Movies like Vikings and Game of Thrones

If you like "Vikings" you are looking for atmospheric, heroic and captivating movies or TV shows about / with warrior, viking, king, adventure, battles, norse mythology and legends and myths themes of Action, Adventure and Drama genre shot in Ireland or Canada.

Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps: 1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below). 2. Look for them in the presented list.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War

Country: Ireland, Canada

Duration: 44 min.

TV show

Story: Vikings follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of his age. The series tells the sagas of Ragnar's band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes. As well as being a fearless warrior, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions of devotion to the gods. Legend has it that he was a direct descendant of Odin, the god of war and warriors.

Style: atmospheric, heroic, captivating, exciting, breathtaking, epic, homoerotic, stylized, rough, serious ...

Audience: boys' night

Plot: warrior, viking, king, adventure, battles, norse mythology, legends and myths, historical character, heroes, sword and shield, tough heroes, leader, adventurer, swords and armor, intrigue, war, female nudity, rise to the top, snow, master warrior, graphic violence, conflict, medieval, sex scene, execution ...

Time: middle ages, 7th century, 9th century, 8th century

Place: scandinavia, europe, iceland

Most similar movies to Vikings

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out exciting, epic, serious and stylized films and TV series with plots about medieval, sword fight, rivalry, ancient, sword, adventure and heroes mostly in Drama, Action and History genres. Some movies like Vikings: The Last Kingdom (2015), Game of Thrones (2011), Barbarians (2020), Spartacus (2010), Marco Polo (2014). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.

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Rahul is a TV addict who can never get enough of good shows. His all-time favorites are The Wire, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos.

What Are Some Good TV Series Like 'Vikings'?

The plot of Vikings revolves around Pagans who have been terrorizing England and France for a while with their relentless invasions. And we, sitting comfortably on our couches, love every moment of it.

Is Vikings a Good Series?

Some people call this show Game of Thrones-lite. As it turns out, the series is just as good as GOT, even toppling it in some areas. The first season was an achievement by the History channel in showing audiences that they could pull off a legitimate drama series rather than their usual docudramas. Since then, the storytelling and production values have only gone up. As epic as the narrative has become, the show is still grounded in realism. This is easily one of the best historical costume dramas that has aired in recent years.

Update - Over the past 2 seasons, the storytelling has derailed a little bit, trading its authenticity in favor of unnecessary theatrics.

Being a huge fan of this show, I’ve compiled a list of some other series similar to Vikings. Let’s take a look.

The Best Series Similar to 'Vikings'

• Game of Thrones
• Marco Polo
• Black Sails
• Rome
• The Borgias
• The Last Kingdom
• The Bastard Executioner
• Penny Dreadful

Game of Thrones

1. Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones has proved that you don’t need to be historically accurate or have a story based on real life to feel authentic. The world of Westeros is just as beautiful as they come. The seven houses are on a quest to hold on to the power they already have, expand their influence, and possibly get to the Iron Throne. The result is corruption, chaos, despair—a total collapse. In a world where no one can be trusted, there is another bigger threat that looms round the corner. That threat is thousands of White Walkers, undead creatures that can easily overrun Westeros. This winter might just be the last one Westeros will ever see. Are they prepared for the final battle?

There are a lot of questions here, most of which have already been answered in the last 5 seasons. If you somehow still haven’t gotten a chance to watch this show, go ahead and do it.

With just the right mix of violence, humor, nudity and heart, Game of Thrones has cemented its place as one of the best shows like Vikings. It doesn’t happen very often, but every season of this show feels like a 10-hour-long action movie instead of a TV show. You pull for the heroes despite knowing that there is no chance they’re coming out unscathed. It’s filled with realism, and to some extent, pessimism. But I won’t blame you if you can’t wait for the next season.

If you enjoy Game of Thrones, be sure to take a look at this list of similar shows for recommendations.

Should You Recommend 'Vikings' to a 'Game of Thrones' Fan?

Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows out there right now. You may know someone who is looking for something to watch between seasons. Would a fan of that show enjoy Vikings?

