W2TCH

30 Diverse Historical Films That Shaped 2016's Narrative

30 titles

Dive into a riveting journey through the lens of time with our carefully curated list of the Top 30 History Movies of 2016. These gripping films delve deep into the past, offering insightful glimpses into pivotal moments and extraordinary lives that shaped history. From the chilling thriller, Beyond Valkyrie: Dawn of the Fourth Reich to the intimate biographical portrait, I Called Him Morgan, each film transports us to a different era, ensuring a cinematic experience unlike any other. Get ready to immerse yourself in tales of conflict, creativity, and human spirit that have left indelible marks on our world.

Default orderPopularityIMDb ratingTMDB ratingRelease dateRuntimeTitleBudgetBox officeAscending
  1. 1The Last PrincessMovie · 2016 · 126m · Action, Drama, HistoryDuring Japan's oppressive colonial rule, Deok-hye, the last Princess of the Joseon Dynasty, is sent to Japan. She longs for home while trying to hold onto her royal dignity. After several unsuccessful attempts, Deok-hye finally tries to return to Korea with the assistance of her childhood sweetheart, Jang-han.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.7
  2. 2Beyond Valkyrie: Dawn of the 4th ReichMovie · 2016 · 100m · Action, War, HistoryThis intense World War II thriller follows an Allied special ops team tasked with rescuing Adolf Hitler after the failed Operation Valkyrie. When the mission goes wrong, the team must now join forces with unlikely allies to prevent a group of Nazi officers from escaping to Argentina and rebuilding the Third Reich.IMDb 5.2TMDB 5.4
  3. 3Ukraine on FireMovie · 2016 · 95m · Documentary, HistoryOliver Stone's film presents the Euromaidan protests and the removal of Viktor Yanukovych as a conspiracy orchestrated by the West, with Russian backing.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.0
  4. 4I Called Him MorganMovie · 2016 · 91m · Music, Documentary, HistoryKasper Collin's documentary blends jazz history with a true-crime narrative, using extensive archival footage and new interviews to recount the tragic story of trumpeter Lee Morgan and his common-law wife Helen. In 1972, Helen murdered him in a New York bar.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2
  5. 5The GlassblowerMovie · 2016 · 89m · Drama, History, TV MovieIn 1890, Marie challenges tradition by becoming the first woman to work as a glassblower in the small German town of Lauscha. Her glass ornaments unexpectedly find popularity in America, opening up a new market for her craft.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.5
  6. 6The Last FamilyMovie · 2016 · 124m · Drama, HistoryBeksiński is a gentle man who secretly fears spiders, even though he has intense sexual fantasies and creates unsettling dystopian art. He's a devoted family man, striving for the well-being of his wife Zofia, his anxious son Tomasz, and their aging mothers. His dedication to painting while listening to classical music eventually leads to recognition in the contemporary art world. Zofia, a devout Catholic, tries to maintain family harmony, but Tomasz struggles with violent moods and suicidal thoughts. Their brief respite is shattered when he begins dating, becomes a radio personality and film translator, requiring his parents to constantly worry about his self-destructive tendencies. However, Beksiński always knew family life wouldn't be perfect. He documents the next 28 years of his family's life with his camcorder, capturing it all through paintings, close calls, music trends, and funerals.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.1
  7. 7AfterimageMovie · 2016 · 98m · Drama, HistoryIn 1945, with Stalin's control over Poland tightening, renowned painter Wladislaw Strzeminski defies the demands of social realism in his art. He faces persecution, losing his position at the University and being removed from museums. Supported by former students, he joins the resistance against the Party, becoming a symbol of artistic defiance against intellectual oppression.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.6
  8. 8AirliftMovie · 2016 · 126m · Drama, History, ActionIn August 1990, when Iraq invades Kuwait, a detached Indian businessman unexpectedly becomes the voice for over 170,000 Indian citizens left stranded in the region.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.1
  9. 9The Broken CrownMovie · 2016 · 113m · Drama, HistorySpain is gripped by a relentless pursuit of power, and the fate of the empire rests on the mental state of one woman.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.5
  10. 10To Walk InvisibleMovie · 2016 · 120m · Drama, HistoryTo Walk Invisible explores the lives of the Brontë sisters, highlighting their journey from a modest background to becoming celebrated novelists. The film recounts how these exceptional women overcame societal limitations to create some of the most important works in English literature.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2
  11. 11Stefan Zweig: Farewell to EuropeMovie · 2016 · 106m · Drama, HistoryBefore Dawn follows the years of exile experienced by renowned Austrian Jewish writer Stefan Zweig. It depicts his internal conflict as he grapples with how to respond to the tumultuous events in war-torn Europe, and his quest to find a new place to call home.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.6
  12. 12The Death of Louis XIVMovie · 2016 · 115m · Drama, HistoryAugust 1715. During a walk, Louis XIV experiences a leg pain. In the following days, the king continues with his duties, but struggles to sleep and develops a high fever. He eats very little and grows progressively weaker. This marks the beginning of the great French king's prolonged suffering, as he is attended by family and physicians.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5
  13. 13Marie CurieMovie · 2016 · 95m · Drama, HistoryThis is the story of Marie Curie during her most eventful five years. From 1905, when she and Pierre Curie travel to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize for their discovery of radioactivity, to 1911, when she wins a second Nobel Prize, Marie challenges the established male academics in France, both as a scientist and as a woman.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.1
  14. 14The Devil's MistressMovie · 2016 · 111m · Drama, History, RomanceSalzburg, Germany, 2000. In a conversation with a journalist, aging Czech actress Lída Baarová recounts her dramatic ascent to stardom in 1930s Berlin and her intense affair with Joseph Goebbels, the Third Reich's Minister of Propaganda.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.0
