Best movies like The King Maker
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
1547 Fernando De Gama, a young "Soldier of Fortune" from Portugal, set sail for the ient in an effort to find a man who murdered his father and, with luck, like many of their compatriots, to make his fortune. A vicious storm in the Indian Ocean almost ended his plans when he was on the ship sank. The sole survivor, he was washed up on a tropical beach only to be captured by Arab slavers and taken to Ayutthaya in the kingdom of Siam, where he was offered for sale as a slave.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 739
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Thailand
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: epic, realistic, rough, serious, surprise ending
Best tv shows and movies like The King Maker (2005):
Similar in 87%
Sahara (1983)
Plot Summary:
After her father dies, young Dale takes his place in a trans-African auto race, but ends up being abducted by a desert sheik.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, exciting, realistic, suspenseful, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Pursuit (1991)
Plot Summary:
A mercenary is hired to hunt down a group of rebel soldiers in Africa.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 87
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic
Similar in 84%
By the Sword (1991)
Plot Summary:
A mysterious man, Suba, gets himself a job at a fencing academy, and as he learns the way of the students, the school, and its maestro, they learn that there's more to him than meets the eye. He gains (or regains?) his fencing skills and his philosophy of teaching clashes with the maestro's. As they are thrown into conflict, Suba and the maestro's past appear to be linked. And the resolution of their mysterious relationship may be a duel to the death.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: suspense, cult classic, sincere, rough, serious, realistic, independent film, cult film
Similar in 79%
Hamlet (2009)
Plot Summary:
David Tennant stars in a film of the Royal Shakespeare Company's award-winning production of Shakespeare's great play. Director Gregory Doran's modern-dress production was hailed by the critics as thrilling, fast-moving and, in parts, very funny.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, emotional, stylized, crying, sincere, realistic, contemplative, gloomy, period drama
Similar in 90%
The Conspiracy (2008)
Plot Summary:
16th century ruler King Philip II of Spain maneuvers within a court of deceit and betrayal.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 417
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Spain
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, epic, historical drama, tense, talky, gloomy, costume drama
Similar in 84%
The King's Guard (2000)
Plot Summary:
A princess falls in love with her father's swordsman.
IMDB Rating: 3.4
IMDB Votes: 611
Genere: Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: semi serious, exciting, captivating, light, feel good, independent film, dark comedy
Similar in 75%
The Shogun's Samurai (1978)
Plot Summary:
Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother Tadanaga become bitter rivals for the shogunate, and the land is split into factions, eventually erupting into warfare. Iemitsu's mentor, his fencing instructor Yagyu, is fixated upon securing Iemitsu the shogunate and ends up betraying everyone, even his own family, in pursuit of the goal.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: perverse, epic, exciting, rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized
Similar in 76%
Saul and David (1964)
Plot Summary:
David of Bethlehem slays the giant and becomes a rival to King Saul.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 110
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Italy, Spain
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, gloomy, christian film
Similar in 80%
Sword in the Moon (2003)
Plot Summary:
A series of high-ranking officials are being systematically eliminated by a sleek assassin and his female assistant, and arrogant master swordsman General Choi (Jo Jae-Hyeon) is charged with putting an end to the carnage. During a previous time of political upheaval, the Clear Wind, Shining Moon martial arts school was caught in the middle and its members ruthlessly slaughtered. Top student Choi swore allegiance to the usurpers and was spared; now, his former friend, Yun (Choi Min-Soo) is exacting vengeance on behalf of the victims.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Adventure
Country: South Korea
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, bleak, realistic
Similar in 86%
The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969)
Plot Summary:
The Spanish explorer Pizarro captures the Inca god-chief Atahualpa and promises to free him upon the delivery of a hoard of gold. But Pizarro finds himself torn between his desire for conquest and his sense of honor after friendship and respect develops between captive and captor.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 788
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: independent film, tense, serious, realistic, epic, historical drama, baroque, period drama, cult film
Similar in 88%
The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this globe-trotting adventure, Marco Polo (Don Diamont) plays the famous 13th Century explorer who sets out from Italy to find his missing father, and along the way finds danger, excitement, and amazing discoveries at every turn. The supporting cast includes Oliver Reed, Jack Palance, and Herbert Lom.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 546
