Viewers have compared the war epic to cult classics like Braveheart and declared the historical drama more than stands its own ground – streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.
07:47, 12 May 2026Updated 07:48, 12 May 2026
The little-known film has a near-perfect 97% rating and viewers can’t stop raving about it(Image: Magnolia Pictures)
An epic historical war drama is garnering rave reviews, with viewers calling it ‘one of the best movies’ they’ve ever seen — rivalling the likes of cult classics like Braveheart. The little-known 2023 war epic directed by Nikolaj Arcel and co-written by Arcel and Anders Thomas Jensen has left audiences and critics enthralled, earning the title of a ‘must-see’ from viewers.
Available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, The Promised Land is a Danish-language historical war drama based on the 2020 book The Captain and Ann Barbara, authored by Ida Jessen. A joint production between Denmark, Germany and Sweden, the period film stars Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin and Simon Bennebjerg in the lead, supported by Kristine Kujath Thorp, Gustav Lindh, Jakob Lohmann, Morten Hee Andersen, Magnus Krepper and Felix Kramer.
Filmed in Germany, Sweden, and Czechia, The Promised Land, titled Bastarden in Danish, was selected as the Danish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
It also bagged several accolades at the European Film Awards, firmly establishing itself as a critically acclaimed film in the years since its release.
The film’s protagonist, Mads Mikkelsen, has received rave reviews for his performance(Image: Magnolia Pictures)
The movie’s official plot states: “The story of Danish soldier and explorer Ludvig Kahlen, who explored and cultivated Denmark’s wild Jutland, which now comprises the vast majority of the country, in the mid-18th century.”
With a near-perfect 97% critics’ approval rating and 95% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say the war epic is universally loved, with one critic writing: “The final chapter’s savagery, torture, and madness take the breath away; all the more stunning because the film is based on fact. Buckle up for a very hard ride – albeit beautifully executed.”
Praise for Mads Mikkelsen ran abound, with one reviewer commenting: “A romance, a critique of privilege and greed, a big sweeping drama with Mads Mikkelsen stoic, pained, selfish, loving, grizzled, and fierce… another brilliant slice of Denmark’s best.”
The epic war drama is streaming for free on BBC iPlayer(Image: Magnolia Pictures)
A third critic said of the movie: “Proof they can – and do – still make them (period dramas) like they used to (at least in Europe), this is one of the best reasons of the year so far to visit a cinema near you.”
While one reviewer compared the movie to Braveheart, writing, “Absent a few large-scale battle sequences, The Promised Land could easily sit with modern epics such as Braveheart,” another said, “The Promised Land is a film of epic proportions from its theme to its execution and is an absolute must-see.”
Audiences have been left equally impressed, with one IMDB user sharing: “The Promised Land was easily the best film I’ve seen all year long.
“I mean like wow, just a truly wonderful story from start to finish. I’m so not a fan of the Academy Awards but without question, this would easily be a contender for an Oscar for best picture. This was truly a fantastic film. Kudos to the entire cast. I mean really. Great work…. Everyone.”
Another viewer said of the war drama: “This was an outstanding movie, one of the best I’ve seen in a long time!!! Amazing acting, great storyline, under dog story for sure!!!”
While one IMDB user review states: “A beautiful and well balanced story with great acting. This was a surprisingly good movie. I’ve been disappointed by quite a few period drama pieces from the last few years, so my expectations going in were not very high, especially given the description of it being “Western set in 18th century Denmark”.”
They added: “But going out of the theatre I had to admit that I had a near perfect cinema experience. The movie was beautifully filmed with nearly each frame being a work of art. The acting was superb and the characters were interesting and well-developed.”
Another glowing audience review of the film states: “Great movie. Best I’ve seen in a while. Heart wrenching and evocative. Well worth the watch. Glad I stumbled upon it.”
While one fan commented: “This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in ages, an epic tale with historic significance. It is beautifully filmed, meticulously acted and directed, and a true beauty of filmmaking. The characters and the plot are constantly moving at a good pace. I wish more movies of this type were being filmed these days.”
The Promised Land is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer