25 Best Movies About Life In The 1800s (Including Little Women)

Summary

• The 1800s continue to be a fascinating era for movies, with Little Women being a highly regarded period drama that captured viewers’ hearts.
• Films set in the 1800s can transport audiences back in time, allowing them to explore the technology, beliefs, and society of that era.
• There are numerous movies set in the 1800s across different genres, such as Sherlock Holmes, The Great Train Robbery, Amistad, Cold Mountain, The Lighthouse, The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, The Elephant Man, Pride & Prejudice, The Man Who Would Be King, Les Misérables, and Nosferatu.

Before her success with Barbie, Greta Gerig delivered one of the best movies set in the 1800s with Little Women. Her adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott captured viewers’ hearts with its rich storytelling and beautiful recreation of the 1800s setting. Though it’s one of the most highly regarded period dramas of recent years, it’s not the only one of its kind. It is always interesting to see how many different genres can operate within this time frame and how they can tell stories that still strike a chord with audiences in modern society.

Life today is different from what it was in the nineteenth century, but films like the 1994 or 2019 versions of Little Women transport audiences back in time. The 1800s were rife with injustice, quiet achievements, and some prominent breakthroughs in technology and social justice. This transition between the colonial era and the modern world is part of what makes the 19th century so fascinating for many. For fans interested in the era, there are several great movies set in the 1800s, and with the streaming services available, it is easier than ever to go back in time to explore the world during that era.

25 Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Directed By Guy Ritchie

Following his success with Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. got to headline another blockbuster franchise with Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes. The movie actually came out during a Sherlock renaissance but while the BBC series Sherlock and the American series Elementary reimagined the famed detective in a modern setting, Sherlock Holmes takes the character back to the 1800s to investigate a case involving a cultist who appears to rise from the grave.

A sequel,
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
, came out in 2011.

As successful as Sherlock’s stories have been in the 21st century, it was welcome to see him back in his original era, dealing with the technology, beliefs, and society of the day. Downey Jr.’s chemistry with Jude Law, who plays Dr. Watson, is also a big selling point. The movie was a massive success, spawning a sequel two years later. It also earned two Oscar nominations (Best Original Score and Best Art Direction) and did very well to depict its era.

24 The Great Train Robbery (1978)

Directed By Michael Crichton

It is nice to see a slick and fun heist movie successfully pulled off in an 1800s setting. It is a daunting task that The Great Train Robbery handles wonderfully to make for a hugely enjoyable and funny period crime story loosely based on actual events. Sean Connery stars as a member of high society who is secretly a master thief.

With a band of entertaining criminals, he plans to steal a fortune from a moving train. The movie incorporates many elements of a typical heist movie, from assembling the team to putting the plan in place.

Author Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) directs the movie based on his 1975 novel. The real story on which it is based was a robbery in 1855 when someone stole three boxes of gold bullion and coins from a moving train. The thieves were never caught until years later when one of them turned on the others after a betrayal. The Great Train Robbery is a clever and sharply written crime comedy that earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay.

23 Amistad (1997)

Directed By Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg tackled a real-life court case of the 1800s in the movie Amistad. Djimon Hounsou stars as a man who leads a rebellion aboard an illegal slave ship. When the ship ends up apprehended in American waters, a court case is conducted to determine who the enslaved people belong to, with a young New York lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) arguing they are free men. The movie tackles the inhumanity of the slave trade as well as this little-known moment in history with a stirring drama.

It also features an incredible cast with Morgan Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Anthony Hopkins in an Oscar-nominated role as former U.S. President John Quincy Adams. While critics and historians praised the movie for its historical accuracy, it did receive criticism for its assumption that this was a turning point in the American perspective on slavery at the time, as it was not. That said, it’s an engrossing film filled with strong performances.

22 Cold Mountain (2003)

Directed By Anthony Minghella

The Civil War is a frequent subject explored in movies set in the 1800s, with Cold Mountain taking a sweeping romantic view of it, inspired by films like Gone with the Wind. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law star in the tale as lovers, Ada and W.P., torn apart at the outbreak of the war. Wounded in battle, W.P. abandons his post and makes the long journey back to Ada as she struggles to maintain her farm.

