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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. (from left) Mark Rowley as Finan, Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric and Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die review – gripping spin-off from Netflix show

There’s a ton of plot packed into this standalone movie derived from the TV series, but the deluge of detail gets steadily more absorbing

H ere is a standalone feature film and final capstone in Netflix’s British-made TV series The Last Kingdom, an epic in every sense of the word that’s based on novels by Bernard Cornwell and unfolds in the 10th century, just before the Norman invasion. Even if you’ve never seen a single episode from any of the show’s previous five seasons of dramatised yet highly researched British history, you’ll probably quite like to go back and start watching the whole saga from the beginning because it gets more gripping the more you surrender to it. This is largely down to the thoughtful way it tries to present a society composed of pagan Danes and Christian Saxons – and folks who are a bit of both – trying with some difficulty to all get along.

The main dude is one such mixed-heritage chap named Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), who apparently was born a Saxon but raised by Vikings and believes in the Norse gods. A fearsome warrior wielding a sword with a chunk of amber on the hilt, and a mane of tangled hair shaved at the sides so he looks like a new age traveller from the 1990s, Uhtred is the leader of a community in Northumbria, eschewing the title king. His alliance with the royal family of Wessex to the south is tested when newly crowned King Aethelstan (Harry Gilby) comes to power and is persuaded by his closest adviser Ingilmundr (Laurie Davidson) (a fanatical convert to Christianity) to use this moment to seize control of all Britain’s kingdoms, from the Shetland and Orkney islands to Wessex. There are, as the title might imply, eight kings in all, but the wife of a friend of Uhtred’s with a history of making prophecies foretells that seven of them will die.

There’s a ton of plot crammed tightly into the running time, but director Edward Bazalgette manages the storytelling efficiently, helped by the display of place names at the beginning of each scene explaining which castle we’re at now, as well as how it was known in 900-something, and the name it goes by now. If you like that kind of nerdy attention to detail, you will love this – the saga must be essential viewing for Larp enthusiasts and battle recreators. But, Bazalgette and the film never wink at us, and try to stay true to the mindset of the times, from self-hating gay men who try to purge the “sins” they fear they’ve committed by waging war for Christianity, to the way Dark Age folks treated women and conquered enemies with about an equal amount of contempt. The battle scenes are not quite on the scale of the Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones franchises, but they are pretty spicy and well staged for something that clearly has a far smaller budget.

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‘The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’ Review: Flesh Wounds

Soldiers face off over the fate of England in this overbearingly glib costume drama.

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A 10th-century soldier wearing fur rests his wooden shield on the ground.

By Robert Daniels

Far too often, “The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die,” an incomprehensible period epic based on the five-season television series “The Last Kingdom,” mistakes the mere presence of blood for a compelling narrative.

Set during the 10th century, before England was a united kingdom, the movie, directed by Ed Bazalgette, takes place as the recent death of King Edward and the ascent of his son Aethelstan (Harry Gilby) threaten a fragile peace among the country’s pagan and Christian nation states. The loyal Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), a man of deep honor, wants to avoid a conflict that he thinks will continue for generations.

What occurs is a series of events rather than a story. If you haven’t watched the TV show, itself adapted from novels by the author Bernard Cornwell , then keeping up with the web of allegiances, characters and story lines will prove difficult. In this film alone, Uhtred’s sword is stolen, his land and title are stripped away, and a conniving Danish king, Anlaf (Pekka Strang), seeks to exploit him. Ingilmundr, the lover and Svengali of Aethelstan, also wants to turn the impressionable ruler against Uhtred.

The theme of Christian guilt in the face of homophobia bears no dramatic fruit. The film’s culminating battle isn’t much heartier: The compositions lack clarity, the score of undulating voices is comically clichéd and the visual effects are a dingy, nauseating mess. There are no stakes in a film that not only takes seven royal lives — it snatches several brain cells with them.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

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'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' Review: Netflix's Finale Brings a Fitting End to Uhtred's Journey

The future of England is at stake as a bloody war looms following the death of a king in this finale to the streaming series.

Is conflict over power inevitable? Has every arrangement across the decades just been a forestalling of bloodshed? These are questions that weigh heavy on the mind of the war-weary Uhtred of Bebbanburg ( Alexander Dreymon ) as he returns for one more story in Netflix ’s The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die . An extension of the series that charted everything from the death of his father to the creation of a new ruler and a tentative piece, it is a work that is primarily for those looking for more of this saga. At the same time, it does a sufficient job of establishing all the basic players and fault lines to draw in even those who may be utterly unfamiliar with the story. While this final film can be rather creaky in moments of exposition and blink in the face of delving into the full repercussions of a more complicated conflict, there is something that remains engaging in its exploration of the corruptive nature of power. It is far more confined in narrative focus but is still a fitting end to this long journey.

Seven Kings Must Die begins with the death of King Edward, to who Uhtred had pointedly not sworn allegiance at the end of Season 5 . His son Aethelstan ( Harry Gilby ) has now taken power and is quickly cracking down, killing any who would stand against him in what becomes a religious conquest. Horrified by this, Uhtred is soon confronted with the promise he had made that he would swear allegiance to Edward’s son and unite the lands. He begins to grow concerned that Aethelstan is being given bad counsel by those who would seek to use him for their own purposes. While all this is going on, other power players are beginning to gather in what is said to be the precursor to an inevitable war. Tired of conflict and death, Uhtred clings to the hope that this can be avoided if he can get through to Aethelstan. It is a delicate balancing act — everything is shifting rapidly, with one character saying just before a narrow escape that “loyalties are shifting and factions are forming.” As would be expected with a tighter runtime to the story, much of this is glossed over so that it can focus on ratcheting up the stakes. Yet, much like other releases on the platform that build off a series , it mostly comes together and avoids the trappings of feeling like just an extra-long episode of the show.

Image via Netflix

RELATED: 8 Best Streaming Historical Thrillers, Ranked: From 'The Last Kingdom' to 'Vikings: Valhalla'

Central to this is that Dreymon steps right back into the role of Uhtred as if he had never left while also showing how the character has changed. There is still spark and charm, taunting others even when faced with danger, though this is soon revealed to be armor for his own growing fears. Uhtred seems tired more than anything, the wounds visible on his face merely the tip of the iceberg of what he carries with him. He clings to the belief that he can convince Aethelstan to avert course and pull back the world from the brink of mass death. This may be naive, but Uhtred is desperate for something to protect all those around him. In a scene where he comes to confront Aethelstan, the passion in his voice is cut with pain as he sees this potential for peace slipping away. Similar in some respects to other recent grim stories about rival factions, Seven Kings Must Die is at its best when it begins to peel back the layers about how people who believe they are justified in their actions can destroy those they care about and even themselves.

There is a more haunting feeling woven throughout Seven Kings Must Die when it faces down the prospect that the villains of this world are those Uhtred once believed might be its salvation. Alas, the story does let itself off the hook with regard to grappling with these questions and instead capitulates to telling a more neat narrative. The cascading of betrayals and backstabbing, all of which carry with them increasingly heavier costs, are resolved as if they almost didn’t even happen. The more interesting narrative direction that was pursued initially is something the story offers itself an out of as it marches towards a more conventional conclusion. While there was unlikely to be an ending that was solely depressing, there is something a bit disappointing in how this follow-up film seems to pull its punches. To spend much of the experience laying out just how fractured everything is, only to put all the pieces together in the end, feels odd. All is just smoothed over as the story pushes towards a final battle where the conflict is more clear-cut as opposed to being complicated by past relationships.

That being said, this final sequence is an almost poetic one in how it echoes a tactic that kicked off the very beginning of The Last Kingdom ’s first season. It may not be as thrilling in its choreography as a work like The Woman King , but that isn't the point when it embraces the brutality of this battle. There is blood, piss, and vomit as two opposing forces just smash into each other. For all the ways that characters might be talented fighters, there is no escaping the crushing meat grinder that surrounds them on all sides. It is claustrophobic and terrifying, stripping away any sense of glory to show just how devastating it is. A brief final speech by Uhtred leading up to the fight abandons excess sentimentality, frankly laying out the stakes and expressing how he will stand with them to the end. There are even a couple jokes that end with ripples of laughter going out along the line, including one about how the men all must smell awful. It is as grimy as it is grim, holding nothing back from confronting the fact that all Uhtred tried to avoid still ended with them all paying a heavy price.

Though the film remains too enamored with focusing on what is again an overly neat and tidy close to this saga, with one final shot proving to be out of place in how it pulls us out of this world, the road it took to get there remains sufficiently satisfying. When all the dust settles, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a flawed yet fitting finale that serves as a send-off to Uhtred of Bebbanburg and the bloody life he did everything to find a way clear of.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is now streaming on Netflix.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review – the grand finale to a historically detailed Netflix series

the-last-kingdom-seven-kings-must-die-review

We review the 2023 Netflix film The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, which does not contain spoilers.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die   is the final send-off to a series that has been on Netflix since 2015.  The Last Kingdom   has been a massive draw for the streaming service for the past five years. The series did come to an end in 2022, and this movie was made for television.

