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100 All-Time Best Movies for History Buffs

June 7th, 2010

History isn’t marked by years, but events. Being a history buff means looking at the way major ideas or happenings played out and how they had an effect on everything from politics to the economy. War, invention, discovery, love: The history of the world has been shaped by the way we deal with these things. The movies on this list are great ways to take a closer look at the moments that changed history.

Ancient history

Break out the togas for these old-school flicks.

1. Quo Vadis?: Based on a novel, this film deals with the corrupt Roman Empire in the age of Nero.
2. Gladiator: Russell Crowe stars in this Oscar-winning adventure of a Roman general betrayed by the emperor’s son and his quest for justice and revenge.
3. I, Claudius: This miniseries details the history of ancient Rome through the eyes of the emperor Claudius.
4. Ben-Hur: A classic American movie, this film won 11 Oscars for its depiction of adventure and love in the time of Christ.
5. The Ten Commandments: Another biblical epic starring Charlton Heston, this time as Moses in his quest to deliver the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt.
6. Spartacus: The film about an uprising of Roman slaves was one of the early successes for director Stanley Kubrick.
7. 300: This version of the Spartan warriors at the Battle of Thermopylae gets a stylistic imagining from director Zack Snyder.
8. Intolerance: A landmark of the silent era, this epic film covers history through the ages.
9. Troy: Homer’s Iliad gets the all-star treatment with Brad Pitt playing Achilles.
10. The Fall of the Roman Empire: The title pretty much says it all. This 1964 film boasts an impressive cast, including Sophia Loren, Alec Guinness, and Christopher Plummer.
11. Clash of the Titans: This 1981 film about the Greek gods was the final one for special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen.
12. Alexander: Oliver Stone’s sprawling look at Alexander the Great is a treat for fans of ancient history.
13. Cleopatra: The most famous Egyptian pharoah gets the epic treatment in this lengthy but entertaining film.

Medieval times

From kings to countrysides, these movies are a great way to relive the era of knights and conquest.

14. El Cid: Charlton Heston stars as the Castilian knight still revered as a national hero of Spain.
15. The Lion in Winter: Based on a play, this film deals with King Henry II’s sons as he decides who will inherit the throne.
16. The Adventures of Robin Hood: Errol Flynn’s performance remains one of the classic takes on Robin Hood, who remains an enduring folk hero.
17. Henry V: Kenneth Branagh’s phenomenal turn in Shakespeare’s story shot him to stardom and reinvented the idea of what a costume drama could be.
18. Richard III: Directed by Laurence Olivier, who also stars in the title role, this film follows Richard as he schemes to kill his brother and take the throne of England.
19. A Man for All Seasons: This film depicts the dramatic events in the life of Thomas More, who refused to be complicit in King Henry VIII’s efforts to divorce his first wife and declare himself head of the Church of England.
20. Elizabeth: Cate Blanchett stars as Queen Elizabeth I in the role that brought her to prominence. Although it takes some liberties with history, it’s an engrossing version of the tale.
21. Robin and Marian: This film takes a different approach to the story and casts and aging Robin Hood and Marian in a slightly revisionist but still gripping version of the tale.
22. Robin Hood: Patrick Bergen’s portrayal of Robin Hood was one of those in the 1990s (like the next one on this list) that turned the fable on its side and added some grit and complexity.
23. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: Kevin Costner’s performance of Robin of Locksley is one of the most famous in modern movies, and the film remains a popular take on the hero.
24. Braveheart: Mel Gibson’s bloody epic movingly details the struggles of the Scottish people to gain their freedom and the leadership of William Wallace, who died to help them find it.
25. The Hunchback of Notre Dame: This 1939 version of Victor Hugo’s remains one of the most faithful and most popular adaptations, thanks to stars Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara.
26. The Passion of Joan of Arc: Carl Theodor Dryer’s silent 1928 film is a gorgeous classic, and Renee Jeanne Falconetti’s performance as Joan of Arc is one of the most respected in history.
27. Aguirre: The Wrath of God: Werner Herzog’s historical fiction follows a Spanish soldier on a quest for El Dorado, the city of gold.
28. Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy might not be as popular with modern viewers as some versions, but it remains a fantastic costume drama and moving love story.
29. The Agony and the Ecstasy: This film depicts the working relationship between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II, including during the painting of the works in the Sistine Chapel.

Exploration and colonization

These movies cover everything from the discovery of the New World to the battles of the old one.

