Hercules (2014)
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A self-proclaimed demigod with immense strength is hired to lead a band of mercenaries to defend a kingdom against a powerful warlord.
The story
Hercules, a self-proclaimed demigod possessing immense strength and a healing factor, is hired by the kingdom of Thrace to train and lead its armies against a bloodthirsty warlord and sorcerer named Rhesus. Accompanied by a diverse band of mercenaries, Hercules must navigate the political tensions of the region while preparing the Thracian forces for an impending conflict. Despite skepticism regarding his divine lineage and the truth of his past, Hercules must decide how much of his own identity he is willing to risk to protect the kingdom and its people from the rising threat of Rhesus's sorcery.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Hercules, a man of immense strength and a rumored son of Zeus, leads a group of mercenaries—including a prophet, a thief, a barbarian, an Amazon archer, and his nephew—to the Macedonian Coast. There, he is hired by King Cotys to train the Thracian army against the warlord Rhesus. After a disastrous initial battle where Rhesus's sorcery turns the local Bessi tribe against the Thracians, Hercules successfully trains the army and defeats Rhesus's forces. However, the truth of the conflict is revealed: Rhesus was merely reacting to Cotys's aggressive expansion. When Cotys attempts to execute the princess Ergenia for her perceived betrayal, Hercules breaks his chains and defeats the wolves sent by the treacherous King Eurystheus, who had orchestrated the death of Hercules's family. In a final confrontation, Hercules's forces battle Cotys's army. After the death of his comrade Tydeus, Hercules uses his superhuman strength to crush Cotys and his soldiers under a massive statue of Hera. The surviving soldiers recognize him as a demigod as lightning strikes, and the true heir, Arius, takes the throne with Ergenia.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brett Ratner
- Writers
- Ryan J. Condal · screenplay; Evan Spiliotopoulos · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Dwayne Johnson · Hercules; Ian McShane · Amphiaraus; Rufus Sewell · Autolycus; Joseph Fiennes · King Eurystheus; Peter Mullan · General Sitalces; John Hurt · King Cotys; Rebecca Ferguson · Ergenia
- Genres
- action; adventure; fantasy
- Themes
- identity; sacrifice; legacy
- Tone and mood
- action-packed; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- mythology; mercenaries; war
- Source material / true-story basis
- Steve Moore's graphic novel Hercules, specifically the limited series The Thracian Wars.
- Reception
- The film was a box office success but received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the action and the lead performance while criticizing the script.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 58% · scale: percentage · review count: 123; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 25; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · Choice Summer Movie Star · Nomination; Teen Choice Award · Choice Summer Movie · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Dwayne Johnson underwent eight months of physical training for the role.; Dwayne Johnson lived alone for six months in Budapest to immerse himself in the character.; The film was one of two Hollywood-studio Hercules films released in 2014.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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