The series was based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories series of novels . For fans of historical fiction, this Netflix series was adapted quite well.

Even though it is an extension of the final season ( see: The Last Kingdom Season 5 Review ), the decision to incorporate so much in a two-hour film was undoubtedly a choice.

Fans wanted another season because there is still so much story left to tell, but this movie was the compromise for everyone.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review and Plot Summary

In the wake of King Edward’s death, Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his comrades come across a fractured kingdom, hoping to finally unite England. Uhtred is the leader of a people in Northumbria, and his alliance with the royal family of Wessex to the south is tested when newly crowned King Aethelstan comes to power.

His right-hand man advised him to use this particular moment to gain control of Britain.

READ: Best Netflix Movies of All Time

The title of the film  Seven Kings Must Die  is a prophecy that Uhtred’s wife foresees. There are eight kings in total in the kingdom, but she has said that seven will most definitely die and that one will reign.

Instead of a generic fight for the crown, the prophecy adds another layer to the ongoing battle.

Is The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die good or bad?

The Last Kingdom  has a reasonably wide fanbase for Netflix, so fans of the series will appreciate the work done in this film. As a standalone film, it is a good story that works in much of what could have been used in an entire season on television.

It’s a period piece that will make fans of the series very happy, and those who appreciate historical fiction feast while watching. It is repetitive as the director Edward Bazalgette and writer Martha Hillier make sure the audience understands that “seven kings must die.”

Is The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die worth watching?

The one downfall of this standalone film is that too much is happening at once. It is plot-heavy, even though there are battles throughout, but it’s a lot to take in. If you’re a fan, you already know the characters and the locations, but if you’re going in blind to this, it’s a bit difficult to follow.

If you enjoy historical fiction and have nothing else to watch this weekend, this will be a nice compact two hours filled with everything you love. However, for those who aren’t fans of the genre or the series, the character dynamics don’t hold this together, and it feels cluttered for most of the film.

What did you think of the 2023 Netflix film The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die? Comment below.

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Article by Amanda Guarragi

Amanda Guarragi joined Ready Steady Cut as an Entertainment Writer in June 2022. She is a Toronto-based film critic who has covered TIFF, Sundance Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and HorrorFest International. Amanda is also a growing YouTuber, with her channel Candid Cinema growing in popularity.

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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Reviews

movie review 7 kings must die

The movie is a rushed mess, trampling over characters from the show, throwing together a conflict that is both jarring and unnecessary, and creating stakes that feel forced at best. It’s hard to care about any of it.

Full Review | Jun 13, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

A gripping epic history drama on England is set in the turbulent days of the 10th century.

Full Review | Original Score: B | May 10, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

The movie Seven Kings Must Die wraps up the Netflix show The Last Kingdom with a corny flourish that’s not always successful and mostly echoes the high points of the show during its peak.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 25, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

In what feels like a fitting conclusion to a story that so many love, Seven Kings Must Die heightens the stakes and nails the tone. The run-time doesn’t fully allow it to deliver, but the film works as a whole.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 25, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

The movie delivers viscerally exciting fight scenes and a strong sense of what life was like in an ancient, unsettled world.

Full Review | Apr 24, 2023

Seven Kings Must Die delivers a fitting, feature-film finish to an underappreciated show.

Full Review | Apr 21, 2023

The acting is above average for movies like this, where, typically, the actors are more about the fight scenes than delivering their lines in a credible manner.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 20, 2023

It’s a period piece that will make fans of the series very happy, and those who appreciate historical fiction will feast while watching.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 15, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

Creative camera work and immersive battle choreography are complemented by charismatic and devious characters all topped off by a gripping narrative.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

Seven Kings Must Die is a fitting, frenetic end to The Last Kingdom journey... [though] it might not be as accessible to newcomers as the producers hope.

Full Review | Apr 14, 2023

The audience receives a more proper closure through The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die than with just its series...While the blood, sweat, and tears of the series don’t transfer entirely to the film, newcomers will still find it a thrilling watch

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

“The Last Kingdom” mistakes the mere presence of blood for a compelling narrative.

movie review 7 kings must die

When all the dust settles, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a flawed yet fitting finale that serves as a send-off to Uhtred of Bebbanburg and the bloody life he did everything to find a way clear of.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

Retaining all of the charm — and carnage — of the acclaimed series while condensing it to a two-hour film, Seven Kings Must Die does right by fans of The Last Kingdom for the final (?) adventure of Uhtred, son of Uhtred.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

Where “Seven Kings Must Die” is most interesting... is in its approach to religion, sexuality and culture.

There’s a ton of plot crammed tightly into the running time, but director Edward Bazalgette manages the storytelling efficiently...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

If you loved The Last Kingdom as a series, you’ll be very pleased with this final slice of medieval warrior life.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 14, 2023

movie review 7 kings must die

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The last kingdom: seven kings must die, common sense media reviewers.

movie review 7 kings must die

Medieval violence abounds in intense historical fantasy.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die movie poster: Uhtred with sword.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Uhtred cares more for the king and his soldiers th

Some secondary female characters have active roles

Medieval battle violence throughout. Basically, th

Two men passionately kiss in one scene; implied se

Some profanity, including "c--k," "s--t," "arse,"

Boisterous drinking in alehouses in some scenes.

Parents need to know that The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a medieval fantasy movie in which kings and armies scheme to unite England in the 10th century. Expect a lot of medieval fighting violence, including an extended battle between two armies that basically comprises the third act. Lots of blood…

Positive Role Models

Uhtred cares more for the king and his soldiers than he does about attaining personal glory.

Diverse Representations

Some secondary female characters have active roles as spies or fighters.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Medieval battle violence throughout. Basically, the third act is one big battle between opposing forces, all wielding swords, hatchets, bows and arrows, etc. Blood spurts. Lots of fighters killed. A character is executed by blade to the back of the neck, with graphic sound and blood. Hanging execution.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Two men passionately kiss in one scene; implied sex. Kings and soldiers make innuendo-laced jokes about this affair between the two men.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Some profanity, including "c--k," "s--t," "arse," "bastard."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a medieval fantasy movie in which kings and armies scheme to unite England in the 10th century. Expect a lot of medieval fighting violence, including an extended battle between two armies that basically comprises the third act. Lots of blood spurts and dead bodies. There's a graphic execution in which a man is stabbed in the back of the neck with an ax, with blood spurts and sound effects, plus a hanging death. Two men are shown passionately kissing in one scene; sex is implied. Some drinking occurs in alehouses. Occasional strong language includes "c--k," "s--t," "arse," and "bastard." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die: Uhtred prepares for battle.

Community Reviews

  • Parents say (1)
  • Kids say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In THE LAST KINGDOM: SEVEN KINGS MUST DIE, it's the aftermath of King Edward's death, and Aethelstan (Harry Gilby) is to inherit the throne. But Aethelstan is young and under the questionable influence of his adviser, Ingilmundr ( Laurie Davidson ), who advocates for violence and oppression at every turn. As Uhtred ( Alexander Dreymon ) witnesses what's happening, he's also aware that rival kings and the Danes are seeking to claim England for themselves. All the while, Uhtred and his men are aware of the haunting prophecy "Seven kings must die." Uhtred must find a way to convince Aethelstan that Ingilmundr has betrayed his trust and must raise an army to stop the rival kings' armies so that Aethelstan can rule a united England.

Is It Any Good?

This is an entertaining, if violent, medieval war movie. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a sequel based on the television program, but it stands on its own as a worthy story. There are betrayals and shifting alliances aplenty, but the story doesn't fly off the rails as these plot twists happen. It's very violent, though, and the third act is basically one big battle scene not terribly different from the climactic battle scene in Braveheart .

Edward Bazalgette's direction is steady and effective throughout, and here's a fun fact for you '80s New Wave fans out there: Bazalgette is also in the band The Vapors, who gave the world the one-hit wonder "Turning Japanese." The acting is above average for movies like this, where, typically, the actors are more about the fight scenes than delivering their lines in a credible manner. And the dialogue isn't excruciating, unlike in so many of these movies with their constant lines on the order of "Fulfill your destiny!" etc.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about movies based on TV shows like The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die . What would be the challenges in adapting a TV show into a movie?

This is based on historical events. How accurately do you think the movie portrays what happened? Where do you think it took liberties for the sake of the story?

Was the violence a necessary component of the story, or did it seem excessive? Why?

Movie Details

  • On DVD or streaming : April 14, 2023
  • Cast : Alexander Dreymon , Harry Gilby , Laurie Davidson
  • Director : Edward Bazalgette
  • Inclusion Information : Female writers
  • Studio : Netflix
  • Genre : Action/Adventure
  • Topics : Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More
  • Run time : 111 minutes
  • MPAA rating : NR
  • Last updated : May 8, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Seven Kings Must Die

Seven Kings Too Many

The closing movie to ‘The Last Kingdom’ saga puts what’s good about the series in shorthand

The movie Seven Kings Must Die wraps up the Netflix show The Last Kingdom with a corny flourish that’s not always successful and mostly echoes the high points of the show during its peak, its first three seasons.

