The Legend of Hercules

This article is about the 2014 film starring Kellan Lutz. For the 2014 film starring Dwayne Johnson, see Hercules (2014 film).

2014 American film

The Legend of Hercules

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Renny Harlin
Written by|

* Sean Hood
* Daniel Giat

Produced by|

* Danny Lerner
* Les Weldon
* Boaz Davidson
* Renny Harlin

Starring|

* Kellan Lutz
* Scott Adkins
* Liam McIntyre
* Liam Garrigan
* Johnathon Schaech
* Roxanne McKee
* Gaia Weiss
* Rade Šerbedžija

Cinematography| Sam McCurdy
Edited by| Vincent Tabaillon
Music by| Tuomas Kantelinen[1]

Production
companies

* Millennium Films
* Nu Boyana Film Studios
* GEM Entertainment KFT.

Distributed by| Summit Entertainment[2] (through Lionsgate[3])

Release date

* January 10, 2014 (2014-01-10) (United States)

Running time

| 99 minutes[4]
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $70 million[5]
Box office| $61.3 million[3]

The Legend of Hercules is a 2014 American 3D action fantasy film directed by Renny Harlin, written by Daniel Giat and Sean Hood, and starring Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee, and Liam Garrigan. It was distributed by Lionsgate and released January 10, 2014, six months before another Hollywood-studio Hercules film, Paramount Pictures' and MGM's co-production Hercules. The Legend of Hercules was a box-office bomb and received universally negative reviews, unlike Hercules, which was a financial success and opened to far stronger reviews.

## Plot

[edit]

In 1200 BC ancient Greece, King Amphitryon of Tiryns is conquering kingdoms in his thirst for more power, which disgusts his wife, Queen Alcmene. She prays to Hera for guidance, and Hera's husband Zeus impregnates Alcmene with the savior of her people, a demi-god son to be named Hercules. Amphitryon names his new "son" Alcides, though Alcmene secretly acknowledges his true name as Hercules. Twenty years later, Prince Alcides (Hercules) is the lover of Princess Hebe of Crete. Hercules and his older brother, Prince Iphicles, are attacked by a unusually strong Nemean lion, which Hercules strangles to death. Iphicles takes the credit at a royal banquet, but Hebe sees right through this lie. At the banquet Amphitryon announces the engagement of Hebe and Iphicles, while Hercules is sent away to a military campaign in Egypt. Alcmene tells him of his true lineage and that his name is Hercules, not Alcides.

Hercules joins the command of Captain Sotiris in the Egyptian desert; their small company faces an ambush by Amphitryon meant to eliminate Hercules, and only Alcides and Sotiris survive. Hercules uses his gods-given name to conceal his identity as the prince. The two are sold off as slaves to Lucius, a promoter of gladiator style fights, where they excel. Hercules defeats six previously-undefeated gladiators in an arena battle in Greece, which motivates members of Amphitryon's army to desert it and join Hercules and Sotiris, beginning a fight against Amphitryon's campaign of tyranny. Amphitryon is forced to hire foreign mercenaries as a result.

When Alcides does not return as promised, Alcmene and Hebe assume he is dead. When Alcmene seeks guidance from Hera, Amphitryon discovers her and learns the truth of Hercules' parentage and that he is fated to overthrow him. Amphitryon stabs Alcmene for her infidelity with her own dagger, which he hides as a suicide. Iphicles threatens Sotiris' son, forcing Sotiris to lead him to Hercules. Iphicles is surprised to discover that Hercules is Alcides. Hercules is chained and publicly flogged, then watches in horror as Iphicles murders Chiron, Alcmene's loyal adviser, under Amphitryon's orders. In anguish he acknowledges Zeus as his father and calls upon him for strength. Hercules breaks free from his chains and kills Amphitryon's guard, though Amphitryon and Iphicles escape.

