Films have an extraordinary power to shed a spotlight on the past, and bring to life some ofthe most important moments in history.While the role of a film is first and foremost to entertain, stories about different periods in history can have immense educational power, and pass on lessons to future generations to learn from. While much of this excellence must be brought to life by a great director, actors are required to put in the work to ensure that these historical eras feel as accurate as possible under the circumstances.
Dramatic films about historyoften succeed when they give the audience reasons to care about the characters, so it is no surprise that some of the industry’s finest actors are often drawn to the genre. Here are the ten best historical drama movies with great acting, ranked.
10‘The New World’ (2005)
Directed by Terrence Malick
The New Worldmay not bea particularly accurate depiction of the founding of America’s first colonyin Jamestown, but it is a beautifully rendered love story that brings to life one of the nations’ greatest tragedies.Terrence Malick’s revisionist interpretations of the 17th century focuses on the life of the Native American princess Pocahontas, played in an extraordinary breakthrough performance byQ’orianka Kilcher.
Colin Farrell gives one of his best performances ever as John Smith, an English sailor who fell in love with Pocahontas after being stranded in North America and left for dead. Although the film does not ignore the inherent racism and genocide at play, the chemistry between Kilcher and Farrell surpasses any context to become an ethereal form of beauty. The love dynamic is complicated even further whenChristian Balemakes an appearance as the young suitor James Rolfe.
The New World
The story of the English exploration of Virginia, and of the changing world and loves of Pocahontas.
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9‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
There Will Be Bloodis one of the greatest American tragedies of all-time, as it shows just how dangerous rage and greed can be when mankind is left to their worst desires.Daniel Day-Lewisis often citedas one of (if not the single) greatest actors of all-time, but he has never played a character quite as nuanced as Daniel Plainview. A ruthless, cruel opportunist whose desire for power has no end, Plainview represents the very worst that humanity has to offer.
Day-Lewis won his second Academy Award for Best Actorfor his performance inThere Will Be Blood, but he’s not the only brilliant actor in the film.Paul Danogives one of his best performances as a noble preacher who gradually sucked up into Plainview’s point-of-view, only to be cast out to dry in the most cruel way possible.
There Will Be Blood
A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.
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8‘Ben-Hur’ (1959)
Directed by William Wyler
Ben-Huris one of the greatest epics of all-time, as itbrought to life an incredible Biblical storythat was once deemed to be “unfilmable” because of the massive scope and scale that it is playing with.Charlton Hestonhas played no shortage of heroes throughout his career, but his performance as the spurned Roman leader Judah Ben-Hur is certainly one of his best, and ultimately won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Although Heston’s star power is whatBen-Huris often best remembered for,the film features an incredible performance from Stephen Boyd as Messala, a character who doesn’t fit the typical definition of a villain. Despite the acts of cruelty that he ends up committing, Messala does seem to genuinely care for Judah, and only ends up betraying him because he feels that his honor has been insulted.
After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
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7‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Nowisa perfectly directed war filmthat gets into the dark side of the American military operation in the Vietnam War by showing the evils that mankind was capable of. WhileMarlon Brandohad already earned a significant amount of praise for his work withFrancis Ford CoppolaonThe Godfather, his performance as the crazed Colonel Kurtz inApocalypse Nowmay be the single most terrifying role of his career.
Martin Sheen proves that he is one of the most underrated American actors everwith his performance as a soldier assigned to assassinate Kurtz; it’s a role that often flirts with heroism, even if he is eventually proven to be just as malicious as his opponent. The film features an extraordinary cast of great actors, and even has smaller roles forLaurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford,andRobert Duvall.
Apocalypse Now
A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.
6‘Barry Lyndon’ (1975)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Barry Lyndonisa masterpiece from Stanley Kubrick, who subverted all expectations of what a historical drama should look like by focusing on the career of an Irish soundreal and womanizer that changes sides throughout the course of the war between England and France.Ryan O’Nealmay have been a heartthrob after his performances inPaper MoonandLove Stroy, but he succeeded with his work inBarry Lyndonby playing one of the most unlikeable protagonists of all-time.
The brilliance ofBarry Lyndonis that the titular character is often the butt of the joke, as he only manages to succeed as the result of dumb luck and charisma. It’s to O’Neal’s credit that he was able to play a dynamic character who is just as hilarious as he is demonstrably horrific to everyone who ever gets close to him.