The epic feel of the movie and the romance at its center give it a tragic tone that highlights the brutality of the times. Cold Mountain was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Law, and one win for Best Supporting Actress for Renée Zellweger, who played a farmer named Ruby, who arrives to help Ada in her time of need. The film also picked up 13 BAFTA nominations, winning two, and it sits at 70% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

21 The Lighthouse (2019)

Directed By David Eggers

Some movies explore grand stories of the 1800s, while some use the era to great effect in smaller-scale stories. Such is the case with The Lighthouse, a thriller set in late 1800s New England. The black-and-white movie stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as two lighthouse workers isolated on a small island. As tensions grow between them, the lines between what is reality and what is delusion begin to blur.

It is an engrossing movie by Robert Eggers with terrific performances from the two leads and a surprising amount of dark humor. Its stunning cinematography, surreal feel, and unexpected humor make it one of the best horror movies in recent years. Critics praised the movie, which is certified fresh at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. It earned both an Oscar and BAFTA nomination for its cinematography. The era was a small part of the story, mostly explaining the superstitions and fears prevalent in the 1800s.

20 The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)

Directed By Sergio Leone

It is interesting to look at Little Women and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and realize they are both movies set in the 1800s. Far from the life of young women in England, this classic Spaghetti Western looks at the period of lawlessness in the American West as the Civil War raged on. It follows three characters (Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes) on the same journey to find a buried treasure.

Regarded as one of the greatest Westerns of all time, it is a masterclass in filmmaking by Sergio Leone, with so many iconic moments and a star-making turn from Clint Eastwood. This movie was the final part of the Dollars Trilogy, with Eastwood playing a variation of the same character in all three Spaghetti Westerns. It has an almost perfect 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is often listed among the best movies of all time, regardless of genre.

19 The Elephant Man (1980)

Directed By David Lynch

Looking back at society over a century ago can sometimes make for a compelling story that holds up for modern audiences. David Lynch’s The Elephant Man is a tragic true story of John Merrick, a disfigured man living in Victorian London. John Hurt gives a heartbreaking performance as Merrick, who was used as an attraction and treated as less than human. The real Joseph Merrick lived from 1862 until 1890, making this a look at the late era of the century.

The Elephant Man was an awards hit upon its release, earning Hurt an Oscar nomination for his performance, along with seven other nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The movie also stars Anthony Hopkins as a doctor who seeks to help Merrick and sees the kind spirit the rest of the world ignores. This is the film that convinced the Academy Awards to create an honor specifically for makeup work. On top of that, it’ss one of Lynch’s most approachable films, with a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

18 Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Directed By Joe Wright

While many movies set in the 1800s look back to tell their stories, it is interesting to see a story that was first written during that era. Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice was published in 1813 as a contemporary romance story about an independent young woman pressured to find a partner. There have been so many adaptations of Austen’s iconic novel, but this 2005 version, directed by Joe Wright, is one of the most acclaimed.

Keira Knightley stars in the lead role as Elizabeth Bennet, while Succession fans will enjoy seeing Matthew Macfadyen in a very different role as Mr. Darcy. The movie breathes new excitement into the classic story, leading to four Oscar nominations, including one for Knightley as Best Actress. There were some notable changes made to the story, mostly by making Elizabeth a more independent figure in the movie than she was in the novel, a choice praised by critics and audiences.

17 The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Directed By John Huston

The combined star power and talent of Michael Caine and Sean Connery help make The Man Who Would Be King a masterpiece of an adventure movie. The two actors portray former British soldiers in 1880s India who seek out fortune in unknown lands. Christopher Plummer also stars in the movie as journalist Rudyard Kipling, providing a name to the otherwise anonymous narrator from the original novel.

The movie’s tremendous scale under the direction of John Huston makes for an exciting ride from beginning to end. But at its center, it is also a terrific morality tale about ambition and greed. Connery and Caine make for a great team of complicated antiheroes, which builds to the stunning finale that cements it as a truly great adventure movie with a message. The film earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay.