Hercules and Sotiris raise an army and storm Amphitryon's palace. Amphitryon's palace guard join Hercules and his army and they battle Amphitryon's mercenaries. Hercules calls upon his father, who infuses his sword with the power of lightning. Hercules defeats the mercenaries with his lightning sword, then meets Amphitryon in personal combat. Hercules nearly defeats Amphitryon but Iphicles holds Hebe hostage and threatens to kill her if Hercules does not let Amphitryon go. Hercules hesitates, but Hebe thrusts the dagger through her shoulder, killing Iphicles. Hercules finally avenges Alcmene's death and kills Amphitryon with the same blade that killed his mother. Hercules rushes to Hebe's side as she slowly drifts into unconsciousness. Nearly a year later, the cries of a baby are heard; Hercules' and Hebe's son. That night, he watches over his kingdom, finally fulfilling his destiny.

## Cast

[edit]

* Kellan Lutz as Hercules (Alcides)[6]
* Gaia Weiss as Hebe
* Scott Adkins as King Amphitryon
* Roxanne McKee as Queen Alcmene
* Liam Garrigan as Iphicles
* Liam McIntyre as Sotiris
* Rade Šerbedžija as Chiron
* Johnathon Schaech as Tarak
* Luke Newberry as Agamemnon
* Jukka Hildén as Creon
* Kenneth Cranham as Lucius
* Mariah Gale as Kakia
* Sarai Givaty as Saphirra
* Dimiter Doichinov as King Galenus
* Spencer Wilding as Humbaba
* Bashar Rahal as Commander
* Richard Reid as Archer

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical response

[edit]

The Legend of Hercules received universally negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 5% based on 83 reviews, with an average rating of 2.70/10, based on 82 reviews. The site's consensus reads: "Cheap-looking, poorly acted, and dull, The Legend of Hercules is neither fun enough to qualify as an action movie nor absorbing enough to work on a dramatic level".[7] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 22 out of 100, based on reviews from 19 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[8] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[9]

The Guardian's Mike McCahill gave the film 2/5 stars, writing, "Harlin keeps it commendably brisk, and insists upon the primacy of flesh-and-blood performers duking it out on non-virtual sets, perhaps because his CGI is makeshift at best."[10] Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club gave it a D grade, writing, "While The Legend Of Hercules offers plenty for viewers who've acquired a taste for the fake and incompetent (not the least of which is the dialogue, which finds characters saying each other's names at the end of every other sentence), it's unlikely to please anyone who wants entertainment in the conventional sense."[11] Chris Stuckmann gave the film a F grade, writing, "An obvious and blatant rip-off of 300 and Gladiator – much better movies – this film should be removed from theaters as soon as possible to avoid damaging the brains of people who have the misfortune of seeing it."[12]

The Village Voice's Stephanie Zacharek wrote, "You could ask for more — an actual script, maybe? — but Harlin covers most of the basics. Or, perhaps more accurately, he leaves them uncovered."[13] A.O. Scott of The New York Times said the film "delivers what it promises, which is muscular guys in skimpy clothes fighting and howling, as well as some large-scale digitally enhanced battle sequences."[14]

### Box office

[edit]

The Legend of Hercules grossed $8,868,318 in its opening weekend, ranking #3 in the domestic box office behind Lone Survivor and Frozen.[15] As of March 9, 2014, the film has grossed $18.8 million domestically and an additional $42.4 million internationally for a worldwide total of $61.3 million, failing to make back the budget of $70 million.

### Accolades

[edit]

Award  | Date of ceremony  | Category  | Recipient(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Golden Raspberry Awards | February 21, 2015 | Worst Picture |  | Nominated  | [16][17]
Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel |  | Nominated
Worst Actor | Kellan Lutz | Nominated
Worst Actress | Gaia Weiss | Nominated
Worst Director | Renny Harlin | Nominated
Worst Screen Combo | Kellan Lutz  | Nominated
Teen Choice Awards | August 10, 2014 | Choice Movie Actor: Action  | Kellan Lutz  | Nominated  | [18]
Young Hollywood Awards | July 28, 2014 | Super Superhero  | Kellan Lutz  | Nominated  | [19]

## See also

[edit]

