W2TCH

30 Gripping Films Exploring War, Conflict, and History Through Time

30 titles

Dive into the captivating realm of history as seen through the lens of cinema! Our carefully curated list of top 30 films delves into the extraordinary events and untold stories of 2012. From thrilling tales of war and codebreaking, to heart-wrenching accounts of survival and triumph against all odds, these movies transport you to different eras and offer an unforgettable cinematic experience that will leave you inspired and eager for more. Brace yourself as we take you on a breathtaking journey through time with our Top 30 History of 2012 selection.

Default orderPopularityIMDb ratingTMDB ratingRelease dateRuntimeTitleBudgetBox officeAscending
  1. 1Diaz - Don't Clean Up This BloodMovie · 2012 · 127m · Drama, HistoryIn July 2001, Genoa, Italy, became the site of massive protests against the G8 summit, drawing over 200,000 demonstrators. Clashes erupted between anti-globalization activists and police, culminating in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old protester, Carlo Giuliani, after he confronted a police vehicle. Following the protests, police raided the Diaz high school, a refuge for approximately one hundred unarmed protesters, mostly students, and independent journalists documenting police actions. Amnesty International condemned the raid as a severe violation of civil liberties, ranking it among the worst such breaches in a democratic Western country since World War II.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.1
  2. 2The Day of the Siege: September Eleven 1683Movie · 2012 · 114m · History, Adventure, DramaIn the summer of 1683, 300,000 Ottoman soldiers lay siege to Vienna, threatening to open the door for conquest of Europe. The pivotal moment arrives on September 11th, when Polish cavalry, led by King Jan III Sobieski, clashes with the Turks in a decisive battle.IMDb 4.4TMDB 4.3
  3. 3The GuillotinesMovie · 2012 · 113m · Action, History, AdventureDuring the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Yongzheng established a clandestine army called the Guillotines. Their mission was to safeguard the Emperor by eliminating anyone perceived as a danger to him or his authority. After 348 successful assignments, the Guillotines receive a final mission – one that ultimately leads to their demise.IMDb 4.8TMDB 5.5
  4. 4Britain's Greatest CodebreakerMovie · 2012 · 84m · Documentary, Drama, HistoryAlan Turing was a brilliant British mathematician who played a crucial role in deciphering the German Enigma code during World War II, a feat that likely saved countless lives. Despite his vital contributions, Turing was not recognized during his life. Instead, he was persecuted for his homosexuality, which was illegal at the time, and treated as a criminal. In 1952, he was convicted of homosexual acts and subjected to chemical castration. Two years later, at the age of 41, he died by suicide. Turing's tragic end was a consequence of the despair caused by the very nation he helped protect.IMDb 7.0TMDB 5.9
  5. 5WWII From SpaceMovie · 2012 · 88m · Documentary, History, WarWWII from Space presents World War II with a unique perspective. This HISTORY special uses satellite imagery to show the conflict from above, providing a global view of key events. It recreates historical moments and illustrates how events unfolded simultaneously, revealing their far-reaching consequences. The special also highlights how the nation, which ranked 19th in military strength in 1939, became the world's only atomic superpower by 1945.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.3
  6. 6The Last TycoonMovie · 2012 · 118m · Drama, HistorySet up by the police chief, young Cheng is forced to abandon his life and the woman he loves, Qiu. After escaping prison, he rapidly climbs the ranks of Shanghai's criminal underworld, becoming one of the city's most powerful mob bosses. However, fame brings danger as Cheng becomes caught between the advancing Japanese army and a treacherous local secret service. His life becomes more complicated with the unexpected reappearance of Qiu, now married to a writer. Will old love be rekindled in the fading light of the era?IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.4
  7. 7In the FogMovie · 2012 · 127m · Drama, War, History1942. The Soviet Union's western borderlands are occupied by Germany. A man is falsely accused of working with the enemy. Determined to clear his name, he is forced to confront a deeply difficult ethical dilemma.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.2
