#1 of 1,020 Best history movie
1929 Biography Drama 1h 50m English
98 Metascore
Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
About The Passion of Joan of Arc Top 100 · History
The 100 Best History Movies, Ranked
We rank 1,020 of the 6,610 history films on the site; these are the top 100. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929) is #1 with a critics & audiences score of 94/100, ahead of Dead to Rights (2025) and Schindler's List (1993). Ranked by Echo Score; 39 of these 100 films have none (released before 2017, when Echo Scores start) and are ranked by a blend of their Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings. A ranked watchlist for historical epics and period films. For new releases and box office hits, see the history movies guide.
- ranked history films
- 1,020
- history films on the site
- 6,610
- release years in the top 100
- 1916–2026
- award winners in the top 100
- 32
#1 of 1,020 Top 10
What Are the Best History Movies?
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929) leads with a critics & audiences score of 94/100, ahead of Dead to Rights (2025); 3 of the top 10 are from the 2020s. 4 of the top 10 are ranked by Echo Score, led by Dead to Rights at 93; the other 6, all released before 2017, are ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings.
- 1. The Passion of Joan of Arc 98 Metascore (Metascore 98 out of 100)
1929 · Biography, Drama · 1h 50m
Dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer No Echo Score: ranked 94/100 on critics & audiences
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2. Dead to Rights 93 Echo (Echo Score 93 out of 100)2025 · Drama, History · 2h 17m
Dir. Ao Shen $422.8M worldwide
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3. Schindler's List 95 Metascore (Metascore 95 out of 100)1993 · Biography, Drama · 3h 15m
Dir. Steven Spielberg No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences · 18 award wins · $322.2M worldwide
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4. Gone with the Wind 97 Metascore (Metascore 97 out of 100 (19 critic reviews))1940 · Drama, History · 3h 58m
Dir. George Cukor No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences · 9 award wins
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5. Quo Vadis, Aida? 92 Echo (Echo Score 92 out of 100)2021 · Drama, History · 1h 41m
Dir. Jasmila Zbanic 1 award win
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5. Battleship Potemkin 97 Metascore (Metascore 97 out of 100 (22 critic reviews))1926 · Drama, History · 1h 15m
Dir. Sergei M. Eisenstein No Echo Score: ranked 92/100 on critics & audiences
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5. Compensation 92 Echo (Echo Score 92 out of 100)2025 · Drama, History · 1h 35m
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8. The Grapes of Wrath 96 Metascore (Metascore 96 out of 100)1940 · Drama, History · 2h 9m
Dir. John Ford No Echo Score: ranked 91/100 on critics & audiences · 2 award wins
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9. Portrait of a Lady on Fire 91 Echo (Echo Score 91 out of 100)2019 · Drama, History · 2h 2m
Dir. Céline Sciamma 5 award nominations · $9.9M worldwide
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10. Chimes at Midnight 94 Metascore (Metascore 94 out of 100 (23 critic reviews))1967 · Drama, History · 1h 59m
No Echo Score: ranked 91/100 on critics & audiences · 1 award nomination
#11 to #100
History Movies Ranked #11 to #100
Places 11 to 100: Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021) opens the list and The Puppet’s Tale (2025) closes it. 29 of these 90 films are not in English; 12 languages appear in all. Filter by decade or language, or sort by year or box office.
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Decade
Language
Places 11 to 100; films with the same score share a rank. Use a filter or another sort to include the top 10.
Echo Score, our 0–100 rating (films from 2017 on) Blend: Metascore with IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings, for films without an Echo Score