The Last Kingdom, based on the old-fashioned historical novels of Bernard Cornwell , became one of the best Netflix series of all time by following a simple formula: it’s a mix of swashbuckling action, absurd melodrama, gallows humor bordering on the scatological, with a dash of history, anchored by a legendary performance from German actor Alexander Dreymon as Uthred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon lord raised by Danish invaders. He’s a man of divided loyalties caught in the tides of British history between the Dark and Early Middle Ages, between paganism and Christianity, and between the sheets of many beautiful women.

Seven Kings Must Die contains all the basic elements of a Last Kingdom storyline. Uthred must choose between his king and his Danish roots. He must defend his home, and when he fails to do so, he ends up wandering melodramatically in the wilderness. Meanwhile, scheming assholes scheme assholishly, and seemingly peaceful Christian priests wield surprisingly effective swords. The film features filial betrayals, daring rescues, people wearing ample fur, lots of blood and dirt, and one epic battle scene featuring a shield wall that filled me, as a great fan of The Last Kingdom, with much nostalgia.

But unlike most pop-culture properties, which could definitely stand a little editing to rid themselves of narrative bloat, Seven Kings Must Die has the opposite problem. Part of the fun of The Last Kingdom was that it went on for 10 hours a season, leaving ample time for narrative reversals, betrayals and un-betrayals, shifting loyalties, and intense cliffhangers. In one season, Uthred spent half the time as a prisoner aboard a slave ship, and yet by the end, there he stood on the front lines of King Alfred’s Army again. He goes from Dane to servant of the king, and back again. He loves and loses tragically. In another season, he spent several episodes under the erotic spell of a crazy woman pretending to be a witch. Yet by the end, there he was again, taking the knee.

The series-ending movie has all these elements as well, but they pass by quickly, almost in code, telling its loyal viewers “you know the story beats, let’s just skip them and get to the uniting of England”. But no one actually cares about the uniting of England, which was not yet posh in the 9th century. They want to see Uthred hoist a flagon with his mates and tell the royal advisers to go screw. Uthred has his moment of shame, but he’s in court 10 minutes later begging the king’s forgiveness.

At its peak, Uthred had a great foil in King Alfred, played with wonderful wit and subtlety by the British actor David Dawson. He also had a dark shadow in his childhood love Brita, played by Emily Cox, who turned into a vengeful warrior queen, and an appealing love interest in the angelic Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia, played by the ridiculously beautiful British model Millie Brady.

In the movie, all those characters have gone, and only Uthred remains, along with his loyal buddies Finan and The Other Guy, as well as a few other minor characters. He has control of his fortress, so all that remains is to conclude the story of the uniting of England, a country no one gives a toss about any more, not even the English. The king is weak and boring, the ladies unappealing, and the remaining Danish marauders distinctly uncharismatic compared with those in previous seasons. It’s always nice to see Uthred and the gang, but the gang’s not all here anymore, so what’s the point?

Finally, there is the “Seven Kings” angle. When three of the Kings represent the Isle of Man, the Orkney Islands, and the Shetland Islands, you just have to laugh. These days, we call those “Mayors.” A movie called Seven Kings Must DIET, now that I would watch. It would also fit in very well on Netflix’s slate.

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movie review 7 kings must die

Neal Pollack

Book and Film Globe Editor in Chief Neal Pollack is the author of 12 semi-bestselling books of fiction and nonfiction, including the memoirs Alternadad and Stretch , the novels Repeat and Downward-Facing Death , and the cult classic The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature . A Rotten Tomatoes certified reviewer for both film and television, Neal has written articles and humor for every English-language publication except The New Yorker. Neal lives in Austin, Texas, and is a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

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Den of Geek

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review – Overstuffed But Underfilled

Fast-forwarding this story to the end for a Netflix movie did it a disservice, but at least the shield walls and the action remain intact.

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The Last Kingdom  TV series (2015 – 2022) was a pretty glorious adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories. Like the books, it played merry hell with historical fact, but won fans over with action and heart. The tale of Saxon-born, Danish-raised warrior Uhtred Ragnarsson pinballing between enmity and mentorship with Saxon kings as he sought to reclaim his familial lands struck the right note between sincerity, humour and bloody action. 

Over five seasons, the show covered the first ten of Cornwell’s novels before ending, which left three books unadapted. Enter: Netflix movie  Seven Kings Must Die  to wrap things up. We join Uhtred several years after his return to Bebbanburg, when Edward the Elder’s succession is being contested by sons Aelfweard and Aethelstan, and Danish invader Anlaf is making dangerous alliances in the north. Immediately, we’re back in the thick of it: ungrateful Saxon kings, scheming traitors and more names beginning with A than anybody can make sense of. 

Zero time is wasted getting this busy story going. Like the start of a new series, it’s straight into the plot, which sees an older Uhtred pulled out of retirement to once again clean up a royal Saxon mess. That’s been caused by King Edward’s young successor Aethelstan (Harry Gilby), whose internal struggle has left him vulnerable to radicalisation from new advisor Ingilmundr (Laurie Davidson). We drop in on multiple locations from Glastonbury to Aylesbury to Bamburgh to York to Winchester to the Isle of Man and more, and on multiple people scheming to seize power. 

What’s missing from this packed, location-hopping story are many of the characters we knew and loved from the series. Uhtred’s there with brothers in arms Finan, Sihtric, Father Pyrlig and Aldhelm, but that’s our lot. Hild, Eadith, Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra, Aethelflaed’s daughter Aelfwynn and Queen Aelswith – all carefully preserved to survive the end of the TV show – are missing and their off-screen deaths go unmentioned. It feels abrupt and… callous?  The Last Kingdom ’s women were always central to it success. Not to give them an ending or barely a namecheck seems like a betrayal. 

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Character churn is built in to a story as violent and long-ranging as this one, but no attempt has been made to fill the gap. We get seven kings in Martha Hillier’s screenplay, yes, but Elaine Cassidy’s strong performance as Queen Eadgifu aside, there’s barely a woman between them. It’s like holding a reunion but only sending out half the invitations.

Without the relationships carefully built up by the series over the years,  Seven Kings Must Die  lacks warmth, but certainly doesn’t lack for action. The complicated alliances and betrayals of the film’s first hour serve to deliver its headline act: a crowd-pleasing extended battle. Director Ed Bazelgette, who gave us the best battle sequences in the series, hits all the old favourites: an outnumbered army, a cunning military ploy from Uhtred, last-minute reinforcements, blood and mud flying, and of course, multiple cries of  The Last Kingdom ’s battlefield catchphrase “Shield WAAAAAALLL!” 

It’s a victory lap, essentially, for Alexander Dreymon’s Uhtred, a repeat performance of his greatest hits. Fans have seen it all before – Danes trying to lure him into betraying the Saxon crown while the Saxon crown abuses him, his kickass mastery at climactic battles…

Dreymon does a great job as ever, and we see plenty of Uhtred the warrior and Uhtred the leader, but without his lovers or his daughter Stiorra, there’s a little less of Uhtred the man. Having resolved most of his conflicts and grief during the TV series, there’s a sense that his story had already come to a satisfying conclusion before this film started. The result is almost two hours of fast-paced action that underdelivers when it comes to emotion. 

That makes sense when you consider that the TV show was able to devote four to five hours of screentime for the first ten books – ample to build beloved characters and guest star enemies before rounding everything off with a pivotal battle.  Seven Kings Must Die  has under two hours to cover three entire books, making the result understandably overstuffed but also somehow under-filled. It’s a fond farewell to a beloved character that offers closure on the ‘will England be formed?’ question, but doesn’t feel like an essential chapter of this story.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is available to stream now on Netflix .

Louisa Mellor

Louisa Mellor | @Louisa_Mellor

Louisa Mellor is the Den of Geek UK TV Editor. She has written about TV, film and books for Den of Geek since 2010, and for…

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‘Seven Kings Must Die’ Ending Explained: Does Uhtred Die?

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  • Seven Kings Must Die

‘Seven Kings Must Die’ Marks a “Bittersweet” Farewell For ‘The Last Kingdom’s Tight-Knit Cast and Crew

Stream it or skip it: ‘seven kings must die’ on netflix, a bloody finale to ‘the last kingdom’, ‘seven kings must die’ star and ep alexander dreymon tears up talking about his ‘last kingdom’ co-stars.

The new Netflix action flick Seven Kings Must Die finally wraps up the saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg ( Alexander Dreymon ), the unification of England, and the story started by The Last Kingdom . We finally learn what happens when young Aethelstan ( Harry Gilby ) takes the throne and it’s, uh, not great. Aethelstan becomes a brother-killing, city-plundering, treaty-breaking little tyrant under the guidance of one Ingilmundr ( Laurie Davidson ). Aethelstan’s actions force an alliance of all the rival kings and a major showdown at the Battle of Brunanburh. How does Uhtred’s strategy change the course of English history? How do the titular seven kings die? And does Uhtred die at the end of The Last Kingdom movie Seven Kings Must Die ?

