10 Robin Hood Movies And TV Shows Ranked, From Awful To Amazing
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It's 2018, making it just about time for yet another adaptation of the Robin Hood story. Thankfully, Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx are here to make that happen with their new movie--Robin Hood--in theaters now.
This new take on the character Robin of Locksley--or Robin of Loxley, depending on which version you're watching--joins a long line of Robin Hood stories that have been unfolding on the big and small screens for practically as long as movies have been made. In fact, the first Robin Hood film, Robin Hood and His Merry Men, was a silent movie released in 1908. It's one of six silent films based on the character that were released--and over 70 adaptations to movies and TV as a whole.
It's such a deep pool of Robin Hood takes to dig through, and we're revisiting 10 others you should at least know exist, whether because they're iconic versions of the Robin Hood story or because you'll be surprised at who was cast as the infamous archer that steals from the rich to give to the poor. Then again, there are a couple you need to know about because, well, they're just bad.
So as you prepare to go see the new Robin Hood, take a look at these other tales of Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, and the rest of his Merry Men.
10. Robin Hood (2010)
With director Ridley Scott taking on something as massive as the tale of Robin Hood--starring Russell Crowe--you might expect a special movie. 2010's Robin Hood is special, but only because of how bad it is. Gone from this take on the story is any measure of humor or joy. Instead, this Robin Hood is dry, dark, and not very fun to watch. However, if sad and gritty Robin Hood if what you're looking for--and it shouldn't be--maybe this is the movie for you.
9. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
If we haven't christened the 1990s as the Costner era yet, we really should. He was in every movie, I'm pretty sure. Of those, he was in his very own Robin Hood film, Prince of Thieves. Like Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves didn't bother including any of the fun aspects of the Hood fable, instead presenting a dark and violent story. At the very least, though, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman turned in memorable performances as Azeem and the Sheriff of Nottingham, respectively. Curiously, Costner didn't bother trying an English accent in the movie.
8. Robin of Locksley (1996)
This TV movie refuses to be ignored. Robin of Locksley puts a modern spin on the tale of Robin Hood. Devon Sawa (Casper, Final Destination) stars as Robin McAllister, a boy who winds up at a rich kid prep school and falls for a girl named Marion (Scrubs' Sarah Chalke). Naturally, his high school life is riddled by the evil rich kid John Prince Jr., played by none other than Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek, The Mighty Ducks). This is '90s teen fare at its best and as silly as it is, you should probably watch it.
7. Arrow (2012-Present)
Now wait a minute, isn't Arrow an adaptation of the Green Arrow comic book? Yeah, sure it is. The Green Arrow, a vigilante archer that wears green, protects the weak from the corrupt, and in general is trying to save his city. Sounds a lot like Robin Hood, doesn't it?
To be honest, it's the early seasons of Arrow that veer closest to the story of Robin of Locksley. While all of Oliver Queen's comic book backstory is still there, he spends the pilot stealing money from the rich and corrupt as payback for their evil ways. He's also referred to as Robin Hood more than once throughout the run of the show. Robin wouldn't be so murdery about it all, though.
It's not a perfect comparison by any stretch, but leaving Arrow off of this list feels wrong. Regardless, it's a much better Robin Hood story than Prince of Thieves.
6. Robin and Marian (1976)
Who can forget Sean Connery as Robin Hood? What Makes Robin and Marian such a worthwhile Hood movie is that it's essentially a sequel to the fable most know. In it, Connery plays an older Robin Hood who finds himself reconnecting to his old life and his former love Maid Marion (Audrey Hepburn). Given this is still a Robin Hood story, he once again comes up against the Sheriff of Nottingham.
What makes Robin and Marian work is that it's the same story, but told through a different point of view. This Robin isn't the young and brash defender of the poor. Instead, he's a man who survived fighting in the Crusades and now has a different and more mature perspective on life.
5. Princess of Thieves (2001)
Did you know Kiera Knightley played Robin Hood? She did! Well, kind of. Princess of Thieves is a TV movie that casts the future Pirates of the Caribbean star as Gryn, the daughter of Robin and Maid Marian. It's not an epic film by any stretch, but changing things up and focussing on a female protagonist is a fresh take on the Robin Hood lore and one that could and should be explored again.
4. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a movie that teens in the 1990s couldn't get enough of. It's loaded with jokes and silly songs, features memorable performances by Cary Ewles and Dave Chappelle, just to name a couple, and managed to become a cult hit in the years that followed as people found it on VHS. It's unfortunate that it was such a bomb at the box office.
3. Robin Hood (1922)
Douglas Fairbanks was the first major name to take on the role of Robin Hood in this silent film. While it's not the most widely-known take on the character, it's definitely the one that helped this particular tale become such a hot commodity on the big screen.
2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
When you're thinking of classic Robin Hood, though, this is the movie that should immediately come to mind. This was the first non-silent Robin Hood film, which saw Errol Flynn take on the title role in what is widely considered the best live-action retelling of the tale ever. The Adventures of Robin Hood is everything you want this story to be, from it's bright and colorful palette, to its action-packed fight scenes, to even the comedy and joy injected into the story. How no other live-action film has been able to copy this formula is a mystery.
1. Disney's Robin Hood (1973)
Still, it's hard to argue against Disney making the true best Robin Hood adaptation of all time. This animated classic manages to weave an exciting world of talking animals and fun songs into the Robin Hood tale, forever imprinting the idea that Robin Hood is a red fox on generations of children.