30. 1492: Conquest of Paradise: Ridley Scott gives the story of Christopher Columbus new flair in this film, released to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the voyage.
31. The New World: Colin Farrell stars as John Smith in Terrence Malick’s deliberately paced, beautifully photographed rendition of the story of Pocahontas.
32. The Mission: This 1986 film deals with Jesuit missionaries in South America and their battle to save natives.
33. The Last of the Mohicans: Daniel Day-Lewis cemented his stardom with this lush, romantic adventure based on the classic novel.
34. Zulu: Michael Caine’s first starring role was in this film about the 1879 battle between British soldiers and Zulu warriors in Africa.
35. The Man Who Would Be King: Based on a Rudyard Kipling story, this adventure film follows a pair of British soldiers who travel through India and wind up kings of a Pakistani province.
36. Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean’s epic biography of T.E. Lawrence is one of the most revered and imitated films of all time, and is renowned for its scope and its depiction of war.
37. The Four Feathers: Although there have been many adaptations, this 1939 version remains the best. The story deals with a British soldier in the late 1800s accused of cowardice.
38. A Passage to India: David Lean’s final film is set in the 1920s and deals with the political ramifications of the push for Indian independence.
39. Gandhi: Winner of eight Oscars, this stirring biography of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the best films ever made about the man who pioneered the use of civil disobedience to achieve humane ends.
40. The Last King of Scotland: Mixing fact and fiction, this film uses an invented narrative to get close to Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator.
41. Mutiny on the Bounty: Charles Laughton and Clark Gable star in this most famous adaptation of the novel, though it should be noted that it’s a blend of historical fiction with fact.
42. Empire of the Sun: Steven Spielberg’s 1987 film stars a young Christian Bale as a boy separated from his parents in Shanghai during World War II who winds up living in an internment camp.
43. Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick’s film about 18th-century British society pushed the limits on costume drams and earned multiple awards.
44. Amazing Grace: This 2006 film follows the life of William Wilberforce, a 19th-century British man who led the campaign against the slave trade.
45. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Based on a pair of novels, this Peter Weir film is a time machine for viewers looking to return to the days of high-seas swashbuckling.
46. Gunga Din: Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, this film follows a trio of British sergeants in India near the end of the 19th century.

The American Revolution

These moving dramas highlight how the country was born and what it took to make it happen.

47. 1776: This musical take on the founding of the United States was based on the Tony-winner of the same name.
48. Revolution: Al Pacino stars as a fur trapper caught up in the Revolutionary War in this 1985 film
49. The Crossing: Winner of a Peabody Award for excellence, this TV-movie stars Jeff Daniels as George Washington in the story of the crossing of the Delaware River before the Battle of Trenton.
50. The Patriot: This action-filled story of the American Revolution stars Mel Gibson as a farmer reluctantly recruited to fight for his homeland.
51. John Adams: Based on David McCullough’s book, this HBO miniseries focuses on the men and women whose lives and fortunes intertwined at the birth of the United States.
52. The Howards of Virginia: Cary Grant leads an enemsble cast in this story of one family’s dealings with the Revolutionary War.
53. Drums Along the Mohawk: John Ford directed this successful feature starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert as settlers during the Revolution.

The Civil War

The deadliest war in the nation’s history is a wellspring of inspiration for filmmakers.

54. Glory: This film deals with one of the first formal U.S. Army units composed entirely of black soldiers, and Denzel Washington won an Academy Award for his performance.
55. Gettysburg: Based on a Pulitzer-winning novel, this 1993 film covers the famous Battle of Gettysburg from July 1863.
56. Andersonville: Rooted in fact, this film follows a group of Union soldiers captured and interned at a Confederate prison camp in Georgia.
57. Gone With the Wind: An American classic, this 1939 epic love story won 10 Oscars and remains one of the most popular films ever made.
58. The Red Badge of Courage: John Huston’s film of Stephen Crane’s novel is a faithful adaptation of the story documenting the horrible costs of war.
59. Shenandoah: Jimmy Stewart stars in this anti-war Western set during the Civil War.
60. Cold Mountain: Another literary adaptation, this film follows a wounded Confederate soldier as he journeys home to his wife.
61. Ride With the Devil: This 1999 film revolves around "bushwhackers," guerilla fighters during the Civil War with occasionally shifting loyalties.
62. The Outlaw Josey Wales: One of the best Westerns of all time, this film stars Clint Eastwood as a bushwhacker out to avenge the murder of his wife and children.
63. Gods and Generals: This prequel to Gettysburg deals with Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson as well as the battles of First Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and more.
64. An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge: This short French film gained fame when it was aired as an episode of "The Twilight Zone." It involves a Civil War soldier reflecting on his life at the moment of his hanging.
65. The Civil War: Ken Burns documentary remains the definitive nonfiction account of the Civil War and its effects on the country.
66. C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America: This satirical "mockumentary" explores the Civil War by imagining what the country would be like if the Confederacy had won.
67. Dances With Wolves: Kevin Costner starred in and directed this sweeping story of the Civil War era that revolves around an Army lieutenant who slowly becomes involved with a tribe of Lakota Indians.
68. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: This spaghetti Western is about a trio of gunfighters chasing a stockpile of Confederate gold.

