For decades, Hollywood has been fascinated with the idea of immortality, following the lives of immortal characters whether they be gods, robots, or mere long-lived humans. Here are 4 films that focus on immortal characters.
The Old Guard (2020)
The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, is a superhero film written by comic book writer Greg Rucka, based on his comic book series of the same name. The film follows a group of immortal mercenaries with incredible regenerative properties, which leads to their immortal lives. When a young United States Marine named Nile realizes she’s immortal, they learn of her existence and track her down to teach her the rules of their immortal lives. Meanwhile, after a mission goes wrong and their immortality is exposed, they must go on the run from the man who wishes to capture them.
The film stars actors Charlize Theron as Andromache of Scythia, the oldest amongst the mercenaries, KiKi Layne as Nile Freeman, a U.S. Marine who learns she is immortal, and Marwan Kenzari as Joe/Yusuf Al-Kaysani, a member of the Old Guard born during the Crusades. Ngô Thanh Vân plays Quỳnh, a former member of the Old Guard who was trapped underwater 500 years ago, Matthias Schoenaerts plays Booker, a member of the Old Guard born in 1770, Luca Martinelli plays Nicky, a member of the Old Guard born during the Crusades who is dating Joe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays James Copley, the man hunting down the Old Guard. Harry Melling plays Steven Merrick, a doctor working with Copley.
The Old Guard can be watched on Netflix. A sequel, titled The Old Guard 2, released in 2025 and can also be streamed on Netflix.
Bicentennial Man (1999)
Bicentennial Man, directed by Chris Columbus, is a science fiction film written by Nicholas Kazan, based upon the 1992 novel The Positronic Man written by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. Set in an alternate future of 2005, the film focuses on Andrew, a housekeeping robot that gains sentience and slowly becomes more “human” through centuries of life. He becomes closely entangled with the Martin family, who bought him before he gained sentience, as they help each other through generations of family.
The film stars actors Robin Williams as Andrew, an NDR series robot that becomes self-aware, Sam Neill as Richard Martin, the patriarch of the Martin family who initially owns Andrew, Embeth Davidtz as the dual roles of Amanda Martin and Portia Charney, Amanda being a friend of Andrew’s and Portia being Amanda’s future granddaughter. Actress Hallie Kate Eisenberg plays a young version of Amanda Martin.
Bicentennial Man can be watched on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, or Fandango at Home.
Highlander (1986)
Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy, is a fantasy action-adventure film written by Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, and Larry Ferguson. The film follows Connor MacLeod, a Scottish Highlander from the 16th century who discovers he is immortal. Connor learns he is one of many immortal warriors, who are all hunting each other to ensure they are the final immortal left alive. He learns this from an immortal swordsman named Ramirez, who also tells him that immortals can be permanently killed through decapitation. Connor learns this the hard way when he finds Ramirez dead, killed by an immortal simply known as The Kurgan whom Connor had fought earlier in his life. Ramirez’s death leaves Connor wandering the earth for centuries, until he ultimately faces off against The Kurgan in modern-day 1985 New York City.
The film stars actors Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, the titular immortal protagonist, Clancy Brown as The Kurgan, MacLeod’s nemesis, Roxanne Hart as Brenda Wyatt, a forensic scientist investigating murders across New York caused by the Kurgan, and Beatie Edney as Heather MacLeod, Connor’s first wife. Sean Connery plays Juan Sanchez-Villalobos Ramirez, a highly skilled immortal swordsman.
While the film was a failure at the box office, only making 13 million dollars on a 19 million dollar budget, Highlander established enough of a cultural impact to spawn an entire franchise. The original film featured a soundtrack by the band Queen, comprising numerous songs that would go in their album A Kind of Magic, including the song “Princes of the Universe” as well as “A Kind of Magic”. Spinoffs included an animated television show, a television spinoff that itself spawned two movie sequels, and a Highlander II and Highlander III. A reboot of the film starring actors Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, and Karen Gillan also began filming in early 2026.
Highlander can be watched for free on Tubi, Fandango, PLEX, Pluto TV, and Amazon Prime Video. It can also be streamed on Peacock, AMC+, or YouTube.
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Rise of the Guardians, directed by Peter Ramsey, is an animated fantasy action film written by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on the book series The Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce, as well as his short film The Man in the Moon. The film follows Jack Frost, the Spirit of Winter, a young teenager who awakens in the 18th century from a frozen plunge cursed with amnesia and invisibility to mortals. He was resurrected by the Man on the Moon, a mystical being that made him a spirit. Spirits are immortal beings that inherently represent concepts, such as dreams, seasons, nightmares, and holidays. In the modern day, he is forced to team up with fellow immortal spirits Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman to defeat the evil Boogeyman, Pitch Black.
The film stars actors Chris Pine as Jack Frost, the mischievous Spirit of Winter gifted his immortality by the Man on the Moon, Jude Law as Pitch Black/the Boogeyman, the representation of nightmares, Alec Baldwin as Santa Claus, the leader of the Guardians, Isla Fisher as the Tooth Fairy, the Guardian of Memories, and Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny, the Guardian of Hope. While the Sandman has no actor, as the character is mute, he thematically serves as the opposite of Pitch Black, representing and guarding dreams.
Rise of the Guardians can be watched on YouTube Movies, Fandango, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
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