20 Best History TV Shows on Netflix 2026
Explore 20 gripping Netflix picks, from Vikings and Call the Midwife to new dramas, thrillers, and historical series worth adding to your watchlist.
If you want gripping period storytelling, this guide rounds up the best history TV shows on Netflix and a few genre-bending picks that make the past feel immediate. You’ll find royal intrigue, battlefield drama, true-crime suspense, and smart character work in titles like Vikings, Call the Midwife, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and The Apothecary Diaries. The list also includes newer additions such as The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and Death by Lightning, which bring real events to life with tension and scale. Whether you prefer sweeping sagas, grounded historical drama, or stories with a darker thriller edge, these shows offer plenty to queue next. With 20 titles covered here, there’s a strong mix for casual viewers and devoted history fans alike.
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01
One Hundred Years of Solitude
drama · fantasy · history
In the mythical town Macondo, seven generations of the Buendía family navigate love, oblivion and the inescapability of their past — and their fate.
Directed by Laura Mora Ortega, Alex Garcia Lopez, Carlos MorenoCast Claudio Cataño, Susana Morales Cañas, Viña Machado, Jesus Reyes, Carla BarattaNetflix -
02
Call the Midwife
drama · history
Drama following the lives of a group of midwives working in the poverty-stricken East End of London during the 1950s, based on the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth.
Directed by Syd Macartney, David O'Neill, David Tucker, Lisa Clarke, Sarah EsdaileCast Jenny Agutter, Vanessa Redgrave, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Judy ParfittNetflix -
03
Death by Lightning
biography · drama · history
The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.
Directed by Matt RossCast Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley WhitfordNetflix -
04
The Last Kingdom
action · drama · history
A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.
Directed by Jon East, Edward Bazalgette, Peter Hoar, Andy Hay, Paul WilmshurstCast Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, Arnas Fedaravicius, Mark Rowley, Emily CoxNetflix -
05
The Law According to Lidia Poët
biography · crime · drama · history · mystery
In late 19th-century Turin, the young Lidia Poët, fights against everything and everyone to get what is rightfully hers: to be enrolled in the official register of lawyers. A profession, at the time, reserved exclusively for men. Nevertheless, nothing could stop her dream of becoming the first female lawyer in Italy.
Directed by Letizia Lamartire, Pippo Mezzapesa, Matteo Rovere, Jacopo BonviciniCast Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, Sara Lazzaro, Alessia SpinelliNetflix -
06
The Bombing of Pan Am 103
action · drama · history · thriller
A path to examining the 1988 flight Pan Am 103 bombing, with interviews with Lockerbie residents and victims' families, investigating various theories surrounding the attack.
Directed by Michael KeillorCast Connor Swindells, Patrick J. Adams, Lauren Lyle, Phyllis Logan, Estrid BartonNetflix -
07
Vikings
action · adventure · drama · history · romance · war
The adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of his age. The series tells the sagas of Ragnar's band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes. As well as being a fearless warrior, Ragnar embodies the Norse traditions of devotion to the gods. Legend has it that he was a direct descendant of Odin, the god of war and warriors.
Directed by Ciaran Donnelly, Ken Girotti, Steve Saint Leger, Jeff Woolnough, Helen ShaverCast Katheryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alexander Ludwig, Georgia Hirst, Alex Høgh AndersenNetflix -
08
Blue Eye Samurai
animation · action · adventure · drama · history · thriller
Driven by a dream of revenge against those who made her an outcast in Edo-period Japan, a young warrior cuts a bloody path toward her destiny.
Directed by Jane Wu, Federico D'Alessandro, Earl A. Hibbert, Ryan O'Loughlin, Michael GreenCast Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Brenda Song, Darren BarnetNetflix -
09
The Apothecary Diaries
animation · drama · history · mystery · romance
Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!
