IMDb > The 13th Warrior (1999)
The 13th Warrior
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The 13th Warrior (1999) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   33,348 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 24% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John McTiernan
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Writers (WGA):
Michael Crichton (novel)
William Wisher Jr. (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The 13th Warrior on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 August 1999 (USA) more
Tagline:
Fear reigns. more
Plot:
In AD 922, an important emissary who is banished from his homeland. The nomadic outcast comes across... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(26 articles)
1999: A Year In Review (Part One)
 (From Screen Rant. 7 October 2009, 9:07 AM, PDT)

Tiff '09 Review: 'Solomon Kane'
 (From FEARnet. 14 September 2009, 9:02 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Beowulf meets Die Hard more (511 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Antonio Banderas ... Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan

Vladimir Kulich ... Buliwyf
Dennis Storhøi ... Herger - Joyous (as Dennis Storhoi)
Daniel Southern ... Edgtho - Silent
Neil Maffin ... Roneth
John DeSantis ... Ragnar - Dour (as John Desantis)
Clive Russell ... Helfdane - Fat
Mischa Hausserman ... Rethel - Archer
Oliver Sveinall ... Haltaf - Boy

Asbjørn 'Bear' Riis ... Halga - Wise (as Asbjorn Riis)
Richard Bremmer ... Skeld - Superstitious

Tony Curran ... Weath - Musician
Albie Woodington ... Hyglak - Quarrelsome

Omar Sharif ... Melchisidek

Erick Avari ... Caravan Leader (as Eric Avari)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Eaters of the Dead (USA) (working title)
The Thirteenth Warrior
The Vikings (USA) (working title)
Le 13ème guerrier (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
13 Warriors (Japan: English title) [en]
13 guerreros (Argentina) [es]
13 ratnik (Serbia) [sr]
13üncü savasçi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
13. Soturi (Finland) [fi]
Al 13-lea razboinic (Romania) [ro]
Den 13. kriger (Denmark) [da]
Den 13:e krigaren (Sweden) [sv]
Der 13. Krieger (Germany) [de]
El guerrero nº 13 (Spain) [es]
Il 13º guerriero (Italy) [it]
Il tredicesimo guerriero (Italy) [it]
Le Treizième guerrier (France) [fr]
Los trece guerreros (Venezuela) [es]
O Último Viking (Portugal) [pt]
O 13º Guerreiro (Brazil) [pt]
O 13os polemistis (Greece) [el]
Schwarze Nebel (Austria) [de]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for bloody battles and carnage.
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Latin
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
British Columbia, Canada more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Since Michael Crichton published his novel "Eaters of the Dead" in 1976, the basis of this film, it has become regarded as one of the most notorious hoaxes in Librarianship Circles. The Ahmad Tusi Manuscript that Crichton referenced in his bibliography as being the source of this story, is completely made up. The name of the translator Fraus Dolus is in fact two Latin words meaning both 'hoax' and 'fraud'. The University of Oslo, where this manuscript is supposed to be kept, have (since the book was published), on an annual basis had to send out letters telling enquirers that they have been the victim of a hoax. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In the final battle scene, when some of the Wendol fall off their horses after being hit, their modern days boots with soles are visible. more
Quotes:
[Ahmed rides out to the watchtower, and finds it empty]
Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: [shouting] Edgtho? Edgtho?
Edgtho the Silent: [from a nearby tree] Stifle your racket, I hear you.
Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: Thought to find you in the tower.
Edgtho the Silent: Yeah. Why I'm not in it.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#23.2)" (2000) more

FAQ

Will there ever be an extended cut, special edition and/or DVD released containing the original 127 min. version directed by John McTiernan?
more
76 out of 92 people found the following comment useful.
Beowulf meets Die Hard, 17 January 2005
10/10
Author: Gafke from United States

In the early years of the 10th century, an exiled Arabian nobleman falls in with a band of Vikings. Disgusted by their poor hygiene and their barbaric ways, he nevertheless reluctantly agrees to accompany them to a distant kingdom, where an unspeakable menace terrorizes the land.

This is an interesting interpretation of the tale of Beowulf, with the monster Grendel transformed into the fierce Wendol, a tribe of cannibalistic Neanderthals who have somehow survived long past their time. Despite the fact that Banderas is the title character and credited as the star, he is not the hero here at all. The band of 13 is led by the huge and intimidating Buliwyf (read Beowulf), a hero among his people who must battle both the Wendol and their deadly "mother." Alexander Gudonov lookalike Vladimir Kulich is the hero of this film, and delivers a strong, amazing performance. Banderas spends much of the film bumbling, stumbling, screwing up and trying to keep up with the Vikings, who look upon him with contempt but finally, perhaps grudgingly, accept him.

Okay, so it's not entirely historically accurate and suffers from production problems and an occasional overdose of testosterone, but it's not a bad movie by any means. The casting is great, with standout performances by the aforementioned Kulich as well as Dennis Storhoi as Herger, Banderas's translator and only friend; the handsome Scottish actor Tony Curran (in an unlikely kilt, but who cares?!?!) as the Celt Weath and the woefully underrated Richard Bremmer as the intimidating tattooed redheaded (and damn sexy!) Skeld. The film was worth watching for these three men alone, but then, I am female and perhaps a bit prejudiced in my opinions. These guys are HOT! But, I digress...

Beautiful scenery, tense and bloody battles and a claustrophobic climax in a bone strewn cave lift this movie well above average. There's something for everyone here; fans of horror, fans of action, fans of classic literature should all find something to enjoy about this film. It may not be the best film ever made, but its still one of my very favorites.

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Translation Observation? tyrantsoftheworld
More Viking Films Needed 007ard
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Other underrated movies? 007ard
Comparing 13th warrior with beowulf? poop_sickle
Bowl Spitting. Vinterwulf
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