I feel there is a strong chance they would. Vikings was clearly made in the wake of HBO's massively successful series. The world of Vikings has a similar scope to that of GOT, even though it is not quite as ambitious in the narrative department. It similarly focuses on political intrigue within a medieval setting. Some fans may find that aspect more appealing here since Vikings is based on actual history. One thing this show beats Game of Thrones in is the stronger emphasis on the depiction of battles and swordplay. This show has less gratuitous sex and violence on a account of being on cable television, which may be a plus for folks who are put off by that material in GOT.

Marco Polo

2. Marco Polo

The plot revolves around Marco Polo, a Venetian explorer who gets entangled in the power struggle and politics of the Mongol Empire.

13th century China is perfectly depicted on screen. While the show might not be historically accurate in terms of events and dates, it is intriguing. Everything from the acting to directing has been executed pretty well. I think that they made a wise choice in having the characters speak English. Their main audience are Americans—people who are not very patient with subtitles. People often speak in native languages as well, making for a nice flow of different languages.

Those complaining that it’s not historically accurate don’t know what they’re talking about. Even scholars feel that Polo never visited the places he claimed to. We'll never know for sure. Instead of focusing on the flaws and comparing it with shows like Vikings and Game of Thrones, enjoy a rare peek into rich Asian history.

Black Sails

3. Black Sails

The last couple of years have proved that people dig historical dramas. They don't have to be accurate or even real. As long as they allow us to escape from the real world, they’re pretty much guaranteed to succeed. Airing on Starz, Black Sails is one such offering, ready to suck you into its dangerous and beautiful world.

Both Vikings and Black Sails have a lot in common. They both involve relentless marauders who come out of nowhere, rob and murder people, and disappear quickly.

The plot revolves around the Captain Flint and his crew as they plunder ships and wreak havoc on the ocean. I think Starz has outdone themselves here. Pirates, gore, sex, and tons of high-voltage drama—Black Sails has everything you need to fill the Vikings-shaped hole in your heart.

Throughout the first three seasons, the show has done remarkably well, never derailing from an overarching storyline. As far as looks go, it has always stayed one step ahead of other historical dramas. Black Sails is as gorgeous as they come. It winds up looking a tad flashy at times, but who cares? We are here to have some fun.

If you end up enjoying this one, check out a list of similar shows for further recommendations.

Rome

4. Rome

Rome is a historical drama set during the first century B.C. It covers the last days of the Roman Republic before it transitioned to an autocratic empire. The transition is sketched from the standpoint of Octavian Augustus, Lucius Vorenus, Titus Pullo, and a couple of other important characters. Again, it’s not historically accurate by any stretch, and it doesn’t have to be.

I would say that Rome is perhaps the greatest historical drama HBO has ever produced. I’m not counting Game of Thrones here since that show is fictional. Yes, there are some fictional elements here as well, but it stays true to the history for the most part.

Being on HBO allowed the people behind the show to flex their creative muscles as much as they could. You can see it in the amazing production quality. Of course, there is profanity, rough sex, a lot of nude scenes, and violence. Your usual HBO stuff. Keep children away.

The script is intelligent and realistic, with some profanity, violence, and decadence thrown in. Unlike most portrayals of Rome, it doesn't shy away from showing the ugly side of an otherwise glorious empire. We see Ancient Rome filled with drunkards, brawlers, womanizers, prostitutes, adulterers, fornication, and loads of sexual acts. It's an honest depiction of the decadence and wickedness in the best manner possible.

As a huge Vikings fan, the only thing I didn't like here was the lack of fighting. Rome is more narrative-oriented. Don’t fret. There is a lot to chew on. This show was good enough to make it on a list of the best HBO series you should watch.

The Genre of Historical Period Pieces

If there is one connection between all of these series, it is that they all fit into the genre of historical dramas. The common trait in this category of dramas, aside from being set in the past, is the high production values. You can expect lavish costumes, art direction, and cinematography. In fact, a common reason for cancellations is studios no longer being willing to pay for production costs.

The narratives of these shows can widely vary but you can expect the society of the times to be examined as well as narratives driven by the political maneuvering of characters. These series are frequently seen on premium networks, although some do appear on cable television. Because they are often on subscription channels, they have more leeway with depictions of violence and sexual content.

