In his review for Salon.com, Charles Taylor called "On Guard" "one of the best swashbucklers in movie history", writing, "For sheer entertainment it puts nearly everything else that's playing to shame. De Broca's film is a delight from top to bottom, packed with romance, adventure, beautifully executed swordplay and a sumptuous period look." Taylor described Auteuil's performance as "simply wonderful" and that "his range seems to be as wide as that of almost any actor now working in the movies". Taylor continues: