Top 100 Historical Movies Worth Watching

Realistic Historical Dramas – Based on True Events and People
1. Schindler’s List (1993)

Amidst the horrors of the Holocaust, one man dared to make a difference. Schindler’s List is a powerful, haunting, and deeply human story of Oskar Schindler—a German industrialist and member of the Nazi Party—who risked everything to save over a thousand Jews from certain death. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on true events, the film portrays Schindler’s moral transformation from opportunistic businessman to unlikely hero in a time of unspeakable evil. With stunning black-and-white cinematography, emotionally charged performances, and a score that lingers in the soul, this cinematic masterpiece is both a historical epic and a profoundly personal tale of courage, sacrifice, and humanity.


2. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Based on the harrowing true story of Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave chronicles the incredible journey of a free Black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War American South. Enduring unimaginable cruelty, brutality, and dehumanization, Solomon clings to hope, dignity, and the will to survive. Directed by Steve McQueen with unflinching honesty and emotional depth, the film features unforgettable performances and a haunting portrayal of America’s darkest legacy. It is a searing, powerful testament to resilience and the enduring fight for freedom.


3. The Pianist (2002)

The Pianist (2002) is a harrowing biographical drama directed by Roman Polanski, based on the memoir of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman. The film stars Adrien Brody as Szpilman, portraying his survival during the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Warsaw. The narrative follows Szpilman’s journey from a renowned musician to a man struggling to survive amidst the horrors of World War II. His talent and resilience become his means of endurance as he navigates the devastation around him.​

Premiering at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, The Pianist received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Palme d’Or. At the 75th Academy Awards, it garnered three Oscars: Best Director for Polanski, Best Actor for Brody, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ronald Harwood. The film also secured seven César Awards, including Best Film, and was honored with the BAFTA Award for Best Film. Critics praised its unflinching portrayal of survival and the haunting performance by Brody. Roger Ebert noted the film’s “harsh objectivity and refusal to seek our tears, our sympathies.”


4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

In the chaos of World War II, a group of American soldiers is sent on a mission behind enemy lines to find and bring home Private James Francis Ryan, the last surviving brother of four servicemen. Saving Private Ryan, directed by Steven Spielberg, delivers one of the most visceral and realistic depictions of war ever captured on film. With an unforgettable opening at Omaha Beach and a deeply emotional core, the film explores the cost of duty, the bonds of brotherhood, and the weight of sacrifice. It’s a cinematic tour de force that honors the courage of those who fought and fell.

5. The King’s Speech (2010)

Thrust onto the throne in the wake of his brother’s abdication, Prince Albert—soon to be King George VI—must overcome a debilitating speech impediment to lead Britain through one of its darkest hours. The King’s Speech is an inspiring true story of resilience, friendship, and leadership, as the reluctant monarch forms an unlikely bond with his unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue. Directed by Tom Hooper and anchored by remarkable performances, the film is a poignant portrayal of personal struggle against the backdrop of global conflict.


6. Lincoln (2012)

At the height of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln faces his greatest political battle: the fight to pᴀss the 13th Amendment and end slavery in the United States. Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, offers a riveting, intimate portrait of the legendary president’s final months in office, as he navigates a fractured nation, political opposition, and the weight of moral responsibility. With Daniel Day-Lewis delivering a transformative performance, the film is a masterful blend of historical drama and political intrigue that honors the legacy of a leader who changed the course of history.


7. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Brilliant, eccentric, and tormented—John Nash is a mathematical genius whose groundbreaking work is overshadowed by a battle with schizophrenia. A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard, traces Nash’s extraordinary journey from the heights of academic brilliance to the depths of delusion and back again, powered by love, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. With a stunning performance by Russell Crowe, this deeply moving film explores the fine line between genius and madness in a story that is both intellectually rich and emotionally stirring.


8. The Imitation Game (2014)

Behind one of World War II’s greatest secrets was a man who cracked the uncrackable. The Imitation Game tells the gripping true story of Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician and cryptanalyst who led a team at Bletchley Park to break Nazi Germany’s Enigma code. As he races against time and faces immense personal and social challenges, Turing’s genius becomes both his greatest weapon and deepest burden. Directed by Morten Tyldum and powered by Benedict Cumberbatch’s unforgettable performance, this is a tale of intellect, sacrifice, and a legacy long hidden in silence.


