Alexander Skarsgård's Viking epic The Northman has arrived on Netflix in the UK and Ireland.
Directed by Robert Eggers, the film is based on the story of Amleth, which inspired William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The plot follows a young prince who witnesses the murder of his father King Aurvandill War-Raven (Ethan Hawke) by his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang).
With his mother Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) in the hands of an uncle-turned-enemy, Amleth flees his country as he promises to return to seek his revenge.
Originally released in 2022, the film has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (from 385 reviews), with the Critics Consensus calling it "a bloody revenge epic and breathtaking visual marvel" where Robert Eggers expanded "his scope without sacrificing any of his signature style".
Related: Best streaming services UK 2025 — including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV+
As well as Netflix, the film is also available to watch on Channel 4's streaming service for free, and to rent or buy on digital platforms like Amazon and Sky Store.
What to Read Next
Digital Spy gave it a 5-star review at the time of release, describing it as "absorbing" and "brutal". Other critics praised its "staggering feat of visceral filmmaking" (via The Playlist), with London Evening Standard even branding it a "masterpiece".
Along with the actors mentioned above, the cast also features Furiosa star Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Willem Dafoe, and Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk.
Related: The best movies on Netflix to watch right now
After delivering "the best horror" of 2024 with the remake Nosferatu, Robert Eggers is reuniting with Icelandic poet and The Northman co-writer Sjón for a new movie about another monstrous creature.
The filmmaker is set to direct Werwulf, a werewolf movie set in 13th century England, featuring period-accurate dialogue in Old English and including translations and annotations for moviegoers.
The film is slated for a Christmas Day 2026 release in the US.
The Northman is now available to watch on Netflix in the UK and Ireland.
Digital Spy's new print issue is here! Buy Oasis - Live in '25 in newsagents or online, now priced at just £8.99.
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
