wrote.
“It’s dark, gritty, and visually beautiful! The lead was well cast and is a great actor in his own right.”
Another described the film as ‘brutal and barbaric,’ which, if you’re into that kind of thing, sounds extremely enticing.
One said: “It has some really neat and genuinely original story elements that stood out to me.
“There were even ideas and mythic touches I’ve mostly seen explored in video games that I don’t think I’ve ever really seen translated to film before, which made parts of it feel fresh despite the familiar revenge framework.
“It blends brutality, folklore, and surreal imagery in a way that feels bold and different, even when the core story is straightforward.”
In another glowing review, one fan added: “Gritty. Thought provoking. Not your average Hollywood thriller. It will probably change how you think about vikings – a lot.”
Another said: “I just finished seeing this movie, I remember when it came out two years ago, but for some reason I didn’t pay it much heed.
“I wish I went back to undo it. Oh this movie is incredible. As the title says, I was extremely satisfied with what I got. Culture, magic, myth, violance.”
A star-studded cast
The story is based on the legend of Amleth from Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, and follows a Viking prince who ‘sets out on a quest to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of his uncle.’
And there’s a pretty impressive cast.
Alexander Skarsgård plays Amleth, while Nicole Kidman plays his mother Queen Gudrún, and Claes Bang his uncle Fjölnir the Brotherless.
But the talent doesn’t end there.
The movie also stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe, among many others.
iNews also wrote a review of the film after it landed on the popular streaming platform.
“Robert Eggers’s rousing new film has all the ingredients you’d anticipate in any self-respecting Nordic epic,” they wrote.
Film Focus Online added: “Violent and powerful from start to finish, it tells an epic, period accurate Viking tale that easily immerses its audience throughout the entire run-time.”
“Adventure awaits”
The synopsis reads: “Adventure awaits Prince Amleth, whose father was killed and mother was abducted by his ruthless uncle. However, the journey takes him through twists which unravel a dark truth about his family.”
The film is spoken in English, with sprinkles of Old Norse and Old East Slavic.
Speaking to The Independent director Robert Eggers spoke about once being ‘allergic’ to Vikings – but one trip to Iceland in 2016 changed everything.
“It was unlike anything else I’d seen. The grandeur, the ancientness, the otherworldliness…it was the most powerful experience ever,” he said.
“And this is awfully embarrassing to say, but I felt like the Norse gods were really there.”
The director added: “We live in such a secular society now, without easy access to the sublime or the profound.
“What appeals to me about these past cultures is that the mythological world is the same as the real world.”
Having been added to Netflix in 2025, fans are continuing to discover the ‘visually spectacular’ film, which is called The Northman.
Watch the trailer for The Northman below…
The Northman is available to stream via Netflix.
Netflix Thriller Is So Dark Viewers Have To Skip ‘Hellish’ Scenes
Netflix Fans Say Murder Mystery Full Of Insane Twists Is ‘Best Movie Ever’
The post Netflix Fans Say This Viking Drama Is One Of ‘Best Action Films Ever Made’ appeared first on It’s Gone Viral.
Tags: #Netflix #Fans #Viking #Drama #Action #Films
