There are many movies made about true historical events, and we need to watch these movies to remind ourselves of how far we have come. Let’s find the 22 best recommendations.
History repeats itself, sometimes through reality and sometimes on the big screen of cinema, where movies imitate the historic events. There are plenty of historical movies in Hollywood as well as the world of global cinema that can inspire the modern people of this generation. In the last 50 years, movie buffs have enjoyed many great movies, and many of them are inspired by real stories and historical events that everyone deserves to know with a fair depiction. Let’s find 25 of those great movies to spark the spirit of revolution.
- Schindler’s List
This movie was released in 1993 and is considered to be one of the most revolutionary movies in the history of cinema, which portrays the life of Oskar Schindler, who was a war profiteer during World War 2. The industrialist protected more than 1,000 people from the certain death and brutality of the Nazi oppression. The man saved the lives of Jews who worked in the Krakow factory, and the movie portrayed the horror of war and dictatorship. This is a bold take by director Steven Spielberg that helped him to win the Oscar for Best Director and Best Cinematography. It is a black and white movie that showed the true color of humanity.
- Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan showed how the army can go to any extent to bring one of their own back with protection. The movie starts with an incredible D-Day opening sequence where the American soldiers can be seen landing on Omaha Beach for resistance, and it is considered to be one of the best depictions of the World War Two battle scenario. A group of men was sent on a special mission to save Private Ryan, another army personnel, just like them. This remarkable movie is a perfect portrayal of war and the emotions related to it, and it is often heartbreaking. This movie won 5 Oscars, and Spielberg again secured the Oscar for Best Director.
- Gladiator
‘Gladiator’ was released in 2000, and it is still hard to find a movie like it. This is the breakthrough movie for Russell Crowe, and he did a remarkable job as the protagonist who avenged the death of his family. A lot of fans of the movie can still say the entire revenge dialogue, which goes like, ‘My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.’ Though it is a part of history, it appears to be a fantasy drama that showcases one of the best ancient battle scenes of all time.
- Last of the Mohicans
This is a revolutionary movie based on the real Americans, the native people, and the Red Indians. The protagonist for the movies is played by Daniel Day-Lewis, who is already a great actor, and watching him on the big screen in the setting of an 18th-century indigenous American setting is truly something inspiring. The movie reflects the situation of the French Indian War or the Seven Years’ War, which comes with a visceral representation. This is a story of the Mohican family caught between the imperialism of the British and French colonizers. This war movie showcases a crucial part of American history that is forgotten by the modern citizens of the country.
- Apollo 13
This is an epic movie with a historic and scientific background that showcases the true story of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, which took place in 1970. The movies were released in 1995 and showcased how the spacecraft faced an explosion, which made the crew abort the mission due to a lack of oxygen and electrical power. It was one of the high-octane space programs by NASA that got aborted, but the heroic crew did not abandon their ship; rather, they rewired the system to bring it back safely to earth. The movie showcases the intensity of a failed mission and survival through a life-and-death situation.
- The King’s Speech
This remarkable movie was released in 2010, and Colin Firth received an award for his magnificent performance as Prince Albert, the future King George VI. Albert overcame his issues of stammering with the Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. While the movie showcases the intriguing political scenario, it also showcases the personal struggles of the prince from the royal family, whose words and vision matter to the citizens. There is also a war in the backdrop, which intensifies the situation and showcases how a speech can inspire people. This feel-good movie won a total of 4 Oscars.
- 12 Years a Slave
Depicting the true stories of history can be gruesome, and that is what audiences witnessed through the movie ’12 Years a Slave,’ which is almost too difficult to watch for most people. Yet, people should watch it to understand the dark reality of humanity, where racism, discrimination, and hatred are deeply rooted in society. This movie is based on a memoir of a slave by Solomon Northup. Director Steve McQueen has done an incredible job in making this slow and brutal movie that perfectly showcases the twisted mind of humans. The movie made a huge box-office profit of $165 million, and it is one of the critically acclaimed works that no other director attempted.
- Darkest Hour
‘Darkest Hour’ got released in 2017, and just like its title suggests, the film showcases a dark period of history. Gary Oldman played the role of Winston Churchill with 40s setting, when England was almost defeated by the Nazi army. The gritty essence of the movie, with heavy dialogues and the mental battle between Churchill and Hitler, makes this movie a must-watch for everyone. It is a critically acclaimed movie that won 2 Oscars out of 6 nominations.
- The Imitation Game
‘The Imitation Game’ was released in 2014, and the movie showcased the forgotten contributions of the ‘coders’ back then. Well, there were no computers, and the coders referred to the cryptanalysts who worked hard to decipher the coded war messages. Benedict Cumberbatch offered an amazing performance as an intelligent and troubled man, Alan Turing, who was the main man behind this confidential project. They were cracking the codes for German World War Two intelligence messages at Bletchley Park and were successful in stopping many sneak attempts by the Germans. The movie also showcased Alan’s personal life struggles with homosexuality as his country initiated hormone therapy, considering it a sickness.
- All the President’s Men
This classic and intelligent thriller is based on politics, and it showcases how the corrupt Government is ready to go to any extent. The subject matter for the movie revolves around the Watergate scandal, which was a well-planned conspiracy that was initiated to cover up and divert the minds, and that led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. This true and thought-provoking film won a total of 4 Academy Awards, and it absolutely deserved them. Later on, the movie was curated for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress since it is historically and culturally important.
