20 Best History TV Shows on Amazon Prime Video 2026
Discover 20 history series on Amazon Prime Video, from royal dramas and true-crime stories to documentaries, with quick notes to help you choose what to watch next.
If you’re searching for the best history TV shows on Amazon Prime Video, this list gives you a mix of sweeping dramas, true-story crime series, and historical documentaries. You’ll find royal intrigue in The Tudors, battlefield drama in War & Peace, and a more recent epic turn with Vinland Saga. For something rooted in real-life cases, Des, Underbelly, and Dark Angel bring history together with crime and mystery. There’s also room here for The Chosen, Elizabeth I, Manhattan, and The Story of Film: An Odyssey, so you can choose based on whether you want period politics, biography, or documentary storytelling.
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01
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
documentary · history
A worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made and the story of international cinema through the history of cinematic innovation.
Why watch: If you enjoy documentaries that connect big cultural shifts to a wider timeline, this is a strong fit. Its focus on cinematic innovation gives it a history angle that feels broader than a standard period drama.
Directed by Mark CousinsCast Mark Cousins, Mario Cordova, Lars von Trier, Paul Schrader, Norman LloydAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Chosen
drama · history
The life of Christ through the eyes of those who encountered him.
Why watch: If you want a faith-based historical drama, this series may be the right match. Its premise follows the life of Christ through the eyes of people who knew him, which gives it a personal angle.
Directed by Dallas JenkinsCast Elizabeth Tabish, George H. Xanthis, Shahar Isaac, Jonathan Roumie, Paras PatelAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
03
War & Peace
1 Emmy nomination
drama · history · romance · war
The love story of young Countess Natasha Rostova and Count Pierre Bezukhov is interwoven with the Great Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon's invading army.
Why watch: If you like grand historical drama with romance and war woven together, this is a good pick. Its story centers on Natasha Rostova and Pierre Bezukhov during the 1812 conflict with Napoleon's army.
Directed by Tom HarperCast Paul Dano, James Norton, Lily James, Adrian Edmondson, Aisling LoftusAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
04
The Tudors
Won 6 Emmys 15 nominations
drama · history · romance · war
The Tudors is a history-based drama series following the young, vibrant King Henry VIII, a competitive and lustful monarch who navigates the intrigues of the English court and the human heart with equal vigor and justifiable suspicion.
Why watch: If you’re drawn to court politics, romance, and power struggles, this series fits well. It focuses on Henry VIII and the tensions of the English court.
Directed by Ciaran Donnelly, Jeremy Podeswa, Dearbhla Walsh, Steve Shill, Brian KirkCast Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, Anthony Brophy, James Frain, Sarah BolgerAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
05
The Odyssey
Won 2 Emmys 5 nominations
adventure · drama · fantasy · history
In this adaptation of Homer's timeless epic, Armand Assante stars as Odysseus, the warrior King of the mythical island of Ithaca, who must endure a decade long quest to reach home after the Trojan war, overcoming savage monsters, powerful forces of nature, and seductive nymphs, and he must outsmart them all, with all the guile and intellect he can muster.
Why watch: If you want a history-themed adventure with fantasy elements, this one stands out. It follows Odysseus on a long journey home after the Trojan War.
Directed by Andrei KonchalovskyCast Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher LeeAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb →
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06
Vinland Saga
animation · action · adventure · drama · history
For a thousand years, the Vikings have made quite a name and reputation for themselves as the strongest families with a thirst for violence. Thorfinn, the son of one of the Vikings' greatest warriors, spends his boyhood in a battlefield enhancing his skills in his adventure to redeem his most-desired revenge after his father was murdered.
Why watch: If you like historical stories with action and a strong revenge arc, this series is worth considering. Its anime format and Viking setting give it a different feel from live-action period drama.
Directed by Shûhei Yabuta, Kazuya Murata, Yoji Sato, Michiru Itabisashi, Yôsuke YamamotoCast Shin'ya Takahashi, Yûto Uemura, Mike Haimoto, Hiroki Gotô, Tsuguo MogamiNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHuluMore details on IMDb → -
07
When Calls the Heart
drama · history · romance
Elizabeth Thatcher, a young school teacher from a wealthy Eastern family, migrates from the big city to teach school in a small coal mining town in the west.
