Historical time periods are a popular backdrop for movies and the Iron Age is no different in attracting filmmakers. The Iron Age is usually understood to last from about the 12th Century BCE to the 6th Century BCE and follows on from the Stone and Bronze ages. It is a time of rising powers, conflict, and cultural transformations.
Films set during the Iron Age are often full of action and violence keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Biblical themes and stories are also prevalent in Iron Age films with fresh takes on these old tales coming to the fore for new audiences.
7 Samson (2018)
The 2018 Iron Age epic Samson is based on the story of Samson from the biblical Book of Judges. Under command from God to relieve the Israelites of their oppressors, the film is witness to Samson's toilsome journey, both physical and spiritual, which sees him break his Nazarite vows.
Though the film has been praised for its accuracy in regard to the source material, its low budget is apparent in the mediocre special effects and overall visuals, leaving fans wishing for more.
6 Tomiris (2019)
In Tomiris, a Kazakhstani feature film, Herodotus' story about the death of King Cyrus the Great of Persia is told through the eyes of the enemy leader Queen Tomiris. Raised by her father near the end of the Iron Age, Tomiris learns the way of war and the harsh life of a nomadic soldier.
After her father is killed, she is forced into hiding until gaining the strength for revenge. Though the film can be found lacking in certain places like plot and character, the costumes and visuals do justice to the time period. As one of the few Iron Age films with a female protagonist, Almira Tursyn more than delivers in the main role.
5 Confucius (2010)
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and politician whose ideas are still intrinsic to East Asian culture today. The 2010 film Confucius attempts to tell his story amidst an epic backdrop of war and political intrigue.
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat stars as the titular character and delivers a multitude of well-written and thought-provoking lines. However, despite success across multiple metrics, the film did receive some negative attention for including too much action for a movie about the life of a mostly peaceful and beloved philosopher.
4 The Book Of Daniel (2013)
Considering the film's relatively low budget, The Book of Daniel from 2013 does a pretty good job of bringing the story of Daniel to the big screen. The start of the movie follows Daniel's rise from a mere slave to the heights of being a trusted advisor of King Nebuchadnezzar, but things take a turn for the worse under the reign of Darius.
With themes of faith and prophecy at the fore, this is one Iron Age film that doesn't purely rely on violence for entertainment and Robert Miano's performance as an older Daniel is particularly compelling.
3 King David (1985)
The underdog story of David and Goliath is one that has been constantly retold in various forms for thousands of years with each generation depicting the themes in their own ways. The 1985 film King David, however, is about the actual David from the famous duel, as told in the bible.
After defeating the formidable Goliath, David has to navigate the wrath and jealousy of King Saul, all while coming to terms with his royal future. Despite the film's age, the production still holds up and viewers can expect stunning performances all around from a veteran cast.
2 The First King: Birth Of An Empire (2019)
While there is a multitude of films, shows, and games set during the height of Roman power, the Republican and Imperial periods, few depict Rome's rise from the depths of the Iron Age. The First King: Birth of an Empire, however, does just that, telling the time-tested story of Romulus and Remus which was popular with the Romans themselves.
From shepherds to slaves and eventual conquerors, the two brothers set out on a journey that will shape the history of the world and ultimately push their relationship to the brink. Fraught with violence, this is a film for action lovers and those looking to see how Rome began.
1 Troy (2004)
The Trojan war, as depicted in Homer's Iliad, is probably the most famous fictitious conflict, and has served as the inspiration for a plethora of adaptations over the years. One of the most well-known renditions of the Trojan war, which is set at the dawn of the Iron Age, is Troy from 2004.
With Brad Pitt staring as Achilles and Orlando Bloom as Paris, this historical epic features a star-studded cast, and similarly to other early 2000s epics, utilized a large budget to create huge action scenes and visuals that stunned audiences at the time. Though the film has no major pitfalls, it is now generally regarded as mediocre across the board, especially when compared to films with modern visuals.