While based on history, and occasionally being quite faithful, there are usually many creative liberties taken for the sake of making entertainment. While these shows should not be taken at face value, they do have the benefit of making viewers interested in learning about the actual history they cover.

Here are some additional shows that fit in the genre of historical dramas:

• Deadwood
• Hell on Wheels
• The Americans
• Spartacus
• The Tudors

The Borgias

5. The Borgias

Ever since HBO aired Rome, I used to think that it was impossible to topple its production value and quality. I knew I was wrong as soon as I watched a few episodes of The Borgias.

The plot revolves around the Borgia family, who are brought to power after the death of Pope Innocent VIII. Things spiral out of control as soon as Rodrigo, along with his family, get the hang of things.

Despite a few hiccups, The Borgias is a pretty fascinating piece of TV entertainment. It can be summed up as beautiful. Everything from the costumes, houses, and hair styles are perfectly in line with the medieval era. Nothing is out of place. The plot and pacing are impeccable.

This is much more than your usual soap opera. I’d say it’s more similar to shows like Vikings and Rome. Everything is perfectly executed.

If you’re looking for some great historical TV shows like Vikings, The Borgias should be your best bet. It was able to make it on a list of the best Showtime series to watch.

The Last Kingdom

6. The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom is one of the few historical shows that actually gets most of the facts correct. It’s on BBC after all—a network that’s usually pretty accurate and detailed with its shows. I’m not sure how much you care about it, but if accuracy is what you’re looking for, The Last Kingdom is not going to disappoint.

The plot revolves around Uhtred, who gets abducted by the Vikings. They take him in as a slave. He ends up being raised as one of the pagans. Things get complicated when he returns back to his homeland to get the land back from his uncle. He must adjust to this new Saxon lifestyle and fight against the very same people who raised him.

There is a lot of drama and action here. The first season was amazing and there is more on the way.

The Bastard Executioner

7. The Bastard Executioner

The Bastard Executioner comes from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter. Taking place in early 14th century, the plot revolves around Wilkin Brattle (played by Lee Jones), a former knight who decides that he has had enough of war. The war, unfortunately, hasn’t had enough of him yet. He must pick up the sword again and lead his people on a path to vengeance. The result is chaos and a lot of high-voltage drama. The only law of this land is kill or be killed.

Penny Dreadful

8. Penny Dreadful

Victorian London—a place where demonic creatures roam around the streets in disguise. A place where you need people like Ethan Chandler, Sir Malcolm Murray, and Vanessa to keep supernatural threats at bay. When fog starts creeping through this strange place, no one is safe. These three must work together to prevent chaos.

As far as the plot goes, I can't really give much away. It’s better if you watch this show not knowing what to expect. It looks gorgeous all the way through. We have had other shows and movies set in the Victorian era, but nothing comes close to the beauty that Penny Dreadful displays on screen.

I’m afraid that the blood-soaked action sequences are going to put some people off. If you can stomach some gore, go for this show.

Which Is the Best Gritty Historical Drama?

Honorable Mentions

Some other shows to consider are:

• Da Vinci’s Demons
• Peaky Blinders
• Reign
• Robin Hood

These shows didn’t make the list, but they are just as good as those mentioned above.

Did I miss out on any other good shows like Vikings? Let me know in the comments section.

Rahul Pandey (author) from Delhi, India on January 10, 2021:

I respect your opinion, but I'll admit that I have penchant for flashy shows.

Khaled mejbri on March 31, 2020:

The last kingdom

RAINBOW SAILS on March 04, 2020:

Black sails was terrible. All the main characters were bisexual, spare long john silver. There was more drama and softcore scenes than battle or interpersonal conflict. The characters personalities changed depending on the director. Not to mention their dialogue was modern, and women were given roles way out of historical accuracy. There were also parts where large portions of time passed and no one aged a day.

Helen Oakley on May 19, 2019:

I’ve seen game of thrones , Vikings , last kingdom, the frontier, outlander, reign , Medici , Tudor’s , I love all of these yet my top 3 would be Vikings , got , last kiny

MKlossner on April 08, 2018:

You should have mentioned Outlander, Versailles and TURN. And mentioned the classics of 1950s TV swashbucklers, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Zorro, to recall how period drama used to be done -- no sex, mild violence, but good shows for both children and adults.

