The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die
In the wake of King Edward's death, Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his comrades adventure across a fractured kingdom in the hopes of uniting England at last.
Manuel Frangis reviewedApril 8, 2025
I just watched The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, and I give it 3 out of 5 stars. As someone who really liked the show, I was excited to see how they would wrap everything up in a movie. I wanted it to hit hard and give the characters a sendoff that felt earned. And while there are some strong moments in here, the movie as a whole feels a bit rushed and uneven. It has good action, a strong lead performance, and some cool visuals, but it does not quite live up to the full potential it had.
The story picks up after the end of the series and tries to bring everything to a final close. It throws you right into the middle of political drama, battles for power, and questions about who should rule. Uhtred is still right in the middle of it all, trying to do what is right while the world shifts around him. The setup is solid. The stakes are high. But the pacing feels off. Everything moves so fast that it becomes hard to connect with what is happening or care as much about the outcome.
Alexander Dreymon is once again the best part of the story. He has always brought strength and heart to the role of Uhtred, and that is still true here. He carries the movie on his shoulders, and his scenes are the most compelling. You can tell he is giving everything to the role. His presence is strong, and he brings emotion even when the writing does not fully support it. If you have been following Uhtred’s journey since the start, there are a few scenes that will hit you emotionally just because of how much history is behind them.
The action is solid. There are some really well shot battle scenes that feel intense and brutal. The cinematography is good, and the locations give everything a grounded and gritty feel. That part of the movie definitely works. It looks great and feels like it belongs in the world of the show. The costumes, the weapons, and the atmosphere all feel authentic and believable.
The biggest issue is the runtime. Trying to wrap up a whole series in one movie is tough, and it shows. Characters come and go so quickly that there is barely time to remember who they are or why they matter. Some major moments just happen without buildup, and that makes them feel less impactful. There is not enough breathing room for the emotional weight to land the way it should. Some scenes that should feel huge and powerful end up feeling rushed or just okay.
The movie also introduces some new characters and plotlines that do not get enough time to really matter. It is not confusing, but it is definitely cluttered. It feels like the movie was trying to cover too much in too little time.
I give The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die 3 out of 5 stars because it has moments of greatness, but it does not fully deliver the ending this story deserved. It looks good, it sounds good, and it has heart, but it needed more time to let everything breathe. Overall Seven Kings Must Die is a decent conclusion that fans will appreciate, but it might leave you wishing it had been a full season instead of a single movie. It is not bad, but it could have been so much more.