Why watch: If you enjoy warm drama with a historical backdrop and a touch of romance, this may suit you. It follows a young teacher adapting to life in a small western coal mining town.
Directed by Neill Fearnley, Peter DeLuise, Mike Rohl, Martin Wood, Siobhan DevineCast Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Martin CumminsAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
08
Hitler's Engineers: Building the Third Reich
documentary · history · war
Meet the architects behind the Nazi war machine. The Führer's most prominent planners, designers, architects, and builders tried to downplay their role in the Holocaust, but the truth is now exposed.
Why watch: If you prefer documentaries about World War II history, this may interest you. It looks at the architects behind the Nazi war machine and the systems they helped create.
Directed by Tom Williams, James Wright, Matt Bone, Marion Marot, Justine OstrowskaCast Tom Ward, Chris Holmes, Neil Summerville, Luke Wales, Timothy SkeltonAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
09
The Collection
drama · history · romance
A gripping family drama and entrepreneurial fable, set in a post-war Paris fashion house. It exposes the grit behind the glamour of a rising business, spearheaded by two clashing brothers.
Why watch: If you like family drama set in a business world with period detail, this series could be a fit. Its post-war Paris fashion-house setting gives it a distinct historical flavor.
Directed by Dearbhla Walsh, Dan ZeffCast Richard Coyle, Mamie Gummer, Tom Riley, Alix Poisson, Jenna ThiamAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
10
Elizabeth I
drama · history
Elizabeth I may be remembered as the greatest monarch to rule England, but during her lifetime she was beset by enemies and hers was a life of constant battling.
Why watch: If you’re interested in a history drama centered on monarchy and conflict, this is a solid option. It focuses on Elizabeth I and the enemies she faced during her lifetime.
Directed by Christopher HoltCast Lily Cole, Vincent Kerschbaum, Sheya McAllister, Summer Rose Allison, Sally MortemoreAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
11
Des
biography · crime · drama · history · thriller
The story of one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. Told through the prism of three men, the series explores the personal and professional consequences of coming into contact with a man like Nilsen.
Why watch: If true-crime history interests you, this series is likely to appeal. It explores a notorious UK case through the perspectives of three men affected by it.
Directed by Lewis ArnoldCast David Tennant, Daniel Mays, Jason Watkins, Ron Cook, Barry WardAmazon Prime VideoTubiAMC+FreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
Manhattan
Won 1 Emmy
drama · history · war
Set against the backdrop of the greatest clandestine race against time in the history of science with the mission to build the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Flawed scientists and their families attempt to co-exist in a world where secrets and lies infiltrate every aspect of their lives.
Why watch: If you like historical dramas tied to science and secrecy, this one is a natural pick. Its Los Alamos setting places family life against the race to build the first atomic bomb.
Directed by Thomas Schlamme, Daniel Attias, Andrew Bernstein, Christopher Misiano, Julie Anne RobinsonCast Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Chernus, Christopher Denham, Katja Herbers, John Benjamin HickeyAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
13
Reign
drama · history · romance
Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.
Why watch: If you enjoy political intrigue with romance in a royal setting, this series should fit your taste. It centers on Mary, Queen of Scots, and the dangerous French court.
Directed by Fred Gerber, Holly Dale, Norma Bailey, Charles Binamé, Deborah ChowCast Adelaide Kane, Megan Follows, Celina Sinden, Torrance Coombs, Anna PopplewellAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
14
The White Queen
4 Emmy nominations
drama · history · romance · war
Set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, the series is the story of the women caught up in the protracted conflict for the throne of England.
Why watch: If you want a period drama focused on women caught in a dynastic struggle, this is a strong choice. The Wars of the Roses backdrop gives it plenty of historical tension.
