The Best Historical Movies to Watch When You Want to Go Back in Time
These fascinating films bring the past to life.
A great historical movie can make the past feel surprisingly close. These films can bring a pivotal moment in history to life or offer a different perspective on the inner life of someone who changed the world. The best historical movies to watch now are just as enlightening as they are entertaining. Think sweeping royal romances, gripping political thrillers, and moving portrayals of well-known figures.
I’ll admit, historical films weren’t always my first choice for movie night. The genre brought to mind lengthy movies that felt more like homework than entertainment. But over time, I’ve come to appreciate how a well-told story can make an era feel vivid and relatable. When you’re watching these movies, you might find yourself rooting for an activist, rethinking something you learned in school, or getting swept up in the drama of a real-life scandal.
Ahead, I’ve rounded up some of the best historical movies to add to your watchlist. This collection spans many different time periods, countries, and subjects. A few favorites of mine, including Hamilton, The Normal Heart and 42, are in the mix, along with a variety of thought-provoking historical movies. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, check out the best psychological thriller movies and sweet romantic comedy movies to watch now.
Hamnet (2025)
Starring Paul Mescal and Academy Award winner Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell) dramatizes the parts of William Shakespeare's life that weren't writing plays. Showcasing his marriage to wife Agnes and their children, the story takes a sudden turn that'll have fans wanting more from every actor in the film.
Hamilton (2020)
When Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway hit Hamilton premiered in 2015, the musical quickly became an international sensation. Thanks to a June 2016 performance, viewers can watch the incredible story of Alexander Hamilton anytime they wish. And make sure you learn the lyrics to the songs featured, because they help bring the story to life in a way you wouldn't expect.
RELATED: The Best Musical Movies of All Time, From Timeless Classics to New Favorites
Oppenheimer (2023)
Ever wondered about the man who developed the first nuclear weapons in the world? Well, Oppenheimer is a telling of how the first came to be. With Cillian Murphy portraying J. Robert Oppenheimer, the movie follows him as he heads the Manhattan Project. Along with the eventual 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, viewers see how his genius helped World War II come to an end.
The Normal Heart (2014)
Adapted from the 1985 play of the same name, The Normal Heart is a semi-autobiographical telling of the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980's. Told through the eyes of Ned Weeks (played by Mark Ruffalo), viewers see a quasi-fictional telling of how the organization, the Gay Men's Health Crisis, came to be. Also, be on the lookout for performances from Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, and more.
The Two Popes (2019)
Adapted from Anthony McCarten's play The Pope, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce star as Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (a.k.a. the future Pope Francis). Detailing the two religious leaders meeting at the Vatican in Rome, the movie showcases how Pope Benedict attempted to convince the cardinal to reconsider resigning as an archbishop before he himself abdicated his post in February 2013.
The Triple Six Eight (2024)
In this movie from director Tyler Perry, Kerry Washington portrays Major Charity Adams, a member of the first all-female army unit serving overseas during World War II. Tasked with going through two years' worth of letters in six months, the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion prove to everyone just how much they're really worth.
The Fighter (2010)
Based on the true story of boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother/trainer Dicky Eklund, Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale portray the real-life athletes in their mutual struggles to succeed. Between love, heartbreak, family dysfunction, and other external factors, the two must figure out how to make things work in order to become the best in the boxing world.
Selena (1997)
Jennifer Lopez stars in the biographical drama about Tejano music sensation Selena Quintanilla. Exploring the Grammy Award-winning singer's rise to fame, the movie follows her relationships with her family, her husband, Chris Pérez, and how a bond with a fan led to her untimely death at age 23.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
The five-time Academy Award-nominated picture, although not 100% historically accurate, reflects on the decades-long hunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, who, along with al-Qaeda, was the perpetrator behind the September 11 attacks. The movie follows fictional CIA analyst Maya (Jessica Chastain) and her experience over the years in the hunt, which culminates with his death in May 2011.
The Pianist (2002)
Based on the 1946 autobiographical book of the same name, this Best Picture-nominated movie relays the insightful, emotional and fascinating story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish Holocaust survivor who went on to become a pianist and classical composer.
The Iron Lady (2011)
Meryl Streep plays Margaret Thatcher, the longest-serving Prime Minister in the United Kingdom and the first woman to hold the position, in this widely acclaimed 2011 film. The nickname "Iron Lady," which the real-life politician was actually quite fond of, refers to her toughness and leadership style.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Although the Tom Hanks movie is a work of fiction, it's inspired by the Niland brothers — Edward, Preston, Robert and Frederick from Tonawanda, New York — who all served in the military during World War II, with three of them involved in the Normandy invasion or "D-Day." It's also said the movie is influenced by the five Sullivan brothers, who all enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor but were killed during World War II.
Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk tells the true story of a group of World War II British soldiers who got stranded during a German ambush for six weeks alongside Belgian and French soldiers. In the film, Tommy (Fionn Whitehead), a British private, must work with soldiers Alex (Harry Styles) and Gibson (Aneurin Barnard) to stay alive until British forces can rescue them. You can expect to see some additional familiar faces like Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine and Jack Lowden.
Harriet (2019)
A deeply moving and inspiring biographical film that tells the story of Harriet Tubman, an enslaved activist who freed herself and then helped hundreds of others escape from the South in the 1850s. Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet, with a supporting cast including Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn and Janelle Monáe.
Gladiator (2000)
When Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) is betrayed by the corrupt son of the emperor (Joaquin Phoenix), he becomes a gladiator and fights through the ranks to ultimately avenge the murders of his family. This action-packed film, loosely inspired by real events in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century, is full of epic fights and themes of love, dedication, perseverance and family loyalty.
Apollo 13 (1995)
Apollo 13 tells the story of Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) — the three astronauts who commanded the Apollo 13 mission to land on the moon in 1970. When the spacecraft experienced difficulties during takeoff, the astronauts were forced to figure out how to land safely on their return to Earth. It's a knuckle-clenching film that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The Sound of Music (1965)
In one of her most memorable roles, Julie Andrews stars as Maria, a not-so-typical nun in Austria. When Maria is sent to work as a nanny for a family of eight, led by retired naval officer and widower Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), what ensues is a musical adventure and romantic love story set during the harrowing Nazi invasion of World War II.
Spencer (2021)
You know all about Princess Diana ... but do you really? This riveting biopic, which stars Kristen Stewart as Diana and Jack Farthing as Prince Charles, begins with the couple's marriage already strained and follows Diana through the public downfall of their marriage and later divorce.
On the Basis of Sex (2018)
Before she was a Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a first-year law student. Felicity Jones plays a young RBG in this movie, where we see the sexism she faced and how hard she fought to change not only the preconceived notions about what certain genders could do, but also the laws to reflect them. Starring alongside Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston and Kathy Bates, this movie perfectly encapsulates the lasting legacy of RBG long after her death.
Schindler's List (1993)
Based on the 1982 non-fiction novel Schindler's Ark, this heartbreaking Oscar-winning film follows Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German factory owner who saved over a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by hiring them as workers in his factory. The movie also stars Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Embeth Davidtz and even the real-life wife of Oskar, Emilie Schindler.
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