Overview
See production notesHercules leads a band of mercenaries composed of king-turned-prophet Amphiaraus of Argos, thief Autolycus of Sparta, mute and feral barbarian Tydeus of Thebes, Amazon archer Atalanta of Scythia, and storyteller and nephew to Hercules, Iolaus of Athens. Hercules is said to be the demigod son of Zeus, who completed the legendary Twelve Labors after being betrayed by Hera, who drove him insane and caused him to murder his wife and children during a visit to King Eurystheus. It remains unclear whether Hercules is truly the son of Zeus and many are skeptical of the claim as well as of the stories of his Twelve Labors. Despite this, Hercules displays unusual inhuman strength and nigh-unmatched skill in combat as well as a potent healing factor. He is also frequently haunted by the memory of the deaths of loved ones as well as visions of Cerberus. On the Macedonian Coast in Northern Greece in 358 BC, Hercules and his team are approached by Ergenia. Her father King Cotys wants Hercules to train the armies of Thrace to defend the kingdom from bloodthirsty warlord/sorcerer Rhesus. Hercules accepts after being offered his weight in gold and the band is welcomed to Thrace by Cotys and General Sitacles, leader of the Thracian army. When Rhesus reaches Central Thrace, Cotys insists that Hercules lead the army into battle to defend the Bessi tribe there despite Hercules's objections and the army's lack of training. However, they are too late as Rhesus' supposed sorcery has turned the Bessi against the Thracians. After the Bessi are defeated following a long and disastrous battle which results in at least half the Thracian forces being killed, Hercules and his allies properly train the army. When the training is complete, Hercules and Sitacles confront Rhesus' army before Mount Asticus. After an arduous battle, Hercules' side wins. Rhesus is taken back to Thrace as a prisoner, where he is publicly humiliated. Taking pity, Hercules stops the townsfolk from throwing more objects at him. When Hercules mentions Rhesus' actions of burning down villages, Rhesus tells him it was not him or his army that committed those atrocities. Later in the palace hall, Rhesus is chained up and left on display. Noticing that Ergenia has taken pity on him, Hercules confronts her and finds out Rhesus was telling the truth. He was merely retaliating against Cotys' attempts to expand his kingdom. Ergenia does not agree with Cotys's methods, but goes along out of fear as her cruel father already poisoned her husband, the previous king. Furthermore, Cotys threatens his grandson Arius, the true heir to the throne. After receiving their reward, the mercenaries are ready to leave, but Hercules decides to stay behind and stop Cotys. All but Autolycus choose to follow him. However, they are overpowered and captured by Sitacles and his men. While chained, Hercules is confronted by King Eurystheus, who is in league with Cotys. Eurystheus reveals that he drugged Hercules the night his family died, viewing him as a threat to his power. Hercules' family was actually killed by three black wolves sent by Eurystheus, resulting in Hercules' constant hallucinations of Cerberus. When Cotys orders Ergenia to be executed for her betrayal, Hercules is encouraged by Amphiaraus to believe in himself. In a show of superhuman strength, Hercules breaks free of his chains, saving Ergenia and defeating the wolves single-handedly. Hercules releases the prisoners, including Rhesus, and then confronts Eurystheus, killing him and avenging his family. However, he is ambushed by Sitacles who is then stabbed to death by Iolaus. Outside, Hercules and his forces battle Cotys' army. Arius is taken hostage, but rescued by Autolycus who has decided to return to help his friends. In the ensuing battle, Tydeus is mortally wounded while protecting Arius, but fights on, slaughtering numerous soldiers until he falls and dies in Hercules's arms, but not before saying Hercules's name. Again using inhuman strength, Hercules pushes a massive statue of Hera from its foundations and uses it to crush Cotys and many of his soldiers. Impressed by this feat, the surviving soldiers bow to Hercules, recognizing him as a demigod and the son of Zeus as lightning strikes in the background. Arius takes the throne with Ergenia at his side.