Genere: Adventure
Country: Ukraine, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, sentimental, epic, serious, captivating
Similar in 75%
Blades of Blood (2010)
Plot Summary:
In the 16th century in Chosun dynasty, HWANG Jung-hak and LEE Mong-hak create the “Grand Alliance” with the united dream of a better world. While the new leader LEE dreams of eradicating this world of all its corruption and becoming king himself, the legendary blind swordsman HWANG who had once been his comrade goes after him with the loss of his good friend at the hands of LEE. Just as the king abandoned his kingdom from Japanese invasion, the two come face-to-face inside the empty palace and begin their last battle they were destined to fight.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, serious, tense, epic, realistic, stylized
Similar in 84%
Marco Polo (2007)
Plot Summary:
Assigned to accompany two priests on a mission to convert the court of Kublai Khan to Christianity, Marco Polo is abandoned in the mountains when the priests, doubting the very existence of China, turn back. Polo eventually pushes bravely forth alone toward the fabled country where he is accepted as an envoy into Khan's court. Marooned on the far side of the world, Polo, accompanied by his servant, Pedro, advances as a Mongol grandee for twenty extraordinary years. What he eventually brings back with him to the West is a chronicle that changed history forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, epic, captivating, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 76%
Royal Deceit (1994)
Plot Summary:
A Danish prince seeks revenge upon the villain who killed the king and his son to usurp the throne.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Netherlands, UK, Denmark, France, Germany
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: costume drama, tense, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 75%
Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles (2008)
Plot Summary:
Princess Luisa and knight Gabriel must face a dragon to save their kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Romania
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, stylized, semi serious, mystical, mythical, slasher
Similar in 77%
Samurai Banners (1969)
Plot Summary:
Feudal Japan, 1543 to 1562. Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife as a concubine. He then convinces the widow, Princess Yu, to accept this arrangement and to bear Takeda a son. He pledges them his life. He then spends years using treachery, poetic sensibility, military and political strategy to expand Takeda's realm, advance the claim of Yu's son as the heir, and prepare for an ultimate battle with the forces of Echigo. Has Kansuke overreached? Are his dreams, blinded by love, too big? Written by [email protected].
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 798
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, jidai geki
Similar in 80%
Hamlet (1996)
Plot Summary:
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 40000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 242 min
Plot tags: stylized, costume drama, atmospheric, captivating, serious, period piece, epic, fairy tale, sad, visually appealing
Similar in 89%
Hamlet (1990)
Plot Summary:
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, UK, France
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, realistic, compassionate, bleak, psychological, serious, disturbing, costume drama, fairy tale, stylized
Similar in 89%
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)
Plot Summary:
Genoan navigator Christopher Columbus has a dream to find an alternative route to sail to the Indies, by traveling west instead of east, across the unchartered Ocean sea. After failing to find backing from the Portugese, he goes to the Spanish court to ask Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand for help. After surviving a grilling from the Head of the Spanish Inquisition Tomas de Torquemada, he eventually gets the blessing from Queen Isabella and sets sail in three ships to travel into the unknown. Along the way he must deal with sabotage from Portugese spies and mutiny from a rebellious crew.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA, Spain
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, serious, realistic, anamorphic, independent film, costume drama
Similar in 82%
The Long Ships (1964)
Plot Summary:
In this elaborately mounted seafaring adventure, Rolfe (Richard Widmark) is a Viking leader with the cunning and devious mind of a pirate. Rolfe tells others sailors of "The Mother of Voices," a mammoth bell made of gold and as tall as three men, but he adds enough incorrect details to throw them off the proper trail. However, Aly Mansuh (Sidney Poitier), the leader of a group of ambitious Moors, sees through Rolfe's story, and soon the two are in a breakneck race to be the first to capture the precious bell. The Long Ships also features Russ Tamblyn and Oscar Homolka.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: UK, Yugoslavia
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: retro, semi serious, epic, saga, independent film
Similar in 83%
The Legend of Suriyothai (2001)
Plot Summary:
