There are 6,614 history films on the site, released from 1900 to 2026, and 1,028 of them are ranked. The best-rated is The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929, 98 Metascore) and the biggest box office hit is Michael (2026) with $1B worldwide. The 2010s were the busiest decade with 1,973 releases. Steven Spielberg has directed more notable history films than anyone else on the site (7).
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929) is the best-rated history movie on the site with a Metascore of 98 (94/100 on the critics-and-audiences blend that ranks it), ahead of Dead to Rights (2025) and Schindler's List (1993). Ranked by Echo Score; 2 of these 3 films have none (released before 2017, when Echo Scores start) and are ranked by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings.
#1 of 1,028 history films Best-rated history movie
1929 Biography Drama 1h 50m English
98 Metascore $22.7K worldwide
Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
Also near the top: Dead to Rights (2025, 93 Echo) and Schindler's List (1993, 95 Metascore).
About The Passion of Joan of ArcThe top 12 of 1,028 ranked history films. Ranked by Echo Score; 6 of these 12 films have none (released before 2017, when Echo Scores start) and are ranked by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings. 5 of the top 12 were released in the 2020s.
1929 · Biography, Drama · 1h 50m
Dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer No Echo Score: ranked 94/100 on critics & audiences
1993 · Biography, Drama · 3h 15m
Dir. Steven Spielberg No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences
1940 · Drama, History · 3h 58m
Dir. George Cukor No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences
2021 · Drama, History · 1h 41m
Dir. Jasmila Zbanic
1926 · Drama, History · 1h 15m
Dir. Sergei M. Eisenstein No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences
2025 · Drama, History · 1h 35m
1940 · Drama, History · 2h 9m
Dir. John Ford No Echo Score: ranked 91/100 on critics & audiences
2019 · Drama, History · 2h 2m
Dir. Céline Sciamma
1967 · Drama, History · 1h 59m
No Echo Score: ranked 91/100 on critics & audiences
2021 · History, Family · 1h 47m
Dir. Marilyn Agrelo
2025 · History, Drama · 1h 57m
Dir. Sergei Loznitsa
California Schemin' (2026), released Oct 9, 2026, is the latest history release with a score, box office or a plot summary on the site. 35 history films have been released so far in 2026.
Released: Oct 9, 2026 California Schemin' 2026 · Biography · 81 Echo 
Released: Oct 9, 2026 Tenzing 2026 · Adventure · 64 Metascore 
Released: Oct 9, 2026 Musk 2026 · Documentary · 72 Echo 
Released: Sep 25, 2026 The Stunt Driver 2026 · Biography · 59 Metascore 
Released: Sep 18, 2026 The History of Concrete 2026 · Documentary · 72 Echo 
Released: Sep 17, 2026 Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie 2026 · Documentary · 83 Metascore 
Released: Sep 11, 2026 Black Zombie 2026 · Documentary 
Released: Sep 11, 2026 The Uprising 2026 · Action · 46 Echo 
Released: Sep 4, 2026 Chronovisor 2026 · Fantasy · 88 Metascore 
Released: Aug 14, 2026 The Brink of War 2026 · Drama · 51 Metascore 
Released: Jul 31, 2026 The Samurai and the Prisoner 2026 · Drama · 84 Metascore 
Released: Jun 5, 2026 México 86 2026 · Documentary · 52 Metascore Michael (2026) is the highest-grossing history movie with $1B worldwide, ahead of Oppenheimer (2023) at $975.8M. These 10 hits alone hold 21% of all history box office on the site. Grosses judged to be data errors are left out.
Number 1 
Number 2 
Number 3 $29.2B earned worldwide by the 1,729 history films with a reported gross
The 2010s were the busiest decade with 1,973 history films, ahead of the 2020s (1,277). Under each column is the decade's best-rated film, from Intolerance (1916) to Dead to Rights (2025). Films without a release date are not counted here.
Intolerance 99 Metascore The Passion of Joan of Arc 98 Metascore 
Mutiny on the Bounty 87 Metascore Gone with the Wind 97 Metascore 
Richard III 88 Metascore Chimes at Midnight 94 Metascore 
Woodstock 95 Metascore 
The Right Stuff 91 Metascore Schindler's List 95 Metascore 
La Commune (Paris, 1871) 90 Metascore Portrait of a Lady on Fire 91 Echo Dead to Rights 93 Echo Steven Spielberg has directed 7 notable history films, more than anyone else on the site, ahead of Ridley Scott (6); Gérard Depardieu leads the cast list with 15 roles. Only notable films count: those with a score, box office, an award nomination or 1,000+ votes.
