Movies

Heath Ledger’s Hidden Gem: A Knight’s Tale Returns to Streaming for Free!

BBG News

Among Heath Ledger’s lesser-known but delightful movies, the blend of medieval action and comedy – “A Knight’s Tale” – is set to find a fresh new residence on streaming platform Tubi as of June 1st.

In the movie titled “A Knight’s Tale“, Heath Ledger played the character William Thatcher, a valiant and faithful peasant yearning to be a knight. As events unfolded, he began to masquerade as a nobleman and participate in tournaments, amassing rewards and forging friendships with significant historical figures such as Edward the Black Prince (portrayed by James Purefoy) and Geoffrey Chaucer (character unspecified). The film borrowed numerous plot elements from Chaucer’s “The Knight’s Tale“, a tale within “The Canterbury Tales“. To give it a fresh twist, the movie incorporated anachronistic contemporary pop culture references and a soundtrack reminiscent of the 1970s.

William’s adventure kicks off as he assumes his deceased mentor’s role in a knightly competition, teaming up with pals Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat () under the alias Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein. As love blossoms between him and noblewoman Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), he squares off against the malevolent Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) in a humorous struggle for both prestige and integrity.

A Knight’s Tale was launched by Columbia Pictures in 2001 and received a mix of reviews from critics, currently boasting a 59% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it appears that the general audience has a more positive outlook towards this movie, as evidenced by over 250,000 audience scores, with 79% giving it high marks. The film’s detractors often pointed out its historical inaccuracies and predictable narrative, while fans appreciated its swift pace and family-friendly escapades.

During its theater release, the film “A Knight’s Tale” ended up in second position on its opening weekend, trailing slightly behind another movie, amassing more than $117 million worldwide throughout its entire run. Interestingly, in April 2024, it was disclosed that the movie’s director, Brian Helgeland, had proposed a sequel to Netflix; however, the idea did not move forward.

A Knight’s Tale Also Gets a Surprising New 4K Release

Despite not being Heath Ledger’s most acclaimed role, A Knight’s Tale is still underestimated in his filmography. The movie has been re-released on May 20, offering a range of additional features and a fresh restoration of the original film negatives. This edition includes both the theatrical version and an extended cut, as well as a thrilling new Dolby Atmos audio track.

Heath Ledger, who tragically passed away at the young age of 28 in 2008, demonstrated his versatility as an actor throughout his career by appearing in numerous films. Among these, his standout performances include roles in “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Brokeback Mountain,” and “Monster’s Ball.” In the year of his death, Heath portrayed The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” a film that was released posthumously. His final role, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” was also posthumously released in 2009.

A Knight’s Tale arrives on Tubi on June 1.

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2025-05-26 23:06

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