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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Name: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Director: Guy Ritchie
Released: 2017
Duration: 126 min

Representation Score

2.7/10

Limited

2017

PG-13

Director

Guy Ritchie

Runtime

126 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Guy Ritchie’s retelling of the Arthurian myth succeeds in its visual and ethnic revisionism. By replacing the typical white-washed historical aesthetic with a multicultural ensemble, the film challenges genre expectations and presents a more diverse post-Roman Britain. However, the narrative remains anchored in conventional storytelling structures. The story is heavily driven by masculine archetypes and fraternal bonds, leaving little room for gender subversion or LGBTQ+ representation. While the racial diversity is a significant strength, the lack of engagement with other underrepresented identities keeps the overall score moderate.

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Category Breakdown

Does King Arthur: Legend of the Sword have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional framework that assumes everyone is straight and cisgender. There are no visible depictions of non-binary gender identities or stories involving LGBTQ+ themes.

How does King Arthur: Legend of the Sword portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around a male-dominated framework focused on brotherhood and patriarchal leadership. Female characters such as Viviane play secondary roles within the male-driven action plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is King Arthur: Legend of the Sword?

Good

The production breaks the Anglo-Saxon mold by featuring a diverse cast and a multi-ethnic street gang. This choice showcases a mix of identities in a mythical historical setting.

How does King Arthur: Legend of the Sword represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative highlights the hero as a product of systemic neglect rather than traditional nobility, focusing on class struggles and the deconstruction of authority.

Does King Arthur: Legend of the Sword include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities used as central narrative drivers or plot devices.

Present on Screen

The film effectively disrupts the traditional Anglo-Saxon homogeneity of Arthurian legends through a multicultural ensemble.
The casting of diverse actors like Djimon Hounsou provides a mythic revisionism rarely seen in the genre.
The story offers a compelling deconstruction of authority by framing the hero as a former street criminal.

Limited or Absent

The narrative relies on a heavily male-centric framework that reinforces traditional masculine archetypes.
Female characters are relegated to secondary roles within a predominantly male-driven plot.
There is a complete lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or neurodivergent narratives.

Official Synopsis

When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern, Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy... whether he likes it or not.

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