8 Best Max von Sydow Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 14, 2026

Max von Sydow built his early reputation in Ingmar Bergman’s most philosophically ambitious films before becoming one of international cinema’s most reliable elder statesmen. The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries and The Virgin Spring are the Bergman. The Exorcist calls an ageing priest to a possessed girl, Flash Gordon takes a football player to another planet, Minority Report accuses a police officer of a future crime, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close befriends a boy searching for a lock. Hawaii rounds out the list.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A boy searching for the lock that matches his late father's key befriends a mysterious lodger, played by Max von Sydow.

Directed by Stephen Daldry · 2h 09m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Minority Report (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 89% Metacritic 80

A precrime detective is accused of a murder his own unit predicts he's about to commit.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 25m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar20 wins & 91 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Starz · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flash Gordon (1980)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A football player is transported to another planet to save Earth from a tyrannical alien emperor.

Directed by Mike Hodges · 1h 51m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Exorcist (1973)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 78% Metacritic 83

A mother turns to two priests after her young daughter becomes violently possessed.

Directed by William Friedkin · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars18 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, AMC, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hawaii (1966)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A rigid missionary's attempts to convert the people of 19th-century Hawaii create lasting cultural conflict.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 3h 09m

Where to watch

Stream: ScreenPix Apple TV channel, ScreenPix Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Virgin Spring (1960)

TMDB ★ 7.8

Max von Sydow plays a father who seeks brutal revenge after his daughter is assaulted and murdered on her way to church.

Directed by Ingmar Bergman · 1h 30m

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Wild Strawberries (1957)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 94% Metacritic 88

An elderly professor confronts memories of his past during a road trip to receive an honorary degree.

Directed by Ingmar Bergman · 1h 31m

Nominated for 1 Oscar16 wins & 4 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Seventh Seal (1957)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 93% Metacritic 88

A disillusioned knight returning from the Crusades challenges Death himself to a game of chess.

Directed by Ingmar Bergman · 1h 36m · Rated NR

9 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Max von Sydow Movies

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

Minority Report (2002)

Flash Gordon (1980)

The Exorcist (1973)

Hawaii (1966)

The Virgin Spring (1960)

Wild Strawberries (1957)

The Seventh Seal (1957)

You might also like

8 Best Movies of 1973

250 Best Movies of All Time

The 100 Best Movies of All Time

22 Best Dystopian Movies of All Time

50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time

6 Best Quarantine and Plague Movies