10 Best Movies To Watch if You Like 'Assassin's Creed' (2024)

Assassin's Creed is an immensely popular series of open-world action-adventure games that has been going on for a solid 17 years now. With the recent announcement of its next major installment, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, it certainly doesn't look like it will be slowing down any time soon. The series explores multiple historical settings and eras, throwing fiction and fantasy into the mix, too. Fans have longed for an Assassin's Creed movie and were given one in 2016.

Despite this movie being canon, it wasn't very good and did little to enrich or enhance the overarching story of the franchise. Unfortunately, fans looking for an actual good Assassin's Creed may be out of luck, as no plans have been made to create one. However, there are a lot of movies that explore similar settings and revolve around a lot of the same themes, meaning there are plenty of flicks to choose from that should satisfy even the most picky fan, depending on which one is their favorite.

Assassin's Creed (2016)

Science Fiction

Release Date

December 21, 2016

Director

Justin Kurzel

Cast

Michael Fassbender , Marion Cotillard , Jeremy Irons , Brendan Gleeson , Michael Kenneth Williams , Charlotte Rampling

Runtime

1h56m

10 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' (1989)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed' (2007)

The very first Assassin's Creed game takes place in the Levant region of the Middle East, where players assume the role of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, an Assassin fighting back against the invading Templars during the Crusades. The game establishes itself quite well, showcasing the feud between the Templars and the Order of Assassins, who, by the way, were also real and active during the Crusades.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade follows the titular adventure hero, played by Harrison Ford, as he travels to the Levant in search of an ancient artifact that has been hidden away by the Templars. During the first act of the movie, Indy also travels to Venice, which is a major location in the second game in the franchise. It's a movie with all the great action and adventure that Assassin's Creed is known for, so if you're a classic gamer who loved the series as it was during its conception, this is a movie you should definitely watch.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

PG-13

Where to Watch

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Release Date

May 24, 1989

Director

Steven Spielberg

Cast

Harrison Ford , Alison Doody , Denholm Elliott , John Rhys-Davies , Julian Glover , River Phoenix

Runtime

127 minutes

9 'The Da Vinci Code' (2006)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed II' (2009) and 'Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood' (2010)

Famed artist Leonardo da Vinci is a prominent character in Assassin's Creed II, which takes place during the Italian Renaissance. Da Vinci makes a smaller reappearance in the sequel, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. In the latter, there is a DLC pack in which one of the missions sees protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze searching Da Vinci's paintings for hidden clues. Da Vinci's paintings containing hidden clues are one of the main plot points of The Da Vinci Code, which is based on the bestselling novel by Dan Brown.

The movie was very poorly received by critics; however, audience reviews were generally more forgiving, leaning more into the mixed or average. Besides, just because something is bad in a technical sense, that doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. The Da Vinci Code stars Tom Hanks as he is led through history to decipher the hidden messages behind Da Vinci's paintings, which inevitably lead him to secret societies and the Knights Templar. Both of these are also common themes in Assassin's Creed II, which makes this movie a good fit for fans of the franchise.

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8 'Mohawk' (2017)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed III' (2012)

Mohawk is an action/war/horror movie about the Indigenous Mohawk tribe, also known as the Kanien'kehá:ka. During the War of 1812, the Mohawk elders are torn over whether to side with the British or remain neutral. However, after a brutal attack, Mohawk warrior Okwaho decides to take matters into her own hands and fight back against her aggressors. Mohawk happens to be perfect for fans of Assassin's Creed III, which stars Mohawk protagonist Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, fighting back against colonialism during the American Revolutionary War.

It should be noted that Okwaho in Mohawk is played by Indigenous actress Kaniehtiio Horn, who actually lent her voice to a character in Assassin's Creed III. In the game, she plays Kaniehtí:io, Connor's mother. However, she is a bit of an underused character in the game, so if you want to see the actress shine in her own way, Mohawk is an excellent choice, as it features many of the same themes but with a slasher-esque twist.

