Our team compiled the best historical movies and here is what they came up with
Historical movies have always been a popular genre in the film industry, as they offer audiences the opportunity to learn about different periods in history while also being entertained. From biopics to war dramas, there are countless historical movies that have been released in recent years that are worth watching. In this article, we will take a look at 34 of the best historical movies released after 1980, providing a detailed movie summary, MPAA rating, box office sales, year of release, actors, and why the movie was appreciated.
Here are the 30 best historical movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. Schindler’s List (1993)
Rated R, Starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. This powerful and emotional film tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factory. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $321 million at the box office and winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg. It was appreciated for its powerful performances, especially that of Liam Neeson, and its unflinching portrayal of the Holocaust.
2. Braveheart (1995)
Rated R, Starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, and Patrick McGoohan. This epic historical drama tells the story of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led the Scottish rebellion against England in the late 13th century. The film was a massive commercial success, grossing over $210 million at the box office, and it won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson. It was appreciated for its spectacular battle scenes, powerful performances, and its depiction of the Scottish rebellion.
3. The Pianist (2002)
Rated R, Starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, and Frank Finlay. This biographical drama is based on the memoirs of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman, who survived the Holocaust by hiding in the ruins of Warsaw. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $123 million at the box office and winning three Academy Awards, including Best Director for Roman Polanski. It was appreciated for its powerful performances, particularly that of Adrien Brody, and its unflinching portrayal of the Holocaust.
4. The Queen (2006)
Rated PG-13, Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, and James Cromwell. This biographical drama tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and her relationship with Prime Minister Tony Blair following the death of Princess Diana. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $122 million at the box office and winning Helen Mirren the Academy Award for Best Actress. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Helen Mirren, and its portrayal of the British monarchy.
5. The Imitation Game (2014)
Rated PG-13, Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, and Matthew Goode. This biographical drama tells the story of Alan Turing, a British mathematician and logician who helped crack the German Enigma code during World War II. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $233 million at the box office and winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Benedict Cumberbatch, and its portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing.
6. Lincoln (2012)
Rated PG-13, Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones. This biographical drama tells the story of Abraham Lincoln and his efforts to abolish slavery and preserve the Union during the Civil War. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $275 million at the box office and receiving 12 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Steven Spielberg, and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, who won the award for his portrayal of Lincoln. The film was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Daniel Day-Lewis, and its depiction of one of the most important periods in American history.
7. The King’s Speech (2010)
Rated R, Starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter. This biographical drama tells the story of King George VI and his struggles with a stutter, and his relationship with his speech therapist Lionel Logue. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $414 million at the box office and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Tom Hooper, and Best Actor for Colin Firth. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Colin Firth, and its portrayal of one of the most important figures in British history.
8. The Social Network (2010)
Rated PG-13, Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake. This biographical drama tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $224 million at the box office and receiving eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for David Fincher, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Jesse Eisenberg, and its depiction of the early days of social media.
9. The Departed (2006)
Rated R, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. This crime drama is set in Boston and tells the story of two men, one an undercover cop and the other a criminal, who try to outsmart each other in a battle of wits. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $289 million at the box office and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Jack Nicholson, and its portrayal of the criminal underworld in Boston.
10. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Rated R, Starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Tom Sizemore. This war drama tells the story of a group of soldiers who are sent on a mission to find and rescue a soldier whose brothers have all been killed in action. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $481 million at the box office and receiving 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Steven Spielberg, and Best Cinematography. It was appreciated for its realistic portrayal of war and its performances, particularly that of Tom Hanks.
11. The Aviator (2004)
Rated PG-13, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Beckinsale. This biographical drama tells the story of Howard Hughes, one of the most successful and eccentric figures in American history. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $213 million at the box office and receiving 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Martin Scorsese, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Leonardo DiCaprio, and its depiction of the life and times of Howard Hughes.
12. The Last Emperor (1987)
Rated PG-13, Starring John Lone, Joan Chen, and Peter O’Toole. This biographical drama tells the story of the last emperor of China, Puyi, from his childhood as the ruler of China, to his imprisonment and eventual release. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $44 million at the box office and winning nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Bernardo Bertolucci. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of John Lone, and its depiction of the end of the Chinese monarchy.
13. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Rated R, Starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, and Maia Morgenstern. This biblical drama tells the story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $612 million at the box office and receiving three Academy Award nominations. It was appreciated for its powerful performances, particularly that of Jim Caviezel, and its portrayal of one of the most important events in Christianity.
