20 Best History Movies on Hulu 2026
Explore 20 Hulu historical films, from A Passage to India and Parkland to Amsterdam, Wicked Little Letters, and fresh 2025 releases.
If you’re searching Hulu for historical films that feel worth your time, this list brings together sweeping dramas, sharp comedies, tense mysteries, and a few adventurous period pieces. Among the standout picks are A Passage to India (1984), Amsterdam (2022), The Testament of Ann Lee (2025), and Small Things Like These (2024), each offering a very different take on the past. You’ll also find the dark wit of Wicked Little Letters (2023), the political intrigue of The Wizard of the Kremlin (2025), and the real-life urgency of Parkland (2013). With 20 titles on the page, the mix is broad enough for casual viewers and serious history fans alike.
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01
The Testament of Ann Lee
biography · drama · history · musical
The extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers as the female Christ.
Directed by Mona Fastvold, Kevin DeanCast Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Matthew Beard, Christopher AbbottHulu -
02
Small Things Like These
drama · history
In 1985, while working as a coal merchant to support his family, Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers truths of his own; forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church.
Directed by Tim MielantsCast Cillian Murphy, Patrick Ryan, Peter Claffey, Ian O'Reilly, Helen BehanHulu -
03
Amsterdam
comedy · drama · history · mystery · romance · thriller
In the 1930s, three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney—witness a murder, become suspects themselves and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
Directed by David O. RussellCast Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea RiseboroughHulu -
04
The Wizard of the Kremlin
biography · crime · drama · history
In the chaos of post-Soviet Russia, rising KGB officer Vladimir Putin joins forces with master manipulator Vadim Baranov to reshape life behind the Iron Curtain, using violence and deception to change the world forever.
Directed by Olivier AssayasCast Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey WrightHulu -
05
Desert Warrior
action · adventure · drama · history · war
In 7th-century Arabia, Princess Hind becomes a warrior to defy the ruthless Emperor Kisra. Forged into a warrior and aided by legendary bandit Hanzala, Hind unites warring tribes for a last stand—the historic Battle of Dhi Qar—that will change history.
Directed by Rupert WyattCast Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Sami Bouajila, Sharlto Copley, Ben KingsleyHulu -
06
Wicked Little Letters
biography · comedy · crime · drama · history · mystery
When the denizens of Littlehampton – including conservative Edith – begin receiving letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting something amiss, the town's women band together to investigate.
Directed by Thea SharrockCast Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones, Malachi KirbyHulu -
07
Parkland
drama · history · mystery · thriller
November 22nd, 1963 was a day that changed the world forever — when young American President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This film follows, almost in real time, a handful of individuals forced to make split-second decisions after an event that would change their lives and forever alter the world’s landscape.
Directed by Peter LandesmanCast Marcia Gay Harden, Matt Barr, Zac Efron, Mallory Moye, Paul GiamattiAmazon Prime VideoHuluStarz -
08
The Legend of Molly Johnson
drama · history · thriller · western
In 1893, heavily pregnant Molly Johnson and her children struggle in isolation to survive the harsh Australian landscape after her husband left to go droving sheep in the high country. One day, she finds a shackled Aboriginal fugitive named Yakada wounded on her property. As an unlikely bond begins to form between them he reveals secrets about her true identity. Realizing Molly’s husband is actually missing, new town lawman Nate Clintoff starts being suspicious and sends his constable to investigate.
Directed by Leah PurcellCast Leah Purcell, Malachi Dower-Roberts, Amahlia Olsson, Jobe Zammit-Harvey, Nash Zammit-HarveyHulu -
09
The Convert
action · drama · history · war
Munro, a soldier turned lay preacher, comes to New Zealand to minister to the first British colonists, but he is converted by the powerful chief Maianui to serve a different purpose.
