Best History Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best History Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: period drama, interesting, dramatic, captivating, serious and period piece. Plot: mentor, death, historical event, biopic, dialogue, betrayal, courage, storytelling, culture clash and catastrophe. Genre: Drama, Biography and History. Country: USA, UK and France.
Best History Movies
TOP Movies: Schindler's List (1993), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Braveheart (1995), The Last Duel (2021), The Revenant (2015), The Thin Red Line (1998), Barry Lyndon (1975), Babylon (2022), A Man for All Seasons (1966), Belfast (2021), The Lighthouse (2019), JFK (1991), The Last King of Scotland (2006), Phantom Thread (2017), The Patriot (2000), Amadeus (1984), The King's Speech (2010), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008).
List of Best Movies
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?
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:
heartbreaking, harsh, atmospheric, inspirational, motivational ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, african american, black history, torture, slave trade, american history, freedom, racial discrimination, rape ...
Time:
19th century, 1850s, year 2013, victorian era, 2010s ...
Place:
louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, southern usa ...
Is relevant?
671K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Style:
inspirational, touching, sentimental, christian film, harsh ...
Audience:
manly, girls' night
Plot:
world war two, war, soldier, conscientious objector, survival, us military, combat, american soldier, religion, bible, military, pacifist ...
Time:
1940s, year 2016, 20th century, middle ages, year 1945 ...
Place:
okinawa japan, japan, tennessee, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 227 min.
Story:
The story of British officer T.E. Lawrence's mission to aid the Arab tribes in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Lawrence becomes a flamboyant, messianic figure in the cause of Arab unity but his psychological ...
Style:
epic, breathtaking, visually appealing, visually stunning, historical drama ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, date night, kids
Plot:
world war one, desert, military, british empire, camel, islam, great war, imperialism, politics, historical character, battles, quicksand ...
Time:
1910s, 20th century, 1930s, 1920s, year 1962 ...
Place:
middle east, saudi arabia, arabia, ottoman empire, jordan ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
1.2M
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?
204K
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 152 min.
Story:
King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges settle his dispute with his squire by challenging him to a duel.
Style:
historical drama, cerebral, costume drama, suspense, epic ...
Audience:
date night, toddlers, chick flick, boys' night, adult
Plot:
duel, medieval, rape, husband wife relationship, violence, knight, revenge, sword duel, murder, jousting, group sex, nudity ...
Time:
middle ages, 14th century, medieval times, 2020s
Place:
france, normandy, scotland, paris france, europe
Is relevant?
940K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
Country: USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Argentina
Duration: 156 min.
Story:
In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.
Style:
realistic, atmospheric, harsh, scenic, suspenseful ...
Audience:
date night, manly, boys' night, adult
Plot:
survival, wilderness, revenge, vengeance, native american, snow, violent, bear attack, wilderness survival, winter, hunter, wild west ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, year 2016, distant future, 90s ...
Place:
los angeles, north america, usa
Is relevant?
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:
philosophical, visually stunning, visually appealing, visual, epic ...
Plot:
war, world war two, sergeant, jungle, infantry, soldier, pacific war, anti war, u.s. army, pacific island, survival, existentialism ...
Time:
20th century, 1940s, 90s, year 1998, year 1940 ...
Place:
asia, japan, america, germany, pacific ocean ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
202K
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?
204K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
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:
costume drama, visual, thrilling, atmospheric, stylized ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
film history, filmmaking, hedonism, orgy, party, hollywood, movie star, film industry, gambling, profanity, sex scene, graphic violence ...
Time:
1920s, 20th century, 2020s, 1930s, year 1932 ...
Place:
los angeles, california, new york
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A Man for All Seasons is the filmed version of the life of Thomas More. An English man comes to Sir Thomas More to ask if he can divorce his wife since King Henry VIII has made it illegal. Sir Thomas More stands up in opposition to the King even ...
Style:
period piece, political, costume drama, inspirational, spiritual ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
catholic, renaissance, historical event, politics, royalty, lawyer, courtroom drama, courtroom, saint, monarch, british history, idealism ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, year 1966
Place:
england, britain, persia, europe, london ...
Is relevant?
117K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Buddy is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the ...
Style:
black and white, period piece, psychological, disturbing, captivating ...
Audience:
date night, teens
Plot:
working class, bigotry, british politics, intolerance, riot, child, poverty, child protagonist, family relations, european, boy, social problems ...
