Best American History Movies

This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best American History Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: captivating, inspirational, serious, realistic, political and historical drama. Plot: biopic, husband wife relationship, death, world history, friendship, based on real people, military, cigarette smoking, blood and historical event. Genre: Drama, History and Biography. Country: USA, UK and India.
Best American History Movies
Best American History Movies
TOP Movies: Schindler's List (1993), Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), Hidden Figures (2016), The Big Short (2015), Milk (2008), Babylon (2022), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Hamilton (2020), Being the Ricardos (2021), Empire of the Sun (1987), All the President's Men (1976), The King's Speech (2010), The Thin Red Line (1998), The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021), Glory (1989), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Cinderella Man (2005), Recount (2008), Les Misérables (2012), Dark Waters (2019).

List of Best Movies

Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
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, war, wartime, storytelling, concentration camp, brutality, nazism, against humanity, survival ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 1993, 90s, ancient times ...
Place: poland, germany, persia, iran, europe ...
Is relevant ?
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story: Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panthers per FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton ascends, falling for a fellow revolutionary en route, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul.
Style: political, inspirational, philosophical, social, disturbing ...
Audience: date night, adult
Plot: violence, civil rights, betrayal, politics, murder, prison, black history, black, african american, racism, justice, betrayal by friend ...
Time: 2020s, year 1968, 60s
Place: chicago, hawaii, nebraska, new haven connecticut
Is relevant ?
 7.8
 253K
Hidden Figures (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story: The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into ...
Style: inspirational, sincere, motivational, touching, factual ...
Audience: girls' night, family friendly, chick flick, date night, teens ...
Plot: racism, mathematics, nasa, space program, african american, stereotypes, prejudice, sexism, strong female character, scientist, genius, racial segregation ...
Time: 60s, year 1961, year 2016, 20th century, 2010s ...
Place: persia, indiana, virginia, usa, langley virginia
Is relevant ?
 7.8
 480K
The Big Short (2015)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story: The men who made millions from a global economic meltdown.
Style: intellectual, realistic, tense, intelligent, inspirational ...
Audience: girls' night, date night, chick flick, family friendly, teen drama ...
Plot: finance, wall street, business, economics, stock market, money, financial crisis, greed, economic crisis, fraud, loan, analysis ...
Time: 2010s, 2000s, year 2007, year 2015, future ...
Place: new york, manhattan new york city, las vegas
Is relevant ?
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 7.5
 179K
Milk (2008)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: The story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, who became an outspoken agent for change, seeking equal rights and opportunities for all. His great love for the city and its people brought him backing from young and ...
Style: thought provoking, political, realistic, touching, sincere ...
Plot: gay, politics, homosexuality, protest, homosexual, murder, gays and lesbians, discrimination, male homosexuality, politician, biopic, gender ...
Time: 70s, 2000s, year 2008, 20th century, year 1973 ...
Place: san francisco, california, new york, america, bay area ...
Is relevant ?
 7.1
 164K
Babylon (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 189 min.
Story: A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters in an era of unbridled decadence and depravity during Hollywood's transition from silent films and to sound films in the late 1920s.
Style: thrilling, dramatic, visual, captivating, witty ...
Audience: adult
Plot: film history, filmmaking, orgy, party, hedonism, hollywood, movie star, film industry, gambling, movie business, unrequited love, graphic violence ...
Time: 1920s, 20th century, 2020s, year 1932, 1930s ...
Place: los angeles, new york, california
Is relevant ?
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story: In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In ...
Style: motivational, heartbreaking, disturbing, harsh, bleak ...
Audience: teens
Plot: slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, torture, african american, freedom, american history, life is a bitch, black history, interracial relations, kidnapping ...
Time: 19th century, year 2013, 2010s, victorian era, ancient times ...
Place: louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, usa ...
Is relevant ?
 8.3
 112K
Hamilton (2020)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Musical
Country: USA
Duration: 160 min.
Story: Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit is the story of America then, told by America now.
Style: epic, feel good, period drama, comfort
Audience: chick flick
Plot: hip hop, friendship, american history, father son relationship, death, murder, george washington, biopic, violence, revolutionary war, broadway, dancing ...
Time: 18th century, 2020s, 1790s, 1800s, 19th century ...
Is relevant ?
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Being the Ricardos (2021)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.
Style: historical drama, satirical, independent film
Plot: biopic, hollywood, marriage, art, friendship, love, trailblazer, writers, comedian, post war, women, urban ...
Time: 2020s, 1950s, year 1952, year 1960
Is relevant ?
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 138 min.
Story: After an abrupt and violent encounter with a French warship inflicts severe damage upon his ship, a captain of the British Royal Navy begins a chase over two oceans to capture or destroy the enemy, though he must weigh his commitment to duty and ...
Style: exciting, tense, period piece, serious, suspenseful ...
