Coach Smith's History Movie List
Since you guys are missing SO MUCH information and SO MANY of my enthralling stories and lectures, I decided to put together a list of movies that are either very accurate in telling about the era they are set in or simply iconic pieces of American history. Some are rated R, so use your discretion when choosing. Some are in black and white because, well, history. But each one is relevant to your high school social studies curriculum in some way. Enjoy!!
American History
World History
Honorable Mentions
Netflix Series that I enjoyed
Since you guys are missing SO MUCH information and SO MANY of my enthralling stories and lectures, I decided to put together a list of movies that are either very accurate in telling about the era they are set in or simply iconic pieces of American history. Some are rated R, so use your discretion when choosing. Some are in black and white because, well, history. But each one is relevant to your high school social studies curriculum in some way. Enjoy!!
American History
- Amistad (1997) - slaves bound for an illegal market overtake their ship and get picked up by the US Coastguard. Former President John Adams helps them sue for their freedom.
- Lincoln (2012) - Steven Spielberg's take on Lincoln during the Civil War
- Gettysburg (1993) - A COMPLETE retelling of the largest battle and turning point of the Civil War
- Glory (1989) - The story of the first African American army unit used in combat
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) - considered one of the most accurate films made about the day to day life on a plantation
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930, the original black and white version) - A German's view on trench warfare of WWI
- Sergeant York (1941)– the true story of America’s most decorated veteran of WWI
- The Great Gatsby (2013, PG-13) Modern remake of a classic on the Roaring 20’s. You're probably going to have to read this book for English class.
- The Untouchables (1987, R) The story of federal agent Elliot Ness and pursuit of crime boss Al Capone during the Prohibition era. Rated R for several shoot-outs.
- Inherit The Wind (1960) – The true story of the Scopes Monkey Trial. In 1925, the state of Tennessee arrested a public school science teacher for teaching evolution as a theory. It became an incredible media sensation.
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) – Henry Fonda stars in Steinbeck’s famous story about a family fleeing the dust bowl during the Great Depression. Iconic American novel.
- Patton (1970) George C. Scott is General Patton. Suggested rating is PG-13, mostly for the inspirational speech given at the opening of the movie. The speech is a reading of an actual Patton speech.
- Pork Chop Hill (1959) Gregory peck leads a unit into battle in one of the most famous battles of the Korean conflict while negotiators fail at forming a ceasefire.
- Front Line (2011) Korean movie about the Korean War. Suggested rating is R, compared to Saving Private Ryan. Movie is subtitled so all profanity shows up in print on the screen. Considered the most accurate retelling of the Korean Conflict available as a movie.
- Good Night and Good Luck (2005, PG) Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy to end the Red Scare
- The Right Stuff (1983, R) The true story of the birth of NASA and America’s space program as we raced the Soviets into space.
- JFK (1991, R) Kevin Costner investigates the assassination of JFK Jr. (R due to footage of Kennedy’s autopsy and limited language.)
- Apollo 13 (1995, PG-13) Tom Hanks is stuck in space in the true story of Apollo 13
- We Were Soldiers (2002, R) Mel Gibson’s film on America’s first large scale engagement in Vietnam. True and accurate, told partially from the standpoint of the wives and families left behind. (R for the extended combat scenes and some language during combat scenes)
- 13 Days (2000, PG-13) Kevin Costner is JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis
- Frost/Nixon (2008, R but this rating is contested as being too strong) Nixon’s post-resignation interview with a reporter where he tries to justify Watergate. (R because of 4 f-words and 2 men’s backsides as they skinny dip at the White House)
- Argo (2012, R) Ben Affleck’s movie about the Iranian hostage crisis under President Carter. (R because of Ben Affleck’s mouth)
- Blackhawk Down (2001) - The intense true story of a botched UN invasion into the city of Mogadishu in 1993. This is one reason why many in the US do not trust the UN.
World History
- A Man for All Seasons (1966) - As king Henry VIII debates breaking free from the Catholic Church so he can divorce his wife, one bishop stands in his way.