* List of films featuring Hercules

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tuomas Kantelinen Scoring Hercules: The Legend Begins". Film Music Reporter. October 13, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
2. ^ Yamato, Jen (November 12, 2013). "Summit Snaps Up Millennium's 'Hercules: The Legend Begins' Starring 'Twilight's Kellan Lutz". Deadline Hollywood. PMC. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
3. ^ a b "The Legend of Hercules". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
4. ^ "THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (12A)". Lions Gate Entertainment. British Board of Film Classification. January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
5. ^ "'Lone Survivor' likely to top 'Frozen' at weekend box office". Los Angeles Times. January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
6. ^ "'Twilight' star Kellan Lutz cast as lead in 'Hercules 3D'". NME. April 8, 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
7. ^ "The Legend of Hercules (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
8. ^ "The Legend of Hercules". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
9. ^ Ray Subers (January 12, 2014). "Weekend Report: Audiences Flock to 'Lone Survivor,' Avoid 'Hercules,' 'Her'". Box Office Mojo. "The audience for The Legend of Hercules was 57 percent male and 55 percent over the age of 25. It received a weak "B-" CinemaScore"
10. ^ McCahill, Mike (2014-03-28). "The Legend of Hercules review – 'A teenybop Gladiator'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
11. ^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (2014-01-10). "Only fans of phoniness will get anything out of The Legend Of Hercules". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
12. ^ Stuckmann, Chris (January 10, 2014). "The Legend of Hercules – Movie Review". chrisstuckmann.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
13. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (January 10, 2014). "Skip the Script and Double-Down on the Beefcakery with The Legend of Hercules". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
14. ^ Scott, A. O. (2014-01-10). "Wrestlers in Leather: What More Is Required?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
15. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for January 10–12, 2014". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
16. ^ "RAZZIES® Celebrate 35 Years of Worst Achievements in Film with Inclusive Nominee List ...and New "Redeemer" Award". Golden Raspberry Award Foundation. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
17. ^ King, Susan (February 21, 2015). "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas Dominates the 35th Razzie Awards", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
18. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (August 10, 2014). "Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
19. ^ Leanne Bayley. "Young Hollywood Awards 2014: The FULL winners list". Glamour. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* The Legend of Hercules at IMDb
* The Legend of Hercules at Box Office Mojo
* The Legend of Hercules at Rotten Tomatoes
* The Legend of Hercules at Metacritic

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Renny Harlin

* Born American (1986)
* Prison (1987)
* A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
* Die Hard 2 (1990)
* The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
* Cliffhanger (1993)
* Cutthroat Island (1995)
* The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
* Deep Blue Sea (1999)
* Driven (2001)
* Mindhunters (2004)
* Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
* The Covenant (2006)
* Cleaner (2007)
* 12 Rounds (2009)
* 5 Days of War (2011)
* Devil's Pass (2013)
* The Legend of Hercules (2014)
* Skiptrace (2016)
* Legend of the Ancient Sword (2018)
* Bodies at Rest (2019)
* The Misfits (2021)
* Reunion 3: Singles Cruise (2021)
* The Bricklayer (2024)
* The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)
* The Strangers: Chapter 2 (TBA)
* The Strangers: Chapter 3 (TBA)
* Deep Water (TBA)

* v
* t
* e

Hercules (Heracles)

* Hercle
* Ercole
* Hercule
* Alcide

Family|

* Zeus (father)
* Alcmene (mother)
* Megara, Omphale, Deianira, and Hebe (wives)
* Heracleidae (children)

Events|

* Creation of Milky Way
* Hercules at the crossroads
* Labours of Hercules
* Hercules in ancient Rome
* Shirt of Nessus

