Princess of Thieves

Princess of Thieves

Year: 2001

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter Hewitt

ActionAdventure

Robin Hood’s daring legacy lives on through his daughter Gwyn, a brave archer with her father’s skill and her mother Maid Marian’s wit. As King Richard nears death, Robin and the Merry Men must secure the rightful heir, Prince Philip, before Prince John seizes the throne. When Robin is captured and sentenced to death, Gwyn must rescue him and safeguard England’s future.

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Princess of Thieves (2001) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Princess of Thieves (2001), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Years after the known events of the Robin Hood legend, Gwyn Keira Knightley has grown into a strong-willed young woman with a remarkable talent for archery, echoing the legacy her father once carried. With Maid Marian Hannah Cresswell dead and Robin Hood Stuart Wilson frequently away fighting in the Crusades, Gwyn has spent years navigating life largely on her own, supported only by the loyal Froderick Del Synnott, who quietly harbors affection for her. When King Richard dies, Robin returns to England to see the rightful order restored, but he is quickly foiled and imprisoned by the forces that oppose him—the Sheriff of Nottingham Malcolm McDowell and Prince John Jonathan Hyde.

The burden of the mission falls squarely on Gwyn. She must complete Robin’s unfinished task by locating and protecting the young Prince Philip Stephen Moyer, who has just returned from exile in France to lay claim to the throne—traveling in disguise under the name of his valet, who died while protecting him. Gwyn’s path brings her into contact with the prince, though she does not yet know his true identity, and a spark of romance begins to bloom between them as they navigate a landscape of danger and intrigue.

To keep England from spiraling into chaos, Gwyn and Philip must seek out the celebrated band of outlaws known as the Merry Men and unite their forces to free her father from the tortures of the Tower of London before Prince John can crown himself king. The rescue becomes a turning point, forcing Gwyn to confront the limits of loyalty, duty, and love. After Robin is freed, Gwyn, her father, and Prince Philip confront the looming coronation, and a heart-wracking choice comes into sharper focus: Gwyn tells Philip that she can only serve him and cannot be with him, a truth that Robin confirms with a hard–won practicality born of years spent in peril. He explains that his distance was meant to shield her, but it hasn’t prevented her from growing into a figure who can stand beside him.

In the aftermath, a new alliance forms. Robin proposes a partnership in which Gwyn would follow his lead, but only as an equal, with the clause that she accepts his authority as her guiding compass. Gwyn agrees, and the two of them are seen leading Robin’s men, side by side, ready to defend Philip’s claim and restore balance to a realm on the edge of ruin. The film pays close attention to the emotional costs of heroism, the stubborn courage of a young woman who steps into a legacy of violence without losing her own voice, and the fragile, enduring bond that can emerge when duty and desire collide.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:40

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Movies about legendary daughters like in Princess of Thieves

Stories where daughters must courageously step into their father's iconic shoes.If you enjoyed seeing Gwyn take up Robin Hood's bow in Princess of Thieves, you'll like these other movies about daughters continuing a parent's famous legacy. These films feature brave young women on adventurous, character-driven quests to prove themselves and honor their family's name.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically begin with a daughter living in the shadow of a renowned parent. A crisis forces her to step up, using her unique blend of inherited skills and her own distinct personality to overcome challenges. The journey is as much about forging her own identity as it is about saving the day, culminating in a new, equal partnership with her parent or the acceptance of her own heroic role.

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Movies in this thread are united by the powerful theme of legacy and inheritance, focusing specifically on the father-daughter dynamic. They share a hopeful tone, medium emotional weight, and often a fast-paced, adventurous structure where personal growth is intertwined with a critical external mission.

Fast-paced coronation race movies like Princess of Thieves

Fast-paced adventures where heroes must stop a royal usurper in time.If you liked the urgent mission to save Prince Philip in Princess of Thieves, you'll enjoy these other movies about high-stakes races against a coronation. These similar stories feature political intrigue, rescue missions, and fast-paced action as heroes work against the clock to secure a kingdom's future.

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The narrative follows a linear, urgent path: a villainous figure is poised to illegitimately seize power, while the true heir is in danger or captivity. The heroes, often a small band of skilled outlaws or loyalists, must navigate traps, battles, and political machinations in a direct and fast-paced sequence of events leading to a final confrontation that decides the fate of the kingdom.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared plot engine—a coronation deadline that creates relentless pacing and tense stakes. They typically feature a clear division between good and evil, straightforward complexity, and a blend of combat, strategy, and historical adventure elements, resulting in a satisfying, conclusive ending.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Princess of Thieves

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Princess of Thieves

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