20 Best Historical Movies to Watch—and What Each Gets Right

There is no single definitive ranking of the best historical movies. This guide selects films for a mix of compelling filmmaking, the historical subjects they bring into view, and how thoughtfully they interpret the past—not for a claim that each is perfectly accurate. The choices range from a deliberately anachronistic medieval adventure to films grounded in memoir, political history and expert assessments of wartime realism.

How to judge a historical movie

A historical film is an interpretation, not a neutral record. Filmmakers shape viewers’ impressions through what they include or omit, how they arrange events, and choices in music, editing and camera work. The American Historical Association recommends analyzing films in context and attending to this persuasive craft. A useful way to choose a film is to ask three separate questions:

#	Preview	Product	Price
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4		Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection [Blu-ray]	$141.40	Buy on Amazon
5		The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Sweden ]	$32.00	Buy on Amazon

• Is it compelling cinema? Consider whether the storytelling makes its subject engaging.
• What history does it illuminate? Look at the people, institutions and social conditions shown—and the context left outside the frame.
• How does it handle the record? Note whether it draws on a memoir, real events or historical research, and distinguish documented elements from invention or compression.

These measures can point in different directions. An entertaining film may be highly anachronistic; detailed production design does not guarantee that every scene is historically exact.

20 historical movies worth watching

The films below are organized by subject rather than ranked. The available evidence supports a close discussion of these titles, but not a verified, complete all-time top 20 ranking. The selection therefore favors examples with clear historical subjects and useful distinctions between storytelling and the record.

#1 Best Overall

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1. A Knight’s Tale (2001)

Set in 14th-century England, this adventure follows William Thatcher, a fictional peasant who becomes a squire and competes in tournaments. Its deliberate anachronisms include medieval crowds singing Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” History Extra describes it as weak on accuracy but effective at conveying the excitement of tournaments to modern audiences. It is a good pick if you want a lively period adventure—not a guide to medieval life.

2. Titanic (1997)

A fictional romance unfolds against the sinking of RMS Titanic in April 1912. History Extra notes both creative liberties and painstaking work recreating the ship; its account of the sinking was informed by maritime archaeology. The film’s care in one dimension should not be mistaken for a claim that its fictional story or every detail is documentary fact.

Rank #2

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3. Hidden Figures (2016)

The film centers on Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, African-American women working at NASA during the space race. History Extra says it takes considerable liberties with its source material while capturing aspects of the racial and sexual politics of 1960s America. Smithsonian’s retrospective describes the film’s focus on the women’s work at NASA. It is valuable for the people and barriers it brings to the foreground, while its dramatized story should not be treated as a complete record of their careers.

4. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Steve McQueen’s film adapts Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir. Northup, a free Black man, was kidnapped from New York and enslaved in Louisiana. Smithsonian highlights the film’s depiction of enslaved people’s daily struggles and resistance. Northup’s memoir is the natural companion for readers who want to continue with the first-person account behind the adaptation.

Rank #3

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5. Lincoln (2012)

Rather than cover Abraham Lincoln’s entire life, the film focuses on the political maneuvering around ending slavery during the Civil War. Smithsonian describes its portrayal of the 13th Amendment’s passage as politically contingent, not inevitable. That focus makes the film useful for considering how legislation depends on political choices and negotiation.

6. Free State of Jones (2016)

This film connects the Civil War with Reconstruction and later events, drawing in part on historian Victoria Bynum’s work. Smithsonian emphasizes the hardships faced by Black characters after the Union victory. Its longer time span helps direct attention beyond the war’s end to the unequal realities that followed.

Rank #4

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7. Selma (2014)

Ava DuVernay’s film follows Martin Luther King Jr. and the community and movement around the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights. Smithsonian’s account emphasizes that the story includes the wider movement and community, not only a famous leader. It is a strong choice for viewers interested in collective action and the struggle over voting rights.

8. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

At a 2018 National WWII Museum symposium, historian Rob Citino and Colonel Kevin Farrell discussed the film’s realism. Farrell praised its depiction of combat’s confusion, especially during the Omaha Beach landing; Citino called it an exemplar of Hollywood realism. These are focused expert assessments of how combat is depicted, not confirmation that every plot point is exact.

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9–20. A note on the remaining places

History Extra reported a poll in which 22 historians each nominated up to five films for a 100-title pool, after which website visitors voted for their favorites. Its accessible article identifies A Knight’s Tale, Titanic and Hidden Figures among the top 20, but does not expose the other positions. That poll is one publication’s result, not a definitive consensus among historians or audiences. Because the remaining entries and placements cannot be verified here, this guide does not invent twelve more titles or present an unsupported ranking as fact.

How to watch with a critical eye

Separate realism from total accuracy

A convincing scene, setting or performance can coexist with invented dialogue, compressed timelines or fictional characters. Saving Private Ryan’s Omaha Beach sequences, for example, received praise for conveying combat confusion; that assessment does not certify the whole story as exact.

Check the source and the scope

When a film adapts a memoir, compare its dramatic choices with the account it draws on. For 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir offers a primary-source perspective. For a film about a broad movement or political change, also ask whose experience is centered and whose is missing.

For Holocaust films, consider context and purpose

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum recommends examining historical accuracy, genre, context, and how and why the Holocaust happened. Those questions help viewers avoid treating a film’s emotional impact as a substitute for understanding the historical events.

What a popular poll can—and cannot—tell you

History Extra’s 2025 feature provides one transparent way of building a favorites list: historians nominated titles, then visitors voted from the resulting pool. Its methodology describes a poll of preferences, not a measurement of accuracy or universal agreement. Use it as one useful lens on popular historical cinema, alongside the distinctions between artistry, subject and interpretation.

Quick Recap

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Halloween 3-Movie Collection (Blu-ray + Digital)

Halloween 3-Movie Collection (Blu-ray + Digital)

$14.95

SaleBestseller No. 2

Hop [Blu-ray]

$8.48

Bestseller No. 3

The Help (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy)

The Help (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy)

$13.87

Bestseller No. 4

Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection [Blu-ray]

Enter your state here

$141.40

Bestseller No. 5

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Sweden ]

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964); The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)

$32.00

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