This A24 Medieval Fantasy Standout Will Be Free To Watch Soon
Love it or argue about it for three straight hours — The Green Knight is one of those movies that refuses to leave your brain. Now, A24’s hypnotic medieval fantasy will be available to stream for free this March, giving audiences another chance to revisit (or finally experience) one of the studio’s most divisive releases.
Directed by David Lowery, the film reimagines the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain with a moody, surreal twist. Dev Patel stars as Gawain, the reckless nephew of King Arthur who accepts a mysterious challenge from the towering, otherworldly Green Knight — a decision that sends him on a haunting journey through temptation, fear, honor, and self-doubt. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander in dual roles, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, and Ralph Ineson as the unforgettable Green Knight.
Upon release, the film sparked intense debate. Some praised its slow-burn atmosphere, philosophical depth, and painterly visuals. Others found its deliberate pacing and ambiguous ending frustrating. Either way, it became one of A24’s most talked-about projects — the kind of fantasy epic that feels more like a dream than a blockbuster.
Is ‘The Green Knight’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that The Green Knight was a darkly beautiful, hauntingly philosophical reimagining of the Arthurian legend — and a crowning achievement for director Lowery. Rather than delivering a straightforward tale of knightly triumph, the film unfolded as a meditative exploration of honor, mortality, and the uneasy space between glory and goodness. Patel’s performance was singled out as essential to the film’s power, grounding the mythic material in vulnerability and sincerity.
“The Green Knight is an astounding film, rich in its visuals, its storytelling, and its themes. For a filmmaker who is constantly challenging himself and finding humanistic values no matter the genre, The Green Knight is a crowning achievement for Lowery, and one that demands to be seen. It is a challenging film, but one where those who choose to meet those challenges and engage with the material will be richly rewarded from a story that has stood the test of time, and with a film that I believe will do the same.”
The Green Knight will stream for free on Kanopy next month.
- Release Date
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July 29, 2021
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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David Lowery
- Writers
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David Lowery
- Producers
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Aaron L. Gilbert, Macdara Kelleher, Edmund Sampson, James M. Johnston, Toby Halbrooks, Tim Headington, Jason Cloth, Theresa Page, Tomas Deckaj, Anjay Nagpal