Spoilers for all of Seven Kings Must Die , but it turns out that Ingilmundr isn’t the Christian reformer he’s presenting himself as. Ingilmundr is a secret Danish spy who has been seducing Aethelstan and pushing him to conquer the rival territories in order to unite the other kingdoms against Mercia. Uhtred realizes this when he is brought into the confidence of the Danes. While the other kings want him to declare himself King of Northumbria to join their cause, Uhtred notices that Ingilmundr is among their number. He returns to a sacked Bebbanburg, rallies his friends and goes to help a defeated Aethelstan. Uhtred and his allies launch a daring plan to survive battle against the united kings’ forces.

So what happens? Do Uhtred’s shield walls fall? Does Aethelstan die? DOES UHTRED DIE?!? And how did Ingrith’s (Ilona Chevakova) prophecy come true? Here’s everything you need to know about the ending of Seven Kings Must Die …

How Did the Prophecy in Seven Kings Must Die Come True?

Early on in Seven Kings Must Die , Finan (Mark Rowley) reveals that his wife Ingrith had a prophetic dream. She shyly tells Uhtred that seven kings and the woman you love must die before England can become united. Uhtred shrugs this off because he doesn’t currently have a lover, but when news arrives that King Edward has died, Finan says he’s the first king down. Six more to go.

When Uhtred meets with the council of kings, he shares this prophecy. One of the kings laughs it off, explaining that if you kill a king, another will simply rise in his place. After all, he’s got a son. Anlaf (Pekka Strong), a daughter. Through their children, kings cannot die, but live forever.

When Uhtred finally returns to Bebbanburg with Finan and Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius), they discover that the city has been sacked. The surviving women and children were entombed alive by massive boulders. When Uhtred and Finan finally pull Finan’s wife Ingrith from this horrific tomb, they recall that Ingrith was looking at Finan when she said, “The woman you love must die.” Not Uhtred. Ingrith was the woman who had to die.

Realizing that Aethelstan has been tricked into a position of utter weakness, Uhtred rallies around his friend at the Battle of Brunanburh. There, five of the children of the rival kings are killed. When the kings regroup, they realize they’ve lost too much in the fight against Aethelstan. Because they’re children are dead, the kings and their legacies are dead, too.

So one king died in the beginning of the film, five died “spiritually” on the battlefield, and Ingrith died, too. Who is the seventh king? Well, it’s probably Uhtred…

Seven Kings Must Die Ending Explained: Does Uhtred Die?

Perhaps the biggest mystery at the end of Seven Kings Must Die ? DID UHTRED DIE?!?!

The Last Kingdom and Seven Kings Must Die executive producer Nigel Marchant told Decider that, “You’re going to have to make your own call on that. Which is unhelpful, but it leaves it open to an audience about how they want to, you know, Uhtred isn’t gonna last forever? “

“So I think that’s a lovely thing about the end of this show is there’s an ambiguity in there for an audience to decide was that the end or did he fight another day. And you’ll see at the end we kind of come out of – to the real history, as it were.”

Marchant is, of course, referring to how the final shot reveals that the fortress at Bebbanburg still stands today. Albeit, there have been considerable renovations to the fort since Uhtred’s days.

That said, it seems like Uhtred does die at the end of Seven Kings Must Die . After all, he suffered a grievous injury during the battle. While he awoke back in his home, surrounded by friends and family, he sees a vision of the halls of Valhalla as the film comes to a close. Waiting there are some of his closest friends, foes, and allies who have passed…including Brida (Emily Cox).

Supposing Uhtred does die, who does he see in cameo format in his vision of Valhalla?

Who Did Uhtred See in Valhalla in Seven Kings Must Die ? Cameos From Brida, Magnus, and More

Even if somehow Uhtred managed to pull through that final scene, he got a glimpse of the afterlife: the great feast hall of Valhalla, where warriors who are killed in battle are spirited to by the Valkyries. Not only that, but Uhtred sees four familiar faces who are waiting for him there.

“There’s a few surprises near the end that you might pick up on, all kinds of cameos in there,” Marchant teased Decider before we saw the film, and now we know what he meant! The Last Kingdom fans will recognize Brida, Earl Ragnar (Peter Gantzler), Clapa (Magnus Samuelsson), and Haesten (Jeppe Beck Laursen) celebrating in Valhalla.

The biggest cameo is obviously Brida, Uhtred’s childhood friend, first love, and eventual enemy. She was killed towards the end of Season 5. Earl Ragnar was the Danish warlord who became Uhtred and Brida’s foster father, teaching the Saxon-born children to be warriors and pagans. Clapa was a loyal member of Uhtred’s original household guard who was felled by an axe in an earlier season. Finally, Haesten started off as a villain Last Kingdom fans loved to love and eventually became an ally.

If Uhtred does indeed die in Seven Kings Must Die , then at least we know he’ll be reunited with some of our favorite Last Kingdom characters.

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movie review 7 kings must die

The Ending Of The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Explained

Uhtred is ready to fight

"The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" is the epic sequel and conclusion to the series of the same name , based on author Bernard Cornwall's "The Saxon Stories," about key players in the formation of England more than 1000 years ago. But viewers need not have read the books or kept up with the five season historical drama in order to press play on the culminating feature-length film. Indeed, if Netflix rankings are any indication, it seems plenty of subscribers new to the franchise have given "Seven Kings Must Die" a try. 

While it certainly enhances the experience to have spent time with Uhtred of Bebbanburg ( Alexander Dreymon, returning to the lead role ) in Northumbria, the filmmakers pepper "Seven Kings"  with enough title cards and subtle exposition to quickly bring the audience up to speed. But that doesn't mean it's easy to understand everything that happens in this briskly-paced, action-packed, truth-and-fiction-blending hour and 51 minutes. 

There are just as many, if not more, new characters in the "Seven Kings Must Die" cast list, not to mention as much palace intrigue as in "Game of Thrones," as much territorial and religious strife as can be found in "Vikings," and as much brutally choreographed violence as is present in both. "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively speaking. It all leads up to an important moment in history and a resolution for Uhtred which might require further explanation. Below is a breakdown of what happens, what it means, and how it compares to history.

Ingrith makes a grave prediction

Fans of historical fiction and fantasy know that a prophecy is a convenient way of framing a story, especially when the outcome of that story is already well-known (as is the case here for anyone tempted to type "Aethelstan" or "The Battle of Brunanburh" into their search engine of choice). Early in the film, Ingrith (Ilona Chevakova), the wife of Uhtred's right hand man and the narrator, Finan (Mark Rowley), has the same dream three times. She believes herself to be a seer and shares the message with her husband and her lord. That message: for England to be united at long last, seven kings must die. When pressed by Uhtred to repeat the prophecy, she adds one final stipulation. Seven kings must die... and the woman he loves. Or so that's what Uhtred hears. But the reigning Lord of Bebbanburg in Northumbria isn't and doesn't want to be a king, and he has no woman. 

However, mere seconds after Ingrith first speaks of her vision, Queen Eadgifu arrives in Bebbanburg with news that King Edward is dead. In theory, that's one king down. Eadgifu is seeking sanctuary for herself and her young son, Edmund, as the political climate is suddenly uncertain, and Finan can't help but fear Ingrith's dreams might've foretold the future after all. From there, "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" makes viewers wonder if the prophecy will come true, and if so, which kings will become victims of destiny. 

The King's death leaves behind a power vacuum

In the opening scene, when news of King Edward's illness has spread, Danish King Anlaf — invading Northumbria under cover of darkness — remarks that "Saxons always turn on each other" when a king dies. Sure enough, Edward succumbs to an undisclosed illness offscreen, and the various players immediately begin vying for power. In voiceover, Finan suggests that Anlaf hopes to exploit this. 

Initially, the instability comes from within the royal family. Both in the fictionalized world of "The Last Kingdom" and in British history, King Edward the Elder had multiple sons to multiple women. Aethelstan is his heir, but of questionable birth. In the show, he's taken from his mother and raised by Uhtred. In the film, he's referred to as a bastard, and historically, little is known about his mother, Ecgwynn. Aelfweard, the King's second son born to his second wife, moves to consolidate power and attempts to imprison his father's third wife, Queen Eadgifu, and her son, Edmund. He has the support of Wessex and some mercenaries, while Uhtred and others are loyal to Aethelstan. Elsewhere, the kings of Scotland, Strathclyde, Orkney, Shetland, and Man wait to see who will take the throne and what it'll mean for their kingdoms. 

In the Netflix movie, Uhtred thinks he's brokered a peace between Aethelstan and Aelfweard, but the former unexpectedly executes the latter. Recorded history doesn't say anything about a prince slaying a prince, though Aelfweard did die under mysterious circumstances shortly after his father King Edward, and some accounts do claim he was supported by Wessex and crowned prior to Aethelstan, who had the backing of Mercia. 

