10 Best Films About the Plague in the Middle Ages

The gloomy streets of deserted cities, the stinking carts laden with corpses, the fear in people's eyes, and the pervasive smell of death—the plague became one of the most terrifying ordeals in human history. In the Middle Ages, this disease claimed millions of lives, destroyed states, changed the course of wars, and altered the fates of nations. It's no surprise that cinema hasn't ignored this theme. This selection features 10 of the best films that transport viewers to the grim era of the Black Death, depicting despair, faith, superstition, and the struggle for survival in a world where the end seemed certain.

The film takes place in the 14th century. Knight Antonius Block and his squire return to Sweden from the Crusades. Their homeland greets them with death and desolation: a plague epidemic has devastated villages and towns, and the roads are littered with decomposing corpses.

Along the way, the travelers encounter traveling artists, a young witch, and a blacksmith deceived by his wife. Antonius discusses the meaning of life, God, and other important matters with these people. In his hometown, the knight is forced to play chess with Death himself. The stake is his life. If the knight wins, Death will not touch him.

The film takes us to 1501 in Europe, where the plague has been raging for years. A detachment led by former mercenary Martin captures Agnes, the beloved son of Baron Arnolfini. It was he who once betrayed Martin, and the landsknecht thirsts for revenge.

Martin, his men, and the captive woman take refuge in the castle. They engage in an unequal battle with the baron's army. But they must contend not only with enemies but also with the plague, which is creeping toward the besieged. Psychological tension gives rise to conflicts among the characters.

An undeservedly forgotten Soviet film about events in a fictional medieval kingdom. Two bandits kidnap an orphan boy gifted with the gift of finding gold. His older sister, Marta, searches for him, willing to travel to the ends of the earth for her brother.

During her travels, Martha meets the wandering scholar, poet, and inventor Orlando. They continue their quest together, overcoming obstacles and temptations. In lands ravaged by an epidemic, the travelers encounter the Plague. At the cost of his life, Orlando defeats it and saves Martha, who reaches her destination.

The plague is raging in 14th-century Europe. In a small town, authorities accuse a young woman—possibly a witch—of spreading the disease. She must be taken to a remote abbey for a purification ceremony.

The task is entrusted to two knights, Bayman and Felson, who have returned from the Crusade. They are accused of desertion, and the mission is their only chance to clear their name. With companions and a girl in a cage on wheels, the knights set out. At first, they don't believe in witchcraft. But after a series of mystical events, their opinion changes.

In the mid-14th century, England is in the grip of the Black Death. Osmund, a novice preparing to become a monk, finds himself at a crossroads. He wants to devote himself to God, but he is also in love with a girl named Avril. At the same time, the bishop's messengers, the knight Ulric and Swire, arrive at the abbey. They are seeking a guide who can lead them through Denwich Forest and the marshes.

On the bishop's orders, Ulric and Suire set out for a lost village whose inhabitants are immune to the plague. Perhaps they possess a secret or are in league with the devil? Osmund has volunteered to accompany the travelers. Along the way, the group faces dangerous adventures and mystical phenomena, and at the end, a quest awaits them from which only a few will survive.

13th century: Genghis Khan's army fights against a rebellious people. A plague breaks out among the warriors, decimating them one by one. Genghis Khan sends a dozen warriors—aravtu—to search for a legendary healer capable of stopping the disease. They are led by the wise and old Tsakhir.

Along the way, the riders discover an abandoned infant, who is being hunted. The warriors face a difficult task. They must continue their important mission while protecting the child, who turns out to be anything but an ordinary infant. The squad faces numerous dangers and adventures, which they overcome with honor.

In 11th-century England, few possess even the most basic medical knowledge. Eleven-year-old Rob Cole's mother is dying of an unknown intestinal disease, and no one can help her. Wishing to learn how to save lives, Rob travels far to the East, to the home of the legendary physician Avicenna.

Disguised as a Jew, a young man finds himself in a distant land closed to Christians. He discovers Avicenna's madrassa and becomes his disciple. Together, they save the city from the plague, discovering its origins—rats and fleas. The love story between Rob and Rebecca, a Jewish woman, is also shown.

The film tells the story of Lady Matilda, whose estate in England in 1348 is plagued by mysterious deaths. It all begins after her soldiers bring back a captured French knight. Matilda's husband, Sir Walter, is also held captive in France. Therefore, the lady plans to exchange the Frenchman for her husband.

But people around Matilda suddenly begin dying. Their deaths, painful and inexplicable, are somehow connected to the prisoner, Arnaud de Saint-Amand. Soon, the mistress of the castle begins to suspect that he is not who he claims to be. He can send death upon people, punishing them for their sins.

14th century: During the Black Death in England, the inhabitants of a small mining village try to escape the epidemic, fighting off hordes of infected refugees. A young man named Griffin suffers from prophetic dreams in which he discovers the path to saving the village.

Visions tell him to dig a tunnel through the earth and erect a copper cross atop a grand cathedral. Inspired by his dreams, the miners embark on a perilous underground journey—and suddenly find themselves in modern-day New Zealand. Thus begins a bizarre clash of two eras, cultures, and worldviews.

Greed, corruption, ignorance—and the plague. Summer 1349: the Black Death in northern Germany. Minstrels gather in Hamelin for the wedding of the mayor's daughter and the baron's son. The baron collects taxes for the cathedral, hoping to atone for his sins.

A Jewish apothecary seeks a cure for the plague, but the priests accuse him of witchcraft. Then one of the minstrels offers to rid the city of rats... but for a price. When the man fulfills his promise, he is deceived, with dire consequences.

Each of these films depicts the horrors of the plague in its own way—a philosophical parable, a dark drama, or a historical fantasy. They make us reflect not only on the past but also on the present: fear, superstition, and hope for salvation still live on in people. Which of these films made the greatest impression on you—and why? Or do you know other plague-themed films worth adding to the list?