Plot from Hercules (2014 film)CC BY-SA 4.0
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See all quotesIolaus: [narrating] You think you know the truth about him? You know nothing. His father was Zeus. The Zeus. King of the gods. His mother, Alcmene, a mortal woman. Together, they had a boy. Half human, half god. But Zeus' queen, Hera, saw this bastard child as an insult, a living reminder of her husband's infidelity. Alcmene named the boy Hercules, which means glory of Hera, but this failed to appease the goddess. She wanted him dead. Luckily, he took after his father. Once he reached manhood, the gods commanded him to perform Twelve Labors, twelve dangerous missions. If he completed them all and survived, Hera agreed to finally let him live in peace. He fought the Lernean Hydra! He battled the Erymanthean Boar! [Hercules strikes the Erymanthean Boar face-down] But his greatest Labor was the Nemean Lion. This was no ordinary beast. It had a hide so tough, no weapon could penetrate it. But even this monster was no match for the son of Zeus... Gryza: What a load of crap! Iolaus: Every wo
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Autolycus: Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen... Atalanta: That was fun. Autolycus: ...eighteen, nineteen, twenty. 20 pirates at two gold pieces a head, minus the headless ones. Let's see. Hercules: Not a bad night. Iolaus: You see how the pirates ran? My story softened their resolve! Autolycus: Their resolve must be broken, Iolaus. When you speak the legend of Hercules, make it bigger, scarier! The more they believe Hercules is truly the son of Zeus, the less like they are to fight. Amphiaraus: [stokes the fire] Aye. Hercules: Amphiarus. Amphiaraus: Hmm? Hercules: Care to join us here on Earth? Amphiaraus: A lion and a crow in strange alliance, fighting across a sea of corpses.
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Hercules: Whenever I'm here, I'm sure this is what Elysium must look like. Eurystheus: [chuckles] Well, men like us have the means to create our own paradise on Earth. [shows Hercules the peacocks] Look. Magnificent, aren't they? Well, do not keep us in suspense. Are we safe from the monster Hydra? Hercules: [opens a bag full of decapitated Hydra heads] The Hydra heads, Your Majesty. Eurystheus: [lifts the Hydra head open to show a human head] The masks of serpents. No wonder men thought they were monsters. You've done your sovereign a great service. Come. Let the people have their hero. [he and Hercules approach the balcony] Male Servant: All hail King Eurystheus, and the mighty protector of Athens, Hercules! [the crowd roars with cheers and chants] Eurystheus: A man faced with such adoration might be tempted to think himself a god. Hercules: I only want to be a husband and a father.
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Cotys: Hercules, welcome. An honor to host such a legend. Hercules: Lord Cotys. Cotys: But in legend, you fight alone. Hercules: My reputation would not exist without my comrades. Autolycus of Sparta, Tydeus of Thebes, Atalanta of Scythia, Iolaus of Athens, and Amphiaraus of Argos. Cotys: Amphiaraus? The famed seer of Argos. It is said you have glimpsed your own death, so you fight each battle knowing that it is not yet your time to die. What else can you tell of the future? Amphiaraus: Only what the gods see fit to reveal. Cotys: A shame. It would have been a great gift to know the outcome of this war. Amphiaraus: The gods can be frustrating sometimes, Lord Cotys. Cotys: [chuckles and turns to Atalanta] With respect, I fear that the task ahead might not be suitable for a woman, even if she is an Amazon warrior. [Atalanta swiftly turns around and fires both arrows at once at the guards' helmets against a door] I stand corrected.
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Cotys: Rhesus! Rhesus: You have come looking for a fight, and we are happy to oblige. [to Hercules] Hercules, the son of Zeus. Your legend ends here. Hercules: Look at me. Do I look afraid? Rhesus: It is over, Cotys. Mount Asticus on your front, the woods at your back, and my troops outman you three to one. Surrender now, and we shall consider being merciful. Sitacles: Men die who speak to my lord in such a manner. Rhesus: You've made your choice.
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
Hercules: I saw pity in your eyes for Rhesus. Why? Look at me. Cotys is responsible for this war, isn't he? You lie very well. Clearly, your father's daughter. Ergenia: I didn't do it for my father. I did it for my son. If I disobeyed Cotys or resisted in any way, Arius would be executed. I did what any mother would. I protected my child. My husband was king, and Cotys poisoned him to take his place. Rhesus fought back. Civil war broke out. Arius is the legitimate king. My father is old. He will not live forever, and once he is gone, my son will be a good king. And he will heal this land. Hercules: That's a dream. Ergenia: And you can help. Please, when you leave Thrace, take Arius with you. Please keep him safe. Hercules: Find another savior.
Hercules (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0
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