Erik the Viking

Erik the Viking follows its title character, a young Norseman who has grown weary of the raiding and killing that define his people's way of life. After a girl he loved dies at his own hands, he begins to question everything he was raised to do. Learning that the gods have fallen into a deep sleep and that the world is caught in a cycle of darkness and conflict, Erik gathers a band of warriors from his village and sets sail for Valhalla, hoping to wake the gods and bring back the sun. Among his crew are men with their own reasons for the journey, including a blacksmith who profits from war and a chieftain who has no wish to see the fighting stop.

Terry Jones directed and wrote the film, which sits between Personal Services and Absolutely Anything in his filmography. Tim Robbins plays Erik, with Mickey Rooney as his grandfather, Eartha Kitt as the seer Freya, Imogen Stubbs as Princess Aud, John Cleese as Halfdan the Black, and Jones himself as King Arnulf; the credited cast runs to 39 names. The film was produced by John Goldstone and made by British and Swedish companies. It grossed about 2 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.1 from roughly 15,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 5.9 from around 260 votes. A critics' rating of 5.1 from 20 reviews places it below both audience scores.