Top 10 Greatest Historical Movies of All Time

Schindler's List (also known as 'The List of Schindler') is a World War II film set during the Nazi occupation of Poland and the oppression of Jewish people.

In the midst of this turmoil, Schindler is a businessman and a member of the Nazi party, who owns a factory that supplies goods for the German military. Using his influence and connections with high-ranking officials, Schindler creates a list of Jewish workers for his factory, ultimately saving over 1,200 people—mostly women and children—from the horrors of the Nazi occupation.

Schindler was a real person, whose full name was Oskar Schindler. After his death, his remains were brought to Jerusalem, where he was buried in the Holy Land. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

IMDb Rating: 9.0

Tomatometer Rating: 98%

Audience Score: 97%

The next film in our list of the greatest historical movies of all time is Henry V (1989). This British historical drama, directed by Kenneth Branagh, is based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name about the reign of King Henry V of England. Branagh stars in the lead role alongside Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Alec McCowen, Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Brian Blessed, and Christian Bale in supporting roles.

Set during England's Hundred Years' War with France, the film focuses on Henry V's leadership during the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The film received widespread critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the best Shakespearean adaptations ever made. It also won an Academy Award in that year.

IMDb Rating: 7.5
Tomatometer Rating: 100%
Audience Score: 89%

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war drama directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Herr and Gustav Hasford. The film is based on Hasford's 1979 novel *The Short-Timers* and stars Matthew Modine, Lee Ermey, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Adam Baldwin.

The story follows a U.S. Marine Corps platoon through their training at Parris Island, South Carolina, with a focus on two characters, JT Davis and Leonard Lawrence, nicknamed Joker and Pyle. The film primarily explores their struggles under the abusive training of Sergeant Hartman. The second half of the movie depicts Joker and another Marine’s experiences during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, with key scenes set in Da Nang and Hue. The title refers to the full-metal-jacket ammunition used by soldiers.

The film is split into two distinct parts: the first focuses on the lives of the new recruits at boot camp, while the second portrays the senseless violence and absurdity of war as they engage in combat overseas.

IMDb Rating: 8.3

Tomatometer Rating: 92%

Audience Score: 94%

Gandhi (1982) is a biographical film about the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent independence movement against British colonial rule in the 20th century. With his calm and peaceful approach, Gandhi led a revolutionary non-violent struggle that eventually forced the British to withdraw peacefully, securing India's independence. Gandhi is revered as a national hero in India, not only admired by his countrymen but also respected by even his enemies.

The film garnered eleven Academy Award nominations at the 55th Academy Awards and won eight, including Best Picture, Best Director for Richard Attenborough, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley. It was also screened as the opening film at the 2016 Independence Day Film Festival, celebrating the 70th anniversary of India’s independence.

IMDb Rating: 8.1

Tomatometer Rating: 85%

Audience Score: 92%

Long before *Saving Private Ryan* was released, another intense war film that depicted brutal combat emerged: Apocalypse Now. Set during the most violent period of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, the film explores the psychological and physical horrors of conflict.

In the movie, an American commander leading the indigenous Khmer troops in Cambodia rebels, prompting a U.S. military team to be dispatched to eliminate this rogue force. Ultimately, the film exposes the futility of the Vietnam War, portraying a harsh and chaotic world that drives even the most disciplined soldiers to madness. *Apocalypse Now* is considered one of the greatest anti-war films ever made.

IMDb Rating: 8.5

Tomatometer Rating: 98%

Audience Score: 94%

Lawrence of Arabia is a British historical epic regarded as one of the most legendary films in British cinema. It chronicles the true story of Lieutenant Colonel T. E. Lawrence, a British officer who assisted Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Ottoman Empire's invasion. In the film, Lawrence plays a pivotal role in aiding the Arabs in their rebellion against the Turks during World War I, a conflict that had far-reaching consequences beyond the Middle Eastern theater. Although it was a relatively small battle, it was crucial in the broader scope of the war, as Arabia was an ally of the British, fighting against the expansionist powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and remains one of the few non-American films to win this prestigious honor.

IMDb Rating: 8.3
Tomatometer Rating: 94%
Audience Score: 93%

Spartacus (translated: Leader of the Slaves) is a 1960 American epic historical drama directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay, written by Dalton Trumbo, is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast.

The film draws inspiration from the real-life story of Spartacus, the leader of the slave rebellion in ancient Rome, during the Third Servile War. Spartacus led an uprising of enslaved gladiators against the brutal, tyrannical Roman Empire. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Peter Ustinov.

IMDb Rating: 7.9

Tomatometer Rating: 93%

Audience Rating: 87%

The King's Speech is the 2011 Academy Award winner for Best Picture. Set during World War II, this film explores the tensions in Britain leading up to the inevitable war with Nazi Germany, which was a looming threat to all of Europe. George VI, despite not being the most skilled monarch, ascends to the throne during wartime due to unforeseen circumstances.

What sets George VI apart is his lifelong struggle with a stutter, a challenge that hindered his ability to deliver inspiring speeches, a key duty of the king. With the help of his unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue, George VI famously overcame his speech impediment, delivering a remarkable broadcast to rally the British people against Germany.

IMDb Rating: 8.0

Tomatometer Rating: 94%

Audience Rating: 92%

One of the most significant films in the historical genre is Downfall (translated: The Fall), a 2004 German production that dramatizes the final days of Adolf Hitler, the infamous Nazi leader. The screenplay, written and produced by Bernd Eichinger, is based on the book *Inside Hitler's Bunker* by historian Joachim Fest.

Downfall is set during the closing stages of World War II, as Germany faces inevitable defeat. Amidst the chaos, Adolf Hitler, overwhelmed by the collapse of his empire, ultimately chooses to end his life before the Allies can liberate Berlin. To this day, it is regarded as the most powerful portrayal of Adolf Hitler in cinema.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

IMDb Rating: 8.2

Tomatometer Rating: 90%

Audience Rating: 94%

Another iconic World War II film by Steven Spielberg is Saving Private Ryan (translated: Saving Private Ryan). The film is set during the D-Day invasion when the Allied forces, led by the United States, land on the beaches of Normandy to launch a decisive attack on Nazi Germany.

The story focuses on Private James Francis Ryan, the last surviving son of a family that has already lost four sons in the war. The U.S. government orders a mission to locate and bring Ryan back home, a challenging task in the midst of a fierce battlefield during the D-Day assault.

Saving Private Ryan is regarded as one of the finest and most realistic war films ever made. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Director for Spielberg.

IMDb Rating: 8.6
Tomatometer Rating: 93%
Audience Rating: 95%