Gerard Butler’s turn as Stoic the Vast in the live-action adaptation ofHow To Train Your Dragonproves once again that few actors can channel gruff nobility quite like he can. With his commanding presence, quiet emotional core, and towering physicality, Butler turned what could have been a supporting role into one of the most emotionally resonant elements of the film. However, for those who want to dive deeper into that same Norse-flavored intensity, there is a hidden gem waiting to be streamed for free on Tubi:Beowulf & Grendel.
The 2005 historical fantasy features Butler as Beowulf, the legendary warrior who journeys to Denmark to help King Hrothgar defeat the monstrous Grendel. (Very)loosely adapted from the Old English epicpoem, the film trades high fantasy spectacle for a more grounded, psychological take on the myth, where morality is murky, monsters are misunderstood, and the hero’s journey is one of introspection as much as violence. While the film divided critics upon its release, it has foundrenewed appreciation among viewerswho admire its stark landscapes, somber moods, and thoughtful take on a centuries-old legend. With Butler anchoring the film in another deeply stoic, commanding role,Beowulf & Grendelis an ideal next watch for anyone captivated by his dragon-riding days.
Gerard Butler Is More Combatant Than Companion in ‘Beowulf & Grendel’
Reviews ofBeowulf & Grendelconsistently highlight Gerard Butler’s performance as one of the film’s strongest elements.Even among critics who were lukewarm about the movie overall, there is a clear appreciation for how Butler anchors the story with a mix of physicality and moral weight. As Beowulf, he is less of a mythic superhero and more of a weathered warrior grappling with the reality of violence, which makes for a compelling comparison with his later portrayal of Stoic.
InHow To Train Your Dragon,Butler’s Stoic is a man bound by duty, love, and tradition.That same emotional layering is visible inBeowulf & Grendel,where Butler’s version of the Norse hero is not simply out to slay a beast, but is also wrestling with the moral dilemma of whether the monster truly deserves to die. Butler brings nuance to a role that is usually one-note, delivering a version of Beowulf who is deeply conflicted, observant, and painfully human.
This makes Butler’s role switch from Stoic to Beowulf feel more like a continuation than a contrast. As a viewer switches films, they see dragons swapped for trolls while the moral fabric still remains. Both characters stand at the edge of tradition and transformation, trying to protect their people while questioning their past. For anyone who appreciated the gravity thatButler brought toHow To Train Your Dragon,his performance inBeowulf & Grendelwill offer even more chew.
‘Beowulf & Grendel’ Has Visuals That Rival Those in ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
While opinions vary on the film’s pacing and tone,Beowulf & Grendeldrew near-universal praise for its stunning cinematography. Filmed entirely in Iceland, the movie offers breathtaking visuals that rival the animated splendor ofHow to Train Your Dragon.Towering cliffs, fog-draped coastlines, and windswept plains create an atmosphere that is both epic and haunting, perfectly matching the film’s somber mood. As percritic William Arnold:
“Shot entirely in the outback of Iceland, it’s a gallery of hauntingly beautiful locations, and director Sturla Gunnarsson skillfully uses its bleak otherworldliness to distance us from anything familiar and evoke a lost heroic age.”
Responding to the film, many viewers shared the opinion that the visuals ofBeowulf & Grendelelevate the entire experience, giving the film a mythic texture that feels ancient and raw.The starkness of the landscape complements the sparse dialogue and weighty themes. Void of bustling cities and elaborate CGI,Beowulf & Grendeldelivers just warriors, myths, and the merciless beauty of the natural world.
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This visual approach mirrors the tone of the live-actionHow To Train Your Dragon,which also leaned into windswept cliffs and austere beauty to build its world. However, whereHow To Train Your Dragonis softened by vibrant CGI and youthful energy,Beowulf & Grendelis more grounded and unforgiving. Yet, the effect is similarly transportive. For fans that found themselves mesmerized by the rugged coastlines of Berk,Beowulf & Grendeloffers an even grittier, and arguably more realistic, visual experience.
The Emotional Stakes in ‘Beowulf & Grendel’ Reflect Stoic’s Arc
SettingBeowulf & Grendelapart, andmaking it especially resonant for fans ofHow to Train Your Dragon,is how the film humanizes its so-called monster. The movie portrays Grendel as a sympathetic figure, not a mindless beast. This emotional twist echoes the entire arc ofHow to Train Your Dragon,where Stoic learns to see and appreciate dragons not as threats but as beings capable of loyalty, grief, and love.
In the film, Grendel is not a snarling villain but the grieving son of a slain troll. He is violent, yes, but also lost and broken, rejected by society and hunted like an animal.Beowulf’s growing discomfort with this fact becomes the emotional backbone of the film. It goes beyond being just a monster hunter and becomes a meditation on revenge, justice, and empathy. This shift addssignificant emotional weightto what could have been a standard swords-and-sandals affair.
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Beowulf & Grendelmay not have earned a unanimously positive reception, but for fans of Gerard Butler’s Stoic, it is a clear spiritual sibling worth streaming. Sharing the same bones, and now available for free on Tubi, the film is a moody, mythic detour that is ideal for anyone who left the theater wanting to spend more time in Butler and Stoic’s world.
