"Excalibur needed to render the classic beats of the legend - the sword in the stone, the round table, Lancelot's betrayal, the quest for the Holy Grail, the battle with Mordred - into spectacular and impactful blockbuster fare to compete with the recent mass-appeal Star Wars."
"The film earned three times its budget at the North American box office, and its sumptuous, shimmering, and mature retelling of its mythic source material made it an apt vessel for Boorman's creative renewal."
"The Arthurian mythos - which were popular as stories in the 12th and 13th centuries before they were turned into English-language prose in the 15th century - have been beloved by children for eons, serving as a touchstone for fantasy writers from the Victorian era through to today."
By 1981, John Boorman faced a creative crisis after several unsuccessful films. His previous works included the acclaimed Deliverance and the disastrous Exorcist II: The Heretic. Excalibur, an epic fantasy film based on Arthurian legend, was crucial for his career revival. The film successfully adapted classic elements of the King Arthur story, competing with popular films like Star Wars. Excalibur earned three times its budget at the box office, showcasing Boorman's ability to create a mature and visually stunning retelling of the myth.
Read at Inverse
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