The period drama genre accounts for a massive amount of the film industry. There is nothing people enjoy more than an insight into the past or a huge historical moment. It often provides for some of the most insightful watching, along with the most epic romances, usually involving star-crossed lovers caught up in a tangled web of class or a tragedy. Some period dramas stand out more than others, though. Screen Rant has compiled a list of the “Best Period Piece Movies of All Time”, here is the top five.
5. Titanic (1997)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romantic disaster film written and directed by James Cameron. It incorporates both historical and fictionalised aspects, and is based on accounts of the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love during the ship’s maiden voyage. It also features an ensemble cast of Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, David Warner, and Bill Paxton. The film’s synopsis reads: “Rose, who is being forced to marry a wealthy man, falls in love with Jack, a talented artist, aboard the unsinkable Titanic. Unfortunately, the ship hits an iceberg, endangering their lives.”
4. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Pride and Prejudice is a period romance film directed by Joe Wright in his feature directorial debut. It is based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel of the same name. The film features five sisters from an English family of landed gentry as they deal with issues of marriage, morality, and misconceptions. Keira Knightley stars as Elizabeth Bennet, while Matthew Macfadyen plays Mr Darcy, who falls in love with her. The film’s synopsis reads: “Elizabeth Bennett is a strong-willed yet sensible young woman. At a local ball, she encounters a wealthy young man, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is arrogant, and they develop an unusual relationship.”
3. Little Women (2019)
Little Women is a coming-of-age period drama film written and directed by Greta Gerwig. It is the seventh film adaptation of the 1868 novel by Louisa May Alcott, and it follows the lives of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 19th century. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep. The film’s plot reads: “While the March sisters enter the threshold of womanhood, they go through many ups and downs in life and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future.”
2. Schindler’s List (1993)
Schindler’s List is an epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the historical novel Schindler’s Ark (1982) by Thomas Keneally. It stars Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as SS officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Schindler’s Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern. The film’s synopsis is as follows: “Oscar Schindler, a successful and narcissistic German businessman, slowly starts worrying about the safety of his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution in Poland during World War II.”
1. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Sense and Sensibility is a period drama film directed by Ang Lee and based on Jane Austen’s 1811 novel of the same name. Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay and stars as Elinor Dashwood, while Kate Winslet plays Elinor’s younger sister Marianne. The synopsis reads: “After the death of their father, three young girls find themselves in abject poverty. The responsibility to provide for the family lands on the oldest sisters, who are also dealing with heartbreaks.”