- Braveheart
This 3-hour-long epic movie on a medieval epic was released in 1995, and the movie won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. Mel Gibson did great job as the director and the leading protagonist for the movie who played the role of Scotland’s William Wallace who fought against the English people in the age of Edward I. While the movie is footloose with it historical part and there are many cinematic inputs to make the story more attractive; it is still a good piece of history and some epic demonstration of the battle scenes.
- Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is one of those timeless movies that is quite feel-good and heartwarming to watch. Although Forrest is not a part of history, he is shown as an important character in the history of America, and the fictional juxtaposition makes it perfect. Played by Tom Hanks, Forrest is a man from Alabama with an IQ of 75, and his vision for people is quite refreshing and empathetic. Despite all the adversities, the man becomes a role model to everyone, and he also reunites with his childhood crush, Jenny, whom he loved the most. Somewhere between comedy and tragedy, this movie offers the unfiltered joy of cinema with captivating storytelling.
- Platoon
‘Platoon’ is an intriguing movie that is based on the Vietnam War. The movie was released in 1986 and offered a fair depiction of the chaos of the war and how it offered PTSD for the soldiers. When a war takes place, the soldiers follow orders of their superiors regardless of humility, and it gets quite gory for both sides. America desperately participated in the war that took place in South Vietnam near the Cambodian border, and the result was nothing but a huge loss on both ends. The movie depicts the cruelty of war that affects both parties and both countries. In a world where war is still ongoing amidst the power-hungry leaders, this movie seems to be relevant and significant in the modern era as well. With the cast and real evidence, this movie is a must-watch for all.
- Dances with Wolves
This masterpiece by Kevin Costner was released in the ‘90s, and the movie won a total of seven Oscars. The subject matter for the movie is based on a near-suicidal action that leads to a Union victory in the American Civil War. The character of Lieutenant Dunbar is highly important here, who was sent away to the Wild Western frontier. With no support arriving, the man adapts to the lifestyle of the native Americans and is reborn with the name ‘Dances with Wolves’ and thus the title. This is not a war movie as it is about human experience at the primitive stage and shows how we all humans are the same at the core, and what divides us is war and the leaders.
- Titanic
Spielberg is a genius, and his dynamic filmography tells it all. ‘Titanic’ was released in 1995, and it is considered to be one of the best movies of the last century that portrayed the historic event accurately. Of course, there are cinematic exaggerations to make it more commercially attractive, but the movie still offered a fair depiction of the tragic event that took place in 1912. The bog ship sank to the bottom of the sea after crashing with an iceberg, and the struggle to live of each person onboard is shown beautifully. This is a big-budget movie that captivated global audiences.
- The Right Stuff
This movie is based on Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book with the same name. It is a story of the US space program’s development, which was an initiative to break the sound barrier. It showcases the development of Mercury 7 astronauts, which was the first human space flight by America. The movie is written and directed by Philip Kaufman, and it is 3 hours long. Yet, you would not feel bored as the movie comes with immersive moments and constant progression. With attention to detail and a fair depiction, this movie is quite engaging and intense as well.
- Life is Beautiful
This is an Italian movie that made its place in the hearts of every movie buff. The movie was released in 1997, and it is a relevant piece of work that can be implemented in the modern world of hatred. The movie treats a highly traumatic subject matter with an artistic and romantic vision that encourages people to live gracefully despite all the adversities. The protagonist of the movie gets separated from his wife in the concentration camps, but he is determined and hopeful that good days will arrive again. In the darkest times, hope is something that keeps you alive and gives you happiness.
- The Queen
This is a biographical drama of Queen Elizabeth from England, and director Stephen Frears has truly done a great job in depicting the true story behind royalty. The movie was released in 2006, and it gained much attention from global audiences, including the people of the UK. The movie deals with the most sensitive time of the British Monarchy, which explores the life of the queen as well as showcases the death of Princess Diana, who was the most grounded person in the entire family. The movie stands out with its beautiful storytelling and cinematography.
- American Sniper
This movie is based on the elite sniper from America’s militia, named Chris Kyle. The movie is directed by Clint Eastwood, and it was released in 2014 with Bradley Cooper playing the role of Chris. Although it is based on the sniper, the movie showcased the war situation well, where snipers are required to have nerves of steel to pull the trigger. Chris had his personal struggles with killing the people of other countries, and his traumatic experience in Iraq is well depicted. However, he is a legend, and it is well-established with visceral, sharp shooting.
- Milk
‘Milk’ was released in 2008, and it depicts the story of the first openly gay activist and politician, Harvey Milk. Directed by Gus Van Sant, this movie showcases the brutality and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities and how they are targeted even after gaining much positive recognition among people. Milk was assassinated in 1978, and it is a truly heart-wrenching film to witness the fall of an activist who fought for the entire community. This is the reminder of hatred that comes to you when you truly embrace your authentic self.
- Hidden Figures
‘Hidden Figures’ was released in 2016, and it showcases a crucial chapter of American history and NASA’s space program. America, and even NASA, were greatly racist back then, and even after the active participation of the well-deserving candidates, a group of black women has been repeatedly discriminated for their color. However, NASA would not have achieved success without the contributions of these fine mathematicians. The vital contributions of the hidden figures got the recognition through this movie that everyone should watch.
- Good Morning Vietnam
This 1987 movie shared a different view of the Vietnam War as there was the sunshine of Robin Williams. He played the role of a radio jockey who worked in the Armed Forces Radio, and he always started his shows with the greeting “Good Morning, Vietnam!” While his happy energy feels contradictory to the situation, the movie still feels bright like a breath of fresh air.
