Motion pictures can carry historical past to life for college kids. As college students study the whole lot from historical Egypt to World Struggle II, use film clips and have movies to point out college students what life was like prior to now, in addition to what historic figures regarded and gave the impression of. Listed here are 50 historic motion pictures to share together with your college students. We’ve grouped them by grade degree primarily based on score and content material, nevertheless it’s at all times greatest to preview motion pictures first