The Seventh Seal

1h 36m · 1957 · Directed by Ingmar Bergman · 4.3 / 5 on Letterboxd

The Seventh Seal (1957) runs 1h 36m, directed by Ingmar Bergman. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

Genres: Fantasy, Drama

Where to watch: HBO Max (US, checked 9 July 2026)