Literature|

| Poems|

* Heracles Papyrus
* Shield of Heracles
* Catalogue of Women
* L'Atlàntida

|

Plays|

* Herakles
* Women of Trachis
* Hercules Furens
* Hercules Oetaeus

Other|

* The Labours of Hercules
* Hercules and the Wagoner

Art|

* Hercules and the lion of Nemea (5th century BCE)
* Hercules of the Forum Boarium (2nd century BCE)
* Lansdowne Heracles (c. 125)
* Statue of Hercules, Dura-Europos (c. 150–256)
* Farnese Hercules (216)
* Hercules slaying Antaeus (c. 1460)
* Hercules and Deianira (c. 1470)
* Hercules and the Hydra (c. 1475)
* Hercules Killing the Stymphalian Birds (1500)
* Hercules and Antaeus (c. 1500–1510)
* The Choice of Hercules (c. 1520–1525)
* Hercules and Antaeus (1531)
* Hercules and Cacus (1534)
* The Origin of the Milky Way (1575–1580)
* The Choice of Hercules (1596)
* Hercules and Omphale (1603)
* Hercules Fighting the Nemean Lion (1634)
* Hercules and the Hydra (1634)
* Hercules Separates Mounts Calpe and Abylla (1634)
* The Death of Hercules (1634)
* Hercules's Dog Discovers Purple Dye (1636)
* The Origin of the Milky Way (1637)
* Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides (1638)
* Landscape with Hercules and Cacus (c. 1660)
* Hercules and Omphale (1732–1734)
* Libertas Americana (1783)
* The Sanctuary of Hercules (1884)
* Hercules the Archer (1909)
* Achelous and Hercules (1947)
* The Twelve Labors of Hercules (1981)
* The Labors of Herakles (2006–2008)
* Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar
* Hercules and the Nemean Lion

Opera|

* Ercole amante (1662)
* Alcide (1693)
* Ercole su'l Termodonte (1723)
* Admeto (1727)
* Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213 (1733)
* Hercules (1744)
* Le nozze d'Ercole e d'Ebe (1747)
* The Choice of Hercules (1750)
* Hercule mourant (1761)
* Le Rouet d'Omphale (1871)
* Déjanire (1911)
* Atlántida (1962)
* Hercules vs. Vampires (2010)

Films|

| Italian series|

* Hercules (1957)
* Hercules Unchained (1959)
* Goliath and the Dragon (1960)
* The Loves of Hercules (1960)
* Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis (1961)
* Hercules in the Haunted World (1961)
* Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1961)
* The Fury of Hercules (1962)
* Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1963)
* Hercules vs. Moloch (1963)
* Hercules the Invincible (1964)
* Hercules Against Rome (1964)
* Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun (1964)
* The Triumph of Hercules (1964)
* Samson and His Mighty Challenge (1964)
* Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964)
* Hercules and the Princess of Troy (1965)
* Hercules the Avenger (1965)

|

Other European
live-action|

* Herakles (1962)
* Hercules Against the Moon Men (1964)

American films
live-action|

* The Warrior's Husband (1933)
* The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962)
* Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
* Hercules in New York (1970)
* Hercules (1983)
* The Adventures of Hercules (1985)
* Jason and the Argonauts (2000)
* Immortals (2011)
* The Legend of Hercules (2014)
* Hercules (2014)

Animated films|

* Hercules (1995)
* Hercules (1997)
* Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998)
* Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus (1998)

Television|

* The Mighty Hercules
* The Sons of Hercules
* Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules (1961)
* Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules (1962)
* Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules (1962)
* Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995)
* Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994)
* Hercules and the Lost Kingdom (1994)
* Hercules and the Circle of Fire (1994)
* Hercules in the Underworld (1994)
* Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur (1994)
* Hercules: The Animated Series (1998)
* "Hercules and the Arabian Night" (1999)
* Young Hercules (1998)
* Hercules (2005 miniseries)
* Atlantis (2013)

Comics|

* Hercules (Marvel Comics)
* Hercules (DC Comics)
* Hercules (Radical Comics)
* The Mighty Hercules (Gold Key Comics)

Games|

* The Return of Heracles (1983)
* Hercules (1984)
* Disney's Hercules (1997)
* Herc's Adventures (1997)
* Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (2000)
* Heracles Chariot Racing (2007)
* Glory of Heracles (2008)

Other|

* Hercules in popular culture
* Hercules (franchise)
* Hercules (2019 musical)
* Pillars of Hercules
* Maczuga Herkulesa
* Hercules' Club
* Xena: Warrior Princess

*[Ref.]: References
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template