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7 'Harriet' (2019)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Liberation' (2012) and 'Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry' (2013)

Harriet is a biopic about militant abolitionist Harriet Tubman, a former slave who escaped and spent the rest of her life freeing slaves on plantations in the American South, often using violence when necessary. As it happens, freeing slaves is a very common theme in the Assassin's Creed franchise. Players first get a taste of this during 2012's spin-off title Assassin's Creed: Liberation, which stars Aveline de Grandpré, a Black assassin whose mother was a former slave. Aveline spends much of the game freeing slaves in Louisiana, using violence when needed, and supporting them in a hidden enclave after they have been liberated. The Assassins, after all, stand for freedom from tyranny, so liberating slaves lines up quite nicely with their ideals.

Players then got to play as former slave Adéwalé in Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry, another spin-off title that functions as a stand-alone DLC to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Adéwalé is an assassin and the first mate of Edward Kenway, the protagonist of Black Flag. However, in Freedom Cry, he gets the spotlight all to himself as he takes command of a pirate ship and liberates slaves around the Caribbean by way of violent attacks on slave traders. Harriet features a lot of similar themes as these two side entries in the Assassin's Creed franchise; it's clear that the real Harriet Tubman represented all that the Assassins stand for, as she performed the same duties that many fictional Assassins did.

Harriet

PG-13

Biography

Drama

History

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

November 1, 2019

Director

Kasi Lemmons

Cast

Cynthia Erivo , Leslie Odom Jr. , Joe Alwyn , Janelle Monae

Runtime

125

6 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag' (2013)

Pirates of the Caribbean is the go-to pirate movie franchise for a lot of people in the 21st century, thanks to its memorable characters and high seas adventures. The first movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, is widely regarded as the best in the series, but it's also a good movie to watch if you love all the pirate action that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has to offer. The Curse of the Black Pearl features a few locations that are also visitable in Black Flag, such as Tortuga and Port Royal.

The Curse of the Black Pearl also features ancient treasure with magical effects, and plenty of swashbuckling action, perfect for fans of Black Flag. Truth be told, the first Pirates of the Caribbean film is just a superb movie all-around. With its comedy, adventure, and naval action, it is the quintessential pirate flick that is great for any lover of cinema, not just Assassin's Creed fans.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 9, 2003

Director

Gore Verbinski

Cast

Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce

Runtime

143 minutes

5 'The Last of the Mohicans' (1992)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Rogue' (2014)

Assassin's Creed: Rogue is by far the most underrated and underappreciated installment in the main series. Coming out on the same day as Unity, it was released for "older" consoles like the Xbox 360 and PS3, making it hard to compete with its counterpart. Despite this, it remains a fantastic entry that connects multiple games together. It takes place during the Seven Years' War, one of the first real global conflicts, although the events of the game take place mostly in Canada and the United States.

The Last of the Mohicans is a movie that takes place during the same war and features the Siege of Fort William Henry, one of the primary events in Rogue. Though players can't actually view or participate in the siege, it remains a pivotal background event in the story. As such, if you're looking to see what that looked like, look no further than The Last of the Mohicans. Furthermore, the storyline of Rogue focuses on a former Assassin who becomes disillusioned with the Brotherhood and joins the Templars, which causes him to be branded a traitor to his kind. The Last of the Mohicans portrays a European man raised among Indigenous people who fights against European colonizers, which labels him "a traitor to his kind" as well. It also features Indigenous warriors, much like the side character Kesegowaase in Rogue.

The Last of the Mohicans

R

Action

Adventure

Drama

History

Release Date

September 25, 1992

Director

Michael Mann

Cast

daniel day-lewis , Madeleine Stowe , Russell Means , Eric Schweig , Jodhi May , Steven Waddington

Runtime

112 minutes

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4 'Napoleon' (2023)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Unity' (2014)

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most influential figures in history, as the first emperor of France and a major player during the French Revolution. He is also a recurring presence throughout the French Revolution game Assassin's Creed: Unity, though he doesn't appear until towards the end. However, protagonist Arno Dorian assists him with multiple endeavours, from being a chaffeur on dates to fighting tyranny.