- Henry VIII (2003) - made for tv movie about Henry VIII
- Luther (2003) - a version of the story of the man who started the Protestant Reformation
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) - Set during the Napoleonic Wars, a British ship is tasked with hunting down a powerful French war vessel. Though the story itself is fictional, it is considered one of the most accurate movies of that time period in every other detail.
- Zulu Dawn (1979) - British take on imperialism in South Africa during the late 1800's.
- The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) - As Britain and Germany race to claim portions of Africa for their empires, lions begin hunting people for sport. Based on a true story.
- Gandhi (1982) - One of the most famous movies in the world, Gandhi tells the story of Indian independence from imperialist Britain using non-violent tactics. Martin Luther King Jr. will use Gandhi's teachings in the US Civil Rights movement.
- The Pianist (2002) -a graphic and unapologetic look at life in the Jewish ghetto under Nazi occupation.
- Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) - The attack on Pearl Harbor from the Japanese perspective.
- Schindler's List (1993) - Based on the true story of a German businessman who helped hide over 1000 Jews from death camps during WWII
- Come And See (1985) - filmed in the former Soviet Union, this portrayal of WWII from the Russian perspective was so accurate and powerful that the communist party tried to ban it's release and it took 8 years of court battles to get released in its entirety.
- das Boot (1981) - The German perspective of submarine duty in WWII. Submarine service suffered an 80% mortality rate.
- Stalingrad (1993) - Possibly the largest battle in the history of the world, the German failed invasion of Stalingrad was a major turning point in WWII. Considered extremely accurate.
- A Bridge Too Far (1977) - Operation Market Garden during WWII
- The Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957) - Based on a true story, set in the jungles of Burma, the Japanese used prisoners of war for slave labor to build a railroad connecting the most remote portions of their conquered territories. Thousands died.
- The Good Lie (2014) - the story of some of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. After a brutal civil war in the 80's, there were so many homeless children and refugees that the US allowed thousands to settle in America if they could find sponsors.
- Hotel Rwanda (2004) - as civil war sweeps Rwanda, a hotel manager tries to protect the people in his care.
- Beasts of No Nation (2015) - the story of a child soldier in Ghana, Africa. It covers the "recruiting" of the soldiers and what is expected of them after the war.
- The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (2019) - a child kicked out of school because he couldn't pay for it gets a science textbook and ends up saving his village from a drought.
- Virunga (2014) - Soldiers try to save a wildlife preserve with the world's last remaining mountain gorillas during the brutal Congolese civil war.
- The First Grader (2010) - When Kenya opens public school for everyone for the first time, an 84 year old farmer gets his first ever opportunity for a basic education. Based on a true story.
Honorable Mentions
- Forest Gump
- Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter
- Life is Beautiful
- Gangs of New York
- Mississippi Burning
- Kingdom of Heaven (this one is from 8th grade curriculum)
- The Last of the Mohicans (based on the famous novel)
Netflix Series that I enjoyed
- Medici - the most influential family of the Renaissance
- Call The Midwife - Life in the slums of London
- Hell On Wheels - a Confederate veteran takes a job working on the Transcontinental Railroad. SO MANY actual people and names worked into a historical fiction.
- Waco - the story of David Koresh, a cult leader who was killed with 75 of his followers after the ATF put their compound under siege for 51 days.
- Empire Games - History of various empires
- The Last Czars - the last days of the Russian Czars before the revolution of 1917
- The Russian Revolution - The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 from a different perspective
- The Last Kingdom - As Britain falls to the Vikings, one British kingdom holds out (this show parallels the History Channel series Vikings, but on a lower budget)
- 100 Humans - a modern social experiment where 100 people from all over the US are brought together to test sociological and psychological theories.
- Sherlock - The smartest detective show you will ever watch
- The Great British Baking Show (my kids love this show)
- Nailed It - when normal people try to cook like those on the Great British Baking Show
- Forged in Fire