Aethelstan rules under the influence

When Uhtred tells Eadgifu that he'll recognize Aethelstan as the rightful heir, she informs him that he's no longer the carefree boy they once knew. Uhtred witnesses this for himself when he tries to talk sense into Aethelstan after the unnecessary slaughter of Aelfweard's men, and he finds he has competition for the prince's ear in the form of Lord Ingilmundr. The heir apparent (who was, in life, quite pious) calls Ingilmundr "a great commander and a great friend," but Uhtred senses immediately that he's a Svengali-type figure manipulating Aethelstan with Bible verses for his own purposes. 

As it turns out, Ingilmundr isn't just Aethelstan's military strategist and spiritual guide, he's also his lover. He's simultaneously seducing the prince and making him more of self-hating religious extremist. Ingilmundr has convinced Aethelstan that, to atone for his sins, he must spread Christianity throughout kingdom by any means necessary... taxation for the construction of churches, the destruction of pagan holy sites, and war. Uhtred, who's a pagan but also pretty open-minded about which god or gods people follow, warns Aethelstan about falling under the spell of men who claim to know God. 

He intends to pledge his lands, should Aethelstan become king and prove himself worthy, but he wants to ensure his people can continue to practice the faith of their choosing. As such, he skips the new king's coronation and takes Ingilmundr prisoner to rid his former charge of a corrosive influence and to negotiate Northumbria's religious freedom. However, Ingilmundr gets the upper hand by threatening Lady Wassa with eternal damnation. King Aethelstan is unable to execute Uhtred (as he had his brother) and exiles him instead. 

An alliance forms

After his banishment, Uhtred is intercepted by Danes and taken to the Shetland Islands where an alliance is forming, hosted by King Anlaf and his daughter, Astrid. Against almost everyone but Ingilmundr's advice, Aethelstan has invaded Scotland, prompting King Constantine to join forces with Anlaf. Also in attendance are the Kings of Man, Shetland, Orkney and Strathclyde. Anlaf tells them that war is coming and they must choose a side. Some are hesitant to fight with pagans against fellow Christians, but since Aethelstan believes himself to be a conqueror with his sights set on their lands, the choice is practically made for them. 

The five British kings and Anlaf hope to recruit Uhtred to join their cause. If he does, that'll make seven kings against one (though, again, Uhtred insists he's not a king). But if all goes well, Uhtred will be able to stop the war before it starts. They ask the Lord of Bebbanburg, who has so far refused to kneel to Aethelstan, to — at great risk to himself — return to England and swear fealty to the King. With his guard down, Uhtred will be able to assassinate Aethelstan before he can do more damage. He appears to agree. 

Moments later, viewers learn that Ingilmundr is a spy in cahoots with Anlaf. He's still Danish at heart; Uhtred had suspected as much when he grasped for his sword before he thought he was going to die... an indication that he still believed in Valhalla. Anlaf and Ingilmundr had conspired to turn Britain against Aethelstan by turning him into an ally-less tyrant. 

Uhtred faces a choice

At this point, King Aethelstan has done more than enough to be worthy of the distinction of tyrant, and so Uhtred could be forgiven for going through with the assassination plot. But he still has a soft spot for the boy he raised and wants to give him a chance to show his true colors. He bends the knee, but rather than reciting any oath, he informs the king about his lover's treachery. Aethelstan doesn't want to hear it, so he has Uhtred removed from his audience. 

To make matters worse, his men Finan and Sihtric arrive, claiming he sent for them. When he assures them he did not, the trio deduces that they've been tricked. They make haste for home only to find that a number of their people — including Ingrith but not Eadgifu — have been suffocated inside of a cave. Until now, "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" had subtly misled viewers into suspecting that Uhtred and Eadgifu were developing feelings for each other, and that the "woman you love" part of the prophecy would apply to the widowed Queen. Instead, Ingrid's dreams foreshadowed her own death, as becomes obvious when — as the scene replays in flashback — a grieving Finan realizes she was looking at him. 

A nearly broken Uhtred must decide whether to fight and who to fight with and for. When he finds a repentant Aethelstan at Wirril, as well as his son, Osbert, and Eadgifu's son, Edmund, still alive, he reaffirms his support. Their combined men, greatly outnumbered, prepare to face the enormous alliance that has formed against him.  

Seven kings meet on the battlefield

The armies meet at Brunanburh, where at first, Aethelstan and Uhtred's men struggle mightily to hold their shield wall against the five British kings and Anlaf. However, Uhtred and his son hatch a plan in which Osbert leads a surprise attack from the flanks. Many on both sides are killed, and Uhtred is badly injured. Crucially, among the dead are the five eldest sons of the Kings of Scotland, Man, Shetland, Orkney, and Strathclyde, as well as Astrid, the daughter of Anlaf. This tragedy is enough for the Kings to abandon Anlaf. Aethelstan — hurt and furious at his betrayal — squares off against Ingilmundr, who is taken captive. Before his life is ended, he confesses that he really was fond of the prince, but felt a stronger bond to the Danish people. 

There really was a Battle of Brunanburh in 937, and it unfolded somewhat like what is shown on screen. A united Wessex and Mercia under King Aethelstan took up arms against King Constantine of Scotland, allied with Owen of Strathclyde and Olaf Gutherfrithsson (an Irish Viking also known as Anlaf), King of Dublin. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which is a primary source for "The Saxon Stories" and "The Last Kingdom," includes a passage that reads , "Five kings lay on the field of battle, in bloom of youth, pierced with swords. So seven eke of the earls of Anlaf." Aethelstan was victorious, but there's no hard proof he had a relationship with anyone like Ingilmundr (he's a composite character who differs greatly from Cornwell's books). Still, as he never married or produced children, rumors may have persisted about his sexuality.

The prophecy is open to interpretation

Whether "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" makes good on the prophecy that also serves as its subtitle is an open question. The wording was tricky in the message that came to Ingrith in her dreams as it pertained to a woman loved. As for the rest, literally, what's true is that one King — Edward — died for certain. Additionally, five princes fell on the battlefield at Brunanburh... the heirs of Scotland, Man, Shetland, Orkney, and Strathclyde. It's said several times throughout the film that a king's kingdom survives through his son. This is why Uhtred is desperate upon waking to know if his son, Osbert, has lived. But none of the five actual kings (six if you count Anlaf) fell during the war. Still, Finan and company reason that five would-be kings died, which could be close enough, or perhaps simply proof the prophesy was wrong. 

A near-death Uhtred, however, figures he's the seventh king, reluctant though he was to ever use that title. He stands between Valhalla, where he can see some of those who've gone before him (in previous seasons), and King Aethelstan's table, where Eadgifu beckons him to come back to the living. Was Uhtred unlucky number seven? Not necessarily. By the movie's own logic, Aelfweard, a usurping prince, could've counted as a dead King. So could've Astrid, whose father, Anlaf, was preparing her to rule. There's also the possibility that Ingrith wasn't really a seer, though that's unlikely, given the whole concept. Really, whether Uhtred lives or dies is left open to interpretation on purpose, so that the viewer can decide his fate.

England is united

Before Uhtred (maybe) passes into Valhalla, he learns that their side prevailed at the Battle of Brunanburh and that Bebbanburg belongs to him again. Like he'd promised to do if his former charge demonstrated his worthiness, Uhtred swears his lands to King Aethelstan, who is sort of informally re-coronated and recites a new oath. 

This time, he is made the sovereign of Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria. It's the first time those kingdoms have been united under the same king, as was his grandfather Alfred's intent. Aethelstan humbly declares himself King of England, and Uhtred makes him promise he won't marry or have heirs so that the succession will pass cleanly to his half-brother, Edmund, setting the stage for a peaceful and prosperous future.

Whether the movie's version of Aethelstan has been redeemed enough to deserve Uhtred's fealty and that honor is another matter. He does some pretty awful things during the runtime of "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die," including murdering or ordering the murders of a great deal of Uhtred's people and allies in cold blood. There's also fratricide and forced conversation, but at least some of this is invented. Once he accepts that he's been gaslit by Ingilmundr, it seems he's a changed man... the one with the good heart that Uhtred and Eadgifu remember. 

Title cards explain that Aethelstan reigned for 15 years and is considered to be the first and greatest king of medieval England. It's true that many modern scholars — like Sarah Foote, author of "Aethelstan: The First King of England" — hold this point of view. Eadgifu's son, Edmond, did indeed ascend to the throne after Aethelstan's death. 

The hero is left out of history

King Aethelstan tells Uhtred he will direct the chroniclers to tell tale of his heroism, but the Lord of Bebbanburg wants only to be toasted at a feast for keeping his word. His humility gives "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" a plausible explanation for the fact that Uhtred is missing from the histories. 

This figure, central to "The Last Kingdom" series and playing an outsized role in King Aethelstan's life, is lost to time. That's because he never existed in the first place, at least not as depicted in Cornwell's writing or on Netflix. While "The Saxon Stories" and "The Last Kingdom" are based on documents like "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles" and include characters, places, dates, and events that are pulled more directly from verifiable accounts, they're historical fiction , which means they also include representational, composite, and wholly fictionalized characters and plot points.