16 Les Misérables (2012)

Directed By Tom Hooper

Les Misérables has been adapted many times, and each adaptation brings something new to the table. The 2012 musical, based on the Broadway hit of the same name and featuring a star-studded cast, might be the most accessible to a broader audience, but the 1935 French film is the most authentic. Whichever adaptation viewers choose, the core story remains the same: a Frenchman spends his life in the 1800s evading a brutal law enforcement officer after stealing bread. Despite turning his life around, he still can’t escape his past.

The musical adaptation was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor (Hugh Jackman), while Anne Hathaway won for her commanding supporting role. Of the eight nominations, the film also won for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Sound Mixing. It also picked up nine BAFTA nominations, winning four. Compared at times to the novel and Broadway shows, it was well received and the 1800s setting was well depicted through makeup, costuming, and production design.

15 Nosferatu (1922)

Directed By F. W. Murnau

While vampires often appear in modern-day horror stories, the German Expressionist horror film Nosferatu looked back at a creature of the past in this ground-breaking movie. Inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this German silent movie follows a real estate agent who begins working for a reclusive and disturbing count in 1838.

When Bram Stoker’s family came after F.W. Murnau, he changed the Count’s name from Dracula to Orlok and named his movie Nosferatu, but it is mostly the same story. The movie was released nine years before Dracula, and it is considered by many to be the true grandfather of vampire cinema.

A full century after its release, it is still possible to see the influence Nosferatu has on modern cinema. It is possible that the trend of vampire movies would never have become as prevalent today if the movie did not exist. The upcoming 2024 Nosferatu is also set in the 1800s and given it’s being helmed by Robert Eggers, who directed the aforementioned The Lighthouse, it should handle the era well.

14 The Duellists (1977)

Directed By Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott is one of the most prolific directors of period films, and his 1800s-set debut feature The Duellists, is one of his most acclaimed outings. Based on a Joseph Conrad short story, the film tracks a rivalry between two nobles in the early 19th century, interrupted by the events of the Napoleonic Wars. The story moves through time, starting in 1800 and finishing with their final duel in 1816.

Starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, The Duellists has been lauded for its historical accuracy as well as its drama. Scott won the Best First Work award at the Cannes Film Festival for the movie, kick-starting his legendary career, which includes his recent return to the period drama genre with Napoleon, which started in 1793 and moved into the early 1800s. The Duellists earned two BAFTA nominations, one for cinematography and the other for costume design.

13 Anna Karenina (2012)

Directed By Joe Wright

Joe Wright’s adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s famous Russian novel is an ambitious one. The film has been criticized for prioritizing style over substance, but the heartrending performances of the star-studded cast add to the beautiful cinematography, costumes, and set design, making it one of the most visually stunning movies set in the 1800s. Anna Karenina, a married aristocrat, pursues an affair with a younger man and faces tragic consequences. Meanwhile, her brother is pardoned for cheating on his wife.

The film proved to be another successful collaboration between Wright and Knightley (along with a supporting Matthew Macfayden in a supporting role) with the project earning Knightley her third Oscar nomination. Anna Karenina was also praised for its visuals, as Wright created it like a stage play, with the actors moving from one scene to another on the set without needing to cut, offering an experience unlike any other in cinema.

12 Great Expectations (1946)

Directed By David Lean

Like Les Misérables, Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations has been adapted many times, but perhaps never quite so masterfully as David Lean’s 1946 film, created over a decade before he directed his masterpiece, Lawrence of Arabia. The story follows Pip as he grows from a young boy into an adult and simultaneously, he escapes his humble beginnings, educates himself, and comes into a great fortune to enter high society. However, he doesn’t anticipate the consequences.

Of the many adaptations of the story, Lean’s is still regarded as the best by many, earning a Best Picture Oscar nomination on top of winning Oscars for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. It was the first British film to ever win an Oscar for cinematography (by DP Guy Green). The film was also named one of the British Film Institute’s Top 100 British films of all time.

