Historical movies have always been favorite among both filmmakers and the audience alike because the filmmakers get to work on something that is already present and they just need to write it properly and for audiences, they get to see something about which they heard stories and legends. From the beginning only, Hollywood made some of the best historical epic movies, and here is the list of a few epic historical movies from Hollywood you can’t miss.
Ben Hur (1959)
Ben Hur is based on a Biblical tale that won eleven Academy Awards including that of Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Director.
Directed by William Wyler, Ben Hur is truly an epic movie that boasts of great scenes, epic set pieces, brilliant performances, and a beautiful story. The film follows the life of a Jewish Prince, Judah Ben-Hur, whose life is completely changed when his childhood friend betrays and accuses him of conspiring against the Roman Empire. After spending three years as a galley slave, Ben Hur must find a way to reinstate him to high standing while taking revenge on his enemies. The classic chariot race scene is considered one of the most iconic and epic scenes in Hollywood.
300 (2006)
300 is directed by Zack Snyder and it’s based on the real Battle of Thermopylae where Greeks successfully defended their nation from the invading Persian army.
Zack Snyder directed this historical war movie that is based on an actual historical event where the Greeks battled with the mighty Persian army led by Godking Xerxes of Persian. Though the movie exaggerated the facts as there was a much bigger army with the Greeks and not just 300 soldiers but it’s called cinematic liberty. 300 featured Gerard Butler as the Spartan King Leonidas who defend his motherland from the invading Persian army with mere 300 soldiers.
Troy (2003)
Troy is the cinematic adaptation of Homer’s epic Iliad and it featured Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, and Diana Kroger in lead roles.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff, Troy is based on the famous legend where a united Greek army attacks the powerful empire of Troy. The story was found in ancient Greek author Homer’s epics Iliad and Odyssey. It had Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, Orlando Bloom as Paris, and Diana Kroger as Helen of Troy. The movie is a cinematic masterpiece with great visuals, art direction and action set pieces. If you like historical war movies, then Troy is the perfect choice for you to watch as soon as possible if you still have not.
Schindler's List (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List is one of the best movies about World War II and the Holocaust.
Schindler’s List is a movie that tells the real-life story of Oscar Schindler, a businessman from Poland who saved thousands of Jews from being killed in the holocaust. During WWII, Hitler enslaved Jews and kill them in merciless ways in the Nazi camps he created. The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg, and Liam Nelson plays the titular role of Oscar Schindler. The movie is in black and white, to probably depict one of the darkest chapters of modern history. Schindler’s List won several Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