World War II

These conflicts defined the 20th century and have made for some of our best movies.

69. The Best Years of Our Lives: Winner of the Oscar for best picture, this film follows a trio of American men trying to re-enter their old lives after returning home from World War II.
70. The Caine Mutiny: This historical fiction tale deals with the exploits of the men aboard a Navy destroyer.
71. Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg’s highly acclaimed drama follows Oskar Schindler, a German who helped a number of Jews escape the country.
72. The Longest Day: John Wayne and Henry Fonda are just two of the major stars in this epic look at the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
73. The Dirty Dozen: This film involves a top-secret mission carried out by American criminals tasked with going behind enemy lines shortly before D-Day.
74. Catch-22: Based on Joseph Heller’s classic comic novel, this film deals satirically with the insanity of war.
75. Patton: This 1970 biography stars George C. Scott as Gen. Patton, and its performances and images are now considered classics of the genre.
76. The Big Red One: Writer-director Samuel Fuller based many of the moments in this war film on his own experiences at D-Day and beyond.
77. Das Boot: This masterful suspense film deals with the journey of a U-boat during the war and the lives of its crewmembers.
78. The Thin Red Line: Terrence Malick’s impressionist war film guides an all-star cast, including George Clooney and Nick Nolte, through the Battle of Guadalcanal.
79. Saving Private Ryan: Steven Spielberg’s return to World War II set the standard for modern war films in terms of look and feel, and it won numerous Oscars.
80. Enigma: This British film involves the people working to solve the Enigma codes in 1943 and gain access to encrypted German communications.
81. The Pianist: This film, which made Adrian Brody a star, follows a group of Polish Jews who wind up interned in the Warsaw Ghetto before being killed in extermination camps.

The 20th century

These historical stories with everything from social life to politics, from celebrity to war, all of it coming together to shape the century.

82. All Quiet on the Western Front: One of the most wrenching accounts of war ever made, this 1930 film remains one of the best anti-war stories of all time.
83. All the President’s Men: This fantastic journalism movie follows Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, a pair of reporters, as they uncover the truth behind the Watergate scandal.
84. To Kill a Mockingbird: Gregory Peck stars in this inspiring story of justice in a segregated America.
85. Inherit the Wind: The Scopes Monkey Trial, in which creationists and evolutionists battled in the court and the press, gets a dramatic retelling in this film.
86. October Sky: Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Homer Hickam in this historical fiction about a boy whose love of model rockets would eventually lead him to work as a NASA scientist.
87. Malcolm X: Spike Lee’s film about Malcolm X, with Denzel Washington in the starring role, follows the political and spiritual leader through the major moments in his life, from his rise to prominence to his assassination at age 39.
88. Apollo 13: This bracing real-life adventure from Ron Howard details the extraordinary journey o the Apollo 13 crew to get back to Earth after their ship was damaged on the way to the Moon.
89. Ghosts of Mississippi: Starring Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg, this drama tells of the efforts to seek justice in the case of the assassination of Medgar Evars, a civil rights leader whose killer went free for decades.
90. Platoon: Oliver Stone’s first of three films about the Vietnam War is based largely on his own graphic experiences as an infantryman.
91. Black Hawk Down: This gritty war film depicts the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, a fight and rescue mission involving American servicemen and Somali fighters.
92. We Were Soldiers: Mel Gibson stars in this powerful and moving re-creation of the Battle of la Drang, the first major U.S. effort of the Vietnam War.
93. Milk: Sean Penn won an Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man who held public office in California, who was killed by a fellow politician at age 48.
94. The Right Stuff: Tom Wolfe’s popular book inspired this film about the test pilots who would become the United States’ first astronauts.
95. Woodstock: This documentary provides a sweeping look at the seminal music festival and remains one of the best concert docs ever made. (Bonus: Martin Scorsese was one of the editors.)
96. Reds: Warren Beatty’s passion project follows the story of John Reed, a journalist who recorded the Russian Revolution and died of typhus when he was just 32.
97. The Last Emperor: This drama about the last emperor of China won multiple Oscars, including one for best picture.
98. The Grapes of Wrath: Henry Fonda stars as Tom Joad in this adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel about migrant workers in the Great Depression.
99. Raging Bull: Martin Scorsese’s biography of Jake La Motta is one of the best sports movies ever made.
100. Capote: Philip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for his role as Truman Capote in this mid-century period piece examining the author’s life as he researches the facts for his novel, In Cold Blood.