World history movies and TV shows

The list contains the best, new and most relevant world history movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out serious, dramatic, realistic, captivating, interesting and intense films and TV shows about / with world history, culture clash, betrayal, mentor, courage, storytelling, military, intrigue, politics and dialogue plots mostly in Drama, History and War genres shot in USA, UK, France and other countries.
world history movies
331
TOP 10 movies tagged as world history: Kundun (1997), Gandhi (1982), Argo (2012), Isabelle Eberhardt (1991), Apocalypse Now (1979), Platoon (1986), Full Metal Jacket (1987), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), The Passion of the Christ (2004), Schindler's List (1993).

List of world history movies

 7.0
 32K
Kundun (1997)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Monaco, USA, Morocco
Duration: 134 min.
Story: The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation. The Dalai ...
Style: epic, philosophical, cerebral, thought provoking, spiritual ...
Plot: buddhism, buddha, buddhist monk, world history, dalai lama, biopic, religion, buddhist, politics, spirituality, mountain, historical epic ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, 50s, 1930s, 1950s
Place: tibet, china, hiroshima japan, asia, pearl harbor ...
Is relevant?
 8.0
 247K
Gandhi (1982)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, India
Duration: 191 min.
Story: In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of ...
Style: spiritual, epic, political, inspirational, breathtaking ...
Audience: kids, teens
Plot: protest, idealism, biopic, freedom, politics, life philosophy, independence, british empire, leadership, religious intolerance, assassination, indian history ...
Time: 1930s, 1920s, year 1948, 19th century, victorian era ...
Place: india, south africa, britain, los angeles, new delhi ...
Is relevant?
 7.7
 663K
Argo (2012)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Style: clever, tense, captivating, political thriller, suspenseful ...
Audience: chick flick, date night, adult
Plot: cia, secret agent, politics, rescue mission, revolution, u.s. embassy, secret mission, propaganda, danger, hostage, undercover, espionage ...
Time: 70s, 80s, year 1979, year 1980, 20th century ...
Place: middle east, iran, tehran iran, los angeles, istanbul turkey ...
Is relevant?
Isabelle Eberhardt (1991)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Australia, France
Duration: 113 min.
Story: Story of a young woman journalist who becomes enmeshed in the politics of the annexation of Morrocco from Algeria at the turn of the twentieth century.
Plot: world history, french foreign legion, female journalist, desert, islam, journalist, french colonialism, military, women, explorer, writers, nihilism ...
Time: year 1900, 1900s
Place: algeria, morocco, paris france
Is relevant?
 8.4
 764K
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, War
Country: USA
Duration: 147 min.
Story: At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, "does not exist, nor will it ever exist." His goal is to locate - and eliminate - a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter ...
Style: bleak, psychological, cult classic, surreal, sexy ...
Audience: date night, adult
Plot: vietnam war, jungle, insanity, anti war, military, army, secret mission, violence, mission, soldier, violent, river ...
Time: 20th century, year 1979, 60s, year 1969
Place: vietnam, cambodia, southeast asia, asia, the philippines ...
Is relevant?
 8.1
 469K
Platoon (1986)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 120 min.
Story: As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.
Style: realistic, disturbing, epic, rough, suspense ...
Audience: manly, boys' night
Plot: vietnam war, military, soldier, battlefield, battles, squad, jungle warfare, combat, jungle, anti war, violent, conflict ...
Time: year 1967, year 1986, year 1968, 60s, 20th century
Place: vietnam, southeast asia, the philippines, america, asia ...
Is relevant?
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story: A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.
Style: clever, suspense, visually stunning, bleak, psychological ...
Audience: manly, boys' night, adult
Plot: vietnam war, military, war, soldier, anti war, suicide, basic training, boot camp, violence, sniper, military life, brutality ...
Time: 20th century, year 1967, year 1968, year 1987, 60s ...
Place: vietnam, persia, america, asia, south carolina ...
Is relevant?
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story: As the English and French soldiers battle for control of the American colonies in the 18th century, the settlers and native Americans are forced to take sides. Cora and her sister Alice unwittingly walk into trouble but are reluctantly saved by ...
Style: epic, sexy, period piece, costume drama, visually stunning ...
Audience: chick flick, family friendly
Plot: native american, american indian, war, freedom, colonial america, indians, wilderness, revenge, forest, historical epic, medieval, american history ...
Time: 18th century, middle ages, ancient times, georgian era, 20th century ...
Place: persia, usa, england
Is relevant?
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story: "The Passion of the Christ" is a film about the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus. Director Mel Gibson received much criticism from critics and audiences for his explicit depiction of and focus on violence and on christs suffering, ...
Style: biblical, christian film, controversial, spiritual, brutal ...
Audience: chick flick, manly, adult
Plot: jesus, christianity, jesus christ, redemption, religion, religious, bible, torture, suffering, betrayal, death, roman ...
Time: ancient times, year 2004, 2000s, 1930s, 1st century ...
Place: holy land, jerusalem, greece, ancient greece, middle east ...
Is relevant?
