Kingdom of Heaven (2005) is an epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan.
Set during the Crusades of the 12th century, the film follows the story of Balian of Ibelin (played by Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith who travels to Jerusalem and finds himself defending the city and its people against the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin (Ghassan Massoud).
Filmed on location in Spain and Morocco, with a budget of $130 million, Kingdom of Heaven was released in May 2005 by 20th Century Fox to mixed reviews, grossing $218 million worldwide. An extended director's cut was released in December 2005, which many critics considered the definitive version.
The film features an ensemble cast, including Eva Green as Sibylla of Jerusalem, Jeremy Irons as Tiberias, David Thewlis as The Hospitaler, Brendan Gleeson as Raynald of Châtillon, Marton Csokas as Guy de Lusignan, and Liam Neeson as Godfrey of Ibelin.
Kingdom of Heaven explores themes of religious tolerance, personal redemption, and the futility of war. The film's depiction of the Crusades through a modern political lens was controversial, with some critics praising its ambition and visual spectacle, while others found fault with its historical inaccuracies and uneven pacing.
The director's cut, which restored 45 minutes of footage, was better received by critics who felt it provided more depth to the characters and themes. Overall, Kingdom of Heaven stands as a bold, if flawed, attempt to bring the complexities of the Crusades to the big screen in an epic and thought-provoking manner.