History backdrop

History movies

Period pieces that transport you back in time, recreating the events and figures that shaped our past.

Subgenres include: Historical Event, Biographical History, Political History.

The Red Baron

601. The Red Baron

Action Adventure Drama History War
6.3

20081h 46min

Germany, United Kingdom

Director: Nikolai Müllerschön

Richthofen goes off to war like thousands of other men. As fighter pilots, they become cult heroes for the soldiers on the battlefields. Marked by sportsmanlike conduct, technical exactitude and knightly propriety, they have their own code of honour. Before long he begins to understand that his hero status is deceptive. His love for Kate, a nurse, opens his eyes to the brutality of war.

Themes

Loss and grief, Heroism vs restraint, Duty amid world war i, Romance under conflict, Leadership under strain, Brutality of war

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Flame & Citron

602. Flame & Citron

Drama History War Historical Event World War II
7.2

20082h 10min

Czechia, Denmark

Director: Ole Christian Madsen

Gunman Flame and his partner Citron assassinate Nazi collaborators for the Danish resistance. Assigned targets by their Allies-connected leader, Aksel Winther, they relish the opportunity to begin targeting the Nazis themselves. When they begin to doubt the validity of their assignments, their morally complicated task becomes even more labyrinthine.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Duty vs loyalty, Betrayal dynamics, Moral conflict, Covert intelligence networks, Consequences of violence

Available on

Kanopy
Philo
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Other Boleyn Girl

603. The Other Boleyn Girl

Drama Romance History Historical Drama Passionate Romance
6.7

20081h 55min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Justin Chadwick

A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.

Themes

Religious realignment pressure, Palace intrigue and control, Ambition and social ascent, Forbidden allure and power dynamics, Marital politics and legitimacy, Kin and faction loyalties

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Female Agents

604. Female Agents

War History Historical Event World War II
6.7

20081h 57min

France

Director: Jean-Paul Salomé

May 1944, a group of French servicewomen and resistance fighters are enlisted into the British Special Operations Executive commando group under the command of Louise Desfontaines and her brother Pierre. Their mission, to rescue a British army geologist caught reconnoitering the beaches at Normandy.

Themes

Duty amid danger, Resistance under occupation, Women in covert warfare, Collaboration under pressure, Deception under orders, Risk and sacrifice

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Charlie Wilson's War

605. Charlie Wilson's War

Comedy Drama History Satire Historical Drama
7.0

20071h 42min

Germany, United States

Director: Mike Nichols

A Texas congressman sets a series of events in motion when he conspires with a CIA operative to aid Afghan mujahideen rebels fighting the Soviets.

Themes

Funding drives diplomacy, Secrecy vs accountability, External influence on policy, Blowback risk management, Elite influence in legislation, Humanitarian concern vs strategy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Warlords

606. The Warlords

Action Drama History Epic Action Historical Drama
7.0

20072h 6min

China, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Peter Chan Ho-Sun

The civil war in China has ruined many lives including General Pang's. A wounded General Pang is saved by a beautiful young woman along with two other men. Together they vow to eradicate the rebels.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Leadership legitimacy and rival claims, Betrayal and trust erosion, Collective oath and unity, Resource scarcity and control, Civilian impact of war

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Sword of the Stranger

607. Sword of the Stranger

Action Animation History Martial Arts Action Anime
7.7

20071h 43min

Japan

Director: Masahiro Ando

Pursued by formidable Chinese assassins, young Kotaro and his dog run into No Name, a mysterious stranger who gets pulled into the chase. The unlikely companions form a bond over saving the dog from a poison attack, but chaos erupts when the assassins find Kotaro, and No Name must face his past before a horrible fate is met again.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Identity through disguise, Betrayal and survival, Duty vs personal cost

Available on

Crunchyroll
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Katyn

608. Katyn

Drama History War Historical Event World War II
7.0

20072h 2min

Poland

Director: Andrzej Wajda

On September 1st, 1939, Nazi Germany invades Poland, unleashing World War II. On September 17th, the Soviet Red Army crosses the border. The Polish army, unable to fight on two fronts, is defeated. Thousands of Polish men, both military and government officials, are captured by the invaders. Their fate will only be known several years later.

Themes

Loyalty under occupation, Memory through testimony, State oppression and loyalty, Propaganda vs memory, Wartime displacement and loss

Available on

Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

In the Valley of Elah

609. In the Valley of Elah

History Drama Thriller Crime Mystery
7.1

20072h 4min

United States

Director: Paul Haggis

A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Themes

Duty vs loyalty, Military civilian divide, Institutional bias, Trauma and coping, Investigative deception, Parental determination

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

610. Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Drama History Romance Historical Drama Passionate Romance
6.8

20071h 54min

France, United Kingdom

Director: Shekhar Kapur

When Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, she and her shrewd adviser must act to safeguard the lives of her people.

Themes

Succession pressure and legitimacy, Court intrigue and betrayal, Foreign invasion and diplomacy, Religious factional conflict, Political image management, Private loyalty vs public duty

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.