  8. 8You Are GodMovie · 2012 · 110m · Drama, Music, HistoryThis film follows Magik, Fokus, and Rahim – three friends who rise to prominence in the late 1990s music scene. Based on a true story, it details their persistent fight for success with their band, Paktofonika, set against the backdrop of changing values in 1990s Silesia.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.4
  9. 9How to Survive a PlagueMovie · 2012 · 109m · Documentary, HistoryThis is the story of two activist groups, ACT UP and TAG, who revolutionized the fight against AIDS. Through innovative activism, they transformed a deadly disease into something manageable. Without medical backgrounds, these determined individuals challenged the pharmaceutical industry, helping to fast-track promising new drugs from testing to patients.IMDb 7.6TMDB 6.8
  10. 10XinguMovie · 2012 · 102m · Drama, HistoryIn the 1940s, three brothers – Orlando, Claudius, and Leonardo Villas Boas – embark on a daring adventure by joining the Roncador-Xingu Expedition to explore and develop the heart of Central Brazil. The brothers lead the expedition as they blaze a trail 1,500 km, navigate over 1,000 miles of untouched rivers, establish 19 airfields for the Brazilian Army, found 43 towns, and make contact with 14 previously unknown tribes, including the Xavante warriors, achieving peaceful relations. This journey leads to the creation of the Xingu National Park, Brazil's first large-scale reservation for Indigenous people, the size of Belgium, solidifying the brothers' status as national heroes.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.4
  11. 11Gonzaga: From Father to SonMovie · 2012 · 120m · Drama, History, MusicLuiz Gonzaga leaves his hometown for the city, seeking a fresh start after a heartbreak. There, he meets and falls in love with Odaleia. The arrival of his son and his wife's declining health prompt him to return to his music, hoping to secure a better future for his child. He travels to Brazil with his son and a friend, but the distance creates unexpected challenges in his relationship with his son, complicated by their strong personalities. Told through conversations between father and son, this is the story of Luiz Gonzaga, the renowned singer and accordion player known as Rei do Baião, or Gonzagão.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.2
  12. 12Jesu, Joy of Man's DesiringMovie · 2012 · 95m · Comedy, HistoryIn 1733, Johann Sebastian Bach delivers a surprising and intense music lesson at the Leipzig church.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4
  13. 13RoseMovie · 2012 · 90m · Drama, History, WarRose, a woman from Masuria, struggles to survive alone on her farm after her German soldier husband dies in the war. Vulnerable as a single woman, she faces violence from both Russian soldiers seeking revenge and desperate Polish civilians. She finds an unexpected protector in Tadeusz, a former Polish Home Army officer in hiding, who deserted after witnessing the brutal murder of his wife by Russian troops.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.1
  14. 14The Untold History Of The United StatesMovie · 2012 · 585m · Documentary, HistoryOliver Stone chronicles the history of the United States, spanning the period from World War II to the present day.IMDb 8.6TMDB 8.1
  15. 15PurgeMovie · 2012 · 125m · Drama, HistoryDuring Stalin's Great Terror, Aliide endured immense hardship. Decades later, living in isolation, she encounters Zara, a young woman who has just escaped from Russian mafia sex slavery. Both survivors, Aliide and Zara begin to explore their pasts, and their stories intertwine, revealing the devastating impact of the era on a family in Estonia.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8
  16. 16Les MisérablesMovie · 2012 · 158m · History, DramaThis film adapts the popular stage musical, which itself is based on Victor Hugo's 19th-century French novel. Jean Valjean, who served a prison sentence for stealing bread, is relentlessly pursued by Police Inspector Javert. Their ongoing chase dominates their lives, drawing Valjean into the growing student revolutions across France.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.3
  17. 17Piazza Fontana: The Italian ConspiracyMovie · 2012 · 129m · Drama, Crime, MysteryIn December 1969, a bombing at a Milan bank kills 17 people, triggering a period of intense political unrest known as the Years of Lead. Italian authorities and the press quickly blame local anarchists for the attack. However, a determined prosecutor begins to uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving right-wing groups, corrupt intelligence agencies, and powerful individuals who aim to destabilize the country's democratic institutions.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.2
