12 Movies Like Call the Midwife You Need to Watch
Craving heartfelt period drama? Explore 12 picks like Call the Midwife, from The Crimson Petal and the White to Women of the Movement.
If you’re searching for movies like Call the Midwife, you probably want more than period costumes: you want heart, hard choices, and stories that stay human under pressure. This list brings together 12 picks across drama, history, romance, war, and thriller, with standouts such as The Crimson Petal and the White, We Were the Lucky Ones, Small Axe, and Children of the Church Steps. You’ll also find powerful screen portraits in God Is the Bigger Elvis, Catherine the Great, and Women of the Movement, each offering a different angle on resilience and faith. Whether you want medical-era emotion, social history, or a quietly moving character study, these titles deliver the same emotional pull in fresh ways.
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01
The Crimson Petal and the White
drama · romance
Follow Sugar into the underbelly of Victorian London seething with vitality, sexuality, ambition and emotion.
Directed by Marc MundenCast Romola Garai, Chris O'Dowd, Amanda Hale, Shirley Henderson, Katie LyonsAMC+ -
02
We Were the Lucky Ones
drama · history · war
A Jewish family is determined to survive and reunite after being separated in World War II.
Directed by Amit Gupta, Neasa Hardiman, Thomas KailCast Joey King, Logan Lerman, Hadas Yaron, Robin Weigert, Lior AshkenaziHulu -
03
Small Axe
drama · history
An anthology series of five stories looking at the lives of a group of friends and their families in London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.
Directed by Steve McQueenCast Naomi Ackie, Gary Beadle, Khali Best, Neal Barry, Dennis BovellAmazon Prime Video -
04
Children of the Church Steps
drama · history · thriller
A group of young friends survive life on the streets, finding in each other hope and resilience to dream of different futures — until tragedy unfolds.
Directed by Márcia Faria, Luis LomenhaCast Samuel Silva, Andrei Marques, Wendy Queiroz, Bruno Gagliasso, Patrick CongoNetflix -
05
God Is the Bigger Elvis
documentary · short · biography
The Oscar®-nominated documentary about a promising young actress who left Hollywood to become a nun.
Directed by Rebecca CammisaCast Elvis PresleyMax -
06
Catherine the Great
biography · drama · history · romance · war
This four-part historical drama follows the end of Catherine the Great's reign and her affair with Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin that helped shape the future of Russian politics.
Directed by Philip MartinCast Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Gina McKee, Kevin McNally, Joseph QuinnMax -
07
Women of the Movement
biography · drama · history
An anthology series that chronicles the civil rights movement as told by the women behind it.
Directed by Julie Dash, Tina Mabry, Kasi Lemmons, Gina Prince-BythewoodCast Adrienne Warren, Cedric Joe, Carter Jenkins, Julia McDermott, Chris CoyHulu -
08
From the Land of the Moon
drama · romance
In 1950s France, a free-spirited woman trapped in an arranged marriage falls in love with an injured veteran of the Indochinese War.
Directed by Nicole GarciaCast Marion Cotillard, Louis Garrel, Alex Brendemühl, Brigitte Roüan, Victoire Du BoisAMC+ -
09
The Bletchley Circle
crime · drama · history · mystery · thriller
The Bletchley Circle follows the journey of four ordinary women with extraordinary skills that helped to end World War II. Set in 1952, Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean have returned to their normal lives, modestly setting aside the part they played in producing crucial intelligence, which helped the Allies to victory and shortened the war. When Susan discovers a hidden code behind an unsolved murder she is met by skepticism from the police. She quickly realises she can only begin to crack the murders and bring the culprit to justice with her former friends. The Bletchley Circle paints a vivid portrait of post-war Britain in this fictional tale of unsung heroes.
Directed by Andy De Emmony, Sarah Harding, Jamie PayneCast Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mark DexterAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
10
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.
Directed by Neill Fearnley, Peter DeLuise, Mike Rohl, Martin Wood, Siobhan DevineCast Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Martin CumminsAmazon Prime Video -
11
Cathedral of the Sea
drama · history
In the 14th century, Barcelona is experiencing one of its most prosperous moments. The city has grown to La Ribera, a fishing district in which the largest Marian temple ever known is built: Santa María del Mar. But the construction runs parallel to Arnau Estanyol, a serf of the land who, fleeing the abuses of The feudal lords of the countryside take refuge in Barcelona.
Directed by Jordi Frades, Salvador García RuizCast Susana G. Esteban, Jordi Aguilar, Aitor Luna, Susana Ballesteros, Pablo DerquiFreevee -
12
Beyond the Edge
documentary · drama · history
A 3D feature film about Sir Edmund Hillary's monumental and historical ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953 - an event that stunned the world and defined a nation.
Directed by Leanne PooleyCast Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa, John Wraight, Joshua Rutter, Dan MusgroveAMC+
Wrapping Up
This collection is built for viewers who want period storytelling with compassion, tension, and emotional depth. From sweeping history to intimate personal drama, each title offers a strong next watch if you loved the warmth and grit of Call the Midwife. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another thoughtful recommendation, because it’s updated regularly with new and relevant picks. That way, you’ll always have a reliable place to find the right period drama for your mood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Call the Midwife?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 9, 2026