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The Last King

The Last King

A story of legendary bravery

201699 minRMidcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Director
Nils Gaup
Starring
Jakob Oftebro, Kristofer Hivju, Pål Sverre Hagen, Thorbjørn Harr

Norway, 1204. A civil war between the birkebeiners —the king's men— and the baglers —supporters of the Norwegian aristocracy and the Church— ravages the country. Two men must protect a baby, the illegitimate son of King Håkon, who will be the future king and peacemaker, from those who want to kill him.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Last King?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Last King streaming on Magnolia Selects via Prime Video, Tubi (free) and Warriors & Gangsters via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Last King?

The Last King earns 5 badges, led by Visual feast and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Last King worth watching?

The Last King's Midcredits score is the 45th percentile of all films, from 12K ratings across 4 sources. 43% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

45th percentile

Better received than 45% of films

61st percentile among Action45th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)47th
Approval (how many liked it)42nd

61 /100

47th percentile of all films

64th percentile among Action48th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.3 — solid but not unanimous.

43% liked it

42nd percentile of all films

57th percentile among Action41st percentile among 2010s
43% rated it 7–1057% rated it 1–6

Critics 89% · Audience 46%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 1 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

85th percentile

12K ratings across platforms

75th percentile among Action86th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 8% in 30 days

Box office

BudgetNOK 45M

In Norwegian krone, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$4.6K
Domestic gross$8.9K
Worldwide gross$3.7M

47th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A technically polished Nordic historical action film with beautiful snowbound scenery and ski chases, but a simplistic story that never rises above the ordinary.

Fans praised

  • breathtaking winter cinematography and landscape
  • strong lead chemistry between Hivju and Oftebro
  • entertaining ski chase action and gritty medieval battles

Detractors panned

  • weak script with flat dialogue and predictable plotting
  • unconvincing acting, especially from minor characters
  • tedious repetitive chase structure without narrative depth

What stands out

Cinematography85

stunning snowy landscapes and mountain vistas

Atmosphere75

immersive wintry medieval setting

ActingDivisive60

solid lead chemistry but uneven supporting cast

Effects and spectacleDivisive60

solid but small-scale axe battles and ski stunts

TensionDivisive50

some suspense but often undercut by predictability

PacingDivisive45

repetitive escape sequences drag

CharactersDivisive40

good vs evil archetypes with little nuance

Plot and storyDivisive35

simple chase narrative, lacks dramatic tension

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 11 points higher than men.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 11 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Last King like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you fired up. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDreadMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its historical subject with gravity and a sense of heroic determination, without irony.
The rideThe constant threat of pursuit and the stakes of protecting an infant keep tension and dread sustained from start to finish.
StructureThe story of protecting the infant heir unfolds in a conventional chronological sequence.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

Rousing · 10% of filmsHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe story of protecting the heir who changed Norway's history leaves the viewer inspired and hopeful about the outcome.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Voyage
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4% (this title): Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% (this title) · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Voyage and return: Into a strange world and back again, changed. · Survival ordeal: Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).

4% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTwo men flee through hostile territory to protect an infant heir from assassination during a civil war.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfLoyaltyBonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4% (this title)
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Loyalty · 4% of filmsFamily bondsLegacy · 4% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the loyalty of two men who risk everything to protect a child they are sworn to guard, which also ties into family bonds and the legacy of a future king.
StanceThe film presents loyalty and sacrifice as noble, affirming these values in the face of civil war.

The world

MedievalRuralWildernessInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Gaute Storaas
SettingNorway in 1204 during a civil war over the royal succession
MusicAn orchestral score likely underscores the epic historical struggle.

Content guide

Is The Last King okay for kids?

R

The Last King is rated R: “Rated R for violence and a scene of sexuality” (MPAA). As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (58/100), sexual content at moderate (48/100), language at mild (22/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany12
  • Ireland15
  • JapanG
  • Brazil14
  • Denmark15
  • Hungary16
  • Norway12
  • SK12
  • Spain12
  • Sweden11
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (20 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Last King have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Last King?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jakob Oftebro
as Skjervald
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kristofer Hivju
as Torstein
Pål Sverre Hagen
as Gisle
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Thorbjørn Harr
as Inge
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Nikolaj Lie Kaas
as Orm
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Søren Pilmark
as Bishop
Bjørn Sundquist
as Chancellor
Åsmund Brede Eike
as Stale
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Thea Sofie Loch Næss
as Kristin
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Jeppe Beck Laursen
as Audun

Crew

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What are movies like The Last King?

Movies like The Last King include My Way (2011), The Mountain II (2016) and The Heroes of Telemark (1965). Of the 12 closest matches, several are survival ordeal stories, and most are military films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its world: war epic. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Last King?

813 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: war epic. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.