Audience: teens
Plot: ship, napoleonic wars, navy, battles, sea battle, sea, military, leadership, friendship, naval battle, heroic mission, expedition ...
Time: 18th century, 19th century, 1800s, year 2003, ancient times ...
Place: britain, england, america, brazil, europe ...
Is relevant ?
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Genre: Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 153 min.
Story: Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor named Basie, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even ...
Style: sad, emotional, heartbreaking, period piece, realistic ...
Audience: family friendly, family outing, teens, teen drama
Plot: world war two, child protagonist, coming of age, childhood, pow, captivity, japanese army, peasant, survival, child, young heroes, world war ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 1987, year 1945
Place: china, japan, asia, indochina, hong kong ...
Is relevant ?
All the President's Men (1976)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 138 min.
Story: In the run-up to the 1972 elections, Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward covers what seems to be a minor break-in at the Democratic Party National headquarters. He is surprised to find top lawyers already on the defense case, and the discovery of ...
Style: political thriller, political, cerebral, realistic, serious ...
Audience: family outing
Plot: journalism, newspaper, investigation, politics, political conspiracy, conspiracy, political corruption, journalist, president, american politics, white house, political intrigue ...
Time: 70s, 20th century, year 1976, year 1972, year 1973
Place: washington d.c., usa, miami, florida
Is relevant ?
The King's Speech (2010)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story: The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit ...
Style: inspirational, period piece, sincere, uplifting, dramatic ...
Audience: chick flick, teens, adult
Plot: british royal family, british history, world war two, stuttering, royal family, disability, queen, politics, unlikely friendships, british monarchy, king of england, historical character ...
Time: 1930s, year 2010, 2010s, pre world war two, 50s ...
Place: england, britain, london, united kingdom, scotland ...
Is relevant ?
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 170 min.
Story: Based on the graphic novel by James Jones, The Thin Red Line tells the story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II ...
Style: epic, visually stunning, visual, philosophical, visually appealing ...
Plot: war, sergeant, jungle, soldier, world war two, infantry, anti war, pacific war, pacific island, existentialism, survival, world war ...
Time: 20th century, 1940s, 90s, year 1998
Place: asia, america, japan, pacific ocean
Is relevant ?
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story: Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
Style: black and white, cerebral, suspense, disturbing, suspenseful ...
Audience: adult
Plot: shakespeare, murder, treason, medieval, rise to power, king, intrigue, betrayal, royal family, macbeth, knight, life & death ...
Time: middle ages, future
Place: scotland
Is relevant ?
 7.8
 144K
Glory (1989)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story: Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
Style: epic, inspirational, suspense, realistic, rough ...
Plot: american civil war, civil war, battles, slavery, freedom, military, racism, prejudice, war, black history, army, human spirit ...
Time: 19th century, 1800s, 20th century, year 1989, victorian era ...
Place: massachusetts, america, south carolina, georgia, africa ...
Is relevant ?
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min.
Story: The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Style: bleak, realistic, epic, contemplative, disturbing ...
Audience: family outing, adult
Plot: world war two, war, military, japanese history, battles, survival, anti war, japanese army, imperial japan, brutality, japanese military, violence ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century, year 2006, 2000s, ancient times ...
Place: japan, asia, nebraska, tokyo
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 197K
Cinderella Man (2005)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min.
Story: The true story of boxer, Jim Braddock who, in the 1920’s after his retirement, has a surprise comeback in order to get him and his family out of a socially poor state.
Style: touching, inspirational, motivational, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience: boys' night, teens, manly
Plot: boxing, underdog, human spirit, great depression, biopic, boxer, athlete's life, poverty, depression, motivation, financial problem, family bonds ...
Time: 1930s, year 2005, year 2006, 2000s, 1920s ...
Place: new jersey, netherlands, usa, madison square garden manhattan new york city, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
 7.3
 14K
Recount (2008)
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story: A chronicle of the weeks after the 2000 U.S. presidential election and the subsequent recounts in Florida.
Style: realistic, political, factual, talky, intense ...
Plot: political conspiracy, president, politics, election, campaign, presidential election, political corruption, democrat, justice, republican, dishonesty, state affairs ...
Time: year 2008, year 2000, 21st century
Place: usa, florida, texas, washington d.c., nashville tennessee
Is relevant ?
 7.5
 345K
Les Misérables (2012)
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 158 min.
Story: An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.
Style: inspirational, epic, emotional, period piece, suspense ...
Audience: chick flick, date night, teens, adult
Plot: rebellion, redemption, orphan, suicide, parole, historical character, revolution, adaptation, broadway, father daughter relationship, dying man, prostitute ...
Time: 19th century, 2010s, year 2012, 1800s, 18th century ...
Place: france, paris france, seattle, europe
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 100K
Dark Waters (2019)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story: A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against the DuPont chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.
