More than four years after its theatrical debut, Robert Eggers’ The Northman is attracting attention again, putting one of Anya Taylor-Joy’s earlier major films back in the spotlight. The Viking revenge epic has resurfaced on streaming and digital charts across multiple countries, suggesting that its journey did not end when it left cinemas in 2022.

Its renewed visibility comes at an interesting moment for Taylor-Joy, whose 2026 schedule includes several major film and television projects. But what is bringing audiences back to a historical epic that struggled to become a theatrical blockbuster? The answer involves its lasting critical reputation, international digital performance and the growing visibility of its leading star.

The Northman Returns to Streaming Charts Four Years After Its Release

Released in cinemas on April 22, 2022, The Northman is experiencing renewed interest across streaming and digital platforms in 2026. Current tracking data shows the film appearing on charts in 32 countries, including the United States.

According to StreamRank’s latest snapshot, the movie has reached No. 9 on the US all-platform chart. It has also secured a No. 3 position on Netflix’s US chart, highlighting its continued visibility among viewers.

However, these rankings need to be understood in context. They reflect platform-level performance rather than an overall ranking of the biggest movies of 2026. They also do not establish the film’s total lifetime streaming audience.

The international figures offer another interesting indication of its continued reach. The Northman has reportedly reached No. 1 on individual platform charts in several territories, including:

• Amazon Video in Brazil and Argentina.
• Apple TV Store in Bolivia and Venezuela.
• Amazon Video in Mexico and the Netherlands.

These positions demonstrate that the film continues to find audiences through different digital distribution platforms, although rankings can change quickly.

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What Is The Northman About? Robert Eggers’ Viking Revenge Epic Explained

Directed by Robert Eggers, The Northman is a historical action epic built around one of the most enduring revenge stories in medieval Scandinavian legend.

Eggers co-wrote the screenplay with Icelandic author and poet Sjón, drawing inspiration from the legend of Amleth, most famously recorded by Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus.

Focus Features describes the movie as an action-filled epic about a young Viking prince seeking to avenge his father’s murder. With a runtime of 137 minutes and an R rating in the United States, the production combines historical drama, mythology, family tragedy and revenge.

The central character is Amleth, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård as an adult. His life changes when his uncle, Fjölnir the Brotherless, murders his father and takes control of his family.

Amleth escapes as a child and eventually grows into a warrior. Years later, he returns with three promises guiding his actions: avenge his father, rescue his mother and kill his uncle.

The story follows his attempt to fulfil those promises while confronting the consequences of a life shaped by revenge, destiny and violence.

The Northman’s Principal Cast and Characters

The film features an extensive ensemble cast, bringing together several established performers.

Actor	Character
Alexander Skarsgård	Adult Amleth
Anya Taylor-Joy	Olga of the Birch Forest
Nicole Kidman	Queen Gudrún
Claes Bang	Fjölnir the Brotherless
Ethan Hawke	King Aurvandil War-Raven
Willem Dafoe	Heimir the Fool
Björk	Featured in the principal cast

Among these performances, Taylor-Joy’s Olga becomes particularly important as the story develops.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga Is More Than a Supporting Character

Taylor-Joy joined The Northman shortly after her breakthrough performance as Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, which significantly increased her international profile.

However, Olga of the Birch Forest offered audiences something very different from her earlier television role.

Rather than functioning simply as a romantic addition to Amleth’s revenge story, Olga has her own motivations and becomes closely involved in his attempt to escape the circumstances surrounding Fjölnir’s settlement.

Her presence also broadens the film’s central conflict. Amleth’s decisions do not affect only his uncle and mother; they have consequences for the people who become part of his journey.

Through Olga, the narrative explores survival, freedom and the possibility of a future beyond the cycle of revenge.

The performance also represents an important point in Taylor-Joy’s career, connecting the smaller-scale, auteur-driven productions that helped establish her reputation with the increasingly ambitious projects that followed.

Her later filmography includes The Menu, Last Night in Soho and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, alongside her work in the Super Mario franchise.

Why The Northman Was Such a Major Production for Robert Eggers

For Eggers, The Northman represented a substantial expansion in filmmaking scale.

Before directing the Viking epic, he had established his reputation through projects such as The Witch and The Lighthouse. Both were considerably more contained productions, although they demonstrated his interest in folklore, historical detail, unsettling imagery and psychological storytelling.

