Factual, vivid, and informative – these are the key components of a compelling historical movie, the best of which have the power to transport you through time and offer a glimpse into epic events and influential figures. These films are more than just entertainment. They almost bring history to life on the screen, so we get why you’re a fan. But with countless options across a variety of streaming services, are you finding it a challenge to find a historical movie that is both accurate and engaging?
To handle this challenge, we have curated a definitive list of the top historical movies of all time and ranked the best of the best to reflect what audiences are watching and loving right now. From sweeping war dramas and powerful biographical films to breathtaking ancient epics, we’ve covered it all to ensure you easily navigate the sea of top historical movies.
What are the top historical movies to watch?
But what’s at heart of our ranking methodology? We explore a range of data to get a clear understanding of what audiences are watching and loving. And we additionally analyse public opinions on the historical movies, which we gather from review sites and social media. We also had a close look at what’s currently trending across Australia’s major streaming services.
We know you might want more information about these historical movies, and that’s why we included all the important details you’ll need. We don’t stop at the runtime and director – we include the title, genre, synopsis, and main cast, plus the exact streaming service where you can watch it.
Kingdom of Heaven
Drama •Action •Adventure •History •War
Overview
After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.
Director
Ridley Scott
Cast
Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Liam Neeson
Duration
144 minutes
The Brutalist
Drama •History
Overview
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life. On his own in a strange new country, a wealthy industrialist recognizes his talent. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…
Director
Brady Corbet
Cast
Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy
Duration
215 minutes
Ford v Ferrari
Drama •Action •Sport •Adventure •History
Overview
American car designer Carroll Shelby and the British-born driver Ken Miles work together to battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
Director
James Mangold
Cast
Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Josh Lucas
Duration
146 minutes
Warfare
War •Action •Adventure •Drama
Overview
A platoon of Navy SEALs embarks on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
Director
Alex Garland
Duration
95 minutes
JFK
Drama •History •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison.
Director
Oliver Stone
Cast
Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Michael Rooker
Duration
206 minutes
The Imitation Game
Drama •Thriller •War •Mystery •History
Overview
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.
Director
Morten Tyldum
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech
Duration
114 minutes
BlackBerry
Comedy •Drama •History
Overview
Two mismatched entrepreneurs – egghead innovator Mike Lazaridis and cut-throat businessman Jim Balsillie – joined forces in an endeavour that was to become a worldwide hit in little more than a decade. The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone.
Director
Matt Johnson
Cast
Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside
Duration
119 minutes
Downton Abbey
Drama •Romance •History
Overview
The beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from the King and Queen of England will unleash scandal, romance and intrigue that will leave the future of Downton hanging in the balance.
Director
Michael Engler
Cast
Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle
Duration
117 minutes
The Iron Claw
Drama •Sport •History
Overview
The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.
Director
Sean Durkin
Cast
Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney
Duration
133 minutes
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Action •War •Comedy •Adventure
Overview
Taking place during World War II, the British Army assigns a group of competent soldiers to carry out a mission against the Nazi forces behind enemy lines… A true story about a secret British World War II organization; the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Cast
Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer
Duration
120 minutes
Frequently asked questions
A little research after you watch it will help you know if the historical movie accurately depicts the facts. But what should you look for? Articles that compare the film to actual historical events and podcasts focused on the film will tell you about the accuracy and highlight where filmmakers took creative liberties, respectively.
Nostalgia. Tradition. Engaging aesthetics – these all appeal to us even in the modern day. These elements often make classic historical movies even more popular than modern productions. Add to this the fact that classic film really defined the genre and shaped recent releases, and it’s easy to see why these movies are so appealing. They even offer escapism and, simultaneously, historical perspective.
Here’s something great – specific major Australian streaming services make these movies available to viewers. We don’t want you to find a great movie and then learn that it’s unavailable – so, for each entry, we proudly tell you exactly where to find each movie.
Revisiting the genre after some time, or never seen a historical movie before? Films that highlight a single historical figure or event are good for easing yourself into the genre. A concise biographical film, for instance, helps you follow a clear, personal story, after which, you can transition to more complex historical epics and war dramas.
So many sub-genres can be found. Are you a fan of historical dramas that focus on personal stories and emotional conflicts? Or do you prefer powerful biographical films that tell the true story of a famous individual? You’ll find a range of styles such as these, as well as war films, topical films, period movies, and so many more.
Even though some may be suitable for younger viewers, you should always check the age rating and synopsis first because biographical films and war dramas can often have mature content. That’s why we recommend reviewing the story first to know what to expect beforehand.
We understand – sometimes our favourite moves feel like the best, don’t they? But we can’t include every single one; the historical movie genre is diverse, after all. And since we don’t just consider personal opinions, and instead look at online communities and the general sentiment, some movies don’t make this list.
Even when new historical movies are released, we are here to update this list with those really trendy titles. The same is true if an older historical movie begins to gain popularity – we do this since the streaming landscape is always evolving, and we constantly keep this guide fresh.
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