- 1 1. The Passion of Joan of Arc
1929 · Biography, Drama · 1h 50m
94 Blend - 2 2. Dead to Rights
2025 · Drama, History · 2h 17m
93 Echo $422.8M - 3 3. Schindler's List
1993 · Biography, Drama · 3h 15m
92 Blend $322.2M - 4 4. Gone with the Wind
1940 · Drama, History · 3h 58m
92 Blend - 5 5. Quo Vadis, Aida?
2021 · Drama, History · 1h 41m
92 Echo $813.3K - 5 5. Battleship Potemkin
1926 · Drama, History · 1h 15m
92 Blend - 5 5. Compensation
2025 · Drama, History · 1h 35m
92 Echo - 8 8. The Grapes of Wrath
1940 · Drama, History · 2h 9m
91 Blend - 9 9. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2019 · Drama, History · 2h 2m
91 Echo $9.9M - 10 10. Chimes at Midnight
1967 · Drama, History · 1h 59m
91 Blend - 11
11. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street2021 · History, Family · 1h 47m
90 Echo $1.2K - 11
11. Two Prosecutors2025 · History, Drama · 1h 57m
90 Echo - 11
11. Keyboard Fantasies2021 · Biography, History · 1h 11m
90 Echo - 14
14. The Act of Killing2013 · History, Crime · 1h 55m
89 Blend $726.3K - 15
15. The Irishman2019 · Biography, Drama · 3h 29m
89 Echo $968.9K - 15
15. Apollo 112019 · History, Documentary · 1h 33m
89 Echo $15.3M - 15
15. The Trial of the Chicago 72020 · Drama, History · 2h 9m
89 Echo - 18
18. Dunkirk2017 · Action, Drama · 1h 46m
88 Echo $533.7M - 18
18. I'm Still Here2025 · Biography, Drama · 2h 16m
88 Echo $36.5M - 18
18. Richard III1956 · Biography, Drama · 2h 41m
88 Blend - 18
18. Sound of Falling2025 · History, Drama · 2h 29m
88 Echo - 18
18. Apollo 13: Survival2024 · Documentary, History · 1h 36m
88 Echo - 18
18. Chronovisor2026 · Fantasy, History · 1h 40m
88 Blend - 18
18. Small Axe: Mangrove2020 · Drama, History · 2h 7m
88 Echo - 25
25. Woodstock1970 · History, Music · 3h 4m
87 Blend $321.3K - 26
26. The Right Stuff1983 · Adventure, Biography · 3h 13m
87 Blend $21.2M - 27
27. They Shall Not Grow Old2018 · History, War · 1h 39m
87 Echo $21.7M - 27
27. Lost Illusions2022 · Drama, History · 2h 29m
87 Echo $8.6M - 27
27. Balloon2018 · Drama, History · 2h 5m
87 Echo - 27
27. Shoah: Four Sisters2018 · History, Documentary · 4h 33m
87 Echo $7.3K - 27
27. Small Axe: Lovers Rock2020 · Drama, History · 1h 10m
87 Echo - 27
27. Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes2022 · History, Documentary · 1h 31m
87 Echo - 33
33. 12 Years a Slave2013 · Biography, Drama · 2h 14m
87 Blend $187.7M - 34
34. The 12th Man2018 · Drama, History · 2h 15m
86 Echo $9.6M - 34
34. The Farthest2017 · History, Documentary · 2h 1m
86 Echo $44.9K - 34
34. Hamilton2020 · Biography, Drama · 2h 40m
86 Echo - 34
34. Togo2019 · Adventure, Biography · 1h 53m
86 Echo - 34
34. The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo2025 · Documentary, History · 1h 40m
86 Echo - 34
34. La Commune (Paris, 1871)2003 · Drama, History · 5h 45m
86 Blend - 40
40. Spotlight2015 · Biography, Drama · 2h 8m
86 Blend $98.7M - 40
40. Ben-Hur1959 · Adventure, Drama · 3h 32m
86 Blend - 40
40. Harakiri1964 · Action, Drama · 2h 13m
86 Blend - 43
43. The Social Network2010 · Biography, Drama · 2h
86 Blend $224.9M - 43
43. When We Were Kings1996 · History, Sport · 1h 29m
86 Blend $2.8M - 45
45. The Madness of King George1994 · Biography, Drama · 1h 44m
85 Blend $15.2M - 45
45. Das Boot1982 · Action, Drama · 2h 29m
85 Blend $11.5M - 47
47. Barry Lyndon1975 · Adventure, Drama · 3h 4m
85 Blend $283.9K - 48
48. The Favourite2018 · Biography, Drama · 1h 59m
85 Echo $95.9M - 48
48. The Death of Stalin2018 · Biography, Drama · 1h 47m
85 Echo $24.6M - 48
48. Son of Saul2015 · Drama, History · 1h 47m
85 Blend $6.7M - 48