  15. 15Bilal: A New Breed of HeroMovie · 2016 · 109m · Animation, Action, AdventureA thousand years ago, a young boy with aspirations of becoming a great warrior is taken from his home along with his sister and brought to a distant land. He finds himself in a world dominated by greed and injustice, where he discovers the courage to speak out and fight for change. Based on true events, this is the story of a remarkable hero who earned his place in history.IMDb 7.5TMDB 6.8
  16. 16Hidden FiguresMovie · 2016 · 127m · Drama, HistoryThis is the story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson – exceptional African-American women who worked at NASA and were essential to the success of the historic John Glenn orbital flight. These pioneering women broke barriers and inspired future generations with their extraordinary talent.IMDb 7.8TMDB 8.1
  17. 17O.J.: Made in AmericaMovie · 2016 · 467m · Documentary, Crime, HistoryThis is the story of O.J. Simpson, from his fame to his downfall. His highly publicized murder trial brought deep racial divisions in America to the forefront, exposing a nation struggling with its own fractures.IMDb 8.9TMDB 8.4
  18. 18Smoke & MirrorsMovie · 2016 · 123m · History, ThrillerThis is the story of deception and disguise, inspired by real events and the fascinating life of Francisco Paesa, a prominent figure in recent spy history.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5
  19. 19The DancerMovie · 2016 · 108m · Drama, HistoryLoïe Fuller, a Midwestern American, rose to fame at the Folies Bergère at the start of the 1900s, becoming a celebrated figure of the Belle Epoque. She revolutionized dance and lighting with her innovative Serpentine Dance. However, her complex relationship with her student, Isadora Duncan, ultimately led to the end of Fuller's celebrated career.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.5
  20. 20All the WayMovie · 2016 · 132m · Drama, History, TV MovieThis film chronicles Lyndon B. Johnson's remarkable eleven-month period in power, beginning with his ascension to the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It follows his determined efforts to secure passage of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act and his own campaign for the presidency. The story culminates on the night LBJ is officially elected, marking his transformation from an "accidental President" to a leader in his own right.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.7
  21. 211898: Our Last Men in the PhilippinesMovie · 2016 · 130m · War, Drama, HistoryIn 1898 Philippines, fifty Spanish soldiers arrive in the village of Baler to reestablish a fort. With the war against Filipinos and their American allies nearing defeat, the small garrison faces an eleven-month siege and ultimately becomes the last to surrender.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.5
  22. 22Operation ChromiteMovie · 2016 · 111m · History, Drama, WarDuring the critical Battle of Incheon in the Korean War, a group of soldiers fight.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.8
  23. 23GeniusMovie · 2016 · 104m · History, DramaNew York, 1920s. Max Perkins, a renowned literary editor, is responsible for launching the careers of iconic authors like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. When a massive, 1,000-page manuscript by an unknown writer arrives on his desk, Perkins believes he has found a true literary prodigy.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.5
  24. 24In This Corner of the WorldMovie · 2016 · 130m · Drama, Animation, RomanceJapan, 1943, World War II. Young Suzu journeys from her village near Hiroshima to Kure, a naval port, to marry and live with her husband's family. Her resourcefulness blossoms as she adapts to a life of hardship, quickly becoming essential to her household. Drawing on inherited wisdom, Suzu infuses the ordinary moments of daily life with artistry and grace. Despite facing numerous challenges – loss, wartime dangers, and constant air raids – her spirit remains unbroken.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.9
  25. 25Eddie the EagleMovie · 2016 · 106m · Comedy, Drama, HistoryThis is the inspiring true story of Michael "Eddie" Edwards, a British ski-jumper who defied expectations with unwavering self-belief. Despite being written off by many, Eddie partnered with a unconventional coach to challenge the status quo. He captured the world's attention and won over fans globally with his remarkable performance at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, achieving a historic and improbable result.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2
  26. 26Patriots DayMovie · 2016 · 133m · Action, Crime, DramaFollowing a horrific terrorist attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders joins survivors, first responders, and investigators in a desperate effort to find the Boston Marathon bombers before they attack again.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.1
  27. 27Ben-HurMovie · 2016 · 125m · Action, History, AdventureA nobleman is wrongly convicted and spends years as a slave. He eventually escapes to exact revenge on his closest friend, who betrayed him.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.8
  28. 28SullyMovie · 2016 · 96m · Drama, HistoryIn January 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger successfully landed a disabled plane on the Hudson River, saving all 155 people on board. While celebrated as a hero for his extraordinary skill, an investigation began that posed a serious threat to his reputation and career.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2
  29. 29The FounderMovie · 2016 · 115m · Drama, HistoryThis is the true story of how Ray Kroc, an Illinois salesman, encountered Mac and Dick McDonald, who were operating a successful burger restaurant in Southern California during the 1950s. Kroc was drawn to their efficient food preparation and recognized the potential for a franchise. He strategically worked to take control of the company from the brothers, ultimately building it into a billion-dollar empire.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.1
  30. 3013 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of BenghaziMovie · 2016 · 144m · War, Action, HistoryDuring a violent attack on a U.S. compound in Libya, an American Ambassador is killed. A security team is left trying to understand the unfolding chaos.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.3