Alicia Vikander’s Fantasy Film The Green Knight Is Heading to a Netflix

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I’m so excited that this fantasy movie, starring Alicia Vikander and Dev Patel, is finding a new audience! It really felt different from typical fantasy films – A24 brought a unique touch to the genre, and I’m glad more people will get to see it now that it’s coming to a streaming service.

The 2021 film The Green Knight is an adaptation of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, whose author remains unknown. You can currently rent it on Apple TV and Prime Video, and it will be available to stream on Netflix soon.

As a fantasy fan, I’m thrilled to see The Green Knight finally hitting Netflix on March 1st, 2026. It’s a visually stunning film that deserved a wider audience, but sadly, it didn’t quite find it in theaters. Despite a $15 million production budget, it only earned around $20 million worldwide. So, this Netflix release, almost five years after its initial debut, is fantastic news for those who missed it – or want to experience its haunting beauty again.

The film, directed by David Lowery, centers on Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s nephew. Gawain has a difficult relationship with his mother, Morgan le Fay, which leads Arthur to invite him to court.

Le Fay then issued a challenge: any knight brave enough to strike her could do so, but with a catch. A year later, on the next Christmas, the challenger had to travel to the Green Chapel and receive an equal blow in return, willingly. The Green Knight then guided Gawain on his journey to the chapel, a path filled with magical creatures, various temptations, and eerie, headless ghosts, all of which ultimately helped Gawain fulfill his solemn promise, despite the sadness it brought.

Okay, so in ‘The Green Knight,’ Alicia Vikander actually plays two roles, which was super interesting. She’s Essel, the woman Gawain is totally into, but she also plays The Lady – the wife of the Lord he stays with while he’s on his journey to the Green Chapel. It’s a clever bit of casting and adds a lot to the story, honestly.

The Green Knight Polarized Viewers

The film proved quite divisive, sparking strong reactions from viewers. While critics generally loved it – giving it an 89% rating and a ‘Certified Fresh’ label on Rotten Tomatoes – audiences were much less enthusiastic, with only a 50% approval score.

You know, I’ve been hearing a lot of different opinions about this show. Some people, like me, really loved how immersive and thoughtful it was – it was cool to watch Gawain really come into his own and accept what he was meant to do. But I also get why others weren’t thrilled. It definitely wasn’t a non-stop action fest like a lot of Arthurian stories, and it moved at a pretty deliberate pace. It was a bit of a change of pace, that’s for sure!

The film didn’t offer easy answers or a clear victory, which left some viewers feeling unsettled. Instead, The Green Knight was a dreamlike and thoughtful exploration of Gawain’s inner world, showing his growth into a genuinely honorable person. Unlike the traditional portrayal, Gawain wasn’t initially noble; he was flawed, insecure, and the film prioritized his personal development over action-packed adventures.

The Green Knight will be available to stream on Netflix on Mar. 1, 2026.

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2026-02-16 00:06