From the horrors of slavery to the race for the atomic bomb, these five historical films turn American history into unforgettable cinema. Some are brutal, some are tense, some are quietly devastating, but each one opens a different door into the country's past and leaves a lasting mark.
If you also think historical films are dull, think again. True, history on screen can feel like homework in the wrong hands, but good historical films change this narrative in the most fun and informative way possible. They make the past look immediate, human, and sometimes even comfortable in ways that it stays with you long after the credits roll. For instance, these movies set in England do the utmost justice to British history. And that's exactly what makes these five American history films worth your time.
They are not just set in the United States; they go beyond. With some of the most defining moments of American history transformed into a screenplay, the result makes history look like a story worth watching on the big screen. From slavery to the Space Race and the birth of the atomic age, here are five historical movies set in America that you need to watch today.
5 American historical films worth (re)watching
Oppenheimer (2023)
https://youtu.be/uYPbbksJxIg?si=02AXgT1-IlhoC1NS
Oppenheimer needs no introduction. It is one of the most prestigious titles on this list. Directed by Christopher Nolan, it is a biographical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who helped lead the Manhattan Project during World War II. It follows Oppenheimer from his early academic years into the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, then on to the political collapse that followed the war.
Stretching across the 1920s to the 1960s, it covers a variety of themes, including science, power, paranoia, and the Cold War mood that changed for good. Cillian Murphy leads the film as Oppenheimer, with Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. in key roles. The film won Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars, while Nolan won Best Director, Murphy won Best Actor, and Downey Jr. won Best Supporting Actor.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
https://youtu.be/z02Ie8wKKRg?si=X0pj-MlXLxphKYs2
One of the clearest and hardest-hitting historical films ever made about slavery in America, 12 Years a Slave is based on Solomon Northup's real memoir. It tells the true story of a free Black man from New York who is abducted in 1841 and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War American South. The story follows his struggle to survive, hold on to his dignity and his eventual freedom.
Widely acclaimed for its power, honesty, and performances, the film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup. Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender plays the brutal Edwin Epps, Lupita Nyong'o plays Patsey, and Brad Pitt plays Samuel Bass. Interestingly, Pitt also co-produced the movie, and it won Best Picture at the 2014 Oscars.
Apollo 13 (1995)
https://youtu.be/KtEIMC58sZo?si=SQdgNwHLGhf6heiq
A space survival drama, Apollo 13 is the kind of American history film that is still widely loved and watched for research today. Based on NASA's real-life crisis during the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, it is a tightly constructed, technically detailed movie. Set in April 1970, it follows the Apollo 13 mission after an oxygen tank explodes mid-flight, leaving three astronauts and the team on the ground.
The incident turns a planned moon landing into a desperate fight to bring the astronauts home safely. Tom Hanks plays Jim Lovell, with Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert, Bill Paxton as Fred Haise and Ed Harris as Gene Kranz. Brian Grazer produced the film.
All the President's Men (1976)
https://youtu.be/DC3YFyah_Yg?si=aSfIeapxruhyZoW_
A definitive benchmark for political journalism films, All the President's Men is the story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. This political thriller follows Woodward and Bernstein as they investigate what appears to be a small break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. However, they later uncover the wider Watergate scandal that damaged the Nixon presidency.
From the original burglary to the early stages of the investigation and the widening trail of evidence, this historical film covers it all. Robert Redford plays Woodward, Dustin Hoffman plays Bernstein, and Jason Robards plays Ben Bradlee.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
https://youtu.be/EP34Yoxs3FQ?si=SJ5UQU89ouPUruXF
Set in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon belongs to the era when oil was discovered under Osage Nation land, and wealth soon drew corruption, greed and murder in its wake. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it tells the story of the murders of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, crimes that were also known as the Reign of Terror.
The plot follows the violence that ensues after the discovery of oil on Osage land, amid the toxic marriage between Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Burkhart. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Ernest, Lily Gladstone plays Mollie, and Robert De Niro plays William Hale. Culturally relevant, this historical film matters as it brings a painful and often overlooked part of American history into the centre of the frame.
Love historical films and series? These articles might be of interest to you:
- In England, here are 10 films that accurately capture 19th-century Britain, including some classics (you need to watch them!)
- Did you like Downton Abbey? You will love these 10 best US historical dramas (the ultimate time-traveler’s guide to American cinema!)
- Are you an absolute fan of Jane Austen? You will love these 5 TV heroines who echo your favourite characters
