The Northman Streaming: Where to Watch and Is It Worth It

There’s something about a Viking epic that makes you want to grab a mead and settle in for a long, bloody ride. Robert Eggers’ The Northman delivered exactly that in 2022—a visually stunning, brutally violent revenge saga—yet it barely cracked $35 million domestically.

Runtime: 2h 17m ·
Release date: April 22, 2022 ·
Domestic box office: $34.2M ·
Streaming platforms: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Nine key facts about The Northman, one pattern: it’s a critic’s darling that struggled to find a wide audience in theaters but has since found a strong streaming home.

Here is the baseline data on the film.

Is The Northman on Netflix?

Streaming availability on Netflix

Yes—The Northman is currently streaming on Netflix in the United States. The Netflix title page confirms it’s available with a standard subscription, including the ad-supported tier (Netflix). You don’t need to rent or buy it separately; just search for “The Northman” and hit play.

How to watch The Northman on Netflix

Open Netflix, use the search bar, and you’ll find the film ready to stream in HD. Subtitles and multiple audio tracks are included. No additional cost beyond your monthly subscription. As of 2024, it remains in the Netflix library for US subscribers (JustWatch).

The implication: if you already pay for Netflix, you have zero friction to watch The Northman right now.

Is The Northman on Prime Video?

Availability on Amazon Prime Video

Yes—The Northman is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the US as part of the Prime membership (JustWatch). Like Netflix, it’s included with no extra rental charge. Prime members can watch it immediately.

Rent or buy options on Prime Video

Even if you don’t have a Prime subscription, you can rent or buy The Northman on Amazon Video. As of 2024, rental prices are typically $3.99 for HD, and purchase is around $9.99 (Consequence). The same applies to Apple TV and Fandango At Home.

The trade-off: Prime subscribers get it free; non-subscribers can still access it for a small fee—but the rental option is cheaper than a month of Prime.

Is The Northman streaming anywhere?

Other streaming platforms (Sky Store, Fandango)

Beyond Netflix and Prime Video, The Northman appears on various digital storefronts. In the UK, it’s available on Sky Store and was previously free on Channel 4 (Digital Spy). In the US, you can rent or buy it on Apple TV, Vudu, and YouTube. The film also had an exclusive streaming window on Peacock after its theatrical run (Consequence).

Rental and purchase options

Standard digital rental prices hover around $3.99, while purchase ranges from $9.99 to $14.99 depending on the platform. Availability varies by region—for example, Netflix has it in the US and UK, but not in all countries. Check JustWatch for your location.

The pattern: The Northman is widely accessible, but the free-with-subscription options are limited to Netflix and Prime Video in major markets.

Is The Northman worth watching?

Critical reception and reviews

Critics loved it. The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer sits at 90% based on 383 reviews, with a consensus describing it as “a brutal, epic revenge saga” (Rotten Tomatoes). IMDb users give it a 7.0/10 (IMDb). The film’s visual ambition and Robert Eggers’ meticulous direction are widely praised.

Audience reactions and Rotten Tomatoes scores

Audiences were more divided. The Popcornmeter sits at 64%, a notable gap from the critic score. Common complaints include slow pacing and extreme violence. On IMDb, user reviews mention that the film’s dense, mythic style isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy arthouse action with a dark, historical tone, you’ll likely appreciate it. If you’re looking for a straightforward Viking adventure, you might be disappointed.

“The Northman is a brutal, epic revenge saga that confirms Robert Eggers as a major filmmaking talent.”

— Critics consensus, Rotten Tomatoes

“I wanted to make a film that felt like a Viking saga—something raw, primal, and deeply rooted in the mythology.”

— Robert Eggers, quoted in Wikipedia

The takeaway: critics say yes, audiences say maybe. The split is real, but if you’re a fan of Eggers’ previous work (The Witch, The Lighthouse), you’re likely in the 90% camp.

Why did The Northman flop?

Box office performance

The Northman earned $34.2 million domestically and $69.6 million worldwide, against a reported budget of $70–90 million (Rotten Tomatoes; Wikipedia). That’s a theatrical loss, especially when marketing costs are factored in. Inverse called it “a theatrical flop” in its analysis.

Factors contributing to underperformance

Several reasons explain the gap. The film is a niche genre—epic period fantasy with extreme violence—which limits mainstream appeal. It also faced competition from Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Batman in spring 2022. Additionally, the marketing leaned heavily on the “Viking revenge” angle, which may have disappointed audiences expecting a more conventional action film. The Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 64% suggests word-of-mouth was mixed.

The pattern: The Northman is a textbook case of a critical darling that underperformed in theaters but found a second life on streaming, where its intense, artistic style can be appreciated without the pressure of a ticket price.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• The Northman is available on Netflix (US) and Amazon Prime Video (US).
• The film was released in April 2022.
• It underperformed at the box office with $34.2M domestic.
• Rotten Tomatoes critics score is 90%.

What’s unclear

• Exact streaming rights expiration dates.
• Future availability on other platforms.

For viewers deciding where to watch, the choice is clear: if you have Netflix or Prime Video, you can stream The Northman at no extra cost. If not, renting or buying is a reasonable option, but the film’s polarizing nature means you might want to check the Rotten Tomatoes score first.

Related reading: **Bros (2022): Why It Bombed at Box Office and Is It Worth Watching** � **In the Heights: Streaming, Controversy, LGBTQ Rep**

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