9. The Theory of Everything (2014)

From the lecture halls of Cambridge to the boundaries of the cosmos, The Theory of Everything explores the extraordinary life of Stephen Hawking—renowned physicist, brilliant mind, and a man whose body was failing even as his ideas reshaped the universe. Directed by James Marsh, this intimate and inspiring biographical drama chronicles Hawking’s early academic rise, his battle with ALS, and the enduring love between him and his first wife, Jane. With Eddie Redmayne’s transformative performance at its heart, the film is a tribute to resilience, pᴀssion, and the limitless power of human intellect.


10. Hidden Figures (2016)

Behind NASA’s historic launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit stood a group of brilliant African-American women whose mathematical genius made it possible. Hidden Figures tells the inspiring true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—trailblazers who overcame racial and gender barriers to change the face of science and space exploration. Directed by Theodore Melfi, this empowering film shines a long-overdue spotlight on the unsung heroes whose intellect, perseverance, and courage helped launch a nation into the stars.


11. Selma (2014)
12. H๏τel Rwanda (2004)
13. The Social Network (2010)
14. The Iron Lady (2011)
15. The Post (2017)
16. The Two Popes (2019)
17. The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
18. A Hidden Life (2019)
19. The Book Thief (2013)
20. United 93 (2006)
21. Thirteen Days (2000)
22. The Right Stuff (1983)
23. First Man (2018)
24. The 33 (2015)
25. Coco Before Chanel (2009)
26. Becoming Jane (2007)
27. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
28. Marie Antoinette (2006)
29. Suffragette (2015)
30. Cry Freedom (1987)
2. Epic Historical Films – War, Battles, and Ancient Heroes
31. Gladiator (2000)
32. Braveheart (1995)
33. The Last Samurai (2003)
34. Troy (2004)
35. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
36. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
37. The Patriot (2000)
38. The Last Emperor (1987)
39. Master and Commander (2003)
40. The Mission (1986)
41. The Battle of Algiers (1966)
42. The Great Escape (1963)
43. Paths of Glory (1957)
44. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
45. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
46. The Monuments Men (2014)
47. Midway (2019)
48. Black Hawk Down (2001)
49. Rescue Dawn (2006)
50. Empire of the Sun (1987)
3. Stylized Historical Epics – Fictionalized, Artistic, or Mythical
51. 300 (2006)
52. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
53. Immortals (2011)
54. Clash of the тιтans (2010)
55. Alexander (2004)
56. Ben-Hur (1959 / 2016)
57. King Arthur (2004)
58. Robin Hood (2010)
59. Red Cliff (2008)
60. Hero (2002)
61. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
62. Agora (2009)
63. The New World (2005)
64. Elizabeth (1998)
65. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
66. The Favourite (2018)
67. The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
68. The Young Victoria (2009)
69. Bright Star (2009)
70. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
4. Political & Social History
71. JFK (1991)
71. All the President’s Men (1976)
73. Valkyrie (2008)
74. Munich (2005)
75. Downfall (2004)
76. The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)
77. Darkest Hour (2017)
78. The Crucible (1996)
79. The ᴀssᴀssination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
80. The Social Dilemma (2020)
5. War & Geopolitical Dramas – Global Conflict & Resistance
81. Dunkirk (2017)
82. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
83. Pearl Harbor (2001)
84. Enemy at the Gates (2001)
85. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
86. Battle of Britain (1969)
87. The Flu (2013) (South Korea)
88. The Fortress (2017) (South Korea)
89. War of the Arrows (2011) (South Korea)
90. ᴀssᴀssination (2015) (South Korea)
6. Asian Historical Cinema – Beyond Hollywood
91. Rurouni Kenshin series (2012–2021) – Japan
92. Shadow (2018) – China
93. The Warlords (2007) – China
94. Mongol (2007) – Kazakhstan/Russia
95. Ip Man (2008) – Hong Kong
96. The Grandmaster (2013) – Hong Kong
97. The Banquet (2006) – China
98. Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) – China
99. The Crossing (2014) – China
100. 1911 (2011) – China

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain


Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0
November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.
Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0
Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0
The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.
Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”
Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.
The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0
Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.
A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0
A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0
Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”
Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0
Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0
Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.
Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0
Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0
That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.
Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum
Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum
Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.
Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0
Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0
All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.

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