Barry Lyndon
A charming Irishman named Barry Lyndon ascends the ranks of 18th-century British society through cunning and opportunism. As he navigates the complexities of wealth, marriage, and social status, his ambitions lead to both success and personal downfall, portraying the rise and fall of a self-made man in a period drama.
5‘12 Years A Slave’ (2013)
Directed by Steven McQueen
12 Years A Slaveis one of themost important Best Picture winners of all-time, as there hasn’t been another film that has shed a spotlight on the evils of American slavery in the same way.Chiwetel Ejiofergives a heartbreaking performance as the famed musician Solomon Northup, who was captured by slavers and forced to spend a decade on a plantation without any contact with his family.
Lupita Nyong’o gave a heart-wrenching performance as the abused slave Patsey, which won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. However, the film would not work nearly as well if not for the terrifying performance byMichael Fassbenderas the ruthless slave owner Edwin Epps, who may be one of the most evil characters in the history of cinema. The film also features strong work fromPaul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sarah Paulson, andBrad Pitt.
12 Years a Slave
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
4‘In The Name Of The Father’ (1993)
Directed by Jim Sheridan
In The Name Of The Fatheris an important legal thrillerthat helped shed a spotlight on an important period in Irish history that is often ignored by historians. Although he had already won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance inJim Sheridan’s previous filmMy Left Foot, Day-Lewis has an equally gripping role as an Irish man who is falsely accused of being involved in a bombing, and is forced to spend years behind bars with his father (Pete Postlethwaite).
In The Name of The Fatherdiffers from other historical crime filmsbecause of the importance that it places on the relationshipbetween a father and son.Day-Lewis and Postlethwaite are absolutely captivating as men forced to bear the consequences for sins that they did not commit;In The Name of the Fatheris a film that has the power to change hearts and minds.
In the Name of the Father
This powerful drama tells the true story of Gerry Conlon, a young Irishman wrongfully convicted of a bombing in London. Along with his father, who is also falsely accused, Gerry fights to clear their names. The film chronicles their harrowing legal battle and the emotional toll of their unjust imprisonment.
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3‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
Directed by David Lean
Lawrence of Arabiais one of themost well-acted war movies of all-time, and is so massive in scope that its ambitions have never been rivaled. AlthoughDavid Leanpulled off some of the most extraordinary action and military scenes ever committed to the silver screen,Lawrence of Arabiawould not have been nearly as successful if it wasn’t for the dynamic performance byLaurence Olivieras the titular British leader who united the Turkish tribes to fight against the Germans during the height of World War I.
Lawrence of Arabiais a dynamic character study about a flawed man, and Olivier never risks turning the character into a flawless white savior. Although his performance is what makes the film so successful,Lawrence of Arabiaalso featured notable work fromOmar SharifandAlec Guinnessin very memorable supporting roles.
Lawrence of Arabia
The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I to fight the Turks.
2‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Schindler’s Listisan immensely important historical biopic, as there hasn’t been another film in history that has captured the horrors of the Holocaust in the same way.Steven Spielbergwould never have been able to capture every single tragedy that occurred amidst the genocide, but focusing on how the German businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) used his factories to transport Jewish workers to safety made for an inspiring stroy about the power men have to confront true evil.
Neeson gives what is easily the best performance of his career, giving a compassionate side of humanism that is often ignored within his action roles. Not to be discounted isRalph Fiennes, whose performance as a ruthless Nazi officer who tortures and abuses Jewish workers is among the scariest villains in any historical drama.Schindler’s Listmay be hard to watch more than once, but it is worth it for the great acting.
Schindler’s List (1995)
In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
1‘Amadeus’ (1984)
Directed by Miloš Forman
Amadeusis thegreatest Best Picture winner of the 1980s, indicating that the Academy Awards actually did have some foresight in choosing films that were bound to stand the test of time. The film captures the infamous rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), which grew so intense that it resulted in the former’s death.
Abraham is absolutely captivating as an artist who dreams of perfection, only to be met with bitter disappointment when he is unable to match the inherent genius of his rival. Hulce is equally captivating as Mozart, showing how easy it can be for true geniuses to discount the effect on each other. Although Mozart is the figure whose legacy remains strongest, it is ironically Abraham that walked away with the Academy Award for Best Actor, even if Hulce was also nominated.
The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporary composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart’s talent and claimed to have murdered him.
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