Verdict:The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is a confirmed FLOP based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 6.2/10, it has delivered a mixed experience for fans of the Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery genre.
Answer: Yes, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Adventure movies.
It features a runtime of 92 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Last updated: January 11, 2026
Released in 1988, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey enters the Adventure genre with a narrative focused on Cumberland, 1348. Under the direction of Vincent Ward, the film attempts to weave detailed character arcs with visual storytelling.
The film is anchored by performances from Bruce Lyons. While the cast delivers competent performances, the script occasionally limits their range.
From a technical standpoint, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey offers a competent presentation. The cinematography uses a distinct visual palette that aligns well with the tone. The sharp editing keeps the narrative moving at a brisk pace, maximizing the impact of the key sequences.
Beyond the narrative, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey resonates with current cultural themes in the Adventure space. It stays within the established boundaries of its genre, providing exactly what core fans expect without reinventing the wheel.
As of early 2026, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is available for streaming on ARROW. For audiences in the US, UK, and India, digital rentals are typically available on platforms like Amazon Video roughly 45-60 days after the theatrical release.
The plot of The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey centers on a unique premise within the Adventure landscape. Cumberland, 1348. The plague is spreading in medieval England. The remote village of little Griffin is also threatened. But the 9-year-old boy has a recurring dream that holds the key to a tiny hope of survival: a lake with a coffin floating on it. A white church with an iron cross. A falling glove. A falling silhouette. A torch tumble through a dark shaft into infinity. With his brother he recognizes in it a prophecy to escape the Black Death. So they embark with a few men on a journey to a distant cathedral, where they want to set up an iron cross as an offering to God. Her path leads them through a deep and dark mine shaft into an unknown land and completely outlandish time - into the present-day New Zealand of the 1980s. The second act serves as a major turning point, leading to a climax that fans of 1988 cinema will find fairly predictable.
The ending of The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey has sparked significant debate on social media. It signifies the ambiguous resolution of the main plot thread. Given the current box office momentum, discussions of a The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey sequel or a wider cinematic universe are already gaining traction.
Final verdict for The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey (1988): with an audience rating of 6.2/10, the reception has been divisive. It is a recommended for fans of Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery cinema who appreciate attention to detail.
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YouTubeAmazon VideoApple TVGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.2/10, and global collection metrics, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1988 cinematic year.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey has received mixed reviews with a 6.2/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery movies, but read reviews first.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is currently available for streaming on ARROW. You can also check for it on platforms like ARROW depending on your region.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey has received mixed reviews with a 6.2/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery movies, but read reviews first.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is currently available for streaming on ARROW. You can also check for it on platforms like ARROW depending on your region.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is a Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery movie that follows: Cumberland, 1348. The plague is spreading in medieval England. The remote village of little Griffin is also threatened. But the 9-year-old boy has a recurring dream that holds the key to a tiny hope o...
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is classified as Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery. We recommend checking the official age rating before watching with children.
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is primarily available in its original language, with subtitles and dubbed versions available on various streaming services and digital stores.
Cumberland, 1348. The plague is spreading in medieval England. The remote village of little Griffin is also threatened. But the 9-year-old boy has a recurring dream that holds the key to a tiny hope of survival: a lake with a coffin floating on it. A white church with an iron cross. A falling glove. A falling silhouette. A torch tumble through a dark shaft into infinity. With his brother he recognizes in it a prophecy to escape the Black Death. So they embark with a few men on a journey to a distant cathedral, where they want to set up an iron cross as an offering to God. Her path leads them through a deep and dark mine shaft into an unknown land and completely outlandish time - into the present-day New Zealand of the 1980s.
You know what they say about a library book - you ought not to read the last pages first! Well this is one of those films where you do wish you’d seen the last scenes first because they slot so much of it into a perspective that hitherto is at best nebulously ill-defined. We start in a stark, wintery, northern England where the plague is rife and a village is determined to protect itself from all-comers. One of their number, the young “Griffin” (Hamish Gaugh) is prone to vivid dreams which frequently see him end up in the water and that offer the village a glimmer of hope. They must find a cross (or spike) to top their church and induce God to spare them from death, but that involves travel - and the only way is down, through the bowels of the earth where he, his brother “Connor” (Bruce Lyons) and his brave companions might cast a Celtic cross from their freshly mined copper so it can shine to the Lord. Their travel to the antipodes is instantaneous, so we’ve no “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” type stuff, but when they do arrive (in what looks like Christchurch) they have entered their own version of “Oz” and we are now in glorious Technicolor. Now, “Griffin” et al must try to find a 21st century foundry, get their cross cast, then get it to the top of the city’s cathedral before sunrise. It’s a fantasy adventure with a difference this, and though I thought Gough worked really quite well throughout, the rest of it just had too much of the story missing. The characterisations pointed at aspects that were interesting - father figures, fear, superstitions, but these elements are left dangling. It’s not that I needed everything compartmentalised, and I did quite like the way the timelines leapt about, but serendipity is a little too prevalent as they proceed on the latter stages of their quest. There is some southern hemisphere fun to be had here, which contrasts quite potently with the ghastliness of their frozen and disease-ridden northern hemisphere homes, and the use of the monochrome contrasting with the colour adds well to the fantastic elements of their adventure, but it was just a little to skeletal for me to get my teeth into. It is innovate and creative, though, and certainly worth a watch. I expect it will divide option starkly, and that’s no bad thing.
