Alexander Skarsgård’s Brutal Viking Epic Is Climbing Streaming Charts After A Box Office Disappointment — And Fans Of Dark Historical Dramas Shouldn’t Miss It! This 137-minute R-rated saga follows an exiled Viking prince on a blood-soaked quest to avenge his father’s murder. Featuring Nicole Kidman and Anya Taylor-Joy, the film earned a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score but grossed just $69.6 million worldwide. Now, years later, this savage tale of betrayal, ancient rituals and merciless revenge is finding a new audience on HBO Max.

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Alexander Skarsgård’s Brutal Viking Epic Is Finding a New Audience on Streaming After Its Disappointing Box Office Run

Robert Eggers’ The Northman, a 137-minute historical action epic starring Alexander Skarsgård, is attracting renewed attention on streaming after struggling to meet expectations at the box office in 2022. With its uncompromising violence, Norse mythology and relentless tale of revenge, the R-rated film is proving that some ambitious productions need time to find their audience.

The resurgence comes as Skarsgård returns to the spotlight with Wicker, which opened in cinemas with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and sparked widespread discussion about his performance alongside Olivia Colman. That renewed interest appears to be directing viewers back towards an earlier project that remains one of the most ambitious films of his career.

The Northman Climbs the HBO Max Charts

Ethan Hawke in The Northman Dark Action Fantasy movie HBO Max Streaming

As of October 25, The Northman ranked No. 7 on HBO Max’s global top movies chart, according to FlixPatrol. The 2022 release was competing against a varied selection of titles, including Mother Mary, Gremlins, Evil Dead Burn, Contagion, The Secret Agent, The Beast Within and 40 Acres.

Its position is notable given that the film has no major anniversary or obvious seasonal tie-in driving renewed interest. It has also managed to stand out among newer theatrical releases and horror films benefiting from the Halloween season.

The latest chart performance continues a pattern of streaming success. The Northman entered HBO Max’s top 10 in summer 2025 and eventually climbed to No. 3 on the platform’s worldwide chart. The previous month, it also reached No. 4 globally on Paramount+ across more than a dozen countries.

For a film that struggled commercially during its original theatrical run, these results suggest that its audience may be growing well beyond its initial release.

A Norse Revenge Story With Shakespearean Roots

Claes Bang in The Northman

At the centre of The Northman is the legend of Amleth, a medieval Scandinavian tale that later inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Co-written by Eggers and Icelandic writer Sjón, the film follows an exiled prince played by Skarsgård as he pursues vengeance against the uncle responsible for his father’s death.

The story combines ancient mythology, brutal combat and ritualistic traditions, creating a world far removed from the polished spectacle of conventional historical blockbusters. Its 137-minute runtime gives Eggers room to build an immersive atmosphere, while the film’s R rating reflects its uncompromising approach to violence.

Critics responded favourably, awarding the film a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One sequence that continues to attract attention is a village raid filmed in a single take, an ambitious action set piece that has become one of the film’s most discussed moments.

Skarsgård is supported by an impressive ensemble cast featuring Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Claes Bang and Björk. Together, they help bring the film’s violent, mythological world to life.

Why the Film Struggled at the Box Office

Alexander Skarsgard in The Northman

Despite its critical reception and ambitious production, The Northman failed to recoup its reported budget through theatrical earnings alone.

The film’s production cost has been estimated at between $70 million and $90 million, depending on the accounting used. Its worldwide box office total reached approximately $69.6 million, making its theatrical performance disappointing relative to the scale of the investment.

Its commercial struggles also raised questions about the market for large-budget films driven by an individual filmmaker’s distinctive vision. A lengthy, R-rated revenge story steeped in Norse rituals and visceral violence was an unconventional proposition for cinema audiences in the period following the pandemic.

Streaming, however, has given the film another opportunity to connect with viewers who may have missed it in cinemas or been reluctant to commit to it during its original release.

Robert Eggers’ Next Film Could Be Driving Renewed Interest

Alexander Skarsgard in The Northman

The renewed attention surrounding The Northman may also be connected to Eggers’ upcoming project, Werwulf, scheduled to arrive on Christmas Day. The film reunites the director with Sjón for a werewolf story set in the 13th century.

Anticipation for Werwulf could be encouraging audiences to revisit Eggers’ earlier work, following a similar pattern of renewed interest after Nosferatu drew attention in late 2024.

Skarsgård’s return to the spotlight with Wicker provides another possible explanation for the Viking epic’s streaming performance. With interest building around both the actor and the director, The Northman is benefiting from renewed attention to two of its key creative figures.

Its latest chart position offers a reminder that a film’s commercial performance in cinemas does not necessarily determine its longer-term popularity. Although The Northman fell short of expectations at the box office, its continued appearance on international streaming charts suggests that audiences are still discovering — and rediscovering — Eggers’ uncompromising Viking saga.