Sword fights are a mainstay of fantasy movies, especially the more action-oriented swashbucklers and sword-and-sorcery films. They allow filmmakers to create intense, well-choreographed action sequences that can be drawn out for maximum effect, and there’s just something so very fun about seeing characters dance around with deadly weapons at each other’s throats. It’s no wonder so many of the best fantasy films of all time have featured great sword fights, but the question we’re tackling here is which of those fights is the best.
Over the years, different fantasy movies have taken wildly different approaches to swordfighting, some focusing on brutality and power, while others favor fluidity and rhythm. And then there are those films that use their duels as a beautiful encapsulation of the philosophy and energy behind their stories, using the clash of blades as a potent metaphor for the personalities and ideologies of the characters behind them. Without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of the best sword fights in fantasy movies, including epic battles of every kind.
10
Red Sonja vs Queen Gedren in ‘Red Sonja’ (1985)
Based on Robert E. Howard‘s character Red Sonya of Rogatino, Red Sonja is a sword-and-sorcery film directed by Richard Fleischer that stars Brigitte Nielsen as the titular character. The movie follows Sonja on a quest to stop her arch-enemy Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) from destroying the world using an unstable magical relic, with some help from the heroic Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the young Prince Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.), and Tarn’s bodyguard Falkon (Paul Smith).
Red Sonja was a critical and commercial disappointment when it first hit theaters in 1985, to the point where even its stars admit that it’s a terrible movie. However, the climactic showdown between Sonja and Queen Gedren is one of the film’s few great moments, an epic battle that takes place in a volatile environment and brings the conflict between the two characters to a satisfying crescendo. The scene is arguably the most important moment of the film, and the rest of the story is basically just there to get the characters to that point.
9
Conan vs Togra in ‘Conan the Destroyer’ (1984)
Directed by Richard Fleischer and based on Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian stories, Conan the Destroyer is a sequel to the 1982 sword-and-sorcery movie Conan the Barbarian. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, the film follows the warrior on a quest to retrieve a magical gem from the stronghold of a powerful wizard. The movie also stars Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Mako, Tracey Walter, Sarah Douglas, Olivia d’Abo, and more in supporting roles.
A far campier film than its predecessor, Conan the Destroyer isn’t necessarily a good movie, but it is an entertaining watch for fans of the sword-and-sorcery genre, and it features a number of notable action sequences. The duel between Conan and Togra (Sven-Ole Thorsen) is a particular highlight, with the two evenly matched warriors first clashing on horseback and then transitioning to a heavy ground battle, both displaying great strength and raw power with their massive greatswords.
8
Aragorn vs Lurtz in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)
Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien‘s novel, <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring</em> is a high fantasy adventure film directed, co-written, and produced by Peter Jackson. Set in the world of Middle-earth, the film follows the young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and his eight companions as they set out to destroy the One Ring, a powerful, corruptive artifact that belongs to the Dark Lord Sauron. The ensemble cast includes Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Sean Bean, and more.
It’s impossible to discuss the fantasy genre without mentioning The Lord of the Rings movies, and while the saga is better known for its massive all-out battle scenes than close-quarters combat, the first film features one of the most impressive duels ever seen in the genre, with Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn on one side and the orc leader Lurtz (Lawrence Makoare) on the other. The fight begins as a physical brawl, then transforms into a no-holds-barred battle of blades with the iconic (and unscripted) knife parry when Aragorn deflects a thrown knife with his sword. It’s a raw and epic battle between two formidable opponents, and easily one of the best action scenes in the whole franchise.
7
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Maul in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ (1999)
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