With The Northman, those creative interests moved into a much larger historical world.

The production involved extensive location work and an ensemble cast. The filmmakers aimed to create a Viking setting grounded in period detail instead of treating the historical environment as a simple backdrop for a conventional action movie.

The reported production budget varies between industry sources. The Numbers lists an estimated budget of $90 million, while other industry databases have published lower estimates.

Since there is no single universally accepted figure in the available public sources, it is more accurate to describe the film as a large-scale production costing tens of millions of dollars rather than treating one disputed estimate as definitive.

The Northman’s Box Office Performance Fell Short of Its Production Scale

Despite its ambitious production, The Northman did not become a major theatrical blockbuster.

According to The Numbers, the film generated $34,233,110 domestically and $35,765,472 internationally, bringing its worldwide theatrical box-office total to approximately $70 million.

Its US and Canadian theatrical opening took place on April 22, 2022, with the film earning $16.5 million during its opening weekend. Its domestic total eventually reached approximately $34.2 million.

Internationally, significant contributions came from markets including:

• United Kingdom
• Mexico
• Australia
• Spain
• Germany
• France
• Sweden

Nevertheless, the worldwide theatrical result remained below the production’s reported cost.

That outcome did not mark the end of the film’s commercial journey. Like many theatrical releases, The Northman continued reaching viewers through digital rentals, purchases, physical media and subscription streaming.

Its 2026 chart appearances illustrate how a film can continue attracting audiences long after its original cinema release, even without having achieved blockbuster status at the box office.

Critics Rated The Northman Much More Highly Than Its Box Office Suggested

One of the most striking aspects of The Northman is the difference between its theatrical commercial performance and its critical reception.

According to the latest Rotten Tomatoes listing provided, the film holds a 90% Tomatometer score from 383 critics and a 64% Popcornmeter score based on more than 2,500 verified ratings.

These figures can change as Rotten Tomatoes updates its database.

The platform describes the movie as an epic revenge thriller centred on a Viking prince seeking justice for his murdered father. Its critics consensus also recognises Eggers’ ability to expand his filmmaking scale without abandoning the distinctive qualities associated with his earlier work.

The reception reflects what makes the film different from a conventional historical action blockbuster.

It combines Viking legend, mythology, family tragedy, historical drama and revenge, while maintaining Eggers’ distinctive approach to atmosphere and ritual.

Consequently, its critical reputation has remained considerably stronger than its initial box-office performance might suggest.

Netflix Viewing Figures Reveal Another Side of Its 2026 Resurgence

Streaming chart positions are one indication of renewed interest, but Netflix’s published weekly Top 10 data provides another measurable reference point.

According to the current streaming-data compilation, The Northman recorded 3.6 million Netflix views across one reporting week.

This figure is important, but it should not be confused with the movie’s total Netflix audience. Weekly reporting measures activity during individual reporting periods rather than providing a lifetime global viewing figure for every title.

The available information therefore supports a measured conclusion: The Northman has generated measurable streaming interest in 2026 and has appeared on Netflix and other digital platform charts.

It does not establish that the film has become one of the year’s biggest global streaming releases.

Where Can You Watch The Northman in 2026?

Another important detail behind the film’s renewed visibility is its availability across different markets.

Streaming rights vary by territory, meaning that a movie available through a subscription service in one country may only be available to rent or purchase elsewhere.

StreamRank’s latest information lists The Northman across 24 platforms in 31 countries, although platform availability and licensing arrangements can change.

For viewers in India, the current JustWatch listing identifies the film as available to rent on Amazon Video rather than as a free streaming title. JustWatch’s India listing also states that availability was checked across multiple streaming services on October 14, 2026.

This distinction matters when discussing its Netflix performance in the United States. A general statement that The Northman is currently streaming on Netflix would be incomplete without identifying the relevant country.

Is The Northman Connected to Vikings? The Important Difference

The film has also been described in reference coverage as an “R-rated Vikings replacement”. However, that phrase should be understood as editorial framing rather than an official connection between the two productions.

There is no official connection between The Northman and the television series Vikings.

Both draw inspiration from the Viking Age, Norse history and mythology, but Eggers’ film is a standalone feature based on the medieval Amleth legend.

