Any cinema lover would absolutely have a different category, filled with period pieces. So, here is the list of the most impactful period dramas ever made.
Many people who love classic stories know the charm of Pride and Prejudice. It has that soft pull that stays with you. The Handmaiden comes from a very different world, yet it feels just as strong. It shows how a period film can break rules and still hit deep. These films shine through careful scenes, rich clothes, and music that moves slowly and steadily. Romance grows through quiet looks and soft words. That mix gives the genre its power. Some films rise above the rest and leave a mark that lasts. From Marie Antoinette to Portrait of a Lady on Fire, these stories still feel spellbinding.
So, let’s get to the list of the best period films that will sweep you off your feet!
20. ‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)
The Handmaiden takes you to 1930s Korea during Japanese rule. A young woman named Sook Hee is hired to serve a quiet heiress who lives far from the city. What the heiress does not know is that Sook Hee comes from a line of thieves. A con man sends her into the house to help him win the heiress and run away with her wealth. The plan moves steadily at first. Then a slow pull grows between the two women and turns the story in a new direction.
The film feels bold and rich in every scene. Park Chan Wook builds a world that looks beautiful yet sharp at the edges. He leans into desire and fear and trust. The story folds and turns in ways that keep you close. It holds you with dark humor and deep tension. The result is a queer period thriller that stays with you long after the final frame.
19. ‘Carol’ (2015)
Carol moves with a slow and warm pull. It follows two women in the 1950s who meet by chance and feel a connection that grows even when the world tries to press it down. One is a young photographer who wants a new path. The other is a woman stuck in a life that feels tight. Their bond begins softly, then grows into something bold as they move through cities and long drives. The film keeps the calm tone of the book it came from. Todd Haynes builds each moment with care, letting the emotions rise in quiet ways. The acting feels open, the shots feel gentle, and the story carries both pain and hope. It stays with you long after it ends.
18. ‘Cold War’ (2018)
Cold War pulls you into a world shaped by music and longing. The story follows a director who discovers a spark in Zula, a young singer with a voice that cuts through every scene. Their connection grows as they travel through Poland, and he hopes they can leave for France and begin a new life. That hope feels close, then slips away when real life steps in and shifts everything around them. The film draws from the director’s parents, so it carries a quiet truth. You feel the pressure of a country held by strict power and the weight that love carries inside that space. The two leads bring a raw and open energy that gives the film its pulse.
17. ‘The Favourite’ (2018)
The Favourite drops you straight into a messy power game inside Queen Anne’s court. England is at war, and the queen struggles with her health, so Lady Sarah steps in to run the country. Everything shifts when Abigail arrives. Her quiet charm catches the queen’s attention, and the tension between the two women quickly turns sharp. What makes this film so fun is the mix of odd humor, bold choices, and three actors who carry every scene. The dialogue snaps and the story moves with a strange rhythm, where each moment feels slightly off in the best way. The costume work and the careful framing lift the whole thing even higher, giving the drama a rich visual edge.
16. ‘Marie Antoinette’ (2006)
Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette feels like stepping into a soft dream filled with pastels, glitter, and quiet pain. Kirsten Dunst gives the young queen a gentle glow as the film blends history with imagination in a way that still feels new. It cares more about emotion than strict accuracy. The visual style pulls you in with gowns and bright rooms that look sweet at first glance. Under all that shine sits a deep sense of loneliness, and Coppola builds that feeling with calm focus. The movie stays with you long after it ends.
15. ‘Emma.’ (2020)
Emma Woodhouse is a character that Anya Taylor-Joy played to perfection in the 2020 film. At first, she comes across as selfish and rich, yet she feels warm and curious once you sit with her world. She tries to guide the love lives of people around and often gets it wrong, but her intent stays gentle. The film is set in the early 19th-century Highbury and brings a soft glow to every frame that attracts you at first glance. It feels like one of those period films that pulls you in with style and charm without trying too hard. The story carries humor and a touch of chaos as Emma grows into someone more aware. Her bond with George Knightley slowly turns into a steady love story that stays with you long after the film ends.
14. ‘Little Women’ (2019)
Greta Gerwig first came into the spotlight as an actor, yet her voice as a filmmaker is what pushed her into a new space. Over time, she shaped a style that is quite bold and tender at the same time. You can see that growth in her recent work on Barbie, but Little Women still stands as one of her strongest achievements. The film brought Louisa May Alcott’s classic story back to the screen in 2019, giving new life to the journeys of four young women learning who they are after the Civil War. The film earned praise from critics and drew several award nominations. It even won a couple of awards for its costume design, which added softness and texture to the world she built.
Little Women carries a warm tone that wraps you around you as you move through the sisters’ struggles and dreams. It does not rush the viewers. The story lets the characters breathe, which makes their choices feel honest to the audience. Every scene has a sense of care, from the way the light hits the room to the way each sister speaks their truth. The film invites you to sit with love, ambition, grief, and joy. By the end of the movie, you will feel close to these women and the quiet lessons they leave behind.
13. ‘Downton Abbey’ (2019)
The 2019 film, based on the well-known series, brings you back into the world of the Crawleys as they prepare for a visit from King George V and Queen Mary. The story moves with a calm pace and gives space to the house and its people. It leans on the charm of the show and invites fans to settle into a world they already love. The movie is not on the same level as the series, yet it still holds a warm pull. The visuals make the estate feel grand and alive, and the setting feels rich without trying too hard. It keeps the heart of the show in place and opens the door for new viewers with ease.
