10 Best Swashbuckler Movies of All Time, Ranked

The swashbuckler genre dates back to the days of the Romanticism movement and features stories that traditionally centered around noble swordsmen or dashing vigilantes who have a strong sense of honor and justice. The genre was initially popularized by the works of French author, Alexandre Dumas, notably The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After and The Count of Monte Cristo, and like many beloved novels and compelling stories, eventually found its way to the silver screen.

Classic stars such as Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Errol Flynn, and Tyrone Power were some of cinema’s earliest actors who established the traditional swashbuckler, starring in infamous films including The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Crimson Pirate, and The Mark of Zorro While the swashbuckler film continues to be a favorite among film fans, there are some classics, such as The Sea Hawk and Adventures of Don Juan, and more recent original hits, including The Princess Bride and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, that rank as some of the all-time best swashbuckling movies.

10

‘Adventures of Don Juan’ (1948)

Directed by Vincent Sherman

Errol Flynn stars as a Spanish noble and womanizer, Don Juan de Maraña, who, after being at the center of a diplomatic scandal involving the fiancée of a fellow nobleman, is invited to court by Margaret of Austria and the Queen of Spain (Viveca Lindfors) in an effort to restore his reputation. When Don Juan discovers that Duke de Lorca (Robert Douglas) is secretly planning to overthrow the royal family, he and his trusted friends prepare to defend the king and queen as well as their country.

Adventures of Don Juan is an exquisite swashbuckler classic full of thrilling action, stunning costume and set designs as well as a flawless performance by Flynn. At the time, Flynn was one of Warner Bros. biggest stars who had originally established himself in the swashbuckler genre and today, is considered to be one of the most prominent stars of the film genre. His performance in Adventures of Don Juan received high praise, with many critics noting the actor’s impressive talent of conveying both a masculine and an endearing and selfless protagonist, making him a convincing player of the swashbuckler genre.

9

‘The Three Musketeers’ (1973)

Directed by Richard Lester

There have been several film adaptations of Alexandre Dumas’ epic 1844 novel, The Three Musketeers, but the 1973 version, starring Michael York, Christopher Lee, and Raquel Welch, stands to be one if not the best. The story follows a young aspiring swordsman, D’Artagnan (York), who travels to Paris with the hope of joining the royal guard and eventually finds himself fighting alongside three musketeers as they try to derail the devious plans of a corrupt Cardinal against the crown.

Richard Lester‘s The Three Musketeers is noted for remaining faithful to Dumas’ timeless tale while also weaving in tasteful humor and charm which ultimately sets it apart from other adaptations. The Three Musketeers went to extensive lengths to achieve an authentic depiction of Dumas’ story, going as far as having master swordsman, Williams Hobbs, choreograph the sword fight scenes and even filming on location in Spain. The movie earned overall positive reviews and received several British Academy Film Award nominations, including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Art Direction. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Welch’s performance.

8

‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Directed by Rob Reiner

The 1980s cult classic, The Princess Bride, is a modernized swashbuckling adventure starring Cary Elwes as a farmhand, Wesley, who travels across the ocean in search of fortune so that he can marry his true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright). When Wesley finally returns, he learns that Buttercup has been forced into an engagement to the kingdom’s prince and sets out to rescue his beloved bride-to-be, battling forces of evil and foes along the way while also making a few friends who help him in his dangerous quest.

The Princess Bride is based on the 1973 novel of the same name written by William Goldman and also features a star-studded cast including André the Giant, Mandy Patinkin, Peter Falk, and Chris Sarandon. Initially, the movie wasn’t a major hit at the box office but did well with critics, including Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, who gave it two thumbs up on their television show, At the Movies. Today, The Princess Bride is widely recognized for not only its array of memorable performances and endearing love story, but also for serving as a monumental tribute to the classic swashbuckling tale.

7

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl revitalized the swashbuckler genre and led to one of Disney’s most successful film franchises in recent years. Orlando Bloom stars as a blacksmith, William Turner, who, with the help of a savvy scallywag, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), sets out to rescue the woman he loves, Elizabeth Swan (Kiera Knightly), after she is kidnapped by Captain Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush) and the cursed crew of the Black Pearl.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is the epitome of the modern swashbuckling action adventure, brilliantly crossed with humor and fantasy, deeming it to be one of the best contributions to the film genre. While the overall cast is simply outstanding and each brings something unique to this intriguing tale of the seven seas, Depp ultimately runs away with the picture, delivering an iconic performance as Sparrow, who is, without question, the heart and soul of this beloved franchise. The movie was both a commercial and critical success, earning several Academy Award nominations, including Best Makeup, Best Visual Effects and Best Actor for Depp.

6

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ (2002)

Directed by Kevin Reynolds

Jim Caviezel stars in the 2002 swashbuckler adventure movie, The Count of Monte Cristo, as a young sailor, Edmond Dantés, who leads an honest and peaceful life and is set to marry the beautiful Mercedes (Dagmara Dominiczyk). When Dantés’ friend, Fernand de Morcerf (Guy Pearce), desires his future bride for himself, he’s wrongfully imprisoned and spends the next years of his life plotting his revenge against those who betrayed him.