Uhtred, son of Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg — and, by extension, the entire "The Last Kingdom" franchise — was inspired by a man known as Uhtred the Bold, of whom Cornwell discovered he was a distant relation. They share a name and a home (Uhtred the Bold also hailed from Bamburgh Castle in Northumbria), but that's where the similarities end. The real Uhtred lived in the century after the fictional Uhtred, wasn't raised by Danes, and would've never met the characters or been involved in the events of Alfred, Edward, or Aethelstan's reigns. But the way "Seven Kings Must Die" handles Uhtred's omission from the Chronicles is clever — and befitting the protagonist Cornwell created. 

Screen Rant

Seven kings must die title: who are the 7 kings in the last kingdom.

Seven Kings Must Die will be a sequel to The Last Kingdom, but who are the seven kings that must die in this highly anticipated Netflix film?

Seven Kings Must Die , the sequel movie to The Last Kingdom , will apparently feature the death of seven kings, but who exactly those seven kings are has not been explicitly stated. Seven Kings Must Die is set to wrap up The Last Kingdom 's story, which is bound to end with the famous unification of England under King Athelstan. The Last Kingdom season 5 was the final season of the show, however, Seven Kings Must Die could be setting up future spinoffs for the franchise.

Seven Kings Must Die is set to take place after The Last Kingdom season 5, which ended with Uhtred reclaiming his ancestral home of Bebbanburg, and King Edward gaining a foothold in Northumbria. Edward's achievements importantly brought England a step closer to his and his father, Alfred's, dream of a unified England. The Last Kingdom season 5 also built-up Athelstan, who is set to be a central character in Seven Kings Must Die .

Related: The Last Kingdom: The Meaning Of Uhtred's Nickname "Arseling"

The Seven Kings Must Die Title Is A Reference To The Battle Of Brunanburh

The Seven Kings Must Die 's title is a reference to the legendary Battle of Brunanburh, in which several kings died. At least four powerful kings were present at this battle - Athelstan of England, Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin, Constantine II of Scotland, and Owain of Strathclyde - as well as several other powerful leaders and sub-kings, who also fought and died in the battle. Historians say five kings and seven earls from Olaf's army died in the fighting.

The Battle of Brunanburh is considered one of the most impactful battles in the history of the British Isles because it allowed Athelstan to solidify his control over all of England, making it the perfect place to end The Last Kingdom 's movie . King Athelstan fought against the majority of his enemies on a single battlefield and had he lost, it's impossible to say what would have become of England. The seven kings in the Seven Kings Must Die title could be a reference to the various kings who fought and died in this battle.

Why The Seven Kings Must Die Title Has Two Possible Meanings

The Seven Kings Must Die title has two possible meanings, however. While it is likely a reference to the kings that died at the Battle of Brunanburh, it could also refer to the death of King Edward and his son Ælfweard, who succeeded Edward for a few short weeks before his own death. It could be that the title is referring to the five kings historians say died at the Battle of Brunanburh along with fan hated Edward and Ælfweard, or it could be referring exclusively to the Battle of Brunanburh. Either way, the Battle of Brunanburh will be a critical part of Seven Kings Must Die.

More: The Last Kingdom Season 5 True Story: Every Major Change To Real History

Meet The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die cast: who's who in the Netflix movie

Uhtred and his companions return

A battle scene from The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

One of TV's most popular historical epic shows has finally wrapped up: The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Fall finishes the story of The Last Kingdom and its five seasons of Viking-era drama.

This two-hour movie made by Netflix follows the series main character Uhtred of Bebbanburg, as he aims to finish his quest to reclaim the town of Beddanburg and also fulfill (or ignore) a prophecy that "seven kings must die and the woman you love" before England can be united.

The new Netflix move unites The Last Kingdom mainstays with some new faces and characters, historical and fictional alike. Let's meet the cast so you know who's in the movie.

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred

The main character of The Last Kingdom , as well as Seven Kings Must Die , is Uhtred, who was raised by Dane's although isn't one themselves. His ultimate quest is to reclaim Bebbanburg, but also rescue and avenge multiple family members and friends over the series. Seven Kings Must Die sees him wrapping up his quest.

One of the The Last Kingdom characters who are fictional, Uhtred was a creation by Bernard Cornwell, who wrote the books the TV show is based on. However he was inspired by a real person, Uhtred of Bamburgh, who Cornwell is a descendent of.

Dreymon is certainly best known for his starring role in The Last Kingdom , starring in everyone one of the 46 episodes as well as this movie, but he has a few other credits to his name. These include American Horror Story: Coven, Heartlock and Horizon Line.

Mark Rowley as Finan

Finan is Uhtred's long-standing companion. An Irish warrior, he joined the quest early on in season 2, and is in almost every episode after, making him one of Uhtred's few companions to survive into Seven Kings Must Die .

Like Uhtred, Finan is a fictional character and is called Finan the Agile in the books.

Mark Rowley is no stranger to Netflix Originals, having recently starred as the prince in The Witcher: Blood Origin , and other screen roles include playing a henchman in Guns Akimbo and also being in THe Spanish Princess, Young Dracula and episodes of Luther, Doctors and Domina.

Arnas Fedaravicius as Sihtric

Uhtred's other reliable companion is Sihtric, who began as his prisoner all the way back in season 2, but quickly proved himself a valuable ally. He's been in even more episodes of the show than Finan, and also managed to survive his way this far.

You can see a familiar pattern here — as with Uthred and the other companions, Sihtric wasn't a real person.

Arnas Fedaravicius is from Lithuania, with The Last Kingdom being one of their biggest credits, but this isn't his first epic show, with an appearance in The Wheel of Time too. You may also recognize him from Access all Areas and Deadly Code .

Cavan Clerkin as Father Pyrlig

Uhtred's entourage of allies doesn't just include warriors, as Father Pyrlig is another character introduced in season 2 of The Last Kingdom who continued to become one of Uhtred's close companions. As you can tell, he's a Christian, and he survives into Seven Kings Must Die.

Clerkin has been in plenty of UK TV shows including The Capture, Eastenders, Count Arthur Strong, The Inbetweeners, The IT Crowd, Smack the Pony, Babylon and Lucan. He also co-created Los Dos Bros .

Harry Gilby as Aethelstan

Aethelstan is based on a real figure, Æthelstan, who was King of the Anglo-Saxons and then the English between 924 and 939 BCE. Seven Kings Must Die follows the beginning of this reign, as the man fights his brother for control of the throne, and maintains an uneasy alliance with Uhtred in order to try and finally unite England.

We also saw the figure's road to the monarchy through The Last Kingdom 's fifth and final season, so it's a familiar figure. Aethelstan was also in a few episodes of the fourth season but played by a different actor, Caspar Griffiths

Harry Gilby is a young actor who already has some big credits; as well as The Last Kingdom he was in several episodes of Casualty and the film Just Charlie, though you may know him best for playing the younger version of the titular character in Tolkien .

Laurie Davidson as Ingilmundr

One of the few major characters in Seven Kings Must Die who's not in The Last Kingdom is Ingilmundr. He's the advisor to Aethelstan who's very religious and uses this to help (or control) the King, but he's also a Dane.

In real life Ingilmundr was a real person, and was a Viking warlord who raided in Wales and Ireland, though lots of the contents of Seven Kings Must Die is embellished.

Laurie Davidson is best known for playing the titular role in TNT's Will , and he's also been in Netflix's Sandman and Guilty Party . He's also set to act in Apple TV Plus war miniseries Masters of the AIr as well as Mary & George .

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Tom Bedford

Tom is the streaming and ecommerce writer at What to Watch, covering streaming services in the US and UK. His goal is to help you navigate the busy and confusing online video market, to help you find the TV, movies and sports that you're looking for without having to spend too much money.

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movie review 7 kings must die

The Last Kingdom's 2023 Movie Repeated A Major Problem Almost Every Fantasy Franchise Has

  • Seven Kings Must Die condenses travel time, impacting pacing and authenticity compared to the TV series.
  • Rushed journeys in the film parallel complaints of Game of Thrones' pace shift, affecting story cohesion.
  • Historical accuracy and character development suffer in Seven Kings Must Die due to rushed travel scenes.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die repeated a logistical issue that is consistent in various fantasy or historical fiction media. The 2023 film is a sequel to the beloved Netflix historical drama The Last Kingdom , which was praised for its faithfulness to detail for five seasons despite diverging from factual chronology. Any historical fiction is going to take its creative liberties, but an essential element that made The Last Kingdom such a gem for TV fans and history buffs alike was the focus on properly capturing the period details.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die received mixed reviews compared to the consistent excellence of the TV series. Considered one of the best historical TV shows , Seven Kings Must Die felt like a downgrade compared to the highly acclaimed television finale. Some stories are best suited for one medium, and switching from television to film can disrupt pacing , causing many TV sequel films to suffer. In the case of Seven Kings Must Die , the film repeated a mistake that has frequently occurred when sprawling epics are limited to a shortened medium to tell their stories.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Ending Explained

Seven kings must die makes travel unrealistic.

One of the common criticisms of Seven Kings Must Die is that it feels "rushed." While that's referring primarily to an entire television season's narrative being squished into a two-hour film, the logistical aspect of travel is also rushed. The TV series was precise about travel time , with journeys across various European countries often taking entire seasons, fitting for the medium and for historical accuracy. Television shows usually don't have the budget to rush from major events to major events, so supplementing the series with travel can develop authentic character-building.

