Top 10 American History Movies
If only history textbooks were as exciting as these cinematic masterpieces. From Platoon, to Malcolm X, to 12 Years a Slave, these movies take a detailed and important look at America's past. WatchMojo ranks the top American History movies.
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#10: “Platoon” (1986)
Oliver Stone’s semi-autobiographical tale of a group of American infantrymen struggling to keep their sanity among the carnage of the Vietnam War is often considered one of the most poignant depictions of military combat ever put on screen. Starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe – not to mention a slew of future stars – the film dominated the box office en route to four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. “Platoon” strips away the romanticism that often seeps into war films, and offers up a raw, horrific look at what it was like to fight and die in the Vietnam War.
#9: “Selma” (2014)
There has been no shortage of films made about the indomitable civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. However, few have managed to surmise the man’s insatiable quest for equality quite like “Selma”. The film focuses on the now-iconic voting rights marches that took place in 1965 on the road between Selma and Montgomery in Alabama. Nominated for numerous awards, “Selma” benefits from strong direction and even better acting, with David Oyelowo’s portrayal of King Jr. one of the actor’s all time best. Richard Roeper called the film “an important history lesson” and we’re hard pressed to disagree.
#8: “All the President’s Men” (1976)
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Acting out the fall of President Richard Nixon, “All the President’s Men” feels less like a feature film and more like a documentary. The film gives viewers a behind the scenes look of what it was like for intrepid reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward as they crept closer to uncovering the biggest political scandal in American history: the Watergate scandal. Despite its depiction of one of America’s darkest sagas the film manages to imbue a sense of hope into viewers thanks to the way it portrays the persistence of Bernstein and Woodward. It would be nominated for eight Oscars, winning four.
#7: “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012)
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“Zero Dark Thirty” offers up an in-depth look at what it was like to be tracking one of the most infamous mass murderers in history. Chronicling the manhunt for Osama bin Laden in the decade following the September 11th attacks, the story is viewed through the eyes of a fictional CIA analyst played by Jessica Chastain – a story device that in no way inhibits the film's ablity to show the world just how difficult tracking down one man can be. A critical and commercial success, the film nevertheless drew criticism for its depiction of torture, with some postulating that the film legitimized its use.
#6: “Malcolm X” (1992)
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Only Spike Lee could have directed this. This 1992 biopic traces the turbulent life of Malcolm Little, as he evolves from petty criminal to one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history, adopting a new moniker in the process. Malcolm X’s life is put on display for the entire world to see and it makes you sympathize with a man who was forced to do battle with everyone from the US government to the Nation of Islam in his quest for equality. The role would earn Denzel Washington his third Academy Award nomination, and it only takes one viewing to understand why.
#5: “Gettysburg” (1993)
There was no shortage of blood soaked battles in the American Civil War, but none were as deadly as the Battle of Gettysburg. The film gives us a frank depiction of the battle, which saw an estimated 50,0000 men lose their lives in service of their respective flags. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger and Martin Sheen, “Gettysburg” received high praise from critics, with Roger Ebert remarking that it is a film “Civil War buffs will find indispensable.” The film functions as a time capsule of sorts, helping to show audiences the dark realities of a specific and important moment in American history.
#4: “12 Years a Slave” (2013)
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Director Steve McQueen opted for a brutal approach in his depiction of one of America’s darkest periods in history, shining a light on the atrocities of slavery in a way that is both incredibly moving and deeply disturbing. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s portrayal of Solomon Northup – a free African-American man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Antebellum South – is nothing short of brilliant and the film itself walked away from the 86th Academy Awards with the Oscar for Best Picture. This is the kind of film that schools should be showing their students so that history never repeats itself.
#3: “Glory” (1989)
Depicting one of the first all-black military units to fight in the American Civil War, “Glory” follows the regiment from beginning to end, inviting viewers to come along for the ride as they slowly form a cohesive unit in the face of intense and pervasive racism. The film was heralded by critics, with one remarking that “Glory” is “a stirring and long overdue tribute to the black soldiers who fought for the Union cause". Picking up three Academy Awards, including one for Denzel Washington, “Glory” reminds us that the American Civil War was a diverse, multi-layered conflict, far from a “whites-only” event.
#2: “Lincoln” (2012)
One of America’s most celebrated presidents, the last months of Abraham Lincoln’s life were ripe with drama; something this Steven Spielberg directed film expertly demonstrates. “Lincoln” captures the President’s final four months in office prior to being assassinated, highlighting his attempts to abolish slavery through the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment. Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance received universal acclaim and he would go on to win both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actor. Cinematic depictions of seminal American moments are Spielberg’s bread and butter, so it should come as no surprise that he knocked this one out of the park! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Frost/Nixon” (2008) “Milk” (2008)
#1: “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
“Saving Private Ryan” isn’t just a war movie; it’s the war movie. Its raw depiction of the Normandy beach landings is unequaled in the annals of film history, and the camaraderie put on display by the film’s fictional squad of soldiers evokes in viewers a feeling of actual brotherhood. Few films before or since have managed to depict WWII in such a way, a tightly woven narrative that is at times romanticism, but never so much as to distract from the horrors of war. Unsurprisingly it was an awards darling, one ultimately preserved by the United States Library of Congress in the National Film Registry.