Directed by Colin Teague, James Kent, Jamie PayneCast Aneurin Barnard, Rebecca Ferguson, Amanda Hale, Faye Marsay, Max IronsAmazon Prime VideoStarzMore details on IMDb → -
15
Texas Rising
3 Emmy nominations
drama · history · western
A chronicle of the Texas Revolution, the uprising against the tyranny of Mexican dictator Santa Anna, from the battle of the Alamo to the battle of San Jacinto, and the rise of the Texas Rangers.
Why watch: If you like frontier stories built around real conflict and revolution, this may be the one to try. It covers the Texas Revolution and the rise of the Texas Rangers.
Directed by Roland JofféCast Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olivier Martinez, Thomas Jane, Crispin GloverAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
16
Underbelly
action · crime · drama · history · mystery
Underbelly is an Australian television true crime-drama series, each series is a stand alone story based on real-life events.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime stories grounded in real events, this series is a good match. Each standalone installment draws from true-life cases and keeps the history angle tied to criminal drama.
Directed by Tony Tilse, Shawn Seet, David Caesar, Grant Brown, Peter AndrikidisCast Caroline Craig, Paul Tassone, Dieter Brummer, Daniel Roberts, Khan ChittendenAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
17
Napoléon
Won 1 Emmy 7 nominations
adventure · biography · drama · history · romance · war
A masterful soldier, tactician and statesmen, Napoleon Bonaparte's courage and love for his country sees him rise from an unpaid general consumed with ambition to the most powerful man in Europe, then his fall, and exile.
Why watch: If you want a biographical historical drama about major European power shifts, this is worth a look. It traces Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise and fall, with romance and war in the mix.
Directed by Yves SimoneauCast Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gérard Depardieu, John Malkovich, Anouk AiméeAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
18
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
crime · drama · history · horror
An intense and fictionalized account of actual events and people surrounding Lizzie’s life after her controversial acquittal of the horrific double murder of her father and stepmother in 1892.
Why watch: If you prefer darker historical crime drama with horror elements, this series may suit you. It reimagines events around Lizzie Borden after her acquittal.
Directed by Howard Deutch, Stephen Kay, Constantine Makris, Russell MulcahyCast Christina Ricci, Clea DuVall, Cole Hauser, Dylan Taylor, John RalstonAmazon Prime VideoTubiMore details on IMDb → -
19
King & Conqueror
drama · fantasy · history · romance
William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex were two individuals destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; they were allies but had no claim to the British monarchy until fate drove them into a conflict over the country's crown.
Why watch: If you enjoy medieval power struggles and stories about rival claimants to a crown, this title may appeal. Its premise centers on William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex heading toward Hastings.
Directed by Erik Leijonborg, Bálint Szentgyörgyi, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Baltasar KormákurCast James Norton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Clémence Poésy, Emily Beecham, Clare HolmanAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
20
Dark Angel
crime · drama · history · mystery & thriller · made in europe
The story of Victorian serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, a poisoner whose methods leave no visible scars, allowing her tally of victims to mount, unsuspected by a Victorian society unable to conceive of a woman capable of such terrible crimes. Traveling around the North East, she insinuates herself into unsuspecting families, marrying and creating new families of her own - before killing them, taking their money and moving on.
Why watch: If you like Victorian-era crime stories with a historical mystery edge, this is a compelling option. It follows Mary Ann Cotton, whose poisonings unsettle the world around her.
Directed by Brian PercivalCast Joanne Froggatt, Alun Armstrong, Isla McMonigle, Laura Morgan, George KentAmazon Prime VideoTubiFreeveeMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
From royal courts and wartime struggles to true-crime stories and historical documentaries, these picks cover a wide stretch of the genre. Whether you want a drama like Reign, a doc-style watch like Hitler's Engineers: Building the Third Reich, or a larger-scale series such as Napoléon, there’s something here for different moods and interests. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh historical series to start next. We update this list regularly, so it’s worth revisiting for new additions and changes.
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 an Amazon Prime Video subscription to watch these?
Yes. Every title on this list is currently available on Amazon Prime Video. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these history shows 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.