While this condensing is required for a film's pacing, it's off-putting when considered a companion piece to a TV series that delicately utilized its traveling logistics.

In the film, journeys that would once last several episodes were happening in minutes . Uhtred spends most of Seven Kings Must Die traversing England, appearing in Eoferwic, Aegelesburg, and Wintanceaster without much travel time between. While this condensing is required for a film's pacing, it's off-putting when considered a companion piece to a TV series that delicately utilized its traveling logistics. The Last Kingdom saw many critical historical events unfold, but the time spent between them is what makes it such a well-crafted series.

The Last Kingdom's Travel Rules Repeat A Game Of Thrones Mistake

Game of Thrones is the other obvious culprit in how condensing story leads to wonky traveling mechanics. In the early seasons, characters spent entire seasons traveling across Westeros, and wars were waged one minor skirmish at a time. By season 7, characters appear wherever it's convenient for them, traveling from one side of the country to another within episodes. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die handles travel a bit better than Game of Thrones , but it's still a noticeable shift in pace.

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a historical action drama film that takes place after the events of the television series. In a final push to bring all of the kingdoms of England together under one banner following the death of King Edward, Uhtred and company travel across the nation to face off against the schemes of the last kingdoms.

Director Edward Bazalgette

Release Date April 14, 2023

Cast James Northcote, Arnas Fedaravicius, Harry Gilby, Cavan Clerkin, Elaine Cassidy, Mark Rowley, Laurie Davidson, Alexander Dreymon

Rating TV-MA

Runtime 111 minutes

The Last Kingdom's 2023 Movie Repeated A Major Problem Almost Every Fantasy Franchise Has

The Most Popular Movies On Netflix Besides 'Seven Kings Must Die'

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

movie review 7 kings must die

“The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” is currently the most popular movie on Netflix , according to the streaming service’s public ranking system.

Based on Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories” book series, the historical drama is a sequel to the five-season show “The Last Kingdom.” The movie premiered on April 14 and centers around life in 10th century England and the battle for the crown following the death of King Edward.

Next in the ranking is the 2013 action thriller “The Last Stand.” Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville and Forest Whitaker, the film follows small-town Arizona cops who must band together to stop an escaped drug lord from reaching Mexico.

"The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" on Netflix.

The third most popular title of the moment is the new fantasy adventure film “Chupa,” which premiered on April 7 to mixed reviews. The movie explores the friendship between a lonely boy visiting his family in Mexico and a mythical creature hiding on his grandfather’s ranch.

Another older film that’s trending at the moment is “Inside Man,” a 2006 crime thriller that stars Denzel Washington as an NYPD hostage negotiator, Clive Owen as the ringleader of a bank heist and Jodie Foster as a fixer hired to protect the bank founder’s safe deposit box. Directed by Spike Lee, “Inside Man” is the filmmaker’s highest grossing movie and also received positive reviews from critics.

Check out the full list of the top 10 movies below. And if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix each month, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter .

movie review 7 kings must die

10. “Shark Tale”

9. “Hunger” (Netflix)

8. “Shrek Forever After”

7. “Inside Man”

6. “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax”

5. “Murder Mystery 2” (Netflix)

4. “Matilda”

3. “Chupa” (Netflix)

2. “The Last Stand”

1. “The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” (Netflix)

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'Arthur the King' review

Let me state right out that I am a sucker for dog movies. I still can’t get over My Dog Skip. I learned valuable lifelong lessons from Old Yeller. I consider Lassie a personal friend. I took selfies at the Oscar nominees luncheon with Messi, the French border collie I was pushing for Best Supporting Actor from Anatomy of a Fall . So yes, I am probably the right audience for the latest in the genre, Arthur the King , and its title star.

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In addition to Michael, we learn the backstories of the crew he is with, including former archnemesis Leo ( Simu Liu ), whom he is forced to bring on board due to his social media skills and at the demand of sponsor Broadrail, which is footing the bill; Olivia (Nathalie Emmanuel), who is determined to carry on her champion father’s legacy in the sport; and Chik (Ali Suliman), who has won seven times but is considered done due to an injury. The adventure racers must endure backbreaking running, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and more over the course of 10 days and 435 miles in challenging conditions, weather and otherwise. It is grueling, to say the least.

The first half of the film is really witnessing their efforts in all this, so much that it almost begins to feel like an ESPN documentary. Occasionally, director Simon Cellan Jones sets his cameras on a stray mixed-breed mutt wandering the streets of Santo Domingo alone in search of scraps, clearly without an owner and visibly mistreated from wherever he has emerged.

Sound far-fetched, a Hollywood story? Not quite. It is all true, with some facts and names changed for this Americanized version of a tale that already has been the subject of two ESPN short documentaries, as well Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home, one of two books on the canine written by Swedish adventure racer Mikael Lindnord, the real-life person Wahlberg essentially is playing. The actual world championship has been changed from 2014 in Ecuador and a Swedish team led by Lindnord to 2018 and the American team in the Dominican Republic, an even more imposing and dangerous place. Whatever the details, the rest is true and truly stunning to think this dog traveled 435 miles — and believe me, there won’t be a dry eye in the house as they approach the finish line.

TV commercials, aware that audiences might be worried about the dog’s fate, tell us, “We know what you may be thinking” but assure us not to worry. Still — and this is no spoiler alert — there are touchy life-and-death moments for the title star, so beware. Nevertheless it is a triumphant, moving and inspiring family film of the highest order, especially for dog lovers and Wahlberg lovers, the latter in his zone here in a physically taxing role but one where character takes center stage. This movie and story are a natural for the star, and the supporting cast also is up to the task, even though they eventually are working opposite a talented scene-stealer whose real name is Ukai, doing what I understand is 90% of his own stunts.

Shout-out to Jacques Jouffret’s fine cinematography and the dog training by Mathilde de Cagny.

They say grown actors should never work with kids or animals if you want to be noticed. In the case of Arthur the King, it is all a valiant team effort for humans and dog — and it pays off for families looking for a good time at the movies.

Producers are Tucker Tooley, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Tessa Tooley, Stephen Levinson and Wahlberg. Dorothy Canton is among the Executive Producers.

Title: Arthur the King Distributor: Lionsgate Release date: March 15, 2024 Director: Simon Cellan Jones Screenwriter: Michael Brandt Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, Juliet Rylance, Paul Guilfoyle, Bear Grylls, Ukai Rating: PG-13 Running time: 1 hr 47 min

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‘We’re All Gonna Die’ Review: A Grief-Stricken Indie with Wasted Sci-Fi Potential

The creative pair behind RocketJump struggles to make grief resonate.

By Siddhant Adlakha

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We're All Gonna Die

A sci-fi road trip steeped unevenly in grief, “We’re All Gonna Die” introduces its concept in exciting fashion before pushing it far into the background. Its lead performances are occasionally powerful, but writer-directors Freddie Wong and Matthew Arnold — of web-based studio RocketJump — struggle to keep their subject matter sincere, resulting in tonal oddities.

As beekeeper Thalia (Ashly Burch) goes about her day, her parents and in-laws gather to mourn her departed husband and daughter, a loss she seems to ignore, letting the weeds around their tombstones run wild with neglect. As the giant stalactite hovers in the distance, she embarks on an important honey delivery by truck to pay off her mounting debts, a journey along which she (quite literally) runs into Kai (Jordan Rodrigues), an EMT grieving the recent loss of his best friend by sitting in his abandoned sports car. Before long, their combination collision/meet-cute is interrupted by a bizarre spike-related phenomenon that teleports Thalia’s bees and Kai’s recently inherited vehicle across state lines, forcing them to pair up for a retrieval mission that brings their respective personal tragedies into focus.

Unfortunately, issues with the film’s construction quickly rear their head. While silent moments between the characters offer hints of chemistry — sometimes in funny ways, like how Thalia hates that she’s turned on by Kai’s muscular calves — their conversations tend to sound repetitive, leading to lengthy scenes with little rhythm or resonance. This unpolished quality extends to the movie’s comedy too; apart from the occasional visual gag (à la Thalia having to suppress her calf-related desires), its jokes stem less from specific quirks and interpersonal dynamics, and more from observations and quips that feel interchangeable between the characters.

All the while, the movie’s conceit gets pushed further into the backdrop until it nearly disappears, before re-emerging with physical properties (and more importantly, emotional symbolism) previously un-established. Ironically, this teleporting spike ends up a roving metaphor, too malleable and too removed to echo the characters in the foreground.

The spectacle of abstract sci-fi has enormous potential to reflect the complexities of grief (see Tarkovsky’s “Solaris” and “Stalker,” Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” and Darren Aronofsky’s “The Fountain”), but “We’re All Gonna Die” fashions its symbolism in a manner too scattered and vague to leave a lasting impact. It is, for all intents and purposes, a post-COVID movie that attempts to reckon with deaths and societal alterations on a massive scale. But despite loss being a common theme for every minor and major character, the movie never fully captures the vastness of these ripples in the social fabric, nor the intimacy of how they might change individuals to their core.