Jory N on February 15, 2018:

Frontier is terrific, the grimy origin of Canada... I want to see a sequel to Turn: Washington’s Spies about the period 1783-95... use actors from Turn & Frontier!

78887 on February 07, 2018:

The Bastard Executioner was fantastic. Season 2 was canceled unfortunately because of low ratings. People really seem to hate watching homosexual men

Timoth00 on February 03, 2018:

The Last Kingdom is the most similar to Vikings. It starts off with the capture of King Ella and his death at the hands of Ubba Lothbrook. Ivar and Hvitserk are in Ireland. Then it flashes forward to Alfed becoming King after the death of Aethelred. The storyline is presented through the conflicting life of a Saxon raised as a Viking. Neither series are historically accurate and are told from very different viewpoints but that makes them more interesting..

lexi mills on January 03, 2018:

Spartacus

Rich on December 27, 2017:

Frontier is GREAT !!!!! on netflix so addicting wish they made more than 6 shows a season. Season 2 was amazing and can't wait 11 more months for season 3 ughhhh

nancy on November 29, 2017:

Vikings is tonight at 9 on the History Channel... so excited...

Linda on November 07, 2017:

I just love Vikings. I'm totally hooked. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ramona from Arkansas on October 07, 2017:

The Vikings new season returns this November 2017. I can not wait! I never watched Penny Dreadful. That might be a show I will look into. Thanks to your Hub.

Angie on September 08, 2017:

I loved the Last Kingdom but do not find it nearly as accurate as you describe. Albert was NOT King Egbert's son. He was his grandson as depicted on Vikings. Also, The Last Kingdom depicts /Ethelwulf as a bumbling idiot, when in reality recent historians denote him as one of the most successful West Saxon kings. Historical accuracy does not simply lie in battle descriptions and time periods.

Mike on September 06, 2017:

Last Kingdom- yes- even has Ragnar & son in it... But the Grandaddy of Em All... ya missed was. SPARTACUS (STARZ). Great story. Semi accurate- plot like Rome- Action & Gore fight scenes unequalled... Decadent Sex scenes, and Characters as magnetic as Vikings & GOT...

Monica on July 03, 2017:

If you are going for similarity to Vikings, you should switch the Last Kingdom to the top. It is the most similar, it even has king Alfred in it as a little boy.. it's like a prequel or opener for Vikings.

lovro on June 23, 2017:

frontier vanished

charles on June 13, 2017:

the musketeers

Name on April 14, 2017:

Spartacus?!?! The Tudors?!?!

Tammie on February 08, 2017:

This list should include Reign and Medici -Masters of Florence

mr hankey on February 07, 2017:

the last kingdom is better than vikings (i think)

Credence on January 23, 2017:

Watch Da Vinci's Demons and Medici : Masters of Florence. There are the best tv shows I've ever watched this year.

Clementine on January 02, 2017:

I would totally add The White Queen. Better than the Tudors.

Bendio on November 08, 2016:

Spartacus is amazing! I recommend watching it!

Nagato on September 24, 2016:

Versailles

War and Peace

Hispania, la leyenda

The Tudors

Da Vinci's Demons

Reign

Camelot

Mozart in the Jungle

CelticBhoy on August 24, 2016:

Watch ROME!!! Fantastic. Love The Last Kingdom as well

wolf on July 28, 2016:

spartacus

Serdar on July 03, 2016:

The Last Kingdom is very similar to vikings. I prefer for who watches Vikings..

Alex on June 29, 2016:

Spartacus blood and sand

Viggo on June 26, 2016:

Hell on Wheels.

Patience on June 08, 2016:

Thank you!! I am going to have a blast this weekend checking these out! I literally typed in, show like vikings and marco polo and i am so very happy your page came up!!

What shows are like Game of Thrones and Vikings?

Which movie is like Vikings?

Is there any movie like Game of Thrones?

What series is as good as the Vikings?