There’s just something about a good period drama, right? A world of fantasy full of wild love, genteel ladies and, uhm, gents, and amazingly scrumptious costumes. A bit like a fairy tale for adults; a romantic movie that’s way more magical and stunning. Now, we won’t hide it; these period dramas have us all swooning so hard it is even tough to see what we’re writing here! Hopefully, you share the same passion for romantic period dramas as we do, and will allow us to take you on the journey of the best period dramas ever!
So, of course, if you are not a newbie to the whole period movie situation, you’ll find some familiar gems in our list. However, is watching Marie Antoinette for the umpteenth time a bad thing? Surely not! But, surely, there are also some costume dramas that’ll be new to you – have you already had the time to watch Emma and Love & Friendship? How about a wellness session with 2019’s Wuthering Heights? Yup, time to clear up your schedule and find the time to watch these babies now!
So, scroll on down below to our selection of the greatest period dramas to date! Once you are there, be sure to vote for your favorite movie, and share this article with those who share the same passion for these charming movies!
#1 Marie Antoinette
2006 | 2 hours 3 minutes | Directed by Sofia Coppola
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn
Ahh, Marie Antoinette, the most iconic Queen of France! This 2006 movie is a retelling of her ill-fated story from her marriage to Louis XVI at the age of fourteen to her reign as a Queen at nineteen, and her ultimate demise accentuated by the fall of Versailles. Marie Antoinette merges the fashion of the court with teenage-like rebellion, and Sofia Coppola adds in some pretty cool easter eggs along the way. All in all, it is a very engaging and beautiful movie with a real story told in a magnificent way.
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#2 Belle
2013 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Amma Asante
Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson
Belle, the 2013 movie by Amma Asante, was inspired by a real story. Everything inspired by a real story is so much more exciting, right? So, here a story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate biracial daughter of Royal Navy Captain Sir John Lindsay, is retold in the most beautiful way. She’s raised by her aristocratic uncle and aunt, and although her lineage affords her privileges, her skin color prevents her from fully entering society. Of course, there’s the swooning love, the greater cause, and incredible costumes to make her story come to life!
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#3 Love & Friendship
2016 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Whit Stillman
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny, Xavier Samuel
Love & Friendship, unsurprisingly, is a story based on Jane Austen’s novel called Lady Susan. All the best period dramas are either based on her or Emily Brontë’s work, it seems, and very rightfully so! So here, our main protagonist is Lady Susan Vernon, a widow hoping to set up her daughter in a comfortable marriage and find a love of her own, too. Love & Friendship is witty, enchanting, and huge, with a plot twist you’d never expect!
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#4 Little Women
2019 | 2 hours 15 minutes | Directed by Greta Gerwig
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emily Watson, Florence Pugh
Now, we all know the story here, right? Four sisters, all of them as determined as the next one to reach their goals and to live their lives to the fullest. However, this time, we get to see and feel the real essence of the story’s characters, all thanks to the incredible cast (come on, Saoirse Ronan, Emily Watson, Florence Pugh, and Timothee Chalamet all in one place!) and Greta Gerwig’s direction. However, the movie might come off as a bit on the naive side at times, but who said that a bit of naivete is a bad thing in a period drama?
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#5 Wuthering Heights
2019 | 2 hours 9 minutes | Directed by Andrea Arnold
Starring Kay Scodelario, James Howson, Solomon Glave
Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights is seemingly one of those masterpieces that are just unfilmable. That is, before Andrea Arnold took a chance at it! So, finally, after at least fourteen subpar adaptations, we have one that’s brilliantly told and magnificently shot! If you need a refresher on the story here, this is how it goes – a poor boy of unknown origins is rescued by the Earnshaw family. Here, he develops an intense relationship with his younger foster sister, Cathy, and from that point, the story is all about that all-consuming, elemental love that can only be found in Emily Brontë’s stories!
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#6 Lady Macbeth
2016 | 1 hour 29 minutes | Directed by William Oldroyd
Starring Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Paul Hilton
Lady Macbeth is set in 19th-century rural England and follows the story of a bride who has been sold into marriage. Now, that never promises anything good, and much to our delight, in a real period drama fashion, she finds herself engulfed by unstoppable desire upon entering into an affair with a worker in her estate. Florence Pugh’s performance here is just jaw-dropping, the sets here are dark and spooky, and the suspense (although not so typical for a period drama) is as sweet and viscous as honey.
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#7 The Favourite
2018 | 1 hour 59 minutes | Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz
Okay, so if this isn’t your first Yorgos Lanthimos movie rodeo, you might have an inkling of what to expect from The Favourite. However, if this is your first viewing of this director’s work – expect the unexpected. The story here is set in 18th-century England, where the ruler is Queen Anne. She’s bored and dissatisfied up until a new servant enters the halls of her court. Seems simple enough, but The Favourite is full of twisty plot lines, wild emotions, and black humor that’s of stellar quality. A very well-rounded movie and one of our own favorites, as well.
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#8 Emma
2020 | 2 hours 4 minutes | Directed by Autumn de Wilde
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth
First off, a disclaimer – we’re huge fans of Anya Taylor-Joy here. And when she’s the protagonist in Jane Austen’s story, we literally swoon from the first moment! And rightfully so – Emma is one of those rare instances that truly reveal Austen’s incredible wit, and it is such a joy to watch Joy bring Emma to life. And if you’re looking for an airy and, ultimately, very uplifting movie that’s real eye candy, definitely add Emma to your period drama list.
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#9 Colette
2018 | 1 hour 51 minutes | Directed by Wash Westmoreland
Starring Keira Knightley, Fiona Shaw, Dominic West
Colette is a talented housewife, and her husband knows it very well. He pushes Colette to write novels under his name, and once they find success, she has none of this sneaky pen-name business anymore. Now Colette fights for her talents to be known and challenges all the gender norms possible. A truly beautiful and inspiring story, elevated by Keira’s impeccable character acting.
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#10 Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
2019 | 2 hours 2 minutes | Directed by Celine Sciamma
Starring Noemie Merlant, Adele Haenel, Luana Bajrami
Upon its release, Portrait of a Lady on Fire literally stole the show at the Cannes movie festival. And that’s not only for stellar settings, amazing cinematography, and incredible acting but also for a daring story. Set in 18th-century France, Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows the story of two troubled women secretly falling in love with each other. And although they both know their relationship cannot go on, this doesn’t stop them from dreaming about a better reality.
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#11 Elizabeth
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#12 Downtown Abbey
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#13 Pride And Prejudice
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#14 The Personal History Of David Copperfield
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#15 Ammonite
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#16 The Age Of Innocence
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#17 The New World
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#18 Becoming Jane
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#19 Stage Beauty
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#20 Vanity Fair
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#21 Sense And Sensibility
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#22 The Duchess
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#23 The Other Boleyn Girl
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#24 A Room With A View
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#25 Mary Queen Of Scots
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#26 The Young Victoria
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#27 The Remains Of The Day
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#28 Miss Potter
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#29 The Dressmaker
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#30 Far From The Madding Crowd
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#31 A Royal Night Out
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#32 Jane Eyre
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#33 Dangerous Liaisons
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#34 The Imitation Game
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#35 Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer
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#36 Moulin Rouge!
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#37 Howards End
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#38 Rebecca
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#39 The Danish Girl
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#40 Mansfield Park
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#41 Effie Gray
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#42 Girl With A Pearl Earring
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#43 Stonehearst Asylum
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#44 The Illusionist
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#45 The Prestige
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#46 Lizzie
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#47 Atonement
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#48 As You Like It
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#49 The Dig
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#50 The Scarlet Pimpernel
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