What Makes Excalibur (1981) The Ultimate 80s Fantasy Epic? In 1981, John Boorman released his passion project, EXCALIBUR. A bold, very adult, serious take on the Arthurian legend, the film was a modest financial success, grossing $34 million domestically. However, to many, it stands at the definitive story of King Arthur, and indeed Boorman's film is an ambitious classic. Indeed, it was a risky proposition. The film would have no stars, using a primarily British/Irish cast, headed by Nigel Terry