

The Seventh Seal
The story of a challenge to death.
When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
TMDB
8.1/10
3,485 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $150K
- Box office
- $311.2K
- Language
- Swedish
- witch
- dying and death
- blacksmith
- chess
- countryside
- allegory
- crusade
- artist
- juggler
- witch burning
- last judgment
- symbolism
Top billed cast

















Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- TheatricalNR13 Oct 1958
- PhysicalBlu-ray20 Nov 2018
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG24 Oct 1957
AustraliaAU
- PhysicalPG26 Aug 2005
CzechiaCZ
- Theatrical (limited)15+Film clubs only1 May 2004
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical1529 Jan 1960
FinlandFI
- TheatricalK-1626 Sept 1958
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival2 May 1957
- TheatricalTP17 Apr 1958
- PhysicalDVD26 Jan 1999
- Digital / OTTVOD23 Aug 2011
- PhysicalBlu-Ray15 Oct 2013
- Theatrical (limited)Re-release26 Sept 2018
- Digital / OTTNetflix1 May 2021
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1614 Feb 1962
GreeceGR
- Theatrical2 Jan 1960
- Digital / OTT1 Aug 2019
ItalyIT
- Theatrical5 Aug 1958
JapanJP
- TheatricalG9 Nov 1963
NetherlandsNL
- Physical12DVD16 Jun 2004
Frequently asked questions
The Seventh Seal was released on 16 February 1957.
Audience reviews
3- A8/10
Andres Gomez
1/4/2013
Interesting and iconic movie about faith and the meaning of life. A must seen.
- F8/10
Filipe Manuel Neto
7/5/2023
**The universality and invincibility of Death, the fear of dying, the importance of faith and its use by the Church in a timeless film, but not suitable for everyone.** The film, set in the late Middle Ages, begins with a knight returning to his homeland in Sweden after participating in the crusades. When he spots the figure of Death, who has come to get him, he decides to try to gain time by inviting her to play …
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
8/10/2025
Now of course everyone’s favourite Max von Sydow film is “Flash Gordon” (1980) but I reckon this performance for Ingmar Bergman might be almost as good! With the dreaded Black Death sweeping his homeland, “Block” (MvS) returns from the Crusades with his squire “Jöns” (Gunnar Björnstrand) only to find himself barely off the boat before he encounters the apparently quite reasonable grim reaper himself. “Block” invites …
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