20 Best History TV Shows to Stream Right Now
Stream standout historical series from Band of Brothers to Chernobyl, plus drama, war, fantasy, and new picks updated regularly for 2026.
If you’re hunting for the best history TV shows to stream, this list is built to save you time and point you toward series worth your queue. You’ll find war epics like Band of Brothers and The Bombing of Pan Am 103, sharp political drama in Mrs. America, and striking period storytelling in The Tudors. There’s also a wider mix here, from the spiritual sweep of The Chosen to the fantasy-tinged world of One Hundred Years of Solitude and the dark procedural intensity of Chernobyl. With 20 titles on the page, the selection spans action, drama, history, war, and fantasy, so it’s easy to match your mood to the right series.
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01
9/11: One Day in America
documentary · history
In official collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, this documentary series takes viewers through harrowing moments of the historic morning of September 11, 2001.
Directed by Daniel BogadoCast Joseph Pfeifer, Jason Thomas, Ron DiFrancesco, William TotiHulu -
02
The Chosen
drama · history
The life of Christ through the eyes of those who encountered him.
Directed by Dallas JenkinsCast Elizabeth Tabish, George H. Xanthis, Shahar Isaac, Jonathan Roumie, Paras PatelAmazon Prime Video -
03
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 -
04
The Looming Tower
drama · history
While Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda become a global threat, the rivalry between the CIA and FBI inadvertently sets the stage for the tragedy of 9/11 and the Iraq War.
Directed by Craig Zisk, John Dahl, Ali Selim, Michael Slovis, Alex GibneyCast Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim, Wrenn Schmidt, Bill Camp, Louis CancelmiHulu -
05
Texas Rising
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.
Directed by Roland JofféCast Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olivier Martinez, Thomas Jane, Crispin GloverAmazon Prime Video -
06
Band of Brothers
action · drama · history · war
Drawn from interviews with survivors of Easy Company, as well as their journals and letters, Band of Brothers chronicles the experiences of these men from paratrooper training in Georgia through the end of the war. As an elite rifle company parachuting into Normandy early on D-Day morning, participants in the Battle of the Bulge, and witness to the horrors of war, the men of Easy knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear - and became the stuff of legend. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's acclaimed book of the same name.
Directed by David Frankel, Mikael Salomon, Tom Hanks, David Leland, Richard LoncraineCast Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Shane Taylor, Donnie WahlbergMax -
07
Chernobyl
drama · history · thriller
The true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history: the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Directed by Johan RenckCast Jessie Buckley, Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Adam Nagaitis, Emily WatsonMax -
08
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 -
09
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.
Directed by Mark CousinsCast Mark Cousins, Mario Cordova, Lars von Trier, Paul Schrader, Norman LloydAmazon Prime Video -
10
Prens
history · comedy
Following the suspicious death of the Bongomian king, his disregarded prince assumes the throne, initiating an intricate tale.
Directed by Bülent Isbilen, Gökdeniz UsluCast Giray Altinok, Canberk Gültekin, Çagdas Onur Öztürk, Onur Özaydin, Bahadir VatanogluMax -
11
The Tudors
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.
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 Plus -
12
The Lowdown
biography · drama · history
A determined bookstore owner in Tulsa moonlights as an investigative journalist, digging into local corruption. When his reporting uncovers sinister connections, he must protect both his family and the truth.
Directed by Sterlin Harjo, Macon Blair, Danis GouletCast Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyle MacLachlanHulu -
13
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.
Directed by Tony Tilse, Shawn Seet, David Caesar, Grant Brown, Peter AndrikidisCast Caroline Craig, Paul Tassone, Dieter Brummer, Daniel Roberts, Khan ChittendenAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
14
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 -
15
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America
comedy · history
Comedy sketches exploring various historical moments, with four different sketches per episode.
Directed by Jeff SchafferCast Larry David, Samuel L. Jackson, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Hader, Katie AseltonMax -
16
The Odyssey
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.
Directed by Andrei KonchalovskyCast Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher LeeAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
17
Drunk History
comedy · history
Historical reenactments from A-list talent as told by inebriated storytellers. A unique take on the familiar and less familiar people and events from America’s great past as great moments in history are retold with unforgettable results.
Directed by Jeremy Konner, Derek WatersCast Bennie Arthur, Craig Cackowski, Maria Blasucci, Mort Burke, Michael ColemanParamount Plus -
18
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 -
19
Elkhorn
drama · history · western
Reeling from unimaginable loss, 25-year-old Theodore Roosevelt abandons New York politics, and journeys to the lawless Dakota Badlands where he establishes the sprawling Elkhorn Ranch, and attempts to remake himself into a cattleman.
Directed by Michael S. OjedaCast Jeff DuJardin, Mason Beals, Elijah Mahar, Nate Timmerman, Travis Lee EllerAmazon Prime Video -
20
Shōgun
action · adventure · drama · history · war
In Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.
Directed by Frederick E.O. Toye, Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brändström, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hiromi KamataCast Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroyuki Sanada, Yûki KedôinHulu
Wrapping Up
Whether you want battlefield drama, court intrigue, true events, or a series that bends history with a creative edge, this roundup gives you a strong place to start. Titles like Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, Mrs. America, and The Tudors show how varied historical storytelling can be, while newer picks keep the list fresh. Save this page and come back when you want a new series to queue up, because it’s updated regularly with more standout recommendations. If you enjoy TV that brings the past to life, this list should keep your watchlist busy for a while.
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.
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