Top 10 Historical Male Figures That Deserve a Hollywood Movie

Script written by Fred Humphries

Top 10 Historical Male Figures That Deserve a Hollywood Movie

What better way to honor their achievements than to give them the big screen treatment? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Historical Male Figures that Deserve a Hollywood Movie.

For this list, we’re taking a look at the gentlemen whose exceptional lives are worthy of being remembered in a big budget flick. We’re excluding sportspeople this time, but be sure to look out for our list on famous female figures from history that should have their own film.

#10: Henry Ford

Best known for revolutionizing transportation and the overall American production industry, Ford’s impact in world history goes farther than the Model T. Thanks to the success of the Ford Motor Company, Ford was at one point one of the richest and most well-known men in the world, having also popularized the now integral assembly line technique of mass production. A pacifist during WWI and a supporter of high wages for his employees, Ford wasn’t without his controversies; his anti-Semitic writings and ties to the Nazi party would make for an intriguing watch!

#9: Ferdinand Porsche

There are many fascinating stories surrounding the relationships that businesses forged with the Nazi Party, but the part this engineer had to play in their war effort was more intimate than most. Founder of the German car company that bears his name, he worked closely with the Third Reich and Adolf Hitler to create many of the tanks and weapons systems used during the war. This association now has obvious negative connotations, but he was a leading innovator for automobile technology, with his works including the Volkswagen Beetle and hybrid engines.

#8: Isaac Newton

The Enlightenment must have been an exciting time to be alive, as scientific developments completely altered the way we viewed the world around us. It would have been even more enthralling to be a leading figure in the movement towards a greater understanding of the forces of earth. Newton is best known for his association of gravity with a falling apple, but his influence is far greater than that. His laws of motion hada profound effect on scientific thought for centuries. His philosophical musings challenged the most prominent views at the time, bordering on heresy to mainstream Christianity.

#7: Shaka Zulu

The ambiguity of this king’s nature is the most enduring factor in the interest paid to him by historians and in popular culture. Some see him as a revolutionary leader who forwarded Zulu culture through innovative and diplomatic means. Others regard him as a monster who slaughtered thousands of people and, as a result, divided the south of the African continent. Due to contradictory recollections, the truth behind the man may never be known. But, the fact that his story invites a variety of interpretations could work in his favor onscreen.

#6: Aristotle

Acknowledged as the first true scientist, this Greek’s contribution to a huge number of fields is unrivalled to this day. Many of his discoveries were unchallenged until the 19th century, and he still influences thought on philosophy and science in the present day. Many would say he created Western philosophy singlehandedly. Aristotle tutored legendary king Alexander the Great, extending his influence even further. Though some of his views on other cultures and women are antiquated by today’s standard, a biopic on one of the first genuine scientists in history would surely be entertaining.

#5: Napoleon Bonaparte

The clichéd image of the tiny general with an inferiority complex is what many imagine when they hear “Napoleon.” In fact, that is merely ajoke stemming from British propaganda at the time of his reign. Napoleon was really an inspirational leader with an ambition for power thatfew could resist. Emerging from humble beginnings to eventually rule much of Europe, he bent influential figures to his will through sheer force of personality. As well as being a masterful commander, his liberal reforms in the countries he conquered laid the groundwork for civilized society as we know it today.

#4: Leonardo da Vinci

The quintessential Renaissance man is one of the greatest painters and inventors of his era, often devising machines that were too advanced for the technology available at the time. We’re talking hydraulic pumps, flying machines and parachutes. His genius and unquenchable thirst to further his own learning in a diverse range of disciplines mean many consider him as the most multi-talented human being ever. His private life and sexuality remain largely unknown, but some recordings note him as a strong, handsome and outgoing man. Still, apparently only his pupils truly knew the inner workings of his mind. Oh, and no, “The Da Vinci Code” doesn’t count in this case.

#3: Vladimir Lenin

One of the most influential men of the 20th century was absolutely unwavering in his commitment to bringing about a socialist revolution in his own country. Nothing could
change his views on Marxism and the ways he believed that social reform should be brought about. He was a key figure in the 1917 revolution that saw a Communist government instilled in Russia, thereby influencing world affairs for the rest of the century. He was apparently capable of kindness but still oversaw the murders of tens of thousands of opponents who stood against him.

#2: Thomas Jefferson

The lives of fellow former US Presidents George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt would also make for interesting films, but Jefferson gets the nod for our list. A founding father of the US, he was also a great thinker and became president of the American Philosophical Society. As a massive figure during a crucial historical era, he had a hand in almost all of the social and cultural advances of the time. Despite promoting anti-slavery legislation, he still owned over 600 slaves during his lifetime, a duality in his personality that is often overlooked. We know, 1995’s “Jefferson in Paris” documents his relationship with his daughter, but a man of this stature deserves something more.

Before we reveal our top pick, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions.

Cyrus the Great

Oscar Wilde

John Locke

Karl Marx

King Atahualpa

#1: Nikola Tesla

This scientist is today recognized for his input in creating modern electricity systems, but his work often delved into the bizarre. Despite being quite the showman when presenting his quirkier inventions, he was strictly regimented when it came to his work schedule. He kept only a few friends, most notably Mark Twain, and openly hated fellow inventor and rival Thomas Edison. An endlessly unusual man, he supposedly never slept more than two hours, criticized the work of Albert Einstein and even believed in eugenics. The story of this unique and extraordinary man and his incredible ideas would electrify the screen.

Do you agree with our list? Which men from history would you like to see on the big screen? For more historical Top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.