Movies About England History

From Mel Gibson, starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Rated R

Braveheart is an inspiring, epic tale of William Wallace, a Scottish nobleman and freedom fighter, who leads a revolt against the English occupation of Scotland in the late 13th century. Wallace rallies the Scottish against the tyranny of the English king and his brutal henchmen, winning several battles in the process. But even after his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Wallace is betrayed by his own countrymen and executed in London for treason. His courage and self-sacrifice ultimately inspire his fellow Scots to continue the fight for freedom and independence, culminating in the Declaration of Arbroath. The film is a powerful tribute to Wallace's courage and his unwavering dedication to achieving freedom for his people.

From Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi
Rated R

The King's Speech tells the story of Prince Albert (later King George VI of the United Kingdom) and his struggle to overcome his severe stammer. With the guidance of Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist, Albert works to find his voice and rally the country as a leader during a time of great difficulty and uncertainty. Through these struggles, Albert and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, form an unbreakable bond that gives the country hope and courage during a time of great change.

From Peter Glenville, starring Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi
Rated PG-13

Becket is a 1964 British-American historical drama film that follows the relationship between King Henry II of England and his close friend and advisor Thomas Becket. Henry appoints Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the two quickly become embroiled in a battle of wills as Becket refuses to do Henry's bidding and instead defends the rights of the Church. The conflict eventually leads to Becket's martyrdom and his subsequent sainthood. The film stars Peter O'Toole as Henry II and Richard Burton as Becket and features a supporting cast of prominent actors such as John Gielgud, Donald Wolfit, and Martita Hunt. Peter Glenville directs with a screenplay written by Edward Anhalt and James Costigan.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy
Rated PG-13

Dunkirk is a 2017 British-American war film written, co-produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. Set during the World War II evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches and harbour of the French city of Dunkirk, it depicts the evacuation from three perspectives: land, sea, and air. The film stars Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy. The story follows the military evacuation of British and Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940, during the Battle of France in World War II. The film focuses on the British commander of the evacuation, Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay (Kenneth Branagh), and the Royal Air Force pilots protecting the waters around Dunkirk (Tom Hardy and Jack Lowden). With their troops trapped on the French beaches surrounded by the German army, the British must rely on the bravery of their soldiers, the ingenuity of their commanders, and the assistance of civilian vessels to survive.

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Leo McKern
Rated G

A Man for All Seasons is a 1966 British-American biographical drama film based on the play of the same name by Robert Bolt. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, it stars Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More, a celebrated English statesman and author of Utopia, who refuses to accept King Henry VIII's plan to divorce Catherine of Aragon and remarry Anne Boleyn. The film also features Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, and Susannah York. The story chronicles the moral struggle of Sir Thomas More as he attempts to remain true to his conscience while defending his loyalty to the Catholic Church and his king. Despite tremendous pressure from the Crown, More remains steadfast and refuses to take the Oath of Supremacy, which would make the King the head of the Church, thus leading to his arrest and execution. The film is a reflection on issues of conscience and the implications of religious belief and politics in a modern world.

From Kenneth Branagh, starring Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Simon Shepherd, James Larkin
Rated PG-13

Henry V is a 1989 British historical drama film adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The film tells the story of King Henry V of England, focusing on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War. The film follows Henry as he embarks on a successful campaign against France, culminating in the decisive Battle of Agincourt. Along the way, Henry must deal with internal strife, a dwindling treasury, and a limited military force. He also faces off with the French King Charles VI and the Dauphin of France. At Agincourt, the outnumbered English army triumphs against the French forces, thanks to Henry's inspirational leadership. The victory makes him a hero in England, and sets the stage for a lasting peace between the two countries. The film is a riveting and thought-provoking look at heroism, power, and the pursuit of peace.

From Shekhar Kapur, starring Cate Blanchett, Liz Giles, Rod Culbertson, Paul Fox
Rated R

From Michael Apted, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai
Rated PG

From Joe Wright, starring Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn
Rated PG-13

From Richard Loncraine, starring Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Christopher Bowen, Edward Jewesbury
Rated R

From Stephen Frears, starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings
Rated PG-13

From Nicholas Hytner, starring Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Rupert Graves, Amanda Donohoe
Rated PG-13

From Jean-Marc Vallée, starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson
Rated PG

From John Madden, starring Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher
Rated PG

From Charles Jarrott, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Glenda Jackson, Patrick McGoohan, Timothy Dalton
Rated PG-13

From Michael Caton-Jones, starring Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth
Rated R

From Shekhar Kapur, starring Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Jordi Mollà
Rated PG-13

From Stephen Frears, starring Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Pigott-Smith, Eddie Izzard
Rated PG-13

From Justin Chadwick, starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess
Rated PG-13

From Michael Hoffman, starring Robert Downey Jr., Sam Neill, David Thewlis, Polly Walker
Rated R

From Jon Amiel, starring Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Ian Kelly, Guy Henry
Rated PG-13

From Phyllida Lloyd, starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant, Susan Brown
Rated PG-13

From Laurence Dunmore, starring Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich, Paul Ritter
Rated R

From Jonathan English, starring Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng, Brian Cox, James Purefoy
Rated R

From Jonathan Teplitzky, starring Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, John Slattery, Julian Wadham
Rated PG