Viking films occupy a strange but fascinating corner of cinema and one, as Snus Vikings, you can imagine we love a lot. Some lean heavily into historical realism, others embrace myth and symbolism, and a few take generous creative liberties in the name of entertainment. Ask ten different websites to rank the best Viking movies ever made and you’ll get ten slightly different answers — but patterns do emerge.
By comparing rankings from major film and culture sites, including IMDb-curated lists, ScreenRant, Collider, SlashFilm, Ranker and Norsecraft, we can see which films consistently rise to the top, which divide opinion, and which have earned cult status over time rather than immediate critical praise.
Top 10 Viking Movies – Ranking Comparison
| Film | IMDb Lists | ScreenRant | Collider | SlashFilm | Ranker | Norsecraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Northman (2022) | 1–3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| The 13th Warrior (1999) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Valhalla Rising (2009) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| How to Train Your Dragon (2010) | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — |
| The Vikings (1958) | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Outlander (2008) | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| The Long Ships (1964) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Hammer of the Gods (2013) | — | 8 | — | — | 8 | 7 |
| Pathfinder (2007) | — | 9 | — | — | 9 | 8 |
| Erik the Viking (1989) | — | 10 | — | — | 10 | 9 |
What These Rankings Tell Us
The most obvious takeaway is the dominance of The Northman. Across critic-led sites, it is almost universally ranked first. That consistency reflects how strongly it aligns with modern expectations of Viking cinema: uncompromising brutality, mythological weight, and an obsession with historical detail. Even in fan-driven rankings, where nostalgia often plays a bigger role, it still places near the very top.
The 13th Warrior, however, tells a different story. While critics often rank it slightly lower than The Northman, fan-based platforms like Ranker and IMDb regularly push it to number one. It is my personal choice of a favourite Viking film but I can see how the critics see it differently. While hugely enjoyable and featuring the best Viking death in film history (and the most epic Viking prayer), it is also a bit of a hodgepodge of ideas and can basically be described as "Cowboys and Indians in Norway with Viking Special Forces and an Arab Diplomat", which is never going to get the critics favour.
But it's from an idea by Michael Crichton (author of Jurassic Park, Sphere, Westworld etc), is directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard, Predator, Hunt for Red October) and stars Antonio Banderas, so it's hugely enjoyable; even though it only took $61.7 million worldwide compared to it's budget of $160m (although this might be because it was up against Star Wars: Phantom Menace).
Valhalla Rising consistently appears in the top three on critic-focused sites, but rarely tops fan lists. Its slow pacing, sparse dialogue and symbolic storytelling divide audiences, yet critics continue to reward its atmosphere and thematic ambition. This split neatly illustrates the difference between films that are admired and films that are loved.
The inclusion of How to Train Your Dragon in several top tens underlines how broad the definition of a “Viking movie” has become. While animated and family-friendly, its respectful use of Norse themes, Viking iconography and mythological storytelling earns it a place alongside far darker, more adult films. Its absence from some lists reflects a more traditionalist approach rather than a lack of quality.
Older films like The Vikings and The Long Ships maintain steady positions across nearly all rankings. They may no longer feel gritty by modern standards, but their influence on how Vikings were portrayed on screen for decades is undeniable. Their continued presence suggests respect rather than nostalgia alone.
Lower-ranked entries such as Outlander, Pathfinder, and Hammer of the Gods tend to appear more consistently in extended top tens than near the top. These films often blend Viking themes with fantasy or genre twists, appealing strongly to niche audiences without achieving broad consensus.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, the rankings reveal less about which film is “objectively best” and more about how Viking cinema has evolved. Critics increasingly reward authenticity, atmosphere and mythological depth, while audiences continue to value character, momentum and how much you can rewatch it. The films that succeed across both camps are the ones that endure; that’s why titles like The Northman, The 13th Warrior and Valhalla Rising dominate the conversation time and again.
If Viking films tell us anything, it’s that the legend matters just as much as the history and the best examples manage to honour both.