It made history with its release in 1995 and tonight this iconic film will go down in the history books of your movie nights at home as it’s set to air on Film4
The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture the year of its release
This epic film made waves in the world of film when it first hit screens back in the 1990s and continues to reign as “one of the best films ever made”, according to movie buffs.
Directed, produced and starring Mel Gibson, Braveheart is the epic war drama of all dramas set around the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. It follows the 13th-century Scottish warrior who decides to bravely lead a rebellion against King Edward I of England in order to free their homeland.
Having suffered in his personal life and been ignited with a drive for freedom, he manages to unite an impressive number of Scottish people. All desperate to fight for independence from the English monarchy, they join forces to fight for their land in what is a fictionalised retelling of events, honouring the warrior.
Mel Gibson directed and starred in the film (Image: Getty Images)
A rave review on Rotten Tomatoes says: “Beautiful cinematography, compelling characters, and intense, gory, and violent battle scenes, Braveheart is a thrilling and heartfelt experience after 30 years and has a great performance and direction from Mel Gibson.” Meanwhile, another fan summed it up simply by calling it “a complete cinematic masterpiece”. Others have referred to Braveheart as the “best movie of all time”.
When the film first found itself on the big screen, it was immediately well-received and went on to be both a critical and box office success. It grossed an impressive worldwide total of $209.0 million against a much smaller budget of just $53–$72 million and spent nine weeks in the Top 10 at the US box office.
Another person wrote about the film, saying: “History buffs don’t like the liberties taken, but this is truly a big tentpole movie not really made anymore, with the possible exception of Nolan. No dodgy CGI here. Battles, speeches and war paint galore.
Gibson portrays a Scottish warrior known as William Wallace in the movie(Image: Getty Images)
“Gibson is superb and the supporting cast one of the best you’ll see. Gibson took the violence level up a notch and cinema was never the same again.”
Although, it’s Mel Gibson’s work both on and off-screen that stands out above anything else, which was further recognised when he went on to win the Oscar for Best Director. Viewers can’t help but point out the magic he brought to the film, with one claiming it’s “the best Mel Gibson movie yet”.
One viewer wrote: “Love braveheart the love story is so beautiful and feels so real and pure. This is my favourite movie of all time and Mel Gibson is prefect for this role. Bits of it are so heartbreaking and the costume and design make it feel so real. The cast are fantastic. It is a movie I never get bored of deserved all the oscars for this.”
For those wanting to delve into the world of 13th century Scotland, Braveheart is airing on Film4 tonight, Thursday November 6, at 9pm. If you’re not free tonight, the film can alternatively be streamed on Disney+.