12. ‘The English Patient’ (1996)
The English Patient sits in that space where a slow burn can still feel huge. The film moves through the Sahara and into wartime Italy as the story of a burned and unnamed patient slowly opens up. His past with Katherine Clifton comes through in quiet waves, and the love between them feels deep and heavy. Anthony Minghella shapes the film with care, letting the tragic romance settle instead of rushing. It may feel slow for some viewers, yet the weight of the story stays with you. The scale is wide, and the emotion runs close. This is why the film’s pull is strong if you enjoy rich storytelling and love stories that stay long after the credits.
11. ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (1995)
Sense and Sensibility brings Jane Austen’s world to life with a gentle rhythm that makes the story feel warm and grounded. The film follows the Dashwood sisters as they face sudden financial trouble after their father’s death, and focuses mainly on Elinor and Marianne, who balance each other in ways that make their bond feel real. One carries steady restraint, the other moves through emotion with an open heart, and watching them navigate love and loss together gives the film its weight. Emma Thompson’s screenplay stays loyal to the novel while adding a softness that works beautifully on screen. The performances blend with the writing in a way that keeps the story engaging and heartfelt from start to finish.
10. ‘The Piano’ (1993)
The Piano focuses on Ada McGrath, a woman who speaks through her daughter and through the music she makes. She arrives in New Zealand for an arranged marriage and is shaken when her new husband leaves her piano on the beach. George Baines steps in with an offer that pulls her into a charged and complicated bond. The film moves with quiet force as it digs into longing and control, and the emotion in each scene stays with you long after it ends.
09. ‘Barry Lyndon’ (1975)
Barry Lyndon is one of Kubrick’s most striking films. It is built around the rise and collapse of Redmond Barry, an Irish outsider who slips into aristocratic life through marriage and then pushes it past its breaking point. The romance is quiet, but the experience is rich thanks to the film’s classical score and its remarkable images. It feels like stepping into a painted world, and it is a great pick for anyone who loves the depth and mood of period dramas.
08. ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a slow burn that stays with you for the rest of your life. It builds a quiet and powerful look at queer love, shaped through a clear female gaze. The film follows Marianne, a painter brought to an isolated island to capture Eloise’s portrait, and a connection grows between them. The setting feels still, but the emotions of the story run deep. The writing here is sharp, and the performances carry a calm force that interests you without trying. The film stands out as a bold and moving period drama that shows love with honesty and care, and it leaves a mark that feels personal.
07. ‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)
Brokeback Mountain follows Ennis and Jack as a quiet spark on a remote mountain turns into a bond that stretches across years. Their connection grows in secret and carries both tenderness and weight, shaped by a world that pushes them apart. The film moves with a slow ache and shows how love can stay even when life pulls in other directions. It feels honest, heavy, and unforgettable, and it still stands as a powerful queer classic.
06. ‘Moulin Rouge!’ (2001)
Moulin Rouge feels like a wild burst of color and emotion. Baz Luhrmann leans into his rich style and builds a Paris that pulls you in fast. The story follows a young poet who falls for a cabaret star, and their love brings both beauty and pain. The music lifts the drama, and the actors give the film real heart. It is bold, dreamy, and full of feeling in a way that stays with you.
05. ‘Titanic’ (1997)
Titanic still feels larger than life. James Cameron has built a world that mixes real history with a love story that makes you feel things. The film follows Jack, a young artist with big dreams, and Rose, a 17-year-old from a strict upper-class life. Their connection grows on the grand ship, and the danger around them pushes their bond even deeper. The movie is a staple for anyone who enjoys period romances built on tension and emotion. It remains an impactful watch and is always worth returning to.
04. ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965)
The Sound of Music holds its place as a true classic for a reason! The film follows a young woman who leaves her convent to care for the seven children of a strict naval officer. Then the story grows into something warm and full of life. Its songs and dance scenes still feel fresh after so many years, and Julie Andrews gave one of her strongest performances. The movie remains a favorite for anyone who loves musicals and rich period storytelling.
03. ‘Atonement’ (2007)
Atonement pulls you in instantly with its quiet beauty and leaves you sitting with its weight long after the credits roll. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy bring real depth to Cecilia and Robbie, two people pulled apart by a lie told by Cecilia’s young sister, played by Saoirse Ronan. The film shows how one choice can change every life in its reach. The acting is commanding while the script is sharp, and the love story feels both painful and unforgettable. It makes sense that this movie is still so highly respected.
02. ‘The Age of Innocence’ (1993)
The Age of Innocence brings a quiet storm of emotion, carried by Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, and Michelle Pfeiffer at their best. The story follows Newland Archer as his engagement begins to unravel the moment his fiancée’s cousin steps into his world. Scorsese builds the tension with elegance, letting desire and restraint clash in every scene. The film’s rich atmosphere, strong and memorable performances, and aching longing make it a period drama that makes you feel its presence long after the movie ends.
01. ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (2005)
Pride & Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet as she crosses paths with the guarded and wealthy Mr. Darcy, a man who tries to deny his growing feelings for someone outside his social circle. Elizabeth pushes back against his pride, and the tension between them grows with every scene. It is easy to see why this story still holds such power over movie lovers and lovers of the novel. The slow pull between two people who claim they want nothing from each other feels timeless. The film leans into restraint, letting small gestures and long glances do the work. It gives the romance real weight and keeps you fully locked in.
Are there any of these you haven’t seen yet?
