10 Best Revolutionary War Movies, Ranked

Summary

• Some of the best Revolutionary War movies focus on individuals’ experiences beyond just the battles and leaders of the time.
• Films like “Revolution” and “The Patriot” offer different perspectives, from a father searching for his son to a farmer who becomes a reluctant hero.
• “1776” uses musical numbers to bring the historical figures to life, making the story of the American Revolution engaging for all audiences.

Although the Revolutionary War is a period widely touched upon in history lessons, there is still much to learn about it from the best movies about the subject. Films that delve into the history of the American Revolution include depictions of the founding fathers and pivotal battles that turned the tide of the war. However, some of the greatest movies in the genre incorporate the experience of civilians and the perspectives of people experiencing the war from all walks of life.

Anyone interested in learning more not only about the war but about how it’s perceived throughout film and television should watch the movies made about it.

Many people best know the story of the American Revolution from the songs from the musical Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda. The musical is a revisionist take on the founding of the United States through the lens of the life of Alexander Hamilton. Due to the musical’s popularity, the story of the war has seeped back into the cultural lexicon, and it’s gained greater interest outside the realm of historical research. Anyone interested in learning more not only about the war but about how it’s perceived throughout film and television should watch the movies made about it.

10 Revolution (1985)

Directed By Hugh Hudson

Many Revolutionary War movies have taken the massive historical event and simplified it as seen through the eyes of one character. That is the approach taken by Revolution in which Al Pacino plays Tom, a man searching for his son after he is taken by the British army, who becomes an unlikely hero in the revolution.

While Revolution isn’t Pacino’s best work, and it can be difficult to separate his performance from the context of his other roles, the film should be recognized for its prominence and high profile. The strong cinematography and direction are its highlights, while the script and story end up being lackluster. However, the movie inspired others to take on the subject and is well-remembered despite its lower critical reception.

Pacino himself is somewhat miscast in the role, feeling too modern for the setting, but he is still able to be compelling with his typical fiery performance. There is also an entertaining villain role from the late Donald Sutherland.

9 April Morning (1988)

Directed By Delbert Mann

Tommy Lee Jones is easily the best part of April Morning as Moses, the father of Adam (Chad Lowe), a young man who struggles to define his identity during the revolution. The battle of Lexington plays a key role in the film, as does religion and the themes of coming-of-age. Faith is frequently debated in the film, giving it a deep and critical reading of the cultural philosophies of the time.

The TV movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Howard Fast which became a popular book to be read in classrooms for its historical fiction from the point of view of a young man at a pivotal time in his life. Indeed, the large focus of the story is on Adam and his relationship with his parents, which makes it a grounded human story. April Morning is unexpectedly moving and takes on personal dilemmas, using the backdrop of the war as a way to explore how a child becomes an adult.

8 Johnny Tremain (1957)

Directed By Robert Stevenson

The family-friendly Johnny Tremain focuses on the young Johnny (Hal Stalmaster) and the perspective of the youth during a time of great political and cultural upheaval. Throughout the film, Johnny encounters different revolutionary leaders, including Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, and joins the Sons of Liberty to find purpose in the world.

Johnny Tremain was made by Disney with educational purposes in mind but that doesn’t stop the film from delving into Johnny as a character. The movie covers many of the same aspects seen in April Morning, taking the approach of a coming-of-age story to explore this historical period.

It is an effective story as so much of this period was about young men coming into manhood as soldiers. Additionally, the movie delivers important messages about values and the importance of learning from mistakes. The movie’s legacy led to the creation of Liberty Square in Walt Disney World.

7 The Patriot (2000)

Directed By Roland Emmerich

The Patriot is not one of Heath Ledger’s best movies, but he does lend his considerable acting abilities to his role, making the film relevant within the genre. Alongside Ledger, Mel Gibson stars as his father in a family that is wracked with tragedy because of the British army. The Patriot was a box office hit and high praise for the action sequences and choreography of the battles.

The movie is a fun ride that is less concerned with the events of the war and more interested in making a quality action flick. The conflict is largely boiled down to one man’s mission for revenge, making it feel very much like a Revolutionary War take on Gibson’s Braveheart.

There are a lot of controversies about the movie, from the false depictions of atrocities committed by British soldiers to the movie glossing over the real-life crimes of its heroic protagonist, Benjamin Martin. However, if not taken as a history lesson, it is an entertaining blockbuster.