Being such a prominent figure in the game, 2023's Napoleon is an ideal choice for getting to know more about the famed military and political leader. The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix in its titular role, who brings a memorable performance as always. Whereas Unity only explores the beginning of the revolution, Napoleon shows much of what happens after, including the Napoleonic Wars, making it a sort of continuation of what is seen in Unity.

Napoleon

R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

November 22, 2023

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix , Vanessa Kirby , Ben Miles , Ludivine Sagnier

Runtime

158 Minutes

3 'From Hell' (2001)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Syndicate' (2015)

From Hell is a movie about real-life police sergeant Frederick Abberline (Johnny Depp) as he sets his sights on the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper in Victorian London. It's a decent period detective movie that raises a lot of intriguing topics. After all, Jack the Ripper is possibly the most infamous serial killer in history due to the mystery surrounding him and the fact that his identity is still unknown nearly 150 years later.

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate takes place in Victorian London as well; however, the events of the main game occur in 1868, 20 years before the Ripper wreaked havoc in the Whitechapel district. Luckily, there is a Jack the Ripper-themed DLC for the game, which occurs in 1888 and follows the killings. What's more, Sergeant Abberline is a pretty big presence in the main game, although he is a more comedic character than a serious one like he is in From Hell. If you're a fan of the murder mystery aspect of Syndicate or its Jack the Ripper DLC, From Hell is a movie you're going to want to watch.

From Hell

R

Crime

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Not available

Release Date

February 8, 2001

Director

Albert Hughes , Allen Hughes

Cast

Johnny Depp , Heather Graham , Ian Holm , Robbie Coltrane , Ian Richardson , Jason Flemyng

Runtime

122

2 'Cleopatra' (1963)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Origins' (2017)

Cleopatra is a classic movie about the eponymous Pharoah, Cleopatra VII (Elizabeth Taylor), during the Ptolemaic Period, in the first century BCE. While the movie really hasn't aged super well, it's still a decent watch, especially if you're into Ancient Egypt and the history surrounding it. Or if you're a fan of Assassin's Creed: Origins.

Origins takes place around the same time as Cleopatra, and the Pharoah herself is even present throughout certain portions of the game and is portrayed in a way that is much more historically accurate. Both have the same sense of scale that inspired so much awe at the time of their respective releases and they both center on an epic storyline during the Roman occupation of Egypt, with Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) also being a recognizable presence in both the movie and the game. So, if Origins is your favorite in the series, this is definitely a movie you will want to check out.

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1 '300' (2007)

For fans of 'Assassin's Creed: Odyssey' (2018)

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey takes place during the Peloponnesian War, in the fifth century BCE. The player can choose whether they want their protagonist to be a man or a woman, but the canonical choice is the woman, a Spartan by the name of Kassandra. Kassandra herself is fictional, but in Assassin's Creed canon, she is the granddaughter of Leonidas I, the King of Sparta.

300 is a movie that follows Leonidas in the days leading up to his death. Expertly portrayed by Gerard Butler, Leonidas marches with an army of just 300 Spartans to meet an army of over 100,000 Persians at Thermopylae. This mission is doomed to fail, and all the Spartans know it. Leonidas' sacrifice allows the rest of Greece to prepare for the invasion so that when the Persians come knocking, they will be ready. Sticking with the Ancient Greece setting, it's a superb pick for fans of Odyssey, as the combat in 300 also feels very similar, in that it's tight, stylized, and full of slow-motion shots. Plus, it delves into a few fantastical themes, which allows players to see it as an unofficial prequel to Odyssey if they wish.

300

R

Action

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Not available

Release Date

March 9, 2007

Director

Zack Snyder

Cast

Gerard Butler , Lena Headey , David Wenham , Dominic West

Runtime

117 minutes

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