‘The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’ Seizes Top Spot Despite Pacing Criticisms.
The British historical drama film, “The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die,” has triumphantly climbed to the top of the streaming charts. This Netflix film, acting as a sequel and conclusion to “The Last Kingdom” television series, was streamed for a staggering 452 million minutes, according to Nielsen’s data.
Released on 14 April 2023, the film brings back a familiar ensemble of series regulars. Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby, Mark Rowley, Arnas Fedaravicius, Cavan Clerkin, James Northcote, Ross Anderson, Ilona Chevakova, Rod Hallett, Ewan Horrocks, and Steffan Rhodri all reprise their respective roles. Directed by Edward Bazalgette, written by Martha Hillier, and based on Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories,” the film was highly anticipated by fans of the original series.
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Securing the top spot on the streaming chart, “The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” outpaced other films such as “Chupa” and “The Last Stand” in terms of viewing time. With an impressive 452 million minutes of streaming time, it far exceeded the viewing times of “Chupa” and “The Last Stand”, which accumulated 450 million and 438 million minutes respectively.
However, the film has been met with some mixed reviews. Some fans voiced concerns about the pacing of the film, feeling that it rushed between significant moments without providing the necessary emotional depth and development.
One viewer described it as feeling like “an entire season of The Last Kingdom boiled down to the big moments, like you’re watching a clip compilation on Youtube.” Despite these critiques, the film was still well-received overall, largely due to the existing fanbase of “The Last Kingdom.”
One fan commented, “I loved it but I felt like it rushed between set pieces and we missed some of the emotional breathing space it needed. We rushed on from Ingrith’s death and from Athelstan realizing he’d been manipulated without having time to feel the impact.” Another viewer added, “The film filled the void of missing Uthred and the boys, but the plot did feel rushed. I feel like I watched the first and last episode of a season and skipped episodes in between.”
Despite these criticisms, “The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” has successfully concluded the beloved series, providing fans with a satisfying, if somewhat fast-paced, farewell to their favorite characters. As it stands, the film’s performance on the streaming charts is a testament to its popularity and the enduring appeal of “The Last Kingdom.”