Schindler's List (1993)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 195 min.
Story: The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
Style: touching, emotional, heartbreaking, realistic, thought provoking ...
Audience: date night, chick flick, adult
Plot: holocaust, world war two, genocide, nazi, wartime, war, concentration camp, storytelling, holocaust survivor, anti semitism, nazism, against humanity ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, 90s, ancient times, year 1943 ...
Place: poland, germany, iran, persia, europe ...
Is relevant?
 7.4
 44K
Gallipoli (1981)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Australia
Duration: 110 min.
Story: As World War I rages, brave and youthful Australians Archy and Frank, both agile runners, become friends and enlist in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps together. They later find themselves part of the Dardanelles Campaign on the Gallipoli ...
Style: atmospheric, harsh, touching, emotional, intense ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: world war one, military, friendship, anti war, politics, idealism, human spirit, wartime, desert, great war, british army, running ...
Time: 1910s, year 1915, 20th century, year 1981, 1920s ...
Place: australia, egypt, ottoman empire, gallipoli, turkey ...
Is relevant?
 8.1
 390K
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK, South Africa, Italy
Duration: 121 min.
Story: Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his ...
Style: emotional, intense, sincere, rough, political ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: genocide, racism, hotel, against humanity, war, violence, politics, cruelty, civil war, war crime, refugee, un ...
Time: 20th century, year 2004, 90s, 2000s
Place: rwanda, africa, south africa, congo, somalia ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: Ireland, UK, France, Germany, USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story: Enemy at the Gates is a war film from Jean-Jacques Annaud from 2001 that takes place during the battle of Stalingard in World War II between the Russians and the Germans.
Style: sexy, epic, realistic, serious, breathtaking ...
Audience: boys' night, adult
Plot: war, world war two, sniper, military, stalingrad, world war, courage, friendship, nazi, wartime, hide and seek, winter ...
Time: 20th century, year 2001, 1940s, year 1940, year 1944 ...
Place: germany, soviet union, iraq, persia, russia ...
Is relevant?
Passato e Presente (2017)
Genre: History
Country: Italy
TV show
Story: Program about historical dissemination, presented by Paolo Mieli. Each episode sees a historian interacting with the presenter and three young university students.
Style: thought provoking, educational, captivating, serious, informative ...
Plot: world history, storytelling, historical event, past, historical character, historian, european history, historical figure, debate, conversation, italian history, politics ...
Time: 20th century, 21st century
Is relevant?
The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 188 min.
Story: Drawn from the same events that later inspired Gladiator, the film charts the power-hungry greed and father-son betrayal that led to Rome's collapse at the bloody hands of the Barbarians.
Style: epic, retro, captivating, exciting, stylized ...
Plot: roman empire, ancient history, barbarian, ancient rome, battles, tragic hero, ancient world, sword fight, peplum, ancient, european history, male male relationship ...
Time: ancient times
Place: rome italy, greece, ancient greece, europe, italy
Is relevant?
 7.7
 46K
Zulu (1964)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 138 min.
Story: In 1879, during the Zulu wars, man of the people Lt. John Chard (Stanley Baker) and snooty Lt Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine) were in charge of defending the isolated Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes, holding out during an ...
Style: realistic, epic, period piece, factual, suspense ...
Plot: war, british colonialism, military, british empire, siege, british army, zulu, human spirit, historical event, battles, colonialism, epic battle ...
Time: 19th century, victorian era, ancient times, 1800s, 1870s ...
Place: africa, south africa, britain, united kingdom, england
Is relevant?
 8.1
 202K
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 185 min.
Story: In the Eighteenth Century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry is a young farm boy in love with his cousin Nora Brady. When Nora engages to the British Captain John Quin, Barry challenges him for a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to ...
Style: period piece, costume drama, epic, visually appealing, atmospheric ...
Plot: nobility, rise and fall, aristocracy, opportunist, duel, card playing, british army, pistol duel, wealth, soldier, social climber, literary ...
Time: 18th century, georgian era, 20th century, year 1975, 19th century ...
Place: ireland, england, prussia, berlin germany, britain ...
Is relevant?
 8.3
 1.2M
Braveheart (1995)
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 178 min.
Story: Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against ...
Style: epic, factual, bloody, scenic, breathtaking ...
Audience: boys' night, manly, chick flick, adult
Plot: sword fight, war, courage, freedom, medieval, vengeance, tragic hero, battles, military, love story, warrior, beautiful scenery ...
Time: middle ages, medieval times, 14th century, ancient times, 20th century ...
Place: scotland, england, europe, scottish highlands, britain ...
Is relevant?
 7.4
 110K
Elizabeth (1998)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story: The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.
Style: factual, costume drama, period piece, historical drama, visually stunning ...
Audience: chick flick, girls' night
Plot: queen, british history, queen elizabeth i, tudors, royalty, historical character, politics, head of state, british royal family, royal court, monarchy, throne ...
Time: 16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, victorian era ...
Place: england, london, britain, scotland, europe ...
Is relevant?
