Top 20 Greatest Sword Fights In Movies
#20: Connor MacLeod vs. The Kurgan
“Highlander” (1986) Sword fights can range from the gritty and hyper-realistic to the utterly fantastic, and it’s on that wonderfully over-the-top end of that spectrum that we kick off our list. This battle is the culmination of two immortals’ centuries-long rivalry that goes full 80’s nostalgia in the best possible way. As the pair cross blades, both lightning and sparks erupt from their weapons and the fight sees them fall through the roof at one point. What really sets it apart, however, is the amazingly devious performance from Clancy Brown as the vile and imposing Kurgan, who can only be killed via decapitation.
#19: Kenshin vs. Enishi
“Rurouni Kenshin: The Final” (2021) Any number of swordfights from the “Kenshin” film series could have made it onto our list, but the final confrontation between Kenshin and Yukishiro Enishi is the one that takes the spot. As he so often had to do, the government assassin turned pacifist Kenshin faced down the demons of his past life once more. The clash between the swordsmen drew inspiration from the manga it’s based on, mixing in real elements from the Japanese Meiji period that it takes place, as well as more embellished and impressive choreography. The advantage swings back and forth between combatants and became a duel of emotions just as it was one of swords.
#18: Edmond Dantès vs. Fernand Mondego
“The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) As we’ve already seen in the first two entries on our list, cinematic sword duels often arrive near the climax of the film and are the culmination of a long rivalry. Perhaps no rivalry is greater than that of best friends turned bitter enemies, Edmond Dantès and Fernand Mondego. After losing everything in his life to Mondego, Dantès spent years crafting a perfect revenge, elevating himself from a poor simpleton to a brilliant count and a master swordsman. That plan finally came to a head when the pair crossed swords in a furious battle brimming with rage and revenge that ended with some much-needed catharsis.
#17: Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Anakin Skywalker
“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (2005) This duel had been a part of “Star Wars” lore right from the beginning as Darth Vader alluded to it in the original film. Audiences, therefore, knew that a final confrontation was coming between the padawan Anakin, traveling down a dark path, and master Obi-Wan Kenobi. While Anakin became blinded and consumed by the hate of the dark side of the Force, Kenobi battled with grief. Knowing he would have to strike down a man he viewed as a brother, Obi-Wan battled his best friend, avoiding both Anakin’s blade and the river of lava erupting all around them. In the end, Obi-Wan’s conviction failed, cutting Anakin down but failing to finish the job.
#16: The Samurai vs. The Bandit
“Rashomon” (1950) This masterpiece from legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa played with perception and differing points of view. The audience is shown this swordfight recounted from a number of different perspectives, sometimes as a glorious and epic affair. However, near the end of the film, the audience is given what is likely the true version of the fight. Both combatants are terrified, as the down-and-dirty fight lacks any honor. The pair scrap like frightened animals, rolling in the dirt, with the final result decided mostly by dumb luck. The visceral and unsophisticated fight is one of the most realistic swordfights on our list.
#15: Maximus vs. Commodus
“Gladiator” (2000) We take a step back even further in history to witness a duel for the very heart of Rome. After watching Maximus cut down every challenger the final battle sees him go up against the corrupt Emperor Commodus himself. Knowing of course that he could never win in a fair fight, Commodus inflicts a mortal injury on Maximus before the fight can begin. In the throes of death, however, Maximus uses parries and impressive footwork to disarm and kill the coward. The powerfully emotional moment paired with the incredible Hans Zimmer score creates a truly moving conclusion.
#14: Zorro vs. Captain Harrison Love
“The Mask of Zorro” (1998) Zorro has always been one of the silver screen's most iconic swordsmen, if not its most iconic, dating back to the days of silent film. A number of different actors have played Zorro, with swashbuckling legends from every era donning the mask. The Zorro swordfight that makes the cut for our list not only provides the needed emotional weight for a tense and impactful final battle, but also uses the environment around the fighters in creative ways. Having to be aware of both each other’s swords and their surroundings, it was a battle of wits and blades that ended with the greedy Captain Love stabbed through the chest and fittingly crushed by gold.
