Lessons From The Past: A Collection Of Historical Films

Noura Haddad
Noura HaddadFebruary 2, 2026
History has a way of captivating our imagination, transporting us to bygone eras and immersing us in the lives of those who came before us. Through the lens of film, we can experience the triumphs and tragedies of the past, gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities that have shaped our world. From the battlefields of war to the corridors of power, historical films offer a unique perspective on the events that have defined human history.

The following collection of films is a testament to the power of storytelling, bringing to life the stories of individuals and events that have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. From the horrors of the Holocaust to the struggles of social justice, these movies remind us that the past is prologue, and that the lessons we learn from history are essential to building a better future.

With a range of styles and approaches, these historical films are both entertaining and enlightening, offering a glimpse into the lives of people from different cultures and backgrounds. Whether you're a history buff or simply looking for compelling stories, this collection has something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and get ready to embark on a journey through time.

As we explore the world of historical cinema, we're reminded that the best films are those that not only inform and educate but also inspire and challenge us. The movies in this collection are a testament to the enduring power of film to capture the human experience, and we hope that you'll find something that resonates with you.
Schindler's List
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Schindler's List

#1

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.

1993195 min
DramaHistoryWar
8.6
16662 votes
Twenty Years Later
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Twenty Years Later

#2

Eduardo Coutinho was filming a movie with the same name in the Northeast of Brazil, in 1964, when there came the military coup. He had to interrupt the project, and came back to it in 1981, looking for the same places and people, showing what had ocurred since then, and trying to gather a family whose patriarch, a political leader fighting for rights of country people, had been murdered.

1984119 min
DocumentaryHistory
8.4
72 votes
El Apocalipsis de san Juan
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El Apocalipsis de san Juan

#3

Embark on an epic journey through time and faith with 'The Apocalypse of Saint John.' Join the Apostle John in a stunning visual narrative that unravels the visions of the End Times. Experience each vision like never before, with striking visual effects and epic scenes that immerse you in the apocalyptic narrative.

2024110 min
DocumentaryHistory
8.2
51 votes
Shoah
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Shoah

#4

Director Claude Lanzmann spent 11 years on this sprawling documentary about the Holocaust, conducting his own interviews and refusing to use a single frame of archival footage. Dividing Holocaust witnesses into three categories – survivors, bystanders, and perpetrators – Lanzmann presents testimonies from survivors of the Chelmno concentration camp, an Auschwitz escapee, and witnesses of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, as well as a chilling report of gas chambers from an SS officer at Treblinka.

1985566 min
DocumentaryHistory
8.2
215 votes
The Untold History Of The United States
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The Untold History Of The United States

#5

Oliver Stone charts the history of the United States from the Second World War to the present.

2012585 min
DocumentaryHistory
8.1
105 votes
Hacksaw Ridge
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Hacksaw Ridge

#6

WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

2016139 min
DramaHistoryWar
8.2
14336 votes
Cinco de Mayo: The Battle
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Cinco de Mayo: The Battle

#7

On May 5th, 1862, a few thousand Mexican soldiers put their lives on the line against the world's largest and most powerful army in one legendary battle for freedom and for Mexico.

2013125 min
WarHistoryDrama
8.2
112 votes
Das Boot
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Das Boot

#8

A German submarine hunts allied ships during the Second World War, but it soon becomes the hunted. The crew tries to survive below the surface, while stretching both the boat and themselves to their limits.

1981150 min
DramaHistoryWar
8.1
2423 votes
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
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The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

#9

After handing in a report on the treatment of Chinese colonial labor, Kaji is offered the post of labor chief at a large mining operation in Manchuria, which also grants him exemption from military service. He accepts, and moves to Manchuria with his newly-wed wife Michiko, but when he tries to put his ideas of more humane treatment into practice, he finds himself at odds with scheming officials, cruel foremen, and the military police.

1959206 min
WarDramaHistory
8.1
266 votes
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
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The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

#10

Kaji is sent to the Japanese army labeled Red and is mistreated by the vets. Along his assignment, Kaji witnesses cruelties in the army and revolts against the abusive treatment against the recruit Obara. He also sees his friend Shinjô Ittôhei defecting to the Russian border, and he ends in the front to fight a lost battle against the Russian tanks division.

1959178 min
WarDramaHistory
8.2
207 votes
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
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The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

#11

After the Japanese defeat to the Russians, Kaji leads the last remaining men through Manchuria. Intent on returning to his dear wife and his old life, Kaji faces great odds in a variety of different harrowing circumstances as he and his fellow men sneak behind enemy lines.

1961190 min
WarDramaHistory
8.4
201 votes
O.J.: Made in America
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O.J.: Made in America

#12

A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.

2016467 min
DocumentaryCrimeHistory
8.4
255 votes
1987: When the Day Comes
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1987: When the Day Comes

#13

In January 1987, a 22-year-old college student dies during a police interrogation. Under the orders of Director Park, the police request the body to be cremated in order to destroy evidence. Public Prosecutor Choi, who was on duty on the day of the incident, denies the request and calls for an autopsy. The police maintain the lie that the death was a simple accident, resulting from shock. The autopsy results, however, point to torture as the cause of death. Yoon, a journalist following the case, reports that the death was a result of asphyxiation during torture. Director Park attempts to conceal the truth by ending the case, arresting two detectives including inspector Cho. While in prison, inspector Cho reveals the truth to prison guard Han Byung-yong, who embarks on a dangerous mission to relay the information to an opposition politician through his niece, Yeon-hee.

2017129 min
DramaHistoryThriller
8.1
169 votes
Saving Private Ryan
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Saving Private Ryan

#14

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

1998169 min
DramaHistoryWar
8.2
16501 votes
Harakiri
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Harakiri

#15

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

1962135 min
ActionDramaHistory
8.4
1158 votes
Samurai Rebellion
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Samurai Rebellion

#16

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.

1967121 min
DramaHistoryAction
8.2
259 votes
Green Book
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Green Book

#17

Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.

2018130 min
DramaComedyHistory
8.2
12272 votes

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