100 All-Time Best Movies for History Buffs

100 All-Time Best Movies for History Buffs's icon

Created by MariusMariusMarius.

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History isn’t marked by years, but events. Being a history buff means looking at the way major ideas or happenings played out and how they had an effect on everything from politics to the economy.
War, invention, discovery, love: the history of the world has been shaped by the way we deal with these things. The movies on this list are great ways to take a closer look at the moments that changed history.

NOTE: The list is constructed out of seven minor lists, as noted below:
#01 - 13: Ancient History
#14 - 29: Medieval Times
#30 - 46: Exploration & Colonization
#47 - 53: The American Revolution
#54 - 68: The American Civil War
#69 - 81: World War II
#82 - 100: The 20th Century

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  1. 79 -

    Saving Private Ryan

    1998, in 28 top lists Check
  2. 81 -

    The Pianist

    2002, in 21 top lists Check
  3. 7 -

    300

    2006, in 6 top lists Check
  4. 90 -

    Platoon

    1986, in 21 top lists Check
  5. 78 -

    The Thin Red Line

    1998, in 14 top lists Check
  6. 42 -

    Empire of the Sun

    1987, in 9 top lists Check
  7. 69 -

    The Best Years of Our Lives

    1946, in 30 top lists Check
  8. 50 -

    The Patriot

    2000, in 2 top lists Check
  9. 75 -

    Patton

    1970, in 13 top lists Check
  10. 82 -

    All Quiet on the Western Front

    1930, in 19 top lists Check
  11. 54 -

    Glory

    1989, in 5 top lists Check
  12. 73 -

    The Dirty Dozen

    1967, in 8 top lists Check
  13. 60 -

    Cold Mountain

    2003, in 1 top list Check
  14. 34 -

    Zulu

    1964, in 8 top lists Check
  15. 76 -

    The Big Red One

    1980, in 10 top lists Check
  16. 74 -

    Catch-22

    1970, in 5 top lists Check
  17. 70 -

    The Caine Mutiny

    1954, in 3 top lists Check
  18. 46 -

    Gunga Din

    1939, in 7 top lists Check
  19. 65 -

    The Civil War

    1990, in 3 top lists Check
  20. 55 -

    Gettysburg

    1993, in 0 top lists Check
  21. 59 -

    Shenandoah

    1965, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 61 -

    Ride with the Devil

    1999, in 3 top lists Check
  23. 58 -

    The Red Badge of Courage

    1951, in 3 top lists Check
  24. 10 -

    The Fall of the Roman Empire

    1964, in 1 top list Check
  25. 53 -

    Drums Along the Mohawk

    1939, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 66 -

    C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America

    2004, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 63 -

    Gods and Generals

    2003, in 0 top lists Check
  28. 56 -

    Andersonville

    1996, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 52 -

    The Howards of Virginia

    1940 — a.k.a. The Tree of Liberty, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jan 7, 2012; source