Six Historical Fiction Shows and Movies Worth Watching

Over a couple of years, I have watched quite a few historical-based tv shows and movies. I have always enjoyed the genre and stories that come with it, so I compiled a list of my favorites that I would totally recommend watching. 

TV Shows

Anne With An E

Anne With An E is a Canadian show released on March 19, 2017. The show is based on the 1908 Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The story follows a young teen, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, and her large adventures through childhood. She spent most of her life an orphan, but when she was adopted by a brother and sister, her world changed drastically. 

As I watched the show, I immediately fell in love with the variety of characters, each possessing a unique personality. Another thing that I enjoyed was the beautiful shots of scenery and costumes that represented the countryside in the late 1800s. I found myself always wanting to watch, hoping to learn what would happen next. 

Victoria

Victoria is a British drama created and written by Daisy Goodwin. The show was first released in England on ITV on August 28, 2016, later found on Amazon Prime Video. The story touches on the real-life of Queen Victoria, who reigned in England from 1837–1901. It focuses on Victoria’s earliest years on the throne, including when she married her husband. 

As I continuously watched the show, I found myself quite invested in Victoria’s life and her decisions on the throne. The story was filled with drama that kept me hooked every minute. The costumes were absolutely stunning, representing the regal 1800s look perfectly. Victoria’s character was truly loveable and I really enjoyed watching her grow throughout the show. 

Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife is a British drama created by Heidi Thomas. The show was first released in England on BBC on January 15, 2012, later found on PBS then Netflix. The story is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth during the 1950s in London. It focuses on Jenny’s journey of becoming a midwife in a convent called the Nonnatus House.

As the show progressed, I noticed how detailed and complex the characters were. They each had an intriguing story, making me want to learn more about them. The story truly is touching and filled with drama, while also giving you a thrill when it comes to the medical side of the show. I always found myself on the edge of my seat for each character. 

Movies

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic drama directed by Joe Wright. The movie was released on November 11, 2005. The story is closely based on the original book, Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen. It primarily focuses on Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet and her journey to find love during the late 1700s. She finds herself very outspoken in a reserved society, with a family who is anything but quiet. But when she meets Mr. Darcy, her life seems to change drastically. 

After watching the movie, I immediately fell in love with the story. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Lizzy finding her way through the obstacles she faces. I found that each character had a very distinct personality, causing drama throughout the story. The costuming was absolutely stunning, creating beautiful scenes to enjoy. I truly loved the relationship progression between Lizzy and Darcy, finding the ending to be very fitting for them.

Little Women

Little Women is a coming-of-age drama directed by Greta Gerwig. The movie was released on December 25, 2019. The story is closely based on the original book, Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott. The movie follows Jo March and her three sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy, also including their neighbor Laurie Lawrence. The sisters are faced with challenges of life in the 1860s, including love, sickness, family, jobs, and more. 

While watching the movie, I found myself really enjoying each of the sisters’ personalities and stories. I loved how each of them was different yet they all clicked in place as a family. As always, I loved the costuming. Each dress was so beautiful and looked great on screen. The story was truly heartwarming and had a lot of good topics to learn from. I definitely found myself relating to the characters and their feelings.

Titanic

Titanic is a romantic action drama directed by James Cameron. The movie was released on December 19, 1997. The story is based on the true events of the sinking of the Titanic with a fictional twist. The movie follows a young wealthy woman named Rose DeWitt Bukater and a poor man Jack Dawson, who meet aboard the Titanic. The two find themselves in love but tragedy soon overtakes the ship. 

I have to admit, I bawled the entire movie. I loved Rose and Jack’s characters and really enjoyed how they fell in love so easily. Even though the scenes were based on history, I found myself invested in the story, hoping the ship wouldn’t sink. Each character had beautiful costumes and the ship was an amazing replica. I loved how thrilling the movie was and how I was always on the edge of my seat.