Style: serious, realistic, factual, thought provoking, political ...
Audience: adult
Plot: lawyer, courtroom drama, contamination, lawsuit, corruption, environmental, fighting the system, legal investigation, corporate crime, price of justice, investigation, uncover truth ...
Time: 2010s, 90s, year 2019, 2000s, 70s ...
Place: cincinnati ohio, ohio, columbus ohio, west virginia
Is relevant ?
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, India
Duration: 157 min.
Story: A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.
Style: suspenseful, suspense, political, realistic, harsh ...
Audience: chick flick, family friendly, boys' night, adult
Plot: terrorism, cia, espionage, military, 9/11, special forces, manhunt, al qaeda, islamic terrorism, propaganda, terrorist plot, investigation ...
Time: 2010s, year 2012, september 11 2001, 2000s, year 2011 ...
Place: middle east, pakistan, iraq, baghdad iraq, afghanistan ...
Is relevant ?
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 147 min.
Story: In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, ...
Style: realistic, intense, hood, lyrical, suspense ...
Audience: manly
Plot: hip hop, racism, music, gangster, rags to riches, ghetto, profanity, rap, rapper, african american, biopic, fighting the system ...
Time: 90s, 2010s, year 2015, 80s, year 2016 ...
Place: los angeles, california, milwaukee wisconsin, usa, texas ...
Is relevant ?
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 8.3
 1.1M
Braveheart (1995)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, 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, breathtaking, scenic, inspirational ...
Audience: boys' night, manly, chick flick, adult
Plot: freedom, courage, sword fight, war, vengeance, medieval, battles, tragic hero, military, love story, beautiful scenery, warrior ...
Time: middle ages, medieval times, 14th century, ancient times, 20th century ...
Place: scotland, england, britain, europe, scottish highlands ...
Is relevant ?
 7.1
 185K
The Master (2012)
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 138 min.
Story: Freddie, a volatile, heavy-drinking veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new "religion" he forms after World ...
Style: art house, stylized, atmospheric, philosophical, surreal ...
Audience: date night, adult
Plot: right hand man, psychiatry, drifter, scientology, religion, mentor, religions or cults, brainwashing, bare breasts, male orgasm, society, mentor protege relationship ...
Time: year 2012, 2010s, 50s, 1950s, 20th century ...
Place: usa, san francisco, phoenix arizona, philadelphia, new york ...
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 660K
Oppenheimer (2023)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 180 min.
Story: The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Style: epic, dramatic, captivating, exciting, serious ...
Audience: adult
Plot: nuclear, world war two, atomic bomb, scientist, american politics, historical event, mastermind, top secret, physics, moral dilemma, guilt, arizona desert ...
Time: 1940s, year 1945, year 1943, 1950s, year 1954 ...
Place: new mexico, netherlands, germany
Is relevant ?
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Romance, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 206 min.
Story: When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one—until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
Style: thrilling, suspenseful, captivating, detective, psychological ...
Plot: native american, murder, courtroom, greed, genocide, fbi, true crime, oil, interracial marriage, investigation, modern western, serial murder ...
Time: 1920s, 20th century
Place: oklahoma
Is relevant ?
 6.9
 72K
The Woman King (2022)
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: USA, South Africa, Ireland
Duration: 135 min.
Story: The story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen, and General Nanisca as she trains the next generation of ...
Style: dramatic, harsh, tense, captivating, exciting ...
Audience: adult
Plot: female warrior, fight, slave trade, military training, female soldier, female protagonist, queen, warrior, kingdom, military, soldier, battles ...
Time: 19th century, 18th century, 2020s, victorian era, 1800s ...
Place: africa, west africa, atlantic ocean
Is relevant ?
 7.2
 161K
Vice (2018)
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story: George W. Bush picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House ...
Style: political, serious, realistic, captivating, cynical ...
Audience: date night, adult
Plot: politics, u.s. president, usa politics, u.s. vice president, u.s. government, american politics, iraq war, war on terror, politician, heart attack, vice president, political campaign ...
Time: september 11 2001, 2010s, year 1963, 80s, 70s ...
Place: washington d.c., wyoming, cambodia, usa, pentagon ...
Is relevant ?
 5.5
 71K
Blonde (2022)
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 167 min.
Story: From her volatile childhood as Norma Jeane, through her rise to stardom and romantic entanglements, this reimagined fictional portrait of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe blurs the lines of fact and fiction to explore the widening split between her ...
Style: exciting, dramatic, realistic, rough, emotional ...
Audience: adult
Plot: fame, actress, hollywood, traumatic childhood, bare breasts, hand job, abortion, biopic, female nudity, threesome, famous, woman ...
Time: 60s, year 1962, 2020s, 1950s, 1930s ...
Place: los angeles, new york, maine
Is relevant ?
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