11 The Beguiled (2017)

Directed By Sofia Coppola

Many American movies set in the 1800s deal with the American Civil War, thoughThe Beguiled depicts the war from a different point of view. The film follows two women running a boarding school for young girls in the South who take in an injured Union soldier. The movie is a dark, gothic tale featuring stellar performances from its excellent cast. Instead of focusing on the men at war, Sofia Coppola’s film focuses on the women fighting their own battles while trying to protect their homes.

The Beguiled has a stellar cast, with Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning as residents of the boarding school and Colin Farrell as the Union soldier they help bring back to health, only to realize he brings great danger with his presence. Coppola won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and her film received positive attention at year-end awards ceremonies from critic groups.

10 Gone With The Wind (1939)

Directed By Victor Fleming

Gone with the Wind is one of the most praised romances of all time. It tells the story of a high-society Southern woman who begins a turbulent affair with a roguish man as the Civil War comes to an end and Reconstruction begins. Clark Gable stars as Rhett Butler, a wealthy scoundrel and gambler in his 30s who falls for the much younger Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh). The movie follows their love, marriage, and the heartaches that came following that.

The film has been causing a stir in recent times, given its glorified depiction of the American South during the age of slavery but this perspective can today be used as a point of education. The film is also known for its epic beauty as it helped usher in a grander style of filmmaking that changed Hollywood forever. Gone with the Wind‘s legacy is a complicated one, but there is no denying the mark it made on American movies.

9 Scrooge (1951)

Directed By Brian Desmond Hurst

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol has been retold over and over on screen, but many consider the 1951 version to be the best. While some film versions have brought the story into the modern age, Scrooge remains set in 1800s London. Like many of Dickens’ works, this story deals with the immense poverty of the time, as represented by Bob Cratchit and his family. Scrooge’s growth in realizing he should help the less fortunate remains an important message.

It remains an impactful tale no matter how often it is adapted and Alistair Sims’ performance makes for the best Scrooge in movie history. There are small differences between the movie and the novel, but that is the case with most adaptations of this particular story, and it did nothing to lessen its impact. A Christmas Carol did receive mixed reviews when it was released, but its life really started when it began to play on television and quickly became a beloved favorite.

8 Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Directed By Peter Weir

A gritty look at naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, Master and Commander stars Russell Crowe as a British Navy captain engaged in a daring pursuit of French privateers. The movie itself is adapted from three different novels in the Patrick O’Brian Aubrey-Maturin book series, with Crowe playing Captain Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon.

Peter Weir’s adaptation of Patrick O’Brien’s long-running Aubrey-Maturin series is noted for its gritty depiction of 1800s warfare and the grim realities of life at sea in that era. While Master and Commander was only a moderate commercial success upon release, it garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, winning Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing. It has since become a cult classic. The film sits at 85% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

7 Yojimbo (1961)

Directed By Akira Kurosawa

While there are plenty of fascinating American films set in the 1800s, many foreign films also explore the 19th century. Yojimbo is an epic samurai film by the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa about a ronin who develops a plan to free a small rural town from the gangsters who are tearing it apart. The beautiful black-and-white film is a clever and exciting story with some breathtaking action sequences.

The film became an inspiration for many other filmmakers and was even used as the basis for the Spaghetti Western classic A Fistful of Dollars. Kurosawa also returned with a sequel to the movie called Sanjuro, which saw Mifune returning for more action. The Criterion Collection honored both movies with releases and even grouped them together as one set, part of Kurosawa’s large catalog of masterpieces.

6 The Prestige (2006)

Directed By Christopher Nolan

Movies about magicians usually take a flashy approach to their stories, but The Prestige takes a darker and more serious look at these performers in 1800s Europe. The film follows two magicians whose rivalry turns deadly as they try to best one another over the years. Once friends, they become deadly enemies when their assistant dies in a trick gone wrong and this feud changes them forever.

This captivating mystery from Christopher Nolan (based on a novel by Christopher Priest) is a unique glimpse behind the curtain of these magicians’ lives. It’s also full of mystery and suspense, and The Prestige‘s memorable twist ending, which Nolan pulls off very effectively, albeit veering a little into science fiction territory. The mystery behind how the magic tricks are pulled off are a highlight of the film, especially with the lack of modern technology to help the characters.