Dismiss any negative commentary; this is simply the finest Viking film ever made. It's a remarkable historical battle movie that somehow managed to fly under the radar. Like Jurassic Park and Westworld, The 13th Warrior originated from a Michael Crichton novel and features John McTiernan, known for directing Die Hard and Predator, as its action director. Antonio Banderas delivers a standout performance, alongside impressive practical effects and gorgeous set designs and costumes. Despite all this, critics panned the film, resulting in poor box office returns and making it one of the largest commercial failures ever. I can’t begin to understand how or why the reviews were so harsh because it's truly an outstanding movie. The combat sequences rival those found in other action-packed historical films like Braveheart, The Last Samurai, or Kingdom of Heaven. The narrative shares similarities with 300, centering on a small group of warriors confronting overwhelming challenges, and blends horror elements with thrilling action and well-developed characters. I’m baffled as to how The 13th Warrior was relegated to obscurity, but it deserves to be considered among the best action epics available.

Source on TMDB