“Forbidden Empire” is a 2014 Russian dark fantasy film directed by Oleg Stepchenko, starring Jason Flemyng as Jonathan Green, an 18th-century English cartographer who ventures into the uncharted lands of Transylvania. There, he discovers a cursed village haunted by supernatural creatures, including the legendary demon Viy. The film also features Aleksey Chadov, Agnia Ditkovskyte, and Andrey Smolyakov in supporting roles . With a runtime of approximately 128 minutes and a production budget of $28 million, the film is based on Nikolai Gogol’s classic story “Viy” .
The film has received mixed audience reception, holding an IMDb rating of approximately 5.2 out of 10. Many viewers praise its impressive visuals, sets, costumes, and special effects, while criticizing the confusing plot structure and poor English dubbing .
Subscription Streaming Options
“Forbidden Empire” is widely available on subscription streaming platforms across multiple regions.
Amazon Prime Video is the primary subscription home for the film. Prime members can stream it at no additional cost in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other territories . The film is available in HD with English audio and English subtitle options.
Tubi offers the film for free with advertisements in the United States and Canada. This is an excellent budget-friendly option for viewers who do not have a Prime subscription .
Plex also provides free streaming with ads in the US and Canada, giving viewers another no-cost alternative .
In Canada, the film can also be accessed through Kanopy, a free service available to public library cardholders. Participating library systems, including Vancouver Island Regional Library and Huntsville Public Library, offer the film through Kanopy’s digital collection .
Free Streaming Options With Ads
For viewers seeking cost-free viewing, several ad-supported platforms offer the film at no charge.
Tubi (US and Canada) and Plex (US and Canada) both offer free streaming with commercial breaks. Freevee, Amazon’s ad-supported channel, provides access to the film via Prime Video without a subscription .
These services require no payment whatsoever and are accessible on most devices including smart TVs, streaming sticks, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Rent or Buy Digital Options
For viewers who prefer to own the film or watch without advertisements, digital rental and purchase options are widely available across major platforms.
You can rent or buy “Forbidden Empire” from the following services:
- Apple TV Store – Rental and purchase options in HD
- Amazon Prime Video – Rent or buy, even for non-Prime members
- Google Play Movies – Rental and purchase available
Pricing estimates: Based on standard digital retailer rates for catalog fantasy films, rentals typically range from 2.99to2.99to3.99 for standard or high definition viewing. Purchase prices generally range from 9.99to9.99to14.99 for a permanent digital copy. Standard rental terms apply across all platforms: you have approximately 30 days to begin watching after your rental purchase, and once you start playback, you have 48 hours to complete viewing before the rental expires .
Platforms Where It Is Not Available
“Forbidden Empire” is not currently available on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, or Paramount+ in most regions. The film is not available for streaming in New Zealand on any platform based on current data .
Physical Media Options
For collectors or viewers who prefer physical media, “Forbidden Empire” was released on DVD and Blu-ray in select markets. The film was distributed by Entertainment One Films Canada Inc. and Phase 4 Films in North America . Physical copies can be found through online retailers like Amazon and secondhand marketplaces such as eBay.
Film Background and Critical Reception
“Forbidden Empire” is a loose adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic horror story “Viy” (1835). The original 1967 Russian film adaptation is considered a classic of Soviet cinema. This 2014 version reimagines the story with a British protagonist and significantly higher production values.
The film was produced by Russian Film Group and had a reported budget of $28 million, making it one of the most expensive Russian films produced at the time . It is also known by its original Russian title “Viy” or “Viy 3D” in some markets.
In Finland, the film was released under the title “Forbidden Empire (VOD)” on April 20, 2016, with a K-16 age rating .
User reviews consistently highlight the film’s impressive visual effects and production design while criticizing its confusing narrative and poor English dubbing. One reviewer noted that it “reminds me of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in terms of tone and fantasy characters, but if those movies were made by drunk Russians” . Another reviewer praised the cinematography as “truly exceptional” with “great visual depth and beauty” .
The film carries an MPAA rating equivalent to R and is approximately 128 minutes in length . It is classified under multiple genres including action-adventure, fantasy, horror, and mystery-suspense .
Regional Availability Summary
- United States: Free on Tubi, Plex, Freevee; subscription on Prime Video; rental/purchase on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play
- Canada: Free on Tubi, Plex; subscription on Prime Video; free via Kanopy (library card); rental/purchase on Apple TV, Amazon
- United Kingdom: Subscription on Prime Video; rental/purchase available
- Australia: Subscription on Prime Video; rental/purchase available
- New Zealand: Not available on any platform
- Finland: Available through VOD services (Atlantic Film)
Final Recommendation
For most viewers, the easiest way to watch “Forbidden Empire” is through Amazon Prime Video, where the film is included with a Prime subscription in most regions. If you are not a Prime member, the free ad-supported options on Tubi (US and Canada) or Plex provide excellent no-cost alternatives.
If you are a public library cardholder in Canada, Kanopy offers a free, ad-free option through your library’s digital collection. For viewers who prefer ownership or a one-time rental, digital purchase or rental on Apple TV or Amazon for approximately $3.99 is the most straightforward path forward.
Before making any purchase, it is recommended to use tracking tools like JustWatch or Reelgood to confirm current availability in your specific region, as streaming rights for catalog titles frequently change.