14. The Elephant Man (1980)
Rated PG, Starring John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, and Anne Bancroft. This biographical drama tells the true story of Joseph Merrick, a man with severe physical deformities who was exhibited as a freak show attraction in Victorian England. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $26 million at the box office and receiving eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for David Lynch, and Best Actor for John Hurt. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of John Hurt, and its portrayal of one of the most tragic figures in history.
15. Gandhi (1982)
Rated PG, Starring Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, and Edward Fox. This biographical drama tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $52 million at the box office and winning eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Richard Attenborough, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Ben Kingsley, and its depiction of one of the most important figures in Indian history.
16. The English Patient (1996)
Rated R, Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, and Willem Dafoe. This romantic war drama tells the story of a man and a woman who fall in love during World War II. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $232 million at the box office and winning nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Anthony Minghella. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Ralph Fiennes, and its portrayal of the human cost of war.
17. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Rated PG-13, Starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, and Jennifer Connelly. This biographical drama tells the story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who suffers from schizophrenia and his struggle to overcome it. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $313 million at the box office and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Ron Howard, and Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Connelly. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Russell Crowe, and its portrayal of mental illness and the power of the human mind.
18. The Boondock Saints (1999)
Rated R, Starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, and Willem Dafoe. This crime drama tells the story of two Irish-American brothers who become vigilantes in order to rid their city of crime. The film was a cult classic and appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Willem Dafoe, and its portrayal of the criminal underworld in Boston.
19. The Good Shepherd (2006)
Rated R, Starring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, and Robert De Niro. This spy drama tells the story of the origins of the CIA during the Cold War. The film was a commercial success and appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Matt Damon, and its depiction of the early days of the CIA.
20. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
Rated R, Starring Cillian Murphy, Liam Cunningham, and Padraic Delaney. This war drama tells the story of two brothers who join the Irish War of Independence against British rule. The film was a commercial success and appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Cillian Murphy, and its portrayal of the Irish War of Independence.
21. The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
Rated PG, Starring Jeni Courtney, Eileen Colgan, and Mick Lally. This fantasy drama tells the story of a young girl who learns about her family’s history on a small island off the coast of Ireland. The film was a commercial success and appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Jeni Courtney, and its depiction of the Irish culture.
22. The Big Short (2015)
Rated R, Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling. This biographical drama tells the story of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the people who predicted it. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $133 million at the box office and winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Christian Bale, and its portrayal of the financial crisis of 2007-2008.
23. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Rated PG-13, Starring Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Thandie Newton. This biographical drama tells the true story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who becomes homeless with his young son. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $307 million at the box office and receiving a Academy Award nomination for Will Smith for Best Actor. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Will Smith, and its portrayal of the American Dream.
24. The Book Thief (2013)
Rated PG-13, Starring Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, and Emily Watson. This War drama set in Nazi Germany, tells the story of a young girl who is sent to live with a foster family, and the impact the events of World War II have on her life. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $76 million at the box office. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Sophie Nélisse, and its portrayal of the Holocaust.
25. The Butler (2013)
Rated PG-13, Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, and John Cusack. This historical drama tells the story of a butler who served eight U.S. presidents over three decades. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $176 million at the box office. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, and its portrayal of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
26. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Rated R, Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. This Western thriller set in post-Civil War Wyoming, tells the story of a group of strangers who are stranded together during a blizzard and their violent interactions. The film was a commercial success and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Score for Ennio Morricone. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell, and its depiction of the harsh realities of life in the American West.
27. A Dry White Season (1989)
Rated R, Starring Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, and Zakes Mokae. This historical drama set in South Africa during the Apartheid era, tells the story of a white schoolteacher who becomes involved in the fight against the government’s discriminatory policies. The film was a critical success and appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Donald Sutherland and its portrayal of the Apartheid era in South Africa.
28. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Rated R, Starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, and Kerry Washington. This historical drama tells the story of the rise of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and his relationship with a Scottish doctor. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $48 million at the box office and winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for Forest Whitaker. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Forest Whitaker, and its portrayal of the rise of Idi Amin.
29. The Best of Youth (2003)
Rated R, Starring Luigi Lo Cascio, Alessio Boni, and Adriana Asti. This Italian drama tells the story of two brothers and their families over four decades, from the 1960s to the 2000s. The film was a commercial success and appreciated for its performances and its portrayal of Italian history and society.
30. Glory (1989)
Rated R, Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. This war drama set during the American Civil War, tells the story of the first all-black volunteer company to fight for the Union army. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $26 million at the box office and winning three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Denzel Washington. It was appreciated for its performances, particularly that of Denzel Washington, and its portrayal of the role of black soldiers in the Civil War.