Meet our Top 10 Movies about Greek Mythology. Works that review passages of the most powerful events of this culture.
Movies about Greek Mythology
Greek mythology has been a fascinating subject for thousands of years. With tragic tales of love between a mortal and an immortal forever separated and horrific battles between the forces of good and evil, Greek mythology brims with drama, tension, spectacle and wonder. The films on this list have been critical and commercial successes. So, without further ado, here we bring you a list of the best Greek mythology movies.
Nothing more ‘epic’ than a Greek mythology movie. From modern CGI fests to classic big-budget extravaganzas, Hollywood knows how to bring ancient tales and heroes to life on the big screen.
10. Helen of Troy (1956)
This 1956 blockbuster is inspired by the Iliad, an ancient poem that tells the story of the Trojan War. Paris of Troy sails to Sparta to secure a peace treaty between the two mighty cities.
Along the way he is swept overboard and encountered by Helen, queen of Sparta, and the two fall in love.
Helen’s husband, King Menelaus, knows what is going on, but plays along, so he has a reason to lay siege to Troy.
Though it may seem a bit dated and melodramatic now, Helen of Troy is a big blockbuster that will appeal to anyone with a soft spot for classic Hollywood sable-and-sandals movies of yesteryear.
9. The Odyssey (1997)
Based on the ‘sequel’ poem to the Iliad, The Odyssey is a fun 1990s TV movie filled with a cast of international stars and surprisingly decent special effects.
The (relatively) faithful adaptation chronicles the adventures of sailor Odysseus and his colorful crew as they journey home after the fall of Troy and encounter a variety of mythical figures including Athena, the seductive Calypso and the treacherous Eurymachus.
8. The Trojan Women (1971)
Inspired by Euripides’ original play, The Trojan Women follows the story of the women who faced slavery after the fall of Troy.
The main story arcs follow Hecuba, queen of the Trojans, as she looks at the remains of her kingdom; Andromache, widow of the slain Hector and mother of his son Astyanax, who must now raise her son alone; Cassandra, Hecuba’s daughter who has been driven mad by the ravages of war, waiting to see if she will be forced to have sex with the Greek king; and Helen of Troy awaiting her death sentence.
Starring Katharine Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave, this is a very different, female-centric take on Greek mythology and offers a fresh perspective on the kind of drama and tragedy you wouldn’t normally expect from the genre.
7. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Jason and the Argonauts captivated audiences in the 1960s thanks to its incredible stop-motion action sequences.
Following the mythical Greek hero Jason and his band of Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece, special effects genius Ray Harryhausen brought harpies, living statues, skeletons and hydras to life in this epic classic adventure.
6. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2010)
Taking a very different approach to Greek mythology, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is a family film that follows the demigod son of Poseidon (our titular hero) living in modern times.
When Percy (played by Logan Lerman) discovers his true identity, he is thrust into the world of the gods and must stop an approaching war while saving his mother from Hades.
Along the way, Percy and his teenage crew face many mythological foes before taking on the Underworld. A mix of adventure and action, Percy Jackson is a fun take on an ancient theme that the whole family is likely to enjoy.
5. Immortals (2011)
Immortals loosely follows the Greek myths of Theseus and the Titanomachy. In this version, the gods have imprisoned the Titans under Mount Tartarus and the mortal King Hyperion (played with scene-chewing pleasure by Mickey Rourke) intends to use Epirus’ bow to free them.
Theseus (Henry Cavill), a skilled warrior who was unknowingly trained by Zeus in disguise, is drawn into this epic struggle to save mankind and defeat the ruthless Hyperion.
Director Tarsem Singh brings his visual stamp to this mythological world and the result is an artistic extravaganza, CGI with stunning visuals and more chiseled men than you can shake a stick at.
Immortals proudly embraces the confusing and bizarre nature of Greek myths and throws it all onto the screen in a big, imaginative way.
4. Rage of the Titans (2010)
This 2010 remake of the 1981 fantasy film gave a big budget boost to the story of Perseus. Discovered at sea as a child by a weary fisherman, the demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) grows up with no real knowledge of his celestial origins.
When he reaches adulthood, he learns that he is the offspring of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and sets out on a quest for revenge against Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and his minions of the underworld.
Along the way, Perseus and his soldiers encounter a trio of dreadful witches, confront Hades’ devoted servant Calibos, battle giant scorpions and come face to face with Medusa.
However, none of this compares to the inevitable final confrontation with Hades, which includes the unleashing of a Kraken. Rage of Titans is a big, dumb remake that features much better special effects and a host of reliable British actors who get it on in some silly costumes.
3. 300 (2006)
Hyperstylish, ultra-violent and full of testosterone, 300 was a hit that launched Gerard Butler into the mainstream. An adaptation of Frank Miller’s comic book, 300 is a fictionalized account of the Battle of Thermopylae within the Persian Wars. In 480 BC there is a state of war between Persia, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Greece.
At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas (Gerard Butler), king of the Greek city of Sparta, leads his 300 wicked but outnumbered warriors against the massive army of 300,000 Persian soldiers. Although certain death awaits the 300 Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy and win a noble sacrifice. 300 is an amazing addition to the mythological genre and is a rewatchable, adrenaline-filled game like no other.
2. Troy (2004)
With so many films about the Trojan War, it’s no wonder that one of them is at the top of the list.
Troy is another adaptation of Homer’s Iliad that tells the story of the Trojan War 10 years after Helen returns to Troy with Paris.
What makes this version different from the rest is its equal focus on both sides of the war. Achilles (played by Brad Pitt) leads his legendary Myrmidons (along with the rest of the Greek army) to invade the historic city of Troy, defended by Hector (played by Eric Bana) and his Trojan army. With an all-star cast and breathtaking battle scenes, Wolfgang Peterson’s reliable direction makes this the definitive version of the Trojan legend.
1. Hercules (1997)
who puts the joy in gladiator? Countless films have featured Hercules and tried their hardest to bring the most famous of all Greek legends to life on the silver screen, but it’s hard to top this 1997 Disney classic.
Although the story tweaks the legend of Hercules to make it more suitable for a younger audience (let’s face it, most Greek myths are not PG-friendly), the film still does justice to his story.
Zeus‘ brother Hades plots to overthrow the gods and rule Mount Olympus when he learns of a prophecy that will allow him to locate and free the Titans. However, he has to make sure that Zeus’ newborn son, Hercules, does not interfere.
Although Hades’ henchmen manage to turn him mortal, Hercules still retains his superhuman, godlike strength. Beginning a quest to regain his divinity and stick it to Hades once and for all, Hercules is trained to go from zero to hero and become a true legend.
Filled with action, romance and humor, Hercules is an enjoyable take on the Greek hero.
