Best French History Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best French History Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: realistic, captivating, serious, dramatic, thought provoking and historical drama. Plot: storytelling, biopic, mentor, catastrophe, idealism, death, dialogue, society, tragedy and husband wife relationship. Genre: Drama, History and Biography. Country: France, UK and USA.
Best French History Movies
TOP Movies: The Queen and the Cardinal (2009), The Libertine (2000), The Innocents (2016), The Mission (1986), Curiosa (2019), Story of Women (1988), Les Misérables (1995), Dunkirk (2017), The Queen (2006), The Last Emperor (1987), Amadeus (1984), JFK (1991), Ao: The Last Hunter (2010), Suffragette (2015), Selma (2014), Of Gods and Men (2010), The Wind Rises (2013), Munich (2005), Macbeth (2015), Jackie (2016).
List of Best Movies
Genre: History
Country: France
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
How Louis XV, a young king loved by his people, sensitive to the artistic and intellectual turmoil of his century (that of the Enlightenment), will end his reign in decay and hatred? Only fifteen years after his death, it's the Revolution.
Style:
captivating, psychological, disturbing, suspense, historical drama ...
Plot:
king of france, royal court, royal family, french history, heir to the throne, mistress, royalty, historical figure, king, historical character, decadence, queen ...
Time:
18th century
Place:
versailles, france
Is relevant?
Genre: History
Country: France
Duration: 197 min.
Story:
In the middle of the 17th century, forbidden lovers Queen Anne of Austria, the widow of King Louis XIII, and her Prime Minister, Cardinal Mazarin, face the opposition of a revengeful and power-seeking Court.
Style:
historical drama, captivating, suspense, tense, disturbing
Plot:
french history, royal family, nobility, king of france, royal court, palace intrigue, kingdom, secret love, monarch, french politics, intrigue, political intrigue ...
Time:
17th century
Place:
france, paris france
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, History
Country: France
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
French philosopher Denis Diderot produces the first encyclopedia while indulging in 18th-century decadence.
Style:
semi serious, witty, humorous, captivating, period piece ...
Plot:
enlightenment, writer's life, against the rules, fighting the system, rebelliousness, rebellion, clergy, society, idealism, couple relations, religions or cults, nudity ...
Time:
georgian era, 18th century
Place:
europe, france
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: France, Poland, Belgium
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
Poland, 1945. Mathilde, a young French Red Cross doctor, is on a mission to help the war survivors. When a nun seeks for her help, she is brought to a convent where several pregnant sisters are hiding, unable to reconcile their faith with their ...
Style:
social, suspenseful, exciting, thought provoking, tense ...
Plot:
abbess, syphilis, world war two, nun, violence against women, russian soldier, religion, pregnant from rape, snow, motherhood, red cross, soviet soldier ...
Time:
1940s, year 2016, year 1940, post world war two, year 1945
Place:
france, poland, berlin germany
Is relevant?
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Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to ...
Style:
epic, christian film, thought provoking, breathtaking, visually stunning ...
Plot:
jungle, slavery, clergy, redemption, colonialism, missionary, massacre, river, native american, jesuit, genocide, religion ...
Time:
18th century, ancient times, year 1986
Place:
south america, portugal, argentina, brazil, latin america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
A passionate love story set against a backdrop of sexual freedom, loosely based on the relationship between 19th century authors Pierre Loüys and Marie de Régnier
Style:
sexy, atmospheric, erotic, emotional, romantic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
erotica, bohemian life, strong sexual content, cheating wife, nudity, cuckold, female nudity, adultery, love triangle, horny wife, sexual tension, husband wife estrangement ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, 1890s
Place:
paris france, algeria, france
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
Country: France
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
During World War II, in occupied France, a woman of limited schooling raises two children in a ratty flat.
Style:
anthology, thought provoking, sincere, disturbing, bleak ...
Plot:
abortion, world war two, women's prison, unhappy marriage, street prostitution, unwanted pregnancy, ends with death, death row, nazi, wartime life, feminist, women ...
Time:
1940s, year 1943, year 1988, 20th century
Place:
europe, normandy, paris france, france
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 175 min.
Story:
In France during World War II, a poor and illiterate man, Henri Fortin (Jean-Paul Belmondo), is introduced to Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Misérables and begins to see parallels between the book and his own life.
Style:
epic, emotional, fairy tale, anthology, realistic ...
Plot:
world war two, lawyer, redemption, revenge, destiny, rich and poor, nazism, nun, boxer, manhunt, christian, broadway ...
Time:
1910s, 1940s, year 1918, year 1940, year 1941 ...
Place:
france, paris france, normandy, germany, poland
Is relevant?
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799K
Genre: Action, Drama, History, Thriller, War
Country: UK, Netherlands, France, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.
