Netflix’s Outlaw King, released in 2018, remains one of the streamer’s most ambitious and underrated historical epics — a raw, brutal, and visually stunning retelling of Robert the Bruce’s fight for Scottish independence after the execution of William Wallace. Directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) and starring Chris Pine in a career-highlight role, the film delivers large-scale medieval warfare, political intrigue, and personal sacrifice with a grounded, almost documentary-like realism that sets it apart from more polished Hollywood versions of the same era.

The story picks up shortly after the events of Braveheart (1995), in 1304. Robert the Bruce (Pine), a Scottish nobleman torn between loyalty to England and his country, initially swears allegiance to Edward I (“Longshanks”) but soon rebels after witnessing the brutal occupation of his homeland. The film follows his transformation from reluctant lord to outlaw king — crowned in secret, hunted relentlessly, and forced to wage guerrilla warfare against a vastly superior English army. Mackenzie wastes no time on romanticized heroics: the opening scene is a visceral, single-take battle that immerses viewers in the mud, blood, and chaos of medieval combat.

Chris Pine sheds his usual Hollywood polish to portray Bruce as a flawed, exhausted leader — bearded, scarred, and often on the verge of breaking. His performance is quiet but commanding, especially in moments of moral doubt and grief after the death of his wife Elizabeth de Burgh (Florence Pugh). Pugh is excellent as the fierce, intelligent Elizabeth, who endures imprisonment and cruelty with unyielding dignity. Supporting cast standouts include Billy Howle as the ruthless Prince Edward II, Stephen Dillane as the tyrannical Edward I, and Tony Curran as Angus MacDonald, the loyal but volatile ally who embodies the wild spirit of the Highlands.