During the 16th century, as Thailand contends with both a civil war and Burmese invasion, a beautiful princess rises up to help protect the glory of the Kingdom of Ayothaya. Based on the life of Queen Suriyothai.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Thailand
Duration: 185 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, atmospheric, realistic, serious, stylized
Similar in 90%
Lionheart (1987)
Plot Summary:
A young knight sets out to join King Richards crusaders. Along the way, he encounters The Black Prince who captures children and sells them as slaves to the Muslims. It is Robert Narra's sworn duty to protect the children and lead them to safety.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 969
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Hungary, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: captivating, exciting, serious, disturbing
Similar in 76%
Ivanhoe (1982)
Plot Summary:
This is a remake of Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe, a worthy and noble knight, the champion of justice returns to England after the holy wars. He find England under the reign of Prince John and his henchmen and finds himself being involved in the power-struggle for the throne of England. Will justice prevail and will all fair ladies in distress be rescued?.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, atmospheric, suspenseful, stylized, fairy tale, serious, period drama, eighties
Similar in 84%
Crusaders (2001)
Plot Summary:
Towards the end of the eleventh century, Pope Urban II announces a crusade against the Saracens, who have occupied the holy city of Jerusalem. Three young friends Richard, Peter and Andrew set off to join the crusading army.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 585
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Italy, Germany
Duration: 194 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, epic
Similar in 87%
Robin and Marian (1976)
Plot Summary:
Robin Hood is an old man when he returns with his best friend Little John to England after the Crusades. Maid Marian has entered a nunnery, King Richard is a raving lunatic, his Brother John a moron, and the age of great adventure has seemed to have passed Robin by. But when The Sheriff of Nottingham once again threatens Sherwood, Robin gathers his faithful men, and band of peasants to fight oppression in this high-spirited adventure in which Robin Hood and Maid Marian rediscover their love….
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, stylized, period piece, suspense, epic, mythical, touching, emotional
Similar in 76%
Flesh+Blood (1985)
Plot Summary:
A band of medieval mercenaries take revenge on a noble lord who decides not to pay them by kidnapping the betrothed of the noble's son. As the plague and warfare cut a swathe of destruction throughout the land, the mercenaries hole up in a castle and await their fate.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Netherlands, Spain, USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: intense, atmospheric, sexy, captivating, realistic, erotic, dark, offbeat, emotional, dark fantasy
Similar in 83%
A Viking Saga: Son of Thor (2008)
Plot Summary:
Drama set in the viking age, Helgi witnesses the destruction of his village and narrowly escapes to his uncle Rurik who raises him like his son. Many years later he meets the people responsible for his parents death and someone he never expected to see again.
IMDB Rating: 2.2
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Denmark, USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: captivating, saga, exciting, serious, tense, suspense, epic, realistic
Similar in 84%
The Divine Weapon (2008)
Plot Summary:
During the reign of King Sejong in the 15th century, the Joseon Dynasty was the embodiment of the perfect state. To the Ming China, the aspiring imperial power, Joseon presented an obstacle to territorial expansion. To protect themselves from war, King Sejong develops a secret weapon to defend their territory and take back their land and supremacy.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 845
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 134 min
Plot tags: epic, captivating, tense, suspense, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 87%
Kamui (2009)
Plot Summary:
KAMUI is a Ninja on the run from the world of Ninja bound by rules in search of true freedom. However, he is burdened with the fate, where it is not allowed to take the secret of their powers outside of the tribe -- if you are born as Ninja, you must die as Ninja. This brings him to constantly fight for his life against other Ninjas who trie to kill him and hide the secrets within. He does not trust, and he does not love. Showing weakness leads to immediate death. An incident brings him to an old fisherman's village, where he finally starts to feel trust and affection towards other people. However, his pursuers where just minutes away from setting up a huge trap on Kamui.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, epic, stylized, anime, serious, realistic, fast, action adventure
Similar in 79%
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003)
Plot Summary:
A Chinese emissary is sent to the Gobi desert to execute a renegade soldier. When a caravan transporting a Buddhist monk and a valuable treasure is threatened by thieves, however, the two warriors might unite to protect the travelers.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: epic, breathtaking, exciting, serious, lyrical, historical drama, atmospheric, realistic, contemplative, road movie