There is a certain mysticism with swords that allow them to transcend the historical time periods where they were most useful. Nearly every movie genre from every time period gives special credence to swords and sword fighters. Often, it is the hero's skill with a sword that wins the day or becomes a notable trait that makes them identifiable as the hero. This list takes a look at the top 10 sword fighters from popular movies.
10 John - John Carter (2012)
First up is John Carter from John Carter. In the film, John is mysteriously transported from Earth to Mars. Because of the differences between the planets, John essentially becomes a superhero, able to jump incredible distances and display feats of strength. While John uses a variety of weapons, he deals significant damage with a sword and uses it in creative ways with his ability to defy physics.
John is a civil war soldier and presumably has the training to wield a sword, but his fighting style lacks finesse in favor of brute force. Still, with his ability to jump around his opponents and overwhelm them with strength, he would likely be a force to be reckoned with if he went up against other movie sword fighters. However, he may not be seeing a cross-over anytime soon. John Carter grossed $284 million at the worldwide box office, but thanks to its budget, it became one of the biggest bombs in history.
9 Beatrix Kiddo - Kill Bill (2003)
With a possible Kill Bill 3 in the works, Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill could be back and deadlier than ever. In contrast to John Carter, Kiddo's deadliness comes from her years and training and skill rather than brute strength. She traveled the world and studied under different masters to hone her skill to the highest level. Her skill with a blade allowed her to overwhelm tens of Yakuza at once, as well as multiple skilled opponents. She also learned secret techniques that allowed her to stop a person's heart if necessary. With unparalleled skill, she was able to get her revenge against many opponents that out-skilled and out strengthen her.
8 Westley - The Princess Bride (1987)
While The Princess Bride contains many skilled sword fighters, Westley proves his mettle by being able to defeat all of them. His style of sword blended many different styles together, impressing Inigo Montoya, who was at a loss for how to defend against it. Westley uses acrobatics, smart tactics, and creative swordplay to give himself a leg up against every opponent.
He managed to rise from a lowly cabin boy to the head of the dread pirate gang, and even after suffering a heavy loss to his life, he still defeated the film's villain with a sword. Westley's tactics alone put elevate him on this list, and his single-minded mastery of sword skills means that few can be his equal with the sword.
7 Aragorn - Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings was noted for his exceptional sword skills, even in a world of magical beings that live hundreds of years. For a mere human being to obtain such prowess with a sword in their limited lifetimes means his sword skills were the real deal. Despite being a human, he possessed the Numenorean Blessing, which extended his life and allowed him to hone his combat skills over multiple decades.
He battled mythological and foul creatures that would easily best a regular mortal man. The master wizard Gandalf himself remarked that Aragorn was the only member of their party that he would struggle to defeat.
Aragorn is also a master tracker and can find Gollum when other characters, including the mystically enhanced Gandalf, cannot. This means in a battle with other sword fighters; nobody could hide from Aragorn nor catch him off-guard with subtle tricks. Aragorn sword Andúril is another factor that sets him apart. The so-called "Flame of the West" made Aragorn a vessel of destiny who could do nothing else but slay darkness once drawing the sword. Even the dark lord Sauron himself, upon seeing the blade, remarked that despite his might, he was not above fear when seeing it.
6 Will Turner - Pirates of the Caribbean (2003-2017)
Will Turner has proved on many occasions that he had the sword skills to be at the apex of skill in Pirates of the Caribbean. Despite his straight-laced nature, his natural skill allows him to stay above even the toughest sword fighters in the series. On the DVD commentary of the first movie, the scriptwriters revealed that their intention was for Will Turner to be the best swordsman. Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow were nearly evenly matched, making it even more impressive that a non-immortal could best them.
5 Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean (2003-2017)
Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean often gets a bad rap for his sword skills. He is seen losing sword fights to people he shouldn't be losing to, but this is just because of the comedic element of his character. When Jack is serious, he can square off with the best sword fighters. He has a keen mind for tactics and dirty fighting, which would be effective against the many goody-two-shoes heroes you often see wielding swords in movies. Will Turner would insist on a fair fight, which Jack Sparrow would agree to until it benefitted him to bend the rules, giving him the victory.
4 Maximus - Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator won five Academy Awards and was nominated for a total of 12. It centers the narrative around General Maximus, a warrior that fell into slavery and was forced to fight for his life in the Roman Colosseum. Despite being disadvantaged at every turn, he would prove victorious against opponents with superior weapons and physiques. In the final battle, Maximus is stabbed in the heart. Even with this extreme handicap, he was able to defeat the villain through his skill and strength.
Even in a battle with another movie swordsman, you wouldn't want to be against Maximus. His experience in the arena, combined with his soldier training, would make him an equal match for any sword fighter. He has a unique education in arena dirty fighting and army tactics that would be tough to beat.
3 Conan - Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Conan the Barbarian is a man who has been training since he was old enough to walk. His village from attack, and he became a slave. The grueling work at a young age would mold Conan into a hulking brute that defied the natural order of things. He was considered one of the strongest humans who ever lived, possessing the strength of 10-20 men combined. While his sword skills may lack finesse, his overwhelming strength more than makes up for this. His skills with a sword are born from pure instinct rather than instruction. He learns techniques quickly and uses them to deadlier effect than the opponents who showed them to him ever could.
An instinctual fighter is perhaps the worst opponent for a skilled sword master to face. Since they don't follow the rules of a style, they can be very unpredictable. Normally, a swordsman's skill comes from seeing the same attacks thousands of times before, giving them the insight to know what to do in every situation. Conan's attacks come from reflex, meaning that a swordsman's skill cannot give them insight or advantage by thinking ahead.
2 Zorro - The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Zorro from The Mask of Zorro's strength as a swordsman comes from his tactics and quick strikes. He always catches his opponents by surprise and is more of a detective than a sword fighter. Basically, if Batman were a sword fighter, he would be Zorro. While many people would underrate Zorro in a battle of movie swordsmen, he would take advantage of being underrated to cut his way through the ranks. Another benefit to Zorro is that he always survives every situation he is in to ride another day. His almost miraculous ability to not die is a superpower in itself that should be considered in a sword fight.
1 Obi-Wan Kenobi - Star Wars
Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars may have the advantage against movie swordsmen just from his lightsaber alone. However, if we ignore the lightsaber and give him a regular sword, he is still leagues above the competition. He is known in the Star Wars universe as the best defensive swordsman, practicing a style known as Soresu, which is the most defensive form. Obi-Wan defeats his opponents by wearing them down by rendering their offense useless. Combined with his force powers, he can stand toe-to-toe with even the strongest sword fighters in movies.
He could fight and defeat Anakin with just his lightsaber skills, despite Anakin being empowered by the dark side. Obi-Wan's win-loss record might not be flawless, but his skills and experience would make him a formidable foe for any fictional sword fighter to come across in the field of battle.
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