6 Mary Silliman’s War (1994)

Directed By Stephen Surjik

The little-known film Mary Silliman’s War is based on true events and uncovers the experience of a woman living at the time of the American Revolution. When loyalists kidnap Mary’s (Nancy Palk) husband, it’s up to her to get him back and manage her role within the community. She’s a sympathetic lead, enhanced by Palk’s performance, and the overall film is one of the more faithful adaptations of real lives and stories onscreen.

While many Revolutionary War movies focus on the men who fought in the war and are remembered in the history books, it is interesting to see the conflict through the perspective of a woman at the time. Mary’s struggles reflect the reality and hardships of many women left behind at home during this time, fighting their own war for survival. It’s also a beautiful film to watch because of the sweeping landscape and historical accuracy.

5 The Scarlet Coat (1955)

Directed By John Sturges

Focusing on espionage and counter-intelligence during the Revolutionary War, The Scarlet Coat weaves a dramatic tale of betrayal, friendship, romance, and war. The movie heavily fictionalizes and elevates the stakes of the true story it’s loosely based on, namely the famous event of Benedict Arnold accepting a bribe from the British Army to turn over the fort of West Point. The movie focuses on a collection of characters with none of them sure who can be trusted.

Though it’s an older film, it watches more similarly to a modern-day spy thriller than a historically accurate retelling of history. However, this makes it all the more fun to watch, and the intrigue the plot introduces about the war makes it more accessible to modern audiences. The Scarlet Coat is directed by action movie veteran John Sturges (The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven) and while it might not be as exciting as his more famous projects, it holds up as a thrilling Revolutionary War film.

4 Drums Along The Mohawk (1939)

Directed By John Ford

Although John Ford is best known for making Western movies, his turn at taking on the Revolutionary War proved to be a great success. Drums Along the Mohawk stars Hollywood legend Henry Fonda as a newlywed farmer who, along with his wife (Claudette Colbert) must contend with the threats on their new life from various forces as they hold out for the end of the war and a return to peace.

Due to Ford’s background in Westerns, he focuses on the effect of war in rural communities rather than the more populated cities where the great battles took place. The film attempts to include some representation of Indigenous Americans, but their portrayal is quite dated. However, the film still has merit because of its strong performances and the classically strong visual style Ford brings to his work.

3 The Crossing (2000)

Directed By Robert Harmon

The made-for-TV movie The Crossing brings to the screen one of the most iconic moments of the Revolutionary War. Jeff Daniels stars as George Washington during the crossing of the Delaware River and the tense series of events that led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

It’s a well-known battle and was instrumental in turning the tide of the war, but The Crossing is unique because of how much it focuses on Washington as a man and as a leader. Washington is a mythic figure in the American mythos, and any film that discusses his humanity and how he handled the pressure of the war is vital to understanding how the Revolution was won.

It is especially compelling to see the doubt some of his officers had in him about leading them to victory. The movie specifically depicts the tension between Washington and General Horatio Gates, based on their historically fraught relationship.

2 The Devil’s Disciple (1959)

Directed By Alexander Mackendrick & Guy Hamilton

Based on the play of the same name by George Bernard Shaw, The Devil’s Disciple boasts an illustrious cast that includes Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Laurence Olivier. It tells the story of two men who are swayed to the cause of independence because of how the British treat them.

Douglas stars as a man who is wrongfully mistaken for a minister (Lancaster) with revolutionary ties. Rather than give up the real minister, Douglas’ hero maintains the misunderstanding while Lancaster attempts to rescue him. The Devil’s Disciple is strongest in its dialogue and character-driven narrative, thanks to its source material.

Though liberties were taken with the original story, it still goes down in history as an example of the rising tensions at the beginning of the war. Douglas and Lancaster would make seven movies over the course of their careers and this film is a terrific display of the dynamic quality they shared. While a fictional account, it is inspired by some truth, including Lancaster’s character being based on the historical figure of Peter Muhlenberg, aka the “Fighting Parson of the American Revolution.”

1 1776 (1972)

Directed By Peter H. Hunt

Long before Hamilton amazed audiences all over the world, 1776 took the musical approach to the subject of the American Revolution. Based on the Broadway play of the same name, the movie gives historical figures like John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson some lively musical numbers drawn from many real letters and memoirs of the time. 1776 is a great movie musical that anyone can enjoy because of how effectively it uses musical numbers to drive the story forward.

What could have been a dry retelling of a series of meetings throughout a pivotal summer became a personal and political drama with the fate of a nation hanging in the balance. 1776 works because it seamlessly translates the enormous weight of these men’s decisions into a small scale that represents the larger movements of the war. Additionally, the film is well-made, well-acted, and tells human stories within the greater context of history being made.