21 Years Later, The “True Sword-and-Sandal Epic” That Critics Hated Lands New Streaming Home

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Critics and audiences often disagree on movies, and that was definitely true for the 2004 blockbuster Troy. While the film boasted a strong cast – including Brad Pitt, Rose Byrne, and Brian Cox – and featured large-scale, impressively choreographed battle scenes, critics weren’t fans. Despite the critical reception, Troy has become a beloved film for many, and is now available to stream.

You can now watch Troy on Peacock! This action-packed movie, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and based on the classic story of The Iliad, joined the streaming service in December. Brad Pitt stars as Achilles in this adaptation of the ancient poem. The story centers around Achilles’ love for the wife of Spartan King Menelaus, which leads to a war between the Greeks and the city of Troy, fueled by Menelaus’ brother’s desire for power. Here’s what the movie is about:

During a visit to the Spartan King Menelaus, the Trojan prince Paris became infatuated with Menelaus’ wife, Helen, and took her with him back to Troy. Enraged, Menelaus’ brother, King Agamemnon, who had already conquered all other Greek armies, used this as an excuse to declare war on Troy – the final kingdom standing in the way of his complete control of the Aegean Sea.

As we’ve said, Troy boasts an incredible cast, and that’s no overstatement. In addition to Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, and Brian Cox, the film features Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O’Toole, James Cosmo, Julie Christie, and Garret Hedlund. Troy was a huge hit in theaters, earning almost $500 million despite a $175 million budget. However, movie critics weren’t particularly impressed.

‘Troy’ Divided Audiences and Critics


Warner Bros. Pictures

Despite strong performances and impressive action sequences, the movie Troy received mixed reviews from critics, currently holding a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences enjoyed the film much more, giving it a 74% rating. Viewers particularly praised the cast, including Brad Pitt and Brian Cox, and the movie’s large-scale battles and well-executed action.

One recent viewer called this movie a classic sword-and-sandal epic, like the ones made in the 1950s and 60s. They praised its large scale, intense battle scenes, and the strong emotions surrounding love, loss, betrayal, and honor. While some viewers were bothered by how much the film differed from the original story of The Iliad, they still found it enjoyable.

The movie Troy offers a grand, epic retelling of the classic Greek story, but it takes some liberties with the original myths. Fans of Greek mythology will likely enjoy the film as a spectacle, though those very familiar with the source material might notice some historical inaccuracies and feel the story doesn’t always flow smoothly.

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2025-12-07 17:03