Style:
atmospheric, dramatic, epic, cerebral, visually stunning ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
world war two, military, war, survival, wartime, evacuation, soldier, beach, military officer, shell shock, air attack, combat ...
Time:
1940s, year 1940, 2010s, 20th century, 90s ...
Place:
france, england, english channel, dover england, dunkirk ...
Is relevant?
119K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA, France, Italy
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal ...
Style:
factual, political, emotional, period piece, compassionate ...
Plot:
british royal family, royal family, queen, queen of england, historical character, head of state, monarchy, politics, queen elizabeth ii, british, biopic, monarch ...
Time:
90s, year 2006, 20th century, year 1997
Place:
england, buckingham palace, london, britain, scotland ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Italy, UK, France
Duration: 163 min.
Story:
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation ...
Style:
epic, breathtaking, political, visually appealing, visually stunning ...
Plot:
childhood, chinese history, world war two, biopic, revolution, emperor, politics, prison, eunuch, drug addiction, communism, symbolism ...
Time:
1950s, 1930s, 1920s, 1940s, 1900s ...
Place:
china, beijing china, asia, japan, east asia
Is relevant?
464K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, France
Duration: 160 min.
Story:
The incredible story of genius musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback by his peer and secret rival Antonio Salieri – now confined to an insane asylum.
Style:
clever, costume drama, period piece, atmospheric, historical drama ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
classical music, music, composer, genius, mozart, musician, envy, opera, character study, musician's life, mentor, prodigy ...
Time:
18th century, 1790s, 1820s, 1800s, 1780s ...
Place:
vienna, austria, eastern europe, italy, europe ...
Is relevant?
181K
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 189 min.
Story:
New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison discovers there's more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story.
Style:
tense, political thriller, controversial, political, disturbing ...
Plot:
investigation, assassination, kennedy assassination, president, political conspiracy, conspiracy theory, legal, politics, cia, assassination of president, cold war era, courtroom ...
Time:
20th century, 60s, 90s, year 1991, year 1963
Place:
america, washington d.c., north america, midwest, chile ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, History
Country: France
Duration: 84 min.
Story:
When his clan, including his wife and baby girl Néa, are massacred, Ao, a desperate Neandertal man, decides to leave the North country where he has been living for the South where he was born. His aim is to join his twin brother, from whom he was ...
Style:
touching, captivating, serious, realistic, prehistoric ...
Plot:
neanderthal, caveman, pregnancy, fall in love, forbidden love, polar bear, survival, wilderness, couples, society, rivalry, uninhibited rivalry ...
Time:
prehistoric times, prehistory, stone age
Place:
france, siberia, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK, France
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Based on true events about the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement who were forced underground to evade the State.
Style:
political, factual, costume drama, period piece, bleak ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
feminism, feminist, women, girl power, sexism, rebelliousness, activism, politics, gender, women's suffrage, women's rights, sexual harassment ...
Time:
1900s, year 1912, 1910s, edwardian era, victorian era ...
Place:
england, london, britain, europe, united kingdom ...
Is relevant?
99K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
"Selma," as in Alabama, the place where segregation in the South was at its worst, leading to a march that ended in violence, forcing a famous statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ultimately led to the signing of the Civil Rights ...
Style:
thought provoking, sincere, political, period piece, factual ...
Plot:
racism, civil rights, justice, politics, racial discrimination, civil rights movement, african american, biopic, discrimination, idealism, injustice, righting the wronged ...
Time:
year 2014, 20th century, 2010s, 60s, year 1964 ...
Place:
alabama, birmingham alabama, indiana, usa, southern usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
French drama based on the 1996 kidnapping and killing of seven monks in Algeria. A group of Trappist monks reside in the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, where they live in harmony with the largely muslim population. When a bloody conflict between ...
Style:
unusual plot structure, sincere, thought provoking, meditative, atmospheric ...
Plot:
monk, monastery, faith, islam, terrorist, religion, clergy, muslim, war violence, christian, peace, catholic ...
Time:
year 2010, 2010s, 90s, 20th century, year 1996
Place:
algeria, middle east, morocco, maghreb, palestine ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
Style:
anime, touching, sentimental, emotional, adult animation ...
Audience:
kids, family friendly, teens
Plot:
tuberculosis, world war two, dream, earthquake, inventions and discoveries, flying, hopes, aviation, biopic, love and romance, engineer, wartime ...
Time:
1930s, 2010s, year 2013, 1920s, 1940s ...
Place:
japan, germany, asia, tokyo
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
252K
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: France, Canada, USA
Duration: 164 min.
Story:
During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and ...
