On its 1999 release, this historical action film starring Antonio Banderas as an Arab warrior was a big flop. But now, it's been rehabilitated – among Muslim fans in particular. Released in the US 25 years ago today, The 13th Warrior had all the markings of a Hollywood blockbuster.
It had an A-list star in Antonio Banderas, was helmed by renowned action director John McTiernan, known for blockbuster hits like Predator and Die Hard, and was based on a fascinating novel written by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton called Eaters of the Dead. Like the book, which was a loose reimagining of Beowulf, the movie told the story of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, a 10th Century Arab diplomat exiled from Baghdad, who reluctantly joins a group of Vikings in their quest to battle a mysterious and terrifying evil. However, despite all that, it was a critical and box office failure.
After costly reshoots brought on by negative feedback from test screenings caused the budget to balloon to well over a $100m (£76.2m), the film only grossed $61.7m (£47m) worldwide .
Film critic Roger Ebert, giving it a rating of 1.5/5 at the time, wrote that the film "displays a lot of cash on the screen, but little thought. To extract the story from the endless scenes of action and carnage is more effort than it's worth".
But while it is long forgotten by much of the general public, the film has cultivated a devoted cult following, especially amongst Muslims searching for positive representation on the big screen. H.