The Seventh Seal
A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Directed by Ingmar Bergman · Drama · Fantasy · 96 min · 1958
Trailer
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Studio
N/A
Release
13 Oct 1958
Runtime
96 min
Genres
Drama, Fantasy
Full Plot
A Knight and his squire are home from the crusades. Black Death is sweeping their country. As they approach home, Death appears to the knight and tells him it is his time. The knight challenges Death to a chess game for his life. The Knight and Death play as the cultural turmoil envelopes the people around them as they try, in different ways, to deal with the upheaval the plague has caused.
Cast & Characters
Max von Sydow
Gunnar Björnstrand
Bengt Ekerot
Gunnar Björnstrand – Jöns, squire
Bengt Ekerot – Death
Nils Poppe – Jof
Max von Sydow – Antonius Block, knight
Bibi Andersson – Mia
Inga Landgré – Karin
Åke Fridell – Blacksmith Plog
Inga Gill – Lisa
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $150,000, The Seventh Seal has grossed $311,212 worldwide — about 2.1x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Ingmar Bergman has directed 3 films in our catalog, including Wild Strawberries, Autumn Sonata.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know Ingmar Bergman wrote a play called Trämålning (Wood Painting) for acting students in 1953/54.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know The film's first public performance was on radio in 1954, directed by Ingmar Bergman.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know The script was rewritten five times before filming began with a budget of $150,000 and just thirty-five days to complete.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know Most scenes were shot at the Filmstaden studios in Solna, except for two iconic locations: Hovs Hallar beach and a rocky precipitous area.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
The Seventh Seal holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (211,758 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (211,758 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Seventh Seal's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Seventh Seal holds a 93% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Seventh Seal's IMDb rating?+
The Seventh Seal has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 211,758 votes.
What is The Seventh Seal's Metacritic score?+
The Seventh Seal has a Metascore of 88/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Seventh Seal good? What are critics saying?+
The Seventh Seal holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (211,758 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Seventh Seal?+
The Seventh Seal has a runtime of 96 min.
Who directed The Seventh Seal?+
The Seventh Seal was directed by Ingmar Bergman.
Where can I watch The Seventh Seal?+
The Seventh Seal is available to stream, rent, or buy on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Review excerpts praise the film as an "interesting and iconic" exploration of faith and mortality. Some reviewers also mention that the film might not be suitable for everyone due to its graphic content. Additionally, a few mention Max von Sydow's performance in it.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Interesting and iconic movie about faith and the meaning of life. A must seen.
Andres Gomez · 8/10**The universality and invincibility of Death, the fear of dying, the importance of faith and its use by the Church in a timeless film, but not suitable for everyone.** The film, set in the late Middle Ages, begins with a knight returning to his homeland in Sweden after participa…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 8/10Now of course everyone’s favourite Max von Sydow film is “Flash Gordon” (1980) but I reckon this performance for Ingmar Bergman might be almost as good! With the dreaded Black Death sweeping his homeland, “Block” (MvS) returns from the Crusades with his squire “Jöns” (Gunnar Björ…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
this ain’t no trailer… just a spoiler of the whole movie
@067bill · 84 likesThis whole trailer is a big spoiler / synopsis
@tma-1701 · 37 likesAn existentialist look at the Black Death, which took over 50 million lives in Europe during that dark era.
@WARP-ANCESTOR · 4 likesCannot unwatch this! It told the entire story! UGH! Not a trailer, it's a spoiler!
@averagechou · 2 likesSeason of the Witch was inspired on this?
@xiao_fan22 · 0 likesGood movie ?
@Blabbulehabhule · 2 likesINGMAR BERGMAN (1918-2007)
@rosmelt.duenas2208 · 5 likesI still can't belive the swedish flag in Gregory's horror was a reference to this...
@deadheadcynicallydepressed7360 · 1 likes
