30 Best Historical Films of the 2020s (So Far) You Absolutely Must Watch

History has powered some of the most gripping films of this decade. From intimate character studies to sweeping battle stories, the best new historical cinema brings the past to life with craft and heart. These movies do more than revisit old dates. They ask what choices mean, who gets remembered, and why these memories matter right now.

This list gathers standout titles across wars, revolutions, royal courts, music halls, race tracks, deserts, and arctic shores. Some follow true stories while others build rich period worlds that feel unmistakably lived in. All of them are worth your time. Clear a weekend and dive in.

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Christopher Nolan turns the story of J Robert Oppenheimer into a tense human puzzle that never lets up. The film moves with purpose as it tracks scientific breakthroughs and the personal cost that follows.

It is talky yet electric thanks to sharp editing and a towering lead performance. The moral fallout lingers long after the final scene which is exactly what great historical drama should do.

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)

Martin Scorsese centers the Osage community and lays out a chilling portrait of greed. The open plains feel vast while the violence lands with quiet dread.

The film’s patient storytelling rewards close attention. It listens to voices too often ignored and that care gives the story lasting power.

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)

This modern take on trench warfare embraces mud smoke and silence to devastating effect. The camera sits with young soldiers as hope drains away.

The result is both grand and intimate. It is a reminder that the machinery of war crushes lives no matter the uniform.

‘The Zone of Interest’ (2023)

A family tends a garden and hosts picnics while a death camp sits just beyond a wall. That chilling contrast is the point and it hits hard.

The sound design does much of the talking and every choice feels precise. It is a stark look at ordinary people living beside horror.

‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Ridley Scott paints a restless portrait of ambition and spectacle. Battles roar while private moments show a man wrestling with power and desire.

The film moves briskly through a crowded life. Big set pieces deliver while the intimate scenes reveal who Napoleon is when the cannons fall quiet.

‘The Last Duel’ (2021)

A bitter feud unfolds through three conflicting accounts. Each retelling reshapes truth and pushes us to examine who gets believed.

The final confrontation is raw and nerve shredding. What stays with you is the study of pride and the cost of speaking up.

‘The Northman’ (2022)

Robert Eggers draws from legend to build a brutal saga of family and fate. Every frame feels carved from wind sea and volcanic fire.

It is a primal revenge tale that still finds aching humanity. The old world feels tangible which makes its violence hit even harder.

‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ (2021)

The rise of Fred Hampton and the story of the man who betrayed him collide in a tight thriller. The film pulses with energy and purpose.

Performances burn with conviction and sorrow. It makes political history feel alive and tragically current.

‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ (2020)

Courtroom fireworks meet protest street beats in an ensemble showcase. The script crackles and the pace never sags.

It captures the clash of ideals with wit and sting. You leave humming the speeches and thinking about the stakes.

‘The Dig’ (2021)

A rural excavation uncovers buried treasure and complicated grief. Gentle scenes reveal how discovery can heal and divide.

The film treats history as a conversation between past and present. Quiet pleasures build into something deeply moving.

‘The Courier’ (2020)

A salesman slips into spycraft and finds courage he did not expect. Tense meetings and cold corridors keep the pulse high.

It is a classic cloak and dagger tale anchored by human stakes. Small acts of bravery feel enormous.

‘Munich – The Edge of War’ (2021)

Diplomats race to avoid catastrophe while suspicion grows on all sides. The film captures the pressure of rooms where words can save lives.

It balances suspense with insight into leadership under strain. The choices feel tragically understandable which makes them sting.

‘Till’ (2022)

A mother’s fight for justice becomes a torch that refuses to dim. The storytelling is steady and respectful with emotion earned in every scene.

It is devastating and vital. The film honors a life while showing how courage moves history.

‘One Night in Miami…’ (2020)

Four icons gather and talk about responsibility and change. The hotel room setting lets ideas spark without losing warmth.

Conversations turn into action in the minds of the characters and the audience. It is thoughtful inspiring and surprisingly playful.

‘Mank’ (2020)

Old Hollywood shimmers and bites in equal measure. Wry humor and sharp politics mingle as a writer battles his own limits.

The style is lush yet never empty. It is a love letter that also asks hard questions about power and credit.

‘Spencer’ (2021)

A single winter holiday becomes a story of isolation and resolve. The camera glides through corridors that feel like cages.

It is dreamlike but grounded in real feeling. You watch someone reclaim a sense of self and it is thrilling.

‘Elvis’ (2022)

The spotlight never blinks as the showman tries to keep up with the show. Music scenes burst with swagger and melancholy.

The film understands the price of spectacle. It celebrates a legend while tracing the toll of control and excess.

‘Blonde’ (2022)

This portrait chooses interior truth over tidy facts. It explores fame as a maze that keeps shifting its walls.

Bold choices will divide viewers which is part of its force. The film asks you to feel rather than just observe.

‘Golda’ (2023)

A leader faces a national crisis with nerves of steel and visible strain. War rooms and hospital rooms tell the story together.

It is a performance showcase with tight focus. Strategy and vulnerability share the frame and both matter.

‘Ferrari’ (2023)

Engines thunder while a family business rattles from within. The track sequences grip but the living room arguments cut deeper.

The film understands obsession and risk. It shows how speed can be escape and trap at the same time.

‘Chevalier’ (2022)

A prodigy fights for space in a world that tries to shrink him. Concert halls glitter while social rules press in.

It is vibrant and defiant. The joy of performance becomes a form of resistance.

‘Benedetta’ (2021)

Faith desire and power collide in a cloistered town. The film is provocative and unexpectedly funny without losing its bite.

It treats belief as lived experience not just ritual. The result is both earthy and spiritual.

‘A Call to Spy’ (2020)

Three women step into the shadows and rewrite what service can look like. Danger feels constant but so does resolve.

It highlights teamwork and grit over gadget tricks. Quiet heroism gets the spotlight it deserves.

‘Greyhound’ (2020)

A convoy braves a gauntlet of threats while a captain tracks every wave. The film is lean and relentless.

Strategy becomes character as choices stack up fast. You feel the salt and the stress in every scene.

‘The Outpost’ (2020)

A remote base faces a storm of fire and refuses to fold. The geography is clear which makes the action easy to follow and hard to forget.

It honors real people with care and craft. The final notes land with respect rather than sentiment.

‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ (2020)

A translator tries to save her family as a city unravels. Tension flows from small rooms packed with fear.

The film is intimate and shattering. It shows how bureaucracy can become a weapon and how love fights back.

‘The Eight Hundred’ (2020)

A small group holds a warehouse while a city watches. Massive scale meets tight focus and the contrast is gripping.

It blends mythmaking with gritty detail. The stand becomes a symbol that echoes far beyond the river.

‘Operation Mincemeat’ (2021)

A daring plan turns lies into life saving truth. Offices and beaches share the same stakes.

It is charming without losing suspense. Team dynamics keep the story buoyant even when danger closes in.

‘Emancipation’ (2022)

A man’s will to live drives him through swamps and gunfire. Nature itself feels like both enemy and ally.

The journey is brutal and cathartic. Survival becomes a statement that no chain can hold.

‘News of the World’ (2020)

A weary traveler reads headlines to towns that crave connection and meets a child who needs a home. Their road becomes a lesson in trust.

The landscapes are beautiful yet harsh. Kindness turns into courage one small choice at a time.

Share your favorite picks from this decade in the comments and let everyone know which historical films you think belong on this list.