48. The Count of Monte-Cristo2024 · Action, Adventure · 2h 53m
85 Echo $85.9M - 48
48. The Summit of the Gods2021 · Adventure, Drama · 1h 35m
85 Echo $1.8M - 48
48. The Endless Trench2020 · Action, Adventure · 2h 27m
85 Echo $1.3M - 48
48. 12.12: The Day2023 · History, Action · 2h 22m
85 Echo $97.5M - 48
48. The Endurance2001 · History, Documentary · 1h 37m
85 Blend $2.5M - 48
48. The Great Escape1963 · Adventure, Drama · 2h 52m
85 Blend - 48
48. Tina2021 · Biography, History · 1h 58m
85 Echo $2.6M - 48
48. Palestine 362026 · Biography, Drama · 1h 55m
85 Echo $2.1M - 48
48. Dolores2017 · Biography, History · 1h 35m
85 Echo $555.3K - 48
48. The Sun2009 · Drama, History · 1h 55m
85 Blend $728.5K - 48
48. The Marquise of O1976 · Drama, History · 1h 42m
85 Blend $7.2K - 48
48. Apocalypse in the Tropics2025 · Documentary, History · 1h 50m
85 Echo - 63
63. My Perestroika2011 · Biography, History · 1h 28m
84 Blend $242.7K - 64
64. Tower2016 · History, Crime · 1h 36m
84 Blend $102K - 65
65. The Zone of Interest2023 · Drama, History · 1h 45m
84 Echo $52.7M - 65
65. Hamnet2025 · Biography, Drama · 2h 5m
84 Echo $109.5M - 65
65. September 52024 · History, Thriller · 1h 31m
84 Echo $8.2M - 65
65. Sarah's Oil2025 · Biography, Drama · 1h 43m
84 Echo $11.7M - 65
65. Truth & Treason2025 · Drama, History · 2h
84 Echo $6.2M - 65
65. Grand Tour2025 · Drama, History · 2h 8m
84 Echo $859.7K - 65
65. 1987: When the Day Comes2017 · Thriller, Drama · 2h 9m
84 Echo $53.8M - 65
65. Kesari2019 · Action, Drama · 2h 30m
84 Echo $22.5M - 65
65. Stelios2024 · Drama, Music · 2h 12m
84 Echo $862.7K - 65
65. Before, Now & Then2023 · Drama, History · 1h 43m
84 Echo $45.6K - 65
65. A Twelve Year Night2018 · Biography, Drama · 2h 2m
84 Echo $825.4K - 65
65. Bang! The Bert Berns Story2017 · History, Music · 1h 34m
84 Echo $59.3K - 65
65. Position Among the Stars2011 · History, Documentary · 1h 55m
84 Blend $1.9K - 65
65. Sin2021 · Biography, Drama · 2h 14m
84 Echo - 65
65. The Waldheim Waltz2018 · History, Documentary · 1h 33m
84 Echo - 65
65. The Girls in the Band2013 · Biography, History · 1h 21m
84 Blend - 81
81. The King's Speech2010 · Drama, History · 1h 58m
84 Blend $414.5M - 81
81. Carlos2010 · Biography, Drama · 5h 25m
84 Blend $1.1M - 83
83. Mutiny on the Bounty1935 · Adventure, Biography · 2h 12m
84 Blend - 83
83. Los Angeles Plays Itself2004 · History, Documentary · 2h 49m
84 Blend $8.2K - 85
85. Intolerance1916 · Drama, History · 2h 43m
83 Blend - 86
86. Downfall2005 · Biography, Drama · 2h 36m
83 Blend $92.2M - 86
86. Z1969 · Drama, History · 2h 7m
83 Blend - 88
88. Letters from Iwo Jima2006 · Drama, History · 2h 21m
83 Blend $68.7M - 89
89. Oppenheimer2023 · Biography, Drama · 3h
83 Echo $975.8M - 89
89. Judas and the Black Messiah2021 · Biography, Drama · 2h 6m
83 Echo $7.5M - 89
89. The Taste of Things2023 · Drama, History · 2h 25m
83 Echo $10.5M - 89
89. Nouvelle Vague2025 · Biography, Comedy · 1h 45m
83 Echo $2.5M - 89
89. Patrice: The Movie2024 · Documentary, Biography · 1h 42m
83 Echo - 89
89. While at War2019 · Drama, History · 1h 48m
83 Echo $13.1M - 89
89. Return of the Hero2018 · Comedy, History · 1h 30m
83 Echo $7.4M - 89
89. The Great Escaper2023 · History, Drama · 1h 36m
83 Echo $10.4M - 89
89. Return to Homs2014 · Biography, History · 1h 34m
83 Blend $402.1K - 89
89. Who Will Write Our History2019 · History, Documentary · 1h 35m
83 Echo $138.9K - 89
89. LA 922017 · History, Documentary · 1h 54m
83 Echo $297 - 89
89. The Puppet’s Tale2025 · Drama, History · 2h 16m
83 Echo
No film in this list matches both filters. Choose "All" in one of them.
