Ridley Scott is known for making some violent movies. But, while the likes of Gladiator, Gladiator II, American Gangster, and Kingdom of Heaven get all the love from fans, Ridley Scott’s most underrated and one of his most violent action movies is about to land on a new streaming home. Despite releasing in theaters just four years ago, audiences appear to have already forgotten the underrated film, which features a star-studded cast, including Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, and Matt Damon. And, just like Gladiator, it gave Scott a chance to take audiences back in time to a far more brutal time period. If you haven’t guessed yet, we’re talking about 2021’s The Last Duel, and it’s about to slice its way onto streaming.
Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel will soon stream on Hulu. The historical action movie will begin streaming on Hulu from November 1. The Last Duel opened in theaters in 2021 to a very underwhelming box office — that’s what happens when you release a movie during a global pandemic. It’s a shame the movie flopped in theaters, because critics absolutely adored it. The Last Duel holds a very strong 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it in the upper echelon of Ridley Scott’s filmography on the review aggregate site. Audiences, or at least the few who have watched the film, also loved it, as it boasts a similarly strong 81% user rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Set during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England (which actually lasted for 116 years), the film, as the title suggests, depicts the last sanctioned duel in France, between Jean de Carrouges (Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Driver). The official synopsis reads:
“Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, two friends turned bitter rivals. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite, is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.”
‘The Last Duel’ Needs More Love on Streaming
Ridley Scott fans might jump to his 20th Century hits like Thelma and Louise, Alien, and Blade Runner, or his more contemporary hits like Gladiator and The Martian. But The Last Duel deserves more love from Ridley Scott fans and film bros.
Those who have taken the time to watch The Last Duel adored it. “The best Ridley Scott movie of the decade, much better than House of Gucci, Napoleon, and Gladiator II,” wrote one user on Rotten Tomatoes, while another called the film “vastly underrated.” Perhaps the highest praise came from one fan, who wrote, “The way they told the story from three different points of view was really interesting, but the actual duel itself was wild and amazing to look at, even though it was very violent.”
- Release Date
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October 15, 2021
- Runtime
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2h 32m