Directed by Lee TamahoriCast Guy Pearce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Antonio Te Maioha, Jacqueline McKenzie, Te Kohe TuhakaHulu -
10
The Promised Land
action · biography · drama · history
Denmark, 1755. Captain Ludvig Kahlen sets out to conquer a Danish heath reputed to be uncultivable, with an impossible goal: to establish a colony in the name of the king, in exchange for a royal title. A single-minded ambition that the ruthless lord of the region will relentlessly seek to put down. Kahlen's fate hangs in the balance: will his endevours bring him wealth and honour, or cost him his life...?
Directed by Nikolaj ArcelCast Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg, Melina Hagberg, Kristine Kujath ThorpHulu -
11
Harbin
action · biography · crime · history · thriller
In 1909, several years after Korea is forced into becoming a Japanese colony, freedom fighters plot the daring assassination of Japan's prime minister during their quest for independence.
Directed by Woo Min-hoCast Hyun Bin, Park Jeong-min, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Woo-jin, Lee Dong-wookHulu -
12
Saturday Night
biography · comedy · drama · history
At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.
Directed by Jason ReitmanCast Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O'BrienHulu -
13
The Arctic Convoy
action · drama · history · thriller · war
In 1942, a convoy of 35 civilian ships, carrying vital supplies from Iceland to the Soviet Union, faces deadly challenges in the Arctic. Despite Allied naval escort, catastrophic intelligence errors expose the convoy to relentless German air and naval attacks. In the brutal conditions, inexperienced civilian sailors fight for survival, with only 12 ships making it to their destination.
Directed by Henrik Martin DahlsbakkenCast Tobias Santelmann, Anders Baasmo, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen, Preben Hodneland, Adam LundgrenHulu -
14
The History of Sound
drama · history · music · romance
In 1917, two young music students attending the Boston Conservatory bond over a mutual love of folk music. They reconnect a few years later, embarking on a song-collecting trip in the backwaters of Maine.
Directed by Oliver HermanusCast Leo Cocovinis, Raphael Sbarge, Molly Price, Paul Mescal, Josh O'ConnorHulu -
15
The Taste of Things
drama · history · romance
Set in 1889 France, Dodin Bouffant is a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.
Directed by Tran Anh HungCast Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger, Patrick d'Assumçao, Galatéa BellugiHuluAMC+ -
16
Orwell: 2+2=5
documentary · biography · history
George Orwell was one of the most visionary authors of the 20th century, whose novels 1984 and Animal Farm foretold a chilling, authoritarian future. Acclaimed director Raoul Peck interweaves clips, readings from Orwell's diary, cinematic references, and modern-day footage to craft not only a portrait of the writer, but a fresh take on how prophetic his work has become.
Directed by Raoul PeckCast Damian Lewis, Eric RufHulu -
17
Ip Man 4: The Finale
action · biography · drama · history
Following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son.
Directed by Wilson YipCast Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan, Vanness Wu, Jim LiuHuluPeacock Premium -
18
The Woman King
action · drama · history
The story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen, and General Nanisca as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.
Directed by Gina Prince-BythewoodCast Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John BoyegaHulu -
19
Lee
biography · drama · history · war
The true story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.
Directed by Ellen KurasCast Kate Winslet, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård, Marion Cotillard, Andrea RiseboroughHulu -
20
The New Boy
drama · fantasy · history
In 1940s Australia, when a 9-year-old Aboriginal boy arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery run by a renegade nun, his presence disturbs a delicately balanced world.
Directed by Warwick ThorntonCast Aswan Reid, Nathan Lawson, Peter Jupiter, Kit Fortune, Kenneth RadleyHulu
Wrapping Up
This roundup is built to help you find a historical movie that fits your mood, whether you want a prestige drama, a clever mystery, or something with a little more edge. From older favorites to newer releases, the selections make it easy to compare what Hulu has to offer without endless scrolling. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh period-film recommendation. It’s updated regularly, so the lineup can change as new titles arrive and old ones rotate out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Hulu subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Hulu. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these history movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the history titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 8, 2026