Oppenheimer (2023) is the most-awarded history film with 30 wins from 65 nominations, including wins at the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. Across every award body on the site, history films have won 594 of 2,524 nominations.
| # | Film | Wins | Nominations | Won at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oppenheimer 2023 · 65 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 30 | 65 |
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| 2 |  The King's Speech 2010 · 55 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 21 | 55 |
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| 3 |  12 Years a Slave 2013 · 55 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 18 | 55 |
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| 4 | Schindler's List 1993 · 31 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, DGA Awards | 18 | 31 |
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| 5 |  A Man for All Seasons 1966 · 21 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, DGA Awards | 18 | 21 |
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| 6 |  The Social Network 2010 · 36 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 17 | 36 |
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| 7 |  Hacksaw Ridge 2016 · 35 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 16 | 35 |
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| 8 |  Ben-Hur 1959 · 18 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, DGA Awards | 16 | 18 |
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| 9 |  Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood 2019 · 50 nominations · Won at Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics' Choice | 15 | 50 |
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| 10 |  Gandhi 1983 · 34 nominations · Won at Oscars, BAFTA, DGA Awards | 13 | 34 |
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English is the biggest source of history films with 2,687 (41%), followed by French (547) and Spanish (344). In all, 48 languages have ten or more history films.
61% of history films are also tagged drama, the most common pairing, followed by documentary (27%) and war (17%). A film can carry several genres, so the shares overlap.
61% 4,033 films
27% 1,762 films
17% 1,139 films
9.3% 616 films
9% 598 films
8.1% 535 films
6.2% 407 films
6% 395 films
1,433 history films have a full plot summary and 182 have the ending explained. Below are the best-rated ones not already listed above, led by The Irishman (2019) and Apollo 11 (2019).
123 articles on the blog are tagged history; the newest is “Pressure (2026) Review & Critic Opinions: Reception, Fan Reactions, and Storytelling Analysis” from June 3, 2026.
June 3, 2026
Pressure (2026) Review & Critic Opinions: Reception, Fan Reactions, and Storytelling Analysis
Explore how audiences and critics responded to Pressure (2026), examining fan reactions, critic reviews, performances, storytelling, and its place within World War II cinema. The post breaks down the reception, highlights key praise and criticism, and situates the film within the broader historical franchise.
May 12, 2026
Explore how critics and fans responded to The Wizard of the Kremlin (2026), analyzing reviews of Jude Law and Paul Dano’s performances, storytelling depth, and its place in post‑Soviet thriller franchises. The post breaks down fan reactions, critic scores, and the overall reception of this politically charged drama.
May 5, 2026
Michael (2026) Review & Opinions: Critics, Fan Reactions, and Reception Analysis
Explore the critical reception and fan reactions to the 2026 biopic Michael, examining how critics and audiences respond to its storytelling, performances, and portrayal of the pop legend’s rise. This post delves into review highlights, opinion trends, and the film’s place within music‑biopic franchise narratives.
April 21, 2026
An in‑depth look at fan reactions and critic reviews for Amrum (2026), examining the film’s performances, storytelling and its place within the post‑war drama genre. Explore how audiences responded to the poignant portrayal of a 12‑year‑old on the windswept North Sea island and what critics say about the movie’s emotional impact.
April 18, 2026
A Great Awakening (2026) Review, Critics Opinions & Audience Reception – Historical Drama Analysis
Explore fan reactions and critic reviews of A Great Awakening (2026), examining performances, storytelling, and its place in the historical drama franchise. The post breaks down the film’s reception, from audience applause to critical analysis of its portrayal of early American history.
April 6, 2026
Explore the spectrum of fan reactions and critic reviews for the 2026 drama Two Prosecutors, examining its powerful performances, gripping storytelling, and its place within the historical thriller genre. This analysis delves into audience reception, critical consensus, and the film’s impact on the legacy of Soviet-era narratives.
Filter all 6,614 history films by decade, year, language, box office, plot summaries and after-credits scenes on the full list, which opens with the 1,028 ranked ones, best first. The best-first lists hold ranked films only: the French-language list has 57 of the 547 French history films.
Quick answers about history movies from the numbers on this page: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929) is the best-rated, Michael (2026) is the biggest hit and the 2010s were the busiest decade.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929, 98 Metascore) is the best-rated history movie on What's After the Movie, followed by Dead to Rights (2025, 93 Echo) and Schindler's List (1993, 95 Metascore). Ranked by Echo Score; 6 of these 12 films have none (released before 2017, when Echo Scores start) and are ranked by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings.
See the top 12Michael (2026) has earned $1B worldwide, the most of any history film on the site; Oppenheimer (2023) is second with $975.8M.
History box office chartsThe site lists 6,614 history films. 1,028 of them are ranked, 1,729 have reported box office and 1,433 have a plot summary. A film counts as history when history is one of its genres.
Browse all history moviesThe 2010s, with 1,973 history films, ahead of the 2020s (1,277). The decade's best-rated history film is Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, 91 Echo).
Steven Spielberg, with 7 notable history films; the best-rated of them is Schindler's List (1993). Notable films have a score, box office, an award nomination or 1,000+ votes.
Steven Spielberg59 history films on the site have a scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated. Each film page says whether there is one.
Ranked history movies with an after-credits sceneFilms released from 2017 on are ranked by their Echo Score, our 0–100 rating; older films by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings. To be ranked a film must run at least an hour and have a score, box office, an award nomination or enough votes, so shorts and obscure uploads stay out of the lists.
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