Look, let’s be honest for a second. Mention Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in a room full of movie buffs and you’ll basically get two reactions. You’ll have the folks who start humming that Bryan Adams power ballad immediately, or you’ll get the "film snobs" who start groaning about Kevin Costner’s accent. It’s been decades since this thing hit theaters in 1991, and somehow, we’re still arguing about it.
It was a massive hit. Like, $390 million worldwide massive. But if you read the reviews today, you’d think it was some sort of cinematic disaster.
Why the disconnect? Well, it’s complicated. The movie is a weird, messy, beautiful, and sometimes baffling relic of early 90s blockbuster filmmaking. It was a race against the clock to beat other "Robin Hood" projects to the box office, and you can sort of feel that frantic energy in every frame.
The Accent That Launched a Thousand Memes
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Kevin Costner’s voice.
People love to dunk on Costner for not even trying to sound British. One minute he’s got a vague, mid-Atlantic lilt, and the next, he’s basically just a guy from California who wandered into Sherwood Forest. It’s inconsistent. It’s distracting. Honestly, it’s kinda hilarious.
But here is the thing: some historians actually argue that a modern British accent (the posh "Received Pronunciation" we expect in period pieces) didn't even exist back then. In a weird, accidental way, Costner’s flat American vowels might be closer to what people actually sounded like than the refined stage voices of his co-stars.
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Not that Costner was thinking about linguistics. He just didn't have time to prep. He jumped straight from the set of Dances with Wolves into this production with basically zero rehearsal time. He was tired. He was rushed. And he was playing a hero who was, by design, a bit more brooding and "modern" than the Errol Flynn version.
Alan Rickman: The Man Who Saved the Movie
If Costner is the grounded (some say wooden) center, Alan Rickman is the supernova burning in the corner. His Sheriff of Nottingham isn't just a villain; he’s a lifestyle.
Rickman famously turned down the role several times until they told him he could do whatever he wanted with the character. And boy, did he take that deal. He realized the script was, well, not exactly Shakespeare. So he brought in his own writers to punch up his lines.
"Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas!"
That line? Pure Rickman. He decided to play the Sheriff as a man constantly annoyed by the incompetence of everyone around him. He’s theatrical, he’s petty, and he’s clearly having more fun than anyone else on screen. There’s a rumor that Costner actually asked for some of Rickman’s scenes to be cut because the Sheriff was totally overshadowing the hero. Looking at the final cut, it’s easy to see why.
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The Bryan Adams Effect
You cannot separate Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves from "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You." It’s impossible.
That song was everywhere. It spent 16 weeks at number one in the UK. It was the soundtrack to every slow dance at every prom in 1991. The irony is that the studio almost buried it. They tucked it away in the end credits like they were embarrassed by it.
The song was written in about 45 minutes by Bryan Adams and Mutt Lange. They based it on the movie’s love theme composed by Michael Kamen. It’s sappy, sure. It’s a bit over-the-top. But it gave the movie a romantic weight that helped it appeal to an audience way beyond just action fans.
Real History vs. Hollywood Myth
Let’s talk about Azeem. Morgan Freeman’s character wasn't in the original legends. He was a 90s addition meant to give the story a "buddy-cop" vibe and a bit of a broader perspective.
While some critics back then called it "political correctness," Azeem is actually one of the best parts of the movie. He brings a level of wisdom and technology (like the telescope) that makes Robin look like a bit of a barbarian. It’s a nuanced performance in a movie that isn't always big on nuance.
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Then there’s Mortianna. The "witch." She’s basically a walking 80s Satanic Panic nightmare. Her presence turns the movie into a weird hybrid of historical adventure and low-key horror. It doesn't always work, but it definitely makes the film more memorable than the dozen Robin Hood reboots we’ve had since.
Why We Still Watch It
So, does it hold up?
If you’re looking for a gritty, historically accurate depiction of 12th-century England, absolutely not. The geography is a mess. Robin lands at the Seven Sisters cliffs in Sussex and says he’ll be in Nottingham by nightfall. That’s a 200-mile walk. Good luck with that, Kevin.
But as a piece of pure entertainment? It’s hard to beat. The stunt work is surprisingly visceral. The score by Michael Kamen is genuinely epic—so good that Disney used it as their "Wonderful World of Disney" intro music for years.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch:
- Watch the Sheriff’s hands: Rickman’s physical acting—the way he holds a quill or flings his cape—is a masterclass in "scenery chewing."
- Spot the cameos: Keep an eye out for a very famous Scotsman at the very end. The audience in 1991 apparently cheered so loud you could barely hear his dialogue.
- Listen to the score: Forget the Bryan Adams song for a minute and just listen to the orchestral themes. It’s some of the best adventure music of the decade.
- Compare it to the 2018 version: If you think the 1991 movie is "silly," try sitting through the Taron Egerton version. Suddenly, Costner looks like a genius.
The movie is a product of its time—a big, loud, earnest spectacle that didn't care about being "cool." It wanted to be a blockbuster. And in 2026, looking back at a landscape of CGI-heavy superhero movies, there’s something genuinely refreshing about seeing real actors running through real woods (even if they have California accents).
Stop worrying about the "accuracy" and just enjoy the ride. It’s a classic for a reason.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Fan:
If you want to see the "full" vision, track down the 155-minute extended cut released in 2009. It restores a lot of the Sheriff's weirder subplots and gives the supporting cast, like Christian Slater’s Will Scarlett, a bit more room to breathe. You'll finally understand why Will is so angry all the time. It changes the whole vibe of the film from a standard action flick to something much darker and more interesting.