Focus Features identifies Eggers as the director and Sjón and Eggers as the writers. The film’s official credits do not establish any connection to the Vikings television franchise.

Therefore, viewers looking for a new season, sequel or official replacement for Vikings should not interpret the two projects as connected.

The Northman stands independently as a 2022 Viking-era revenge epic starring Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Busy 2026 Career Brings The Northman Back Into Focus

The timing of the film’s renewed visibility is particularly interesting because Taylor-Joy is experiencing another high-profile year.

In 2026, she returned as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Nintendo and Illumination officially announced the movie and confirmed her return ahead of its worldwide theatrical release in April 2026.

She also stars in Apple TV+’s Lucky, which premiered on July 15, 2026. Apple identifies Taylor-Joy as the lead performer, alongside Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Another major project is Netflix’s Sacrifice, directed by Romain Gavras. Taylor-Joy stars opposite Chris Evans as Joan, the leader of a group whose beliefs drive the film’s central conflict. Netflix’s official Tudum coverage confirms that the movie is streaming on the platform.

She is also part of Dune: Part Three, playing Alia Atreides. The official movie website identifies the film as the conclusion to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy and lists Taylor-Joy alongside Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh and the returning ensemble.

These projects provide a wider context for her renewed visibility. Audiences discovering Taylor-Joy through her 2026 work may also be exploring earlier productions from her filmography, including her collaboration with Eggers.

The Northman Remains One of Robert Eggers’ Defining Films

The film’s continued attention also reflects its position within Eggers’ career.

Following The Northman, the director released Nosferatu, his 2024 adaptation of the classic vampire story. That production further demonstrated his ability to bring his detailed visual and historical approach to a larger commercial project.

However, The Northman remains distinctive because it combines those filmmaking interests with the scale of a traditional historical epic.

Its central revenge narrative is straightforward: a son seeks vengeance against the uncle who murdered his father and took control of his family. Eggers and Sjón expand that foundation through Norse mythology, ritual, questions of fate and the psychological consequences of organising an entire life around revenge.

The mythology and social structures are not simply decorative elements. They influence how the characters understand their responsibilities, relationships and choices.

This approach helps explain why the movie continues attracting discussion beyond its theatrical run. Viewers expecting a conventional action adventure encounter a more deliberate and mythological experience, while audiences familiar with Eggers’ earlier work can recognise the continuation of themes explored in his previous films.

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Conclusion: The Northman’s Streaming Comeback Tells a Bigger Story

The Northman may not have achieved blockbuster-level theatrical returns in 2022, but its story did not end at the box office.

Its strong critical reception, continued home-entertainment availability and renewed 2026 chart appearances demonstrate that the film is still finding viewers across multiple markets. Its reported 3.6 million Netflix views in one reporting week and its international digital rankings provide measurable evidence of that renewed interest.

For Anya Taylor-Joy, the resurgence arrives during a particularly busy period involving Lucky, Sacrifice, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Dune: Part Three.

Rather than representing a sudden transformation of its original commercial fortunes, the film’s return to streaming charts highlights the longer life of established productions and their ability to reach new audiences years after release.

More than four years after its theatrical debut, Eggers’ Viking epic remains a significant entry in Taylor-Joy’s filmography and one of the filmmaker’s largest productions. Its latest digital performance gives the 2022 film another chapter, proving that its audience can continue growing beyond its original cinema run.

Source and Research Disclaimer: This article has been prepared through research of the sources provided, including Focus Features, Rotten Tomatoes, The Numbers, StreamRank, JustWatch India, Apple TV Press, Nintendo, the official Dune: Part Three website and Netflix Tudum. It reflects the publicly available information presented by these sources at the time of research. Streaming availability, chart rankings, audience measurements and platform catalogues may change. Figures and reported estimates have been retained with their stated qualifications, and the article does not imply independent verification beyond the information available from the cited sources.

Sources

• Focus Features: The Northman official film page
• Rotten Tomatoes: The Northman
• The Numbers: The Northman box-office data
• StreamRank: The Northman streaming and chart data
• JustWatch India: The Northman availability
• Apple TV Press: Lucky
• Nintendo: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie announcement
• Dune: Part Three official movie site
• Netflix Tudum: Sacrifice cast and character information

Featured Image Credit: Focus Features