Directed by Norihiro Naganuma, Akinori Fudesaka, Jun Ôwada, Wataru Nakagawa, Akira KoremotoCast Aoi Yûki, Emi Lo, Takeo Otsuka, Katsuyuki Konishi, Kaiji TangNetflixHulu -
10
The Crown
biography · drama · history
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny.
The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
Directed by Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, Christian Schwochow, Jessica Hobbs, Stephen DaldryCast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias MenziesNetflix -
11
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare
crime · documentary · history
Chronicles one of the most chilling murder cases in recent memory — honoring the four young lives that were taken while tracing every step from the night of the killings to the eventual arrest of a suspect.
Directed by Skye BorgmanNetflix -
12
The American Experiment
documentary · history
A documentary examining the origins of American democracy and the concept of self-rule, featuring insights from politicians, scholars, judges, Indigenous leaders, and commentators representing various political viewpoints.
Directed by Brian KnappenbergerCast Patrick McDermott, Kirby McDermott, Scott Kuza, Jordan Wall, Paul NobregaNetflix -
13
The East Palace
action · fantasy · history · horror
A man who walks the spirit world and a court lady who hears the dead enter the East Palace by the king's orders — can they unravel its dark secrets?
Directed by Jung Kyu ChoiCast Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, Cho Seung-woo, Park Su-yeon, Jang Young-namNetflix -
14
The Forsyte Saga
drama · history · romance
Based on John Galsworthy's novel of the same name, The Forsyte Saga chronicles the lives of an English family over 34 years from the Victorian era through World War I. Superior, arrogant and confident, the Forsytes are the ultimate power family.
Directed by Andy Wilson, Christopher Menaul, David MooreCast Damian Lewis, Rupert Graves, Gina McKee, Amanda Root, Ben MilesNetflix -
15
House of Guinness
biography · drama · history
Dublin, 1868. The Guinness family patriarch is dead, and his four children — each with dark secrets to hide — hold the brewery's fate in their hands.
Directed by Tom Shankland, Mounia AklCast Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, James Norton, Emily Fairn, Michael McElhattonNetflix -
16
Straight to Hell
biography · drama · history
Japan's most famous fortune-teller, Kazuko Hosoki, once held the nation in her thrall. Was she a savior or a devil? Wealth, fame, romance she had it all. But what shocking, untold half-life lay behind it?
Directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto, Norichika ÔbaCast Erika Toda, Ayumu Nakajima, Tôko Miura, Gaku Hosokawa, Kentarô TamuraNetflix -
17
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.
Directed by Shûhei Yabuta, Kazuya Murata, Yoji Sato, Michiru Itabisashi, Yôsuke YamamotoCast Shin'ya Takahashi, Yûto Uemura, Mike Haimoto, Hiroki Gotô, Tsuguo MogamiNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
18
All the Light We Cannot See
drama · history · war
A blind French girl and a young German soldier's paths collide during WWII.
Directed by Shawn LevyCast Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger, Hugh Laurie, Mark RuffaloNetflix -
19
Theodore Roosevelt
documentary · biography · history
The two-part premium miniseries event on Theodore Roosevelt, the first modern President of the United States, will provide a rich, panoramic biography weaving Roosevelt's captivating personal story while revealing little-known truths behind his expansive curiosity, restless spirit and the profound, lasting impact he has had on the country.
Directed by Malcolm VenvilleCast Rufus Jones, Marco Mintaka, Mark Elderkin, Shane John Kruger, Greg KriekNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
20
When Life Gives You Tangerines
drama · history · romance
In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs — proving love endures across time.
Directed by Kim Won-seokCast IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-joon, Jang Hye-jinNetflix
Wrapping Up
From epic wars to intimate personal stories, this selection shows how varied historical television can be when it’s done well. You can jump from the action and mythic energy of Vikings to the emotional depth of Call the Midwife or the high-stakes suspense of The Bombing of Pan Am 103. Bookmark this page if you’re building a watchlist, because it’s designed to help you find something worth starting fast. The recommendations are updated regularly, so you can come back whenever you want the latest options.
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 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.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026