Style:
political, intense, brutal, political thriller, suspense ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
terrorism, espionage, assassination, mossad, vengeance, judaism, politics, terrorist, vigilante, revenge, spy, murder ...
Time:
70s, year 2005, 20th century, 2000s, year 1972
Place:
israel, middle east, palestine, germany, europe ...
Is relevant?
62K
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: UK, France
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Feature film adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play about General Macbeth whose ambitious wife urges him to use wicked means in order to gain power of the throne over the sitting king, Duncan.
Style:
bleak, visually stunning, stylized, period piece, breathtaking ...
Plot:
shakespeare, witch, medieval, murder, crown, throne, betrayal, prophecy, kingdom, ambition, insanity, losing-it hero ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 11th century, year 2015, 70s ...
Place:
scotland, europe, california
Is relevant?
87K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, France, Chile, China
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
An account of the days of First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, in the immediate aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963.
Style:
period piece, emotional, cerebral, sad, heartbreaking ...
Plot:
president, first lady, american history, kennedy assassination, assassination, u.s. president, loss of husband, biopic, widow, funeral, strong female character, depression ...
Time:
60s, year 2016, 90s, 2010s, year 1963
Place:
usa, washington d.c., austin texas, america, texas ...
Is relevant?
116K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK, France
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate ...
Style:
clever, tense, political, period piece, tricky ...
Plot:
journalism, politics, president, reporter, journalist, biopic, american politics, nixon, corruption, conspiracy, power struggle, scandal ...
Time:
70s, year 2008, 90s, 2000s, year 1977 ...
Place:
california, new york, washington d.c., north america, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Country: UK, France
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
A group of women hatch a plan to disrupt the 1970 Miss World beauty competition in London.
Style:
stylized, captivating, touching, realistic, sincere ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
feminist, feminism, beauty pageant, racism, misogyny, sexism, contests and competitions, against the odds, farce, woman, relationships, lifestyle change ...
Time:
year 1970, 2020s, 70s, 20th century
Place:
europe, los angeles, london, england, united kingdom
Is relevant?
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Genre: Adventure, Drama
Country: Canada, France
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
A colossal adventure odyssey that turns back the hands of time to the very beginning of man's existence. 80,000 years ago, when man roamed the earth, he was exposed to the many harsh elements of nature. Against the perilous atmosphere of rugged ...
Style:
realistic, captivating, sexy, prehistoric, atmospheric ...
Plot:
caveman, survival, neanderthal, cannibalism, prehistoric man, violence, discovery, fire, cannibal, nudity, tribe, ancient history ...
Time:
prehistory, prehistoric times, stone age, ancient times, 20th century ...
Place:
france, canada, africa, scotland
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Country: France
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
Embarrassed by his large nose, a romantic poet/soldier romances his cousin by proxy.
Style:
emotional, costume drama, touching, witty, atmospheric ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night
Plot:
poet, love and romance, destiny, love, power of love, unrequited love, friendship, love triangle, duel, swashbuckler, poetry, sword fight ...
Time:
17th century, medieval times, ancient times, year 1990, 18th century
Place:
france, paris france, england
Is relevant?
115K
Genre: Action, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
A real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot.
Style:
controversial, political, disturbing, serious, rough ...
Plot:
terrorism, 9/11, airplane, hijacking, terrorist, war on terror, survival, al qaeda, aviation, medieval, death, airplane accident ...
Time:
september 11 2001, year 2006, 2000s, year 2001, 21st century
Place:
new york, middle east, boston, usa, pennsylvania ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA, France, Japan
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
The retelling of France's iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Style:
visually stunning, period piece, visual, costume drama, factual ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
queen, french revolution, historical character, french history, royal court, royal family, decadence, royalty, aristocracy, teenage girl, monarchy, princess ...
Time:
18th century, ancient times, year 2006, victorian era, georgian era ...
Place:
france, versailles, europe, austria, vienna ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
A 9-year-old girl weathers big changes in her household as her parents become radical political activists in 1970-71 Paris.
Style:
emotional, touching, sentimental, serious, realistic ...
Plot:
politics, coming of age, radical, family life, political unrest, family problems, immigrant, state affairs, journalism, hopes, parents and children, dysfunctional family ...
Time:
70s
Place:
france, cuba, paris france, europe, chile ...
Is relevant?
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?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Parisian authorities clash with the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) in director Alain Tasma’s recounting of one of the darkest moments of the Algerian War of Independence. As the war wound to a close and violence persisted in the streets of ...
Style:
historical drama, bleak, grim, intense, tension ...
Plot:
algerian war, police brutality, racism, violence, massacre, protest, immigration, civil rights, social injustice, police corruption, political repression, ethnic conflict ...
Time:
60s
Place:
algeria, paris france
Is relevant?
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