The Last Valley (1971)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: People in a small German village in the last valley to remain untouched by the devastating Thirty Years' War try to exist in peace with a group of soldiers occupying the valley.
Style: serious, exciting, suspenseful, suspense, captivating ...
Plot: battles, anti war, village life, danger, military, society, rescue, heroes, chaos, german history, renaissance, colonialism ...
Time: 17th century, middle ages, medieval times, year 1971
Place: germany
Is relevant?
 6.3
 39K
Evita (1996)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Musical
Country: USA, Argentina
Duration: 135 min.
Story: The hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-movie Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president and dictator Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.
Style: emotional, period piece, lyrical, intense, serious ...
Audience: girls' night
Plot: politics, dancing, rise to power, political unrest, broadway, music, death, biopic, dictator, glamour, military coup, female protagonist ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, 1930s, year 1945, 1950s ...
Place: argentina, latin america, buenos aires argentina, south america, italy ...
Is relevant?
 7.3
 66K
Thirteen Days (2000)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min.
Story: Dramatisation of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missle bases established on the Soviet allied island of Cuba. Shown from the perspective of the US President, John F Kennedy, ...
Style: political, tense, suspenseful, thought provoking, disturbing ...
Plot: cold war, politics, spy, president, diplomacy, political intrigue, un, race against time, nuclear, cold war era, conspiracy, cuban missile crisis ...
Time: y2k, year 2000, 60s, 20th century, year 1962
Place: cuba, ussr, north america, the philippines, usa ...
Is relevant?
 7.4
 26K
Amazing Grace (2006)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 118 min.
Story: The true story of William Wilberforce's courageous quest to end the British slave trade. Although meeting intense opposition, his minister, John Newton, urges him to see the cause through.
Style: emotional, inspirational, period piece, costume drama, factual ...
Audience: teens, family outing
Plot: slavery, politics, politician, mentor, civil rights, slave trade, friendship, freedom, christian, british empire, religion, biopic ...
Time: 18th century, 19th century, ancient times, 1800s, georgian era ...
Place: england, london, britain, paris france, france ...
Is relevant?
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story: Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and ...
Style: political, factual, suspense, harsh, brutal ...
Plot: dictatorship, dictator, doctor, polygamy, genocide, atrocity, corruption, politics, biopic, violence, israeli, violent ...
Time: 70s, 20th century, year 2006
Place: africa, uganda, scotland, united kingdom, south africa
Is relevant?
Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story: The true story of Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets had some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.
Style: clever, political, factual, realistic, humorous ...
Audience: adult
Plot: cold war, cia, politics, womanizer, satire, spy, politician, propaganda, swimming pool, soviet afghanistan war, congressman, brutality ...
Time: 20th century, year 1980, year 1988, 2000s, year 2007 ...
Place: afghanistan, washington d.c., texas, pakistan, helsinki finland ...
Is relevant?
 7.1
 50K
Che: Part One (2008)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France, Spain, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story: The Argentine, begins as Che and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years, they mobilized popular support and an army and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Style: political, thought provoking, visually stunning, talky, intense ...
Plot: revolution, violence, cuban revolution, dictatorship, communism, military, biopic, politics, idealism, rebel, civil war, cold war ...
Time: 50s, 1950s, 20th century, year 2008, 60s ...
Place: cuba, caribbean, latin america, mexico city, new york
Is relevant?
 7.3
 174K
Invictus (2009)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story: Newly elected President Nelson Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby ...
Style: inspirational, sincere, christian film, uplifting, political ...
Audience: adult
Plot: human spirit, rugby, racism, politics, president, apartheid, leadership, underdog, leader, biopic, politician, life philosophy ...
Time: year 2009, 90s, 2000s, year 1995, 20th century
Place: south africa, africa, cape town south africa, johannesburg south africa, england ...
Is relevant?
 7.2
 172K
War Horse (2011)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, India
Duration: 146 min.
Story: Follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend.
Style: touching, emotional, sentimental, epic, uplifting ...
Audience: teens, girls' night, family outing, date night, teen drama ...
Plot: world war one, horse, war, friendship, animal training, animal, battles, human animal relationship, wartime, cavalry charge, human spirit, danger ...
Time: 1910s, 20th century, 2010s, year 2011, 1920s ...
Place: england, america, britain, belgium, europe ...
Is relevant?
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, South Africa
Duration: 141 min.
Story: A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Style: emotional, inspirational, serious, realistic, political ...
Plot: rebellion, apartheid, prison, prison life, civil rights, political repression, racism, biopic, politics, brutality, human spirit, courage ...
Time: 20th century, 90s, year 2013, 1950s, 80s ...
Place: south africa, africa
Is relevant?
 8.4
 25
Secret Agent (2000)
Genre: History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story: Documentary series recounting the exploits of the Special Operations Executive in World War Two.
Style: suspenseful, period piece, captivating, exciting, serious ...
Plot: world war two, military history, covert operation, military, wartime life, world history, historical figure, black ops, great war, historical character, british history, world war ...
Time: 1940s
Place: britain, europe, france, belgium, italy
Is relevant?