10 Most Iconic Portrayals of Kings in Movies, Ranked

Every one of us has power and responsibility, but none have more power and responsibility than the king himself. It is this great position that makes them endlessly fascinating to watch. And the stories surrounding then timeless and engaging.

But by no means are all kings kind and gentle rulers, some are outright evil and act only with their interests in mind. Whether real or fictional, kings continue to endure, and the dramatic melodramas that offer surround them remain as entertaining and captivating as ever. With this in mind here are the 10 most iconic kings, ranked.

10 Arthur Curry

Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) is the reluctant rightful king of Atlantis, thought the path to the crown proved to be treacherous. The son of an Atlantian and a Human, Arthur was gifted with many unique abilities and proved to be the leader needed to bring both worlds together like never before, thereby preventing the destruction of both.

Aquaman proved to be a surprise hit and went on to gross more than a billion dollars worldwide, making it DC’s most successful films.

9 King Arthur

King Arthur has proved to be one of the longest enduring stories and continues to be reimagined for every generation. The latest interpretation of the iconic story came in 2017 with the release of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

The timeless story featuring a sword trapped in stone continues to influence films today and remains as relevant as ever. Although the film failed to impress critics and audiences alike, there’s no doubt that King Arthur remains one of the most iconic and Nobel kings.

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8 Odin

Featuring throughout the Thor movies Odin is one of the most powerful beings in the universe and the King of Asgard. Although his long rule has left him tired and ready to pass the throne down to his sons.

Kind and wise Odin may be, but this wasn’t always the way. Odin’s dark and blood-soaked past was revealed in Thor: Ragnarok. The war waged by Odin and his firstborn Hella remains his darkest and most shameful period.

7 Aslan

Aslan the lion appeared in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and is undoubtedly one of the wisest and bravest rulers the land has ever seen. Aslan was killed at the hands of The White Witch, whos rule saw Narnia become a frozen barren wasteland.

His death proved to be one of the most heartbreaking and cruel scenes ever to appear in a family film. But even death couldn’t stop Aslan, who returned and led the people of Narnia to victory and defeated the evil witch.

6 King George VI

Portrayed by Colin Firth in 2010s The King’s Speech, King George VI, had the difficult task of overcoming his speech impediment with the help of an unorthodox speech therapist.

This was pivotal as King Geroge was required to make his first radio broadcast to the nation as the world headed to war. The film went on to become critically acclaimed and won 4 Oscars. Including Colin Firth who earned an Oscar for his performance.

5  T’Challa

The throne was passed to T’Challa (aka Black Panther) after the death of his father, and he became king of the hidden technological marvel that is Wakanda.

Though ruling proved to be far more difficult than T’Challa anticipated, and he found himself constantly doubting his decisions and unsure how to proceed. Ultimately T’Challa decided to go against what his ancestors believed and reveled his hidden nation to the world, despite the risks it posed to his people.

4 Ramses II

Featured in Dreamworks Animation’s The Prince of Egypt, King Ramses II was undoubtedly one of the most wicked and self-interested rulers the world ever saw. First of all, there’s the whole slavery thing, which is terrible in its own right.

But on top of all that the selfish king refused to free these slaves despite the threat of 10 plagues being brought down upon. The plagues even saw the death of his son, which still didn’t cause a change of heart. King Ramses II was a terrible king and got what he deserved in the end.

3 Mufasa

Mufasa was not only a great father to Simba but also an excellent king. His rule over The Pride Lands meant peace for everyone, and on top of that, this Nobel king understood the circle of life and everyone’s place in it.

His tragic death at the hands of this own brother remains one of the saddest scenes in any Disney movie and left the land in chaos. His teachings and the wisdom passed onto his son provided him with the wisdom and courage needed to take back the throne and become a great ruler.

2 King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII remains one of the most recognizable and well-known kings from the Tudor period. Best known for having 6 wives, 2008s The Other Boleyn Girl chronicles two sisters that compete for his affection.

King Henry VIII may be most well known for his larger appearance, but here he is still in his youth and has yet to become the chunky king that everyone knows. The king himself was portrayed by Eric Banner, who does an excellent job in the role.

1 Aragorn

Featured throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn is undoubtedly one of the greatest rulers that Middle-earth has ever seen. Although reluctant to take up the throne, Aragorn finally accepted his role as the rightful king and led an army of the undead into battle against Sauron.

A man of the people, Aragon never thought of himself as above anyone and was noble to his core. On top of all that, he was a bad-ass warrior and proved time and again to be one of the bravest members of the fellowship.

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