The Count of Monte Cristo is an excellent adaptation of one of Alexandre Dumas’ most famous works and features a brilliant supporting cast including Henry Cavill, Richard Harris, and Luis Guzmán. Director, Kevin Reynolds, effectively captures the tone of Dumas’ work, conveying an authentic, old-fashioned tale of revenge and justice while still incorporating light humor as well as the pivotal historical elements and figures. Between the lineup of passionate performances (specifically Pearce, who gives a sinfully villainous performance) and Reynolds’ artistic direction, The Count of Monte Cristo is a one-of-a-kind swashbuckling movie experience and a must-see for any diehard fan of the genre.

5

‘The Crimson Pirate’ (1952)

Directed by Robert Siodmak

When pirate Captain Vallo (Burt Lancaster) and his crew hijack a British ship carrying expensive cargo and weapons, he discovers that the vessel was sailing to an island where the people have started a rebellion against the king. In an effort to profit from the situation, Vallo decides to take the ship to the island where he plans to sell the cargo to the people and take their leader in for a reward, but his plan changes when he meets the rebels.

The Crimson Pirate is a sensational comedy-adventure that playfully pokes fun at the traditional swashbuckling film with tongue-and-cheek humor and action sequences while still delivering a serious contribution to the genre. The movie also features Lancaster showcasing his impressive acrobatic skills with rigorous physical stunts, adding a dazzling flare to his overall performance. The Crimson Pirate was commended for being a thrilling throwback to the early days of the film genre, with many favorably comparing Lancaster and his riveting performance to the work of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., who was a pivotal star of the silent swashbuckling classic.

4

‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1940)

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

Tyrone Power stars in the 1940 swashbuckler classic, The Mark of Zorro, as Don Diego de la Vega, who, after returning to Alta California, is horrified by the state’s new and corrupt governor, Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg) treatment of the people. Unable to stand by, Vega takes on the persona of the masked outlaw, El Zorro, who becomes a champion and defender of the people against Quintero and his brutal forces.

The Mark of Zorro is a remake of the 1920 silent film of the same name and is based on the 1919 novel The Curse of Capistrano, written by Johnston McCulley, which tells the origin story of the dashing vigilante, Zorro, who, today, is an icon of the swashbuckler genre. Power delivers a delightfully suave and sharp performance, diligently laying the groundwork for the timeless hero. The Mark of Zorro received generally positive reviews and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Musical Score. While there have been several remakes and adaptations of McCulley’s infamous outlaw, The Mark of Zorro is considered by many to be one of the greatest swashbuckler classics of all time, rightfully earning its place on this definitive list.

3

‘The Sea Hawk’ (1940)

Directed by Michael Curtiz

As Spain prepares to invade England, Queen Elizabeth I (Flora Robson) hires a British privateer, Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn), to loot Spanish ships in an effort to weaken the country’s armada. When Thorpe captures the ship carrying the Spanish ambassador, Don José Álvarez de Córdoba (Claude Rains), he is taken to England with his niece, Doña Maria (Brenda Marshall), who immediately captures Thorpe’s love and affection.

The Sea Hawk is another essential swashbuckler classic starring Flynn, which also marked the actor’s tenth collaboration with director, Michael Curtiz. The movie is a perfect combination of a sword-wielding action adventure and an alluring love story that meets all the basic requirements of a solid swashbuckler story, deeming it to be one of the best in the genre. While Flynn is as charismatic and dashing as ever, Rains also gives a sublime performance as a villainous conspirator, as well as Robson, who delivers an intriguing portrayal of the notable Queen of England.

2

‘Captain Blood’ (1935)

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Flynn stars in his breakthrough performance as Dr. Peter Blood, who, after treating a man who was wounded in the rebellion against King James II, is charged with treason and sold into slavery. After being sent to Port Royal, Blood is bought by the niece of a military commander, Arabella Bishop (Olivia de Havilland), who is drawn to Blood’s rebellious spirit. While Blood is grateful for the kindness of Arabella, who tries to recommend him as a physician to others in medical need, he and the other slaves escape to join a life of piracy, becoming a notorious buccaneer of the high seas.

Captain Blood was the first of eight movies starring Flynn and de Havilland, who were one of the most popular on-screen couples during Hollywood’s Golden Age. While the film was a major milestone for de Havilland and her career, Captain Blood ultimately established Flynn as one of the biggest box office draws, elevating him to the pinnacle of stardom and a promising leading man of the classic swashbuckler film. Captain Blood was both a commercial and critical success, becoming one of Warner Bros. most profitable films of the year and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

1

‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ (1938)

Directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley

After King Richard is captured by enemy forces, his brother, Prince John (Claude Rains) names himself as king regent of England and enforces a tax on the Saxons under the guise that it’s to be used to pay a ransom for his imprisoned brother. When a Saxon knight, Sir Robin of Locksley (Errol Flynn), accuses Prince John of treason, he rounds up his band of merry men and prepares to fight for their rightful king and defend the crown against the treacherous prince.

Flynn stars in one of his most famous roles as the iconic Robin Hood in The Adventures of Robin Hood, and is joined by an exceptional supporting cast including Basil Rathbone, Eugene Platt, and Olivia de Havilland as the lovely Maid Marian. The film was a massive success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year, with Flynn’s marvelous performance ultimately setting the standard for not only the classic swashbuckling hero but also the blueprint of the now-infamous Robin Hood. The Adventures of Robin Hood earned several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and went on to win for Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.

NEXT: The 10 Best Movie Sword Fights, Ranked