Decade by decade
The Best History Movie of Every Decade
From Intolerance (1916) in the 1910s to Dead to Rights (2025) in the 2020s: the highest-ranked history movie of each of 12 decades. The 2020s place the most films in the top 100 (40).
- 1910s 99 Metascore Intolerance 1916
- 1920s 98 Metascore The Passion of Joan of Arc 1929
- 1930s 87 Metascore Mutiny on the Bounty 1935
- 1940s 97 Metascore Gone with the Wind 1940
- 1950s 88 Metascore Richard III 1956
- 1960s 94 Metascore Chimes at Midnight 1967
- 1970s 95 Metascore Woodstock 1970
- 1980s 91 Metascore The Right Stuff 1983
- 1990s 95 Metascore Schindler's List 1993
- 2000s 90 Metascore La Commune (Paris, 1871) 2003
- 2010s 91 Echo Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2019
- 2020s 93 Echo Dead to Rights 2025
Awards
Which History Movies Won the Most Awards?
Oppenheimer (2023) has the strongest record with 30 wins from 65 nominations, including wins at Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTA. Wins and nominations are counted across every ceremony on our awards pages.
- Oppenheimer 30 wins / 65 nom.2023 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 83 Echo
- The King's Speech 21 wins / 55 nom.2010 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 88 Metascore
- 12 Years a Slave 18 wins / 55 nom.2013 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 96 Metascore
- Schindler's List 18 wins / 31 nom.1993 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 95 Metascore
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A Man for All Seasons 18 wins / 21 nom.1966 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 72 Metascore - The Social Network 17 wins / 36 nom.2010 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 95 Metascore
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Hacksaw Ridge 16 wins / 35 nom.2016 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 71 Metascore - Ben-Hur 16 wins / 18 nom.1959 · Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA · 90 Metascore
Keep exploring
More Ways to Explore History Movies
The top 100 are the best 10% of 1,020 ranked history films. The history guide, the full list of 6,610 films and the history box office chart cover the rest of the genre.
FAQ
History Movies: Questions & Answers
Answers from the history ranking above: the best history film, how many history movies there are, the strongest decade and the most awarded history film.
What is the best history movie?
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1929) is the best-ranked history movie on What's After the Movie, with a critics & audiences score of 94/100. Dead to Rights (2025) and Schindler's List (1993) follow. 4 of the top 10 are ranked by Echo Score, led by Dead to Rights at 93; the other 6, all released before 2017, are ranked by a blend of Metascore and IMDb/Letterboxd user ratings.
About The Passion of Joan of Arc How many history movies are there?
The site lists 6,610 history films. 1,020 of them are ranked: features of 60+ minutes with a real audience, critic, award or box office signal and a score. This page shows the top 100.
All history movies Which decade has the best history movies?
The 2020s place 40 films in the top 100, more than any other decade. The oldest film in the list is Intolerance (1916), the newest Chronovisor (2026).
What is the most awarded history movie?
Oppenheimer (2023) won 30 awards from 65 nominations, ahead of The King's Speech (2010) (21 wins), counted across the Oscars, festivals and guild awards on our awards pages.
Movie awards How is this list different from the history genre page?
This page is only the ranking of the 100 best history films. The history genre page covers the whole genre: new releases, the biggest box office hits, its directors and how it changed over the decades.
History movies guide