The Northman is finally finding the audience its craft deserves

Robert Eggers' 2022 Viking action-epic The Northman casts Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a prince driven to avenge his father's murder. Drawn from the Saxo Grammaticus legend, the film favors punishing, gore-soaked set pieces over a sprawling plot, and its stark violence and technical polish are buoyed by a standout ensemble that includes Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Claes Bang and Ethan Hawke.

Critics largely embraced the picture, which holds a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, yet the film barely broke even in theaters. With a production budget of roughly $70 million, it grossed about $69.6 million worldwide. The title began to turn a profit through paid VOD and related post-theatrical revenue, and later found renewed life on streaming platforms.

After appearing on Netflix, The Northman climbed streaming charts—reaching #8 on Netflix's global Top 10 for the week of August 31, 2025, and performing especially well in Brazil, Mexico and the U.K. Its U.S.

Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States

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