  18. 18Hyde Park on HudsonMovie · 2012 · 94m · Comedy, Drama, HistoryThis is the story of the relationship between Franklin D. Roosevelt and his second cousin, Margaret Stuckley, focusing on a weekend in 1939 when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited upstate New York.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.2
  19. 19NoMovie · 2012 · 118m · Drama, HistoryIn 1988, facing international pressure, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is compelled to hold a vote on whether he can stay in power for another eight years. Opposition leaders recruit a young, ambitious advertising executive named René Saavedra to lead their "No" campaign. With limited resources and under constant surveillance by Pinochet's forces, Saavedra and his team develop a daring strategy to win the election and liberate Chile.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2
  20. 20EscapeMovie · 2012 · 76m · Action, HistoryA decade after the Black Death ravaged the land, a poor family journeys in search of a better life. While traveling through a deserted mountain pass, they are attacked by a brutal gang of thieves. Nineteen-year-old Signe is the sole survivor of the attack, captured and taken back to the gang's camp. There, she discovers a horrifying destiny awaits her and realizes escape is her only chance.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.9
  21. 21Game ChangeMovie · 2012 · 118m · TV Movie, Drama, ComedyIn the 2008 Republican presidential race, John McCain chooses Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. As the campaign intensifies, her inexperience with both politics and the media proves to be a burden for McCain and his advisors.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.9
  22. 22RommelMovie · 2012 · 120m · Action, War, HistoryThis is the story of the last seven months of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's life.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.2
  23. 23AsuraMovie · 2012 · 76m · Animation, Drama, HistoryLost and alone in the desolate landscapes of Kyoto, a feral orphan fights for survival. His encounters with people force him to confront his primal instincts and learn to control his violent nature.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.2
  24. 24A Royal AffairMovie · 2012 · 137m · Drama, History, RomanceA young queen develops feelings for her royal physician, and together they ignite a revolution that fundamentally alters their country.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4
  25. 25MasqueradeMovie · 2012 · 131m · Drama, HistoryTo save his kingdom from descending into turmoil after the king is poisoned, a commoner who bears an uncanny resemblance to him secretly assumes the throne, risking his own life in the process.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.7
  26. 26Red TailsMovie · 2012 · 125m · Drama, Action, AdventureThis is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering African-American pilots who served in a combat squadron during World War II.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.6
  27. 27Outlaws - For Greater GloryMovie · 2012 · 145m · History, Drama, ActionThis is the story of the Cristero War (1926-1929), a conflict sparked by a rebellion against the Mexican government's efforts to remove religion from public life.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.8
  28. 28Anna KareninaMovie · 2012 · 130m · Drama, Romance, HistoryIn Imperial Russia, Anna Karenin travels to Moscow to see her brother. There, she encounters the captivating cavalry officer Vronsky and is instantly drawn to him. However, pursuing a relationship of this nature poses a severe threat to a woman's standing within St. Petersburg's elite social circles.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.7
  29. 29LincolnMovie · 2012 · 149m · History, DramaThis is the story of Abraham Lincoln's challenging last months as President. As the country grapples with civil war and a nation shifting towards change, Lincoln works to bring an end to the conflict, reunite the nation, and abolish slavery. Driven by strong moral conviction and a determined spirit, his decisions during this pivotal time will have a lasting impact on the future.IMDb 7.3TMDB 6.9
  30. 30Rurouni Kenshin Part I: OriginsMovie · 2012 · 134m · Adventure, Action, FantasyFollowing the end of the Bakumatsu war in 1868, Kenshin Himura, a former assassin, journeys across Japan wielding his sword reversed. He dedicates himself to protecting the vulnerable, striving to do so without taking lives.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.5