This guide will show you some of the best historical action movies and where they are streaming online right now.
They say that fact is stranger than fiction, and sometimes it’s way more interesting too. That’s why historical events make such great, compelling bases for movies. From World War II to dark points in American history, and even two incredibly notorious man-eating lions, these films show that history is full of stories worth telling. Check out our guide below to discover some of the best historical action movies that are streaming right now.
Harriet
Cynthia Erivo earned herself an Oscar nomination for portraying Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet. The film follows Tubman’s harrowing and adventurous life as she escapes to freedom in the North, fights for the Union army, and begins her work with John Brown to free slaves.
Dunkirk
Earning eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Director for Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk told the true story of the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II, when German forces surrounded French troops. The allied forces worked together to rescue the troops, ultimately saving over 300,000 people.
The Ghost and the Darkness
The Field Museum in Chicago has the taxidermied bodies of two infamous lions known as the Tsavo Man-Eaters. During the construction of the Kenya-Uganda Railroad, the two lions became maneaters. The lions began eating the construction workers and as the months went on, the lions got bolder and bolder, eventually attacking almost every single night. The Ghost and the Darkness tells the terrifying true story of surviving the lion attacks.
Everest
Everest chronicles the catastrophic events of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster. A group of ill-prepared climbers were stranded during a blizzard, creating a tragic disaster that caused two hiking expeditions to fight for their lives, ultimately leaving eight people dead. The film had an all-star cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Robin Wright, and Keira Knightley.
The Impossible
The Impossible centers around the true story of Maria Belon and her family who were vacationing in Thailand during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The tsunami brought numerous waves crashing into their resort, separating Maria and her family. The Impossible tells the harrowing story of how Maria lived through one of the worst natural disasters in human history.
Zero Dark Thirty
Scoring five Oscar nominations, Zero Dark Thirty centers on the search for Osama bin Laden after the September 11th attacks, and his eventual death by SEAL Team Six. The movie offered closure for many Americans after the 9/11 attacks and depicts a crucial moment of Obama’s presidency.
Pompeii
In 79 CE, the Mount Vesuvius volcano in southern Italy erupted, covering the city of Pompeii in toxic gasses, extreme temperatures, and mounds of ash, killing thousands who seemingly had little time to escape or prepare. The movie shows the final days of ancient Pompeii before being completely destroyed.
Pearl Harbor
In 2001, Michael Bay created a big-budget epic film depicting the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii starring Ben Affleck, Josh Harnett, and Kate Beckinsale. It’s a bit of a Dawson’s Creek take on the infamous event, but that also helps make the movie more appealing to a wider audience who otherwise might not watch a historical war film.
Troy
Glossy, sexy, and hypersaturated, 2004’s Troy told the story of the legendary Trojan War. Many scholars debate whether the war actually happened or if it was just a collection of stories that Homer compiled together, but the fact is that its legacy has certainly become a real part of history.
Where Can I Watch More Historical Action Movies Online?
Check out our guide below to find out where more great historical action movies are streaming online right now.