100 All-Time Best Movies for History Buffs

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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. 71 -

    Schindler's List

    1993, in 35 top lists Check
  2. 36 -

    Lawrence of Arabia

    1962, in 40 top lists Check
  3. 99 -

    Raging Bull

    1980, in 34 top lists Check
  4. 26 -

    La passion de Jeanne d'Arc

    1928 — a.k.a. The Passion of Joan of Arc, in 27 top lists Check
  5. 81 -

    The Pianist

    2002, in 21 top lists Check
  6. 24 -

    Braveheart

    1995, in 19 top lists Check
  7. 83 -

    All the President's Men

    1976, in 21 top lists Check
  8. 6 -

    Spartacus

    1960, in 19 top lists Check
  9. 39 -

    Gandhi

    1982, in 15 top lists Check
  10. 75 -

    Patton

    1970, in 13 top lists Check
  11. 97 -

    The Last Emperor

    1987, in 15 top lists Check
  12. 31 -

    The New World

    2005, in 10 top lists Check
  13. 96 -

    Reds

    1981, in 9 top lists Check
  14. 93 -

    Milk

    2008, in 3 top lists Check
  15. 19 -

    A Man for All Seasons

    1966, in 14 top lists Check
  16. 87 -

    Malcolm X

    1992, in 7 top lists Check
  17. 100 -

    Capote

    2005, in 3 top lists Check
  18. 40 -

    The Last King of Scotland

    2006, in 1 top list Check
  19. 13 -

    Cleopatra

    1963, in 5 top lists Check
  20. 20 -

    Elizabeth

    1998, in 5 top lists Check
  21. 17 -

    Henry V

    1989, in 2 top lists Check
  22. 18 -

    Richard III

    1955, in 6 top lists Check
  23. 86 -

    October Sky

    1999, in 0 top lists Check
  24. 1 -

    Quo Vadis

    1951, in 1 top list Check
  25. 14 -

    El Cid

    1961, in 1 top list Check
  26. 12 -

    Alexander

    2004, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 51 -

    John Adams

    2008, in 0 top lists Check
  28. 30 -

    1492: Conquest of Paradise

    1992, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 44 -

    Amazing Grace

    2006, in 0 top lists Check
  30. 49 -

    The Crossing

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jan 7, 2012; source