Film

Samson

Name: Samson
Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure
Released: 2018
Cast: Taylor James, Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Caitlin Leahy, Frances Sholto-Douglas

Revenge action

A 2018 biblical action film retelling the Samson story as a revenge narrative. Muscular, earnest, and genre-straightforward—more *Hercules* than *Ben-Hur*. For viewers who want their scripture adapted as adventure spectacle, with stakes that matter and a hero tested by loss. Billy Zane chews scenery as the villain.

TMDb rating

2.9

If you liked this

Hercules2014

Dwayne Johnson as a legendary strongman taking on corrupt warlords. Same formula—mythic hero, practical weaponry, moral clarity, big action sequences punctuated by character moments.

But The Rock's charisma carries it more than the script does. If you want subtlety or political complexity, this isn't that kind of film.

Ben-Hur2016

Liam Neeson as a villain in a biblical revenge epic. Technically superior production values, Roman grandeur, the same emotional core of a man wronged seeking justice and redemption through faith.

But Nearly three hours, and the chariot race—the sequence everyone remembers—divides viewers on whether it's thrilling or tedious.

Aquaman2018

Released the same year, same DNA: a hero discovering his power, a forbidden love, an enemy prince, underwater kingdoms replacing fantasy realms. Action that prioritizes spectacle and earnestness over irony.

But Jason Momoa's charm overwhelms the plot. If you prefer story to presence, you'll feel the seams showing.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Samson

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Book of Eli2010

Both frame their hero's superhuman gifts as inseparable from divine purpose. The action serves theology, not the reverse.

Denzel Washington as a man with extraordinary abilities defending faith and scripture in a hostile world. Post-apocalyptic instead of biblical, but the core is identical: one man's unflinching moral conviction against impossible odds. Meditative action cinema that respects its premise.

But The twist divides viewers sharply—some feel manipulated, others enlightened. Slower than expected. Second half less assured than the first.

The 10th Kingdom2000

A miniseries blending fairy-tale adventure with real stakes. Magic exists but characters still suffer consequences. Strong performances anchor the spectacle, and it trusts the audience to care about the mythology.

But It's TV-paced—slower than modern streaming expects. Some effects haven't aged well. Commitment of four episodes required.

Conan the Barbarian1982

Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man of supernatural strength avenging his people against a tyrant. Pure sword-and-sorcery, no irony. Milius directs with operatic seriousness. The template Samson follows without knowing it.

But Genuinely violent and grim. Schwarzenegger's thick accent can feel unintentionally comic. Doesn't apologize for being exactly what it is.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time2010

Jake Gyllenhaal in a Middle Eastern adventure. Romance, betrayal, a moral dilemma between love and duty. Lighter than Samson but cut from the same cloth—action that serves character arcs.

But Neither critics nor audiences gave it much patience. It feels made by committee. The video game origin casts a shadow.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time poster

Exodus: Gods and Kings2014

Ridley Scott directing Christian Bale as Moses. Enormous in scope, visually stunning, takes biblical drama seriously as drama. If Samson intrigued you, this scratches a similar itch with higher stakes.

But Scott's indulgence shows—it's bloated and unfocused. The CGI plagues are more impressive than moving. Nearly two hours forty minutes to make one point.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword2017

Guy Ritchie reimagining Arthurian legend as gritty action. Charlie Hunnam as a hero discovering his power. Kinetic, visually inventive, committed to treating medieval myth as real stakes. Unapologetic spectacle.

But Ritchie's hyper-edited style exhausts some viewers. The plot is secondary to the look. If you want narrative clarity, this won't provide it.

Clash of the Titans2010

Sam Worthington as Perseus, Liam Neeson commanding armies. Creature design that delights, sword-and-sandal action without pretension. Fun adventure that knows what it is and commits fully.

But The 1981 original has a cult following this can't match. Stop-motion Medusa was more memorable than CGI. Feels assembled rather than crafted.

A Dark Song2016

Both are about grief transformed into devotion, and both trust that the deepest power lies in sacrifice—not triumph.

Insomnia-inducing, devastating Irish supernatural drama. A woman and a man in a house attempting a resurrection. Character work so precise it becomes spiritual. Every choice mattersowed and earned. If Samson moved you emotionally, this will crack you open differently.

But No action. Deliberately slow. Requires real patience and emotional availability. Some find it unbearably sad.

The Last Temptation of Christ1988

Where Samson accepts his calling, Temptation questions it—both explore what faith demands of the body and the soul.

Scorsese interrogating faith, doubt, and the cost of being chosen. Willem Dafoe as Christ not as icon but as man wrestling with his purpose. Theologically serious, visually alive, deeply human. A biblical epic that asks questions rather than answering them.

But Genuinely blasphemous to many. Slow and philosophical where Samson is direct. Scorsese's intellectual intensity won't appeal to everyone, and it's dense.