Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Where to Watch
- Ridley Scott originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- The incredible score for Kingdom of Heaven was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Ridley Scott's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott. Orlando Bloom stars as Balian of Ibelin, a French blacksmith in the 12th century who discovers he is the illegitimate son of a baron played by Liam Neeson and travels to Jerusalem during the Crusades, where he must defend the Holy City against Saladin's massive Muslim army while navigating the political machinations of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. Kingdom of Heaven was released theatrically in a 144-minute cut that was widely considered disappointing, but Ridley Scott's 194-minute Director's Cut โ released on home video โ was hailed as a dramatically different and vastly superior film, with restored character development, political intrigue, and thematic complexity that the theatrical version had stripped away.
The Director's Cut is frequently cited as the most dramatic improvement between theatrical and director's versions in cinema history. Eva Green's role as Princess Sibylla, heavily cut in theaters, was fully restored. Kingdom of Heaven earned $211 million worldwide on a $130 million budget.