At the very least, Burch and Rodrigues do enough emotional heavy lifting to imbue the movie with a sense of recognizable humanity, against the dreamlike warmth of cinematographer Bongani Mlambo’s lush, magic-hour photography. The actors struggle, in accomplished and intentional ways, against the confusing enormity of loss. However, the filmmakers also struggle — less intentionally so — to meaningfully contextualize this experience. In the process, “We’re All Gonna Die” comes tragically close to being resonant.

Reviewed online, March 7, 2024. In SXSW (Narrative Feature Competition). Running time: 110 MIN.

  • Production: A RocketJump presentation, in association with Rough & Tumble Films, Anchor Stone Prods., King's Ransom Media. Producer: Adam Maffei.
  • Crew: Directors, writers: Freddie Wong, Matthew Arnold. Camera: Bongani Mlambo. Editor: Kent Lewis. Music: Maxton Waller.
  • With: Ashly Burch, Jordan Rodrigues, Nicole Javier, Chase Mangum, Luis Antonius Canete, Tom E. Proctor, Clinton Lowe, Vin Vescio, Beth May, Alexander Chard.

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  4. Meet The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die cast: who's who

    movie review 7 kings must die

  5. ‘The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’ Review: Flesh Wounds

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  6. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die 2023 Wallpapers

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COMMENTS

  1. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

    Following the death of King Edward, a battle for the crown ensues, as rival heirs and invaders compete for power. And when an alliance comes seeking Uhtred's help in their plans, Uhtred faces a ...

  2. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die review

    H ere is a standalone feature film and final capstone in Netflix's British-made TV series The Last Kingdom, an epic in every sense of the word that's based on novels by Bernard Cornwell and ...

  3. 'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' Review: Flesh Wounds

    In this film alone, Uhtred's sword is stolen, his land and title are stripped away, and a conniving Danish king, Anlaf (Pekka Strang), seeks to exploit him. Ingilmundr, the lover and Svengali of ...

  4. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

    The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die: Directed by Edward Bazalgette. With Mark Rowley, Pekka Strang, Zoltan Andrasi, Ingrid García Jonsson. In the wake of King Edward's death, Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his comrades adventure across a fractured kingdom in the hopes of uniting England at last.

  5. 'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' Review: An Able ...

    Camera: Luke Bryant. Editor: Adam Green. With: Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby, Mark Rowley, Arnas Fedaravicius, Cavan Clerkin, James Northcote, Laurie Davidson, Elaine Cassidy, Pekka Strang ...

  6. 'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' Review: A Fitting End to

    Seven Kings Must Die begins with the death of King Edward, to who Uhtred had pointedly not sworn allegiance at the end of Season 5. His son Aethelstan ( Harry Gilby) has now taken power and is ...

  7. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

    The tales of Uhtred of Babbenburgh have been compulsory viewing for me since they started, and the historical context of translating modern place names into medieval names is genius. This film takes place following the death of King Edward and, as the title suggests, a prophecy of 7 kings must die is dreamt by the wife of Fennic to unite England.

  8. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review

    We review the 2023 Netflix film The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, which does not contain spoilers. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is the final send-off to a series that has been on Netflix since 2015. The Last Kingdom has been a massive draw for the streaming service for the past five years.The series did come to an end in 2022, and this movie was made for television.

  9. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

    Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 25, 2023. Austin Burke Austin Burke/Flick Fan Nation. In what feels like a fitting conclusion to a story that so many love, Seven Kings Must Die heightens ...

  10. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

    2023. TV-MA. NBCUniversal Global Distribution. 1 h 51 m. Summary Following the death of King Edward, a battle for the crown ensues, as rival heirs and invaders compete for power. And when an alliance comes seeking Uhtred's help in their plans, Uhtred faces a choice between those he cares for most, and the dream of forming a united England.

  11. 'Seven Kings Must Die' Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?

    Netflix's new film Seven Kings Must Die officially completes the saga started in The Last Kingdom. Uhtred son of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) might have finally taken back his father's seat of ...

  12. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

    The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a 2023 British historical drama film directed by Edward Bazalgette, written by Martha Hillier, and based on the The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell.It acts as a sequel and conclusion to The Last Kingdom television series. Series regulars Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby, Mark Rowley, Arnas Fedaravicius, Cavan Clerkin, James Northcote, Ross Anderson ...

  13. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Movie Review

    Our review: Parents say ( 1 ): Kids say ( 1 ): This is an entertaining, if violent, medieval war movie. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is a sequel based on the television program, but it stands on its own as a worthy story. There are betrayals and shifting alliances aplenty, but the story doesn't fly off the rails as these plot twists ...

  14. Seven Kings Must Die

    Feature film based on the underlying series The Last Kingdom.SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7About Netflix:Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainmen...

  15. Seven Kings Must Die Movie Review

    April 23, 2023 Neal Pollack. The movie Seven Kings Must Die wraps up the Netflix show The Last Kingdom with a corny flourish that's not always successful and mostly echoes the high points of the show during its peak, its first three seasons. The Last Kingdom, based on the old-fashioned historical novels of Bernard Cornwell, became one of the ...

  16. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review

    Reviews The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review - Overstuffed But Underfilled. Fast-forwarding this story to the end for a Netflix movie did it a disservice, but at least the shield walls ...

  17. 'Seven Kings Must Die' Ending Explained: Does Uhtred Die?

    The new Netflix action flick Seven Kings Must Die finally wraps up the saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg ( Alexander Dreymon ), the unification of England, and the story started by The Last Kingdom. We ...

  18. Seven Kings Must Die (2023) Movie Review

    Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here! Verdict - 8/10. 8/10. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is the epic finale of the Netflix show The Last Kingdom. After 5 seasons of adventure, politics and bloodshed, Uhtred's story comes to an end in this Netflix original movie thanks to the lead actor and producer Alexander Dreymon.

  19. 'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' Review: Long ...

    Before I read those books whenever I thought about or talked about the King Arthur story I would think of the Disney cartoon or The Once and Future King. After reading Cornwell's take they completely changed my view of Arthurian stuff. Now if someone mentions King Arthur my mind instantly goes to Cornwell's Arthur and Derfel.

  20. The Ending Of The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Explained

    King Aethelstan tells Uhtred he will direct the chroniclers to tell tale of his heroism, but the Lord of Bebbanburg wants only to be toasted at a feast for keeping his word. His humility gives ...

  21. Seven Kings Must Die Title: Who Are The 7 Kings In The Last Kingdom?

    Seven Kings Must Die, the sequel movie to The Last Kingdom, will apparently feature the death of seven kings, but who exactly those seven kings are has not been explicitly stated. Seven Kings Must Die is set to wrap up The Last Kingdom's story, which is bound to end with the famous unification of England under King Athelstan.The Last Kingdom season 5 was the final season of the show, however ...

  22. Seven Kings Must Die (2023) Ending Explained

    In the beginning of Seven Kings Must Die, Finan's wife, Ingrith dreams of the prophecy, "Seven kings must die. And the woman you love.". He thinks with Edward dead, six kings are left. Uhtred doesn't think much of it since he is no king and he doesn't have anyone he loves. He, however, realises that with Aethelstan under Ingilmundr ...

  23. Meet The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die cast: who's who

    Mark Rowley as Finan. Finan is Uhtred's long-standing companion. An Irish warrior, he joined the quest early on in season 2, and is in almost every episode after, making him one of Uhtred's few companions to survive into Seven Kings Must Die. Like Uhtred, Finan is a fictional character and is called Finan the Agile in the books.

  24. The Last Kingdom's 2023 Movie Repeated A Major Problem Almost Every

    The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die repeated a logistical issue that is consistent in various fantasy or historical fiction media. The 2023 film is a sequel to the beloved Netflix historical ...

  25. The Most Popular Movies On Netflix Besides 'Seven Kings Must Die

    "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die" on Netflix. Advertisement. The third most popular title of the moment is the new fantasy adventure film "Chupa," which premiered on April 7 to mixed reviews. The movie explores the friendship between a lonely boy visiting his family in Mexico and a mythical creature hiding on his grandfather's ranch.

  26. The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

    Get The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die DVD and Blu-ray release date, trailer, movie poster and movie stats. In the wake of King Edward's death, Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his comrades adventure across a fractured kingdom in the hopes of uniting England...

  27. 'Arthur The King' Review: Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu & And ...

    The adventure racers must endure backbreaking running, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and more over the course of 10 days and 435 miles in challenging conditions, weather and ...

  28. 'Arthur The King' Review: Mark Wahlberg's Winning Feelgood ...

    "Arthur the King" suitably plays like an emotional endurance challenge. Director Simon Cellan Jones and screenwriter Michael Brandt, adapting Mikael Lindnord's book "Arthur: The Dog Who ...

  29. 'We're All Gonna Die' Review: Sci-Fi Road Trip from ...

    All the while, the movie's conceit gets pushed further into the backdrop until it nearly disappears, before re-emerging with physical properties (and more importantly, emotional symbolism ...