20 Best History Movies on Netflix 2026
Discover 20 gripping Netflix history picks, from Apollo 13 and The Impossible to Agora, Hamnet, and more standout drama, thriller, and biography films.
If you want gripping historical stories without leaving Netflix, this list is built for you. From the disaster drama of The Impossible and the tense survival stakes of Apollo 13 to the ancient intrigue of Agora, these films turn real events and real eras into compelling screen stories. You’ll also find newer titles like Hamnet, Dead Man's Wire, Turning Point: Generation 9/11, and Song Sung Blue, plus sharp period pieces such as The Beguiled. With 20 picks across drama, history, thriller, adventure, and biography, this roundup makes it easy to find something smart, emotional, and worth your watch time.
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01
Hamnet
biography · drama · history · romance
The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
Directed by Chloé ZhaoCast Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Zac Wishart, James Lintern, Joe AlwynNetflix -
02
The Impossible
drama · history · thriller
In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.
Directed by J.A. BayonaCast Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee PendergastNetflix -
03
Apollo 13
adventure · drama · history
The true story of technical troubles that scuttle the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, risking the lives of astronaut Jim Lovell and his crew, with the failed journey turning into a thrilling saga of heroism. Drifting more than 200,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts work furiously with the ground crew to avert tragedy.
Directed by Ron HowardCast Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed HarrisNetflix -
04
BlackBerry
biography · comedy · drama · history
Two mismatched entrepreneurs – egghead innovator Mike Lazaridis and cut-throat businessman Jim Balsillie – joined forces in an endeavour that was to become a worldwide hit in little more than a decade. The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone.
Directed by Matt JohnsonCast Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Kelly Van der Burg, Gregory Ambrose CalderoneNetflixAMC+ -
05
Nuremberg
biography · drama · history · thriller · war
In postwar Germany, an American psychiatrist must determine whether Nazi prisoners are fit to go on trial for war crimes, and finds himself in a complex battle of intellect and ethics with Hermann Göring, Hitler's right-hand man.
Directed by James VanderbiltCast Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, John SlatteryNetflix -
06
The Northman
action · adventure · drama · fantasy · history · thriller
Prince Amleth is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy's mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who's on a mission to save his mother, kill his uncle and avenge his father.
Directed by Robert EggersCast Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-JoyNetflix -
07
Song Sung Blue
biography · drama · history · music · musical
Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
Directed by Craig BrewerCast Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley, King PrincessNetflix -
08
Dead Man's Wire
biography · crime · drama · history · thriller
In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.
Directed by Gus Van SantCast Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, Myha'laNetflix -
09
Agora
adventure · biography · drama · history · romance
A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.
Directed by Alejandro AmenábarCast Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Michael LonsdaleNetflixAmazon Prime Video -
10
Blue Moon
biography · comedy · drama · history · music · romance
On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator, Richard Rodgers, celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical, “Oklahoma!”
Directed by Richard LinklaterCast Ethan Hawke, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, Patrick KennedyNetflix -
11
Turning Point: Generation 9/11
documentary · history
Twenty-five years after 9/11, children of the attacks, journalists, young Afghans and Marines reveal how a generation came of age in the shadow of that day, and inherited a world shaped by the decisions and wars that followed.
Directed by Brian KnappenbergerNetflix -
12
The Beguiled
drama · history · thriller · war · western
During the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school, young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.
Directed by Sofia CoppolaCast Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Oona LaurenceNetflix -
13
I'm Still Here
biography · drama · history
A woman married to a former politician during the 1971 military dictatorship in Brazil is forced to reinvent herself and chart a new course for her family after a violent and arbitrary act.
Directed by Walter SallesCast Fernanda Torres, Fernanda Montenegro, Selton Mello, Valentina Herszage, Maria ManoellaNetflix -
14
The Good Shepherd
drama · history · thriller
Edward Wilson, the only witness to his father's suicide and member of the Skull and Bones Society while a student at Yale, is a morally upright young man who values honor and discretion, qualities that help him to be recruited for a career in the newly founded OSS. His dedication to his work does not come without a price though, leading him to sacrifice his ideals and eventually his family.
Directed by Robert De NiroCast Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, Billy CrudupNetflix -
15
Straight Outta Compton
biography · drama · history · music · musical
In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.
Directed by F. Gary GrayCast O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis HodgeNetflix -
16
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
crime · drama · history
During World War II, Tommy Shelby returns to a bombed Birmingham and becomes involved in secret wartime missions based on true events, facing new threats as he reckons with his past and rising national stakes.
Directed by Tom HarperCast Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, Barry KeoghanNetflix -
17
Society of the Snow
adventure · biography · drama · history · thriller
On October 13, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, chartered to take a rugby team to Chile, crashes into a glacier in the heart of the Andes.
Directed by J.A. BayonaCast Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt, Esteban Bigliardi, Diego VegezziNetflix -
18
Zero Dark Thirty
drama · history · thriller
A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.
Directed by Kathryn BigelowCast Jason Clarke, Reda Kateb, Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer EhleNetflixApple TV Plus -
19
Marie Antoinette
biography · drama · history · romance
The retelling of France’s iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette - from her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at fifteen to her reign as queen at nineteen and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Directed by Sofia CoppolaCast Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Coogan, Judy Davis, Clara BrajtmanNetflix -
20
Ordinary Men: The "Forgotten Holocaust"
documentary · history · war & military
Six million Jews died during World War II, both in the extermination camps and murdered by the mobile commandos of the Einsatzgruppen and police battalions, whose members shot men, women and children, day after day, obediently, as if it were a normal job, a fact that is hardly known today. Who were these men and how could they commit such crimes?
Directed by Manfred Oldenburg, Oliver HalmburgerCast Sönke HündingNetflix
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re drawn to true stories, historical atmosphere, or tense character-driven drama, this collection gives you plenty of strong options. Use it to jump from classics like Apollo 13 to newer releases such as Hamnet and Turning Point: Generation 9/11, or to revisit overlooked gems like Agora and The Beguiled. Bookmark this page and come back when you need a fresh recommendation. It’s updated regularly, so the lineup stays useful as Netflix changes its catalog.
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 Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Netflix. 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 9, 2026