Time:
year 1969, year 1970, 60s
Place:
ireland, northern ireland, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
The story of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
Style:
black and white, minimal cast, suspense, gothic horror, mysterious ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
isolation, nightmare, lighthouse keeper, lighthouse, drunkenness, symbolism, hallucination, fight, storm, madness, violence, bird ...
Time:
19th century, 1890s, 90s, year 2019, victorian era ...
Place:
new england, nova scotia, canada
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: 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?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, China
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Renowned British dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock comes across Alma, a young, strong-willed woman, who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover.
Style:
period piece, sentimental, costume drama, suspense, psychological ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
fashion show, seamstress, fashion, masochism, fashion designer, brother sister relationship, wedding, dressmaker, lady, dysfunctional relationship, food, wedding dress ...
Time:
1950s, 2010s, year 2017, post world war two, 50s
Place:
london, alps
Is relevant?
311K
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, ...
Style:
period piece, dramatic, sincere, rough, inspirational ...
Audience:
family friendly, kids, manly, boys' night, girls' night ...
Plot:
american revolution, war, military, revolution, battles, vengeance, lone hero, violence, freedom, rebellion, revenge, wartime ...
Time:
18th century, year 2000, y2k, georgian era, 1780s ...
Place:
boston, southern usa, america, virginia, britain ...
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?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK
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, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, adult
Plot:
british history, stuttering, world war two, british royal family, royal family, politics, queen, friendship, british monarchy, monarchy, historical character, king ...
Time:
1930s, year 2010, pre world war two, 50s, 2000s ...
Place:
england, britain, london, united kingdom, scotland ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a ...
Style:
emotional, touching, heartbreaking, sad, sentimental ...
Audience:
teens, family friendly, family outing, kids, teen drama ...
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, concentration camp, war, children, friendship, childhood, nazi, nazism, gas chamber, boy, morality ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, ancient times, year 2008, year 1941 ...
Place:
germany, poland, europe, berlin germany, switzerland
Is relevant?
390K
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?
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?
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?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK, France, Germany, USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
When Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, she and her shrewd adviser must act to safeguard to the lives of her people.
Style:
period piece, historical drama, costume drama, breathtaking, visually stunning ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
queen elizabeth i, british history, queen, throne, royalty, royal family, tudors, monarchy, politics, renaissance, medieval, political intrigue ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, 19th century ...
Place:
england, london, britain, spain, scotland ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA, Czech Republic
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
With his eye on a lovely aristocrat, a gifted illusionist named Eisenheim uses his powers to win her away from her betrothed, a crowned prince. But Eisenheim's scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of a dogged ...
Style:
surprise ending, atmospheric, period piece, enigmatic, twist ending ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, teens
Plot:
twists and turns, magic, forbidden love, wizards and magicians, magician, murder mystery, murder, love triangle, magic trick, investigation, nobility, love story ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, year 2006, 2000s, edwardian era ...
Place:
vienna, london, austria, america, england ...
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: Biography, Drama, History, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, Italy, France, USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was reviled for her extravagant political and personal life.
Style:
costume drama, romantic, sexy, emotional, period piece ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, girls' night
Plot:
love story, royalty, love affair, aristocracy, love triangle, duke, duchess, infidelity, adultery, destiny, life philosophy, high society ...
Time:
18th century, middle ages, 19th century, georgian era, ancient times ...
Place:
england, britain, europe, scotland, london
Is relevant?
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, exciting, touching, feel good, historical drama ...
Audience:
girls' night, family friendly, date night, chick flick, kids ...
Plot:
racism, mathematics, nasa, space program, stereotypes, african american, prejudice, sexism, genius, scientist, strong female character, racial segregation ...
Time:
60s, year 1961, 20th century, year 2016, 2010s ...
Place:
indiana, persia, usa, virginia, langley virginia
Is relevant?
334K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1971, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from ...
Style:
factual, realistic, inspirational, suspense, breathtaking ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, kids, boys' night
Plot:
astronaut, nasa, survival, space travel, moon, disaster, rescue, space program, space exploration, race against time, trapped in space, against the odds ...
Time:
70s, year 1970, 20th century, year 1969, 60s ...
Place:
houston texas, usa, north america, texas, pacific ocean ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
The film mainly follows the famous 1597 Battle of Myeongryang during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598), where the iconic Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin managed to destroy a total of 133 Japanese warships with only 13 ships remaining in his ...
Style:
tense, exciting, suspenseful, captivating, epic ...
Plot:
medieval, ship, samurai, battleship, korean history, military, naval battle, heroic mission, one man army, battles, against the odds, warrior ...
Time:
16th century, medieval times
Place:
korea, south korea
Is relevant?