#13: Rob Roy MacGregor vs. Archibald Cunningham
“Rob Roy” (1995) Fighting to restore his honor and free himself from debt, the Scottish hero Rob Roy MacGregor agrees to a duel to the death against the vile Archibald Cunningham. Throughout the film, Cunningham has been shown to be ruthless and incredibly skilled with a rapier. Roy’s more laborious attempts to land a heavy blow with his broadsword are no match for the lightning-fast parries and strikes from Cunningham, who slices his opponent continually. As the fight wears on, it becomes more and more obvious that Roy is completely outmatched. As Archibald toys with Roy before delivering the final blow, Roy injures himself grabbing the rapier, and unleashes a devastating slash that ends Cunningham’s life.
#12: Duel at the Lake
“Hero” (2002) We couldn’t create a list like this and not include a film from the wuxia genre with impressive high-flying acrobatic duels. “Hero’s” breathtaking cinematography is without question some of the greatest ever put on film and somehow manages to make these violent acts a thing of pure beauty. While a number of swordfights in the film could be featured here, this one, set on a pristine lake in the middle of a forest, is simply stunning to behold. Shots of the combatants gracefully skipping and flipping off water and skillfully parrying one another are seen from every conceivable angle, including some impressive underwater shots.
#11: First Duel
“The Duelists” (1977) As the title would imply, this film features a pair of rivals who duel each other a number of times, with a variety of weapons. Any number of duels involving swords is good enough for inclusion, but the brutal first battle using sabers is the one that particularly stands out. With Frank Tidy’s cinematography and camerawork, the swordfight feels visceral and real. That effect is only compounded by the claustrophobic surroundings and the brutal sound effects of the clashing sabers with no musical score. The duel perfectly sets up a rivalry that will define these men’s lives for the next fourteen years.
#10: Hector vs. Achilles
“Troy” (2004) This duel is an adaptation of the climax of one of the most ancient and revered works of all time, the Iliad. Hector, the brave and noble Prince of Troy, faces off against the renowned warrior Achilles, both of whom have displayed superior swordsmanship throughout the film. Both continue to show their skill with their blades as they come face to face in a flurry of blades, blocks, and parries, crashing around each other together like a pair of hurricanes. Each comes within inches of death at the other’s hand until finally in a blink and you’ll miss it moment, Achilles deals Hector a killing blow.
#9: Aragorn vs. Lurtz
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) This next entry is a clash between good and evil, plain and simple. Throughout most of the film, the Fellowship has been pursued by Lurtz and his band of fierce Uruk-hai warriors. After Aragorn fights through dozens of foes and Lurtz shoots down his ally Boromir the pair come face to face in a brutal duel. Nothing about this fight is clean or cunning as both take bone-shaking strikes at one another, with thrown punches and a thrown shield that almost leads to a decapitation. Bruised and bloodied Aragorn fights with a rage we haven’t yet seen from him avenging his mortally wounded comrade.
#8: Robin Hood vs. Sir Guy
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938) Predating many special effects extravaganzas, this fight instead relied on impressive choreography and cinematography. The fight is remembered to this day for shots like descending the castle staircase, and the shadows of the duelists projected by candlelight on the cobblestone walls. Masters of their craft, Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone show off their impressive swordsmanship and footwork; dancing their way through the caste. With backgrounds in fencing, the stars manage to make it one of the more realistic fights on our list. The bout has gone on to inspire countless others and even led the film to be selected by Congress for preservation in 1995.
#7: Colonel Wolodyjowski vs. Andrzej Kmicic
“The Deluge” (1974) The duel from this Polish war film gets a high spot on our list by managing to be both painstakingly realistic and beautifully cinematic. Apt to the title of the film, the duel takes place in pouring rain, with the combatants gracefully maintaining their balance in the mud as gallons of water pour down on them. Each fighter is exact with their strikes and footwork, one wrong move or slip would mean certain death. In the end, the Colonel only needs to land a single strike, so quick you might almost miss it, cutting Kmicic in the forehead, his blood washing away in the torrential downpour.
#6: Yu Shu Lien vs. Jen Yu
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) This battle sees a superior swordsman go up against a talented upstart with a legendary weapon in a battle of skill vs. legend. The talented Yu Shu Lien tracks down the stolen blade known as Green Destiny wielded by the skilled but overconfident Jen Yu. Despite her exceptional swordsmanship, Yu Shu is kept on her back heel in the fight by the fabled sword, as one after another of her swords is shattered. Yu Shen even attempts to use a number of other weapons, displaying her mastery (for the most part) with all kinds of weaponry. In the end, Yu Shen breaks her blade but claims victory with the shattered sword in one fluid motion.
#5: Will Turner vs. Captain Jack Sparrow
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) The best swordfights do more than just look interesting. The most memorable ones do things like move the plot forward, establish character, foreshadow, and especially build a dynamic between two opposing viewpoints. Don’t get us wrong, this fight still looks amazing and utilizes the multilevel environment in clever ways, but it also does so much to create character and plot. Will and Jack exist on crisscrossing character arcs and having them literally clash when they first meet perfectly shows us their philosophies coming head to head and how they will impact one another.
#4: Chon Wang vs. Lord Rathbone
“Shanghai Knights” (2003) One of the most iconic and innovative stuntmen of all time Jackie Chan manages to bring his signature acrobatic style to this swordfight. As Chon Wang, Chan faces off against the deviously evil Lord Rathbone, renowned as one of the best swordfighters in Britain. The duel, taking place alongside the mechanical gears inside Big Ben utilizes Chan’s signature style and is packed with emotion as Chon attempts to avenge his father and best friend. As he is continually beaten and toyed with by the master fencer Chon realizes he can’t win and uses a new tactic, cutting the rafter, leading them both to crash out the face of the clock!
#3: Duel of the Fates
“Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999) We’ve already established that lightsaber fights have just that little something extra that makes them special, but this fight took things to an entirely different level. This two vs. one duel saw three incredibly powerful Force-wielders facing off, with one wielding a double-sided saber, revealed in a now iconic shot. Each combatant using a different colored saber is aesthetically pleasing and the fight constantly changes direction and pace keeping everyone on their toes. It even reveals character in the slower moments, with Maul’s relentlessness, Obi-Wan’s impatience, and Qui-Gon’s calm resoluteness. If that wasn’t enough the John Williams score is nothing short of perfect.
#2: The Bride vs. The Crazy 88
“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) As cool as a two-on-one fight is, the sheer number here makes this truly unique. The Bride dispatches the gang of Yakuza swordsmen sent to kill her; two, three, or even four at a time. Buckets of blood pour out of her opponents as she cuts them down, decapitates them, and even cuts one in half vertically. It’s gruesome yet fun in a way that really only Quentin Tarantino can provide and sets up a final duel between O-Ren Ishii and the Bride. That final swordfight is incredible in its own right, serving as a perfect finale to the first “Kill Bill” film. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Scott Pilgrim vs. Gideon Graves, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010) A Video Game Inspired Showdown The Musketeers vs. the Cardinal's Guard, “The Three Musketeers” (1973) An Exciting Battle from a Literary Classic Kylo Ren & Rey vs. Praetorian Guards, “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017) Enemies Become Allies in a Thrilling Throne Room Battle Captain Blood vs. Levasseur, “Captain Blood” (1935) A Fight for the Ages with Two All-Time Greats
#1: Inigo Montoya vs. the Dread Pirate Roberts
“The Princess Bride” (1987) There is no question that the emotional catharsis delivered when Inigo takes revenge on the six-fingered Count Rugen deserves to be recognized. However, for our number one spot, we have to give it to the duel near the start of the film between these two master swordsmen. The scene perfectly sets up the arc that Inigo will go on and manages to capture the audience’s curiosity as to the man in black’s motives. The double reversal that both are left-handed is a clever reversal, providing humor while also giving important insight into the confidence of both fighters. That, along with the accuracy and skill of the fencing, makes this our favorite movie swordfight.