Outlaw King

Name: Outlaw King
Director: David Mackenzie
Genre: Action
Released: 2018-01-01
Duration: 2h 02m
Rating: 6.8
Cast: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Sam Spruell

R 2018 Action · Two hours that feels longer due to political maneuvering between the visceral battles.

Middling historical drama

6.9/10

IMDb

63%

Fresh

59/100

Metacritic

★

3.33/5

Letterboxd

🎬

6.8/10

TMDB

Before you watch

Scottish independence war saga focusing on Robert the Bruce's guerrilla campaign

Rewatch

one and done

Attention

full focus

Phone-check

medium

Ages

holds up

The brief

David Mackenzie follows up Hell or High Water with a muddy, blood-soaked medieval epic that feels more grounded than most sword-and-sandal fare. Chris Pine sheds his Hollywood sheen to play Robert the Bruce as a weary tactician rather than a rousing hero, and the film's gritty tone matches its protagonist's guerrilla warfare approach. The pacing drags in the middle as political maneuvering takes over, but when the battles come they're brutal and intimate rather than spectacle-driven. Perfect for fans of The King or anyone who wants their historical epics served with more dirt under the fingernails than stirring speeches.

muddy medieval warfare gritty historical realism political intrigue guerrilla tactics blood-soaked battles weary heroism

The verdict

If you crave gritty, realistic medieval warfare over glossy spectacle and appreciate Chris Pine's grounded take on Robert the Bruce as a tactical leader rather than a shining hero, this is a solid historical epic. If you're looking for fast-paced action or prefer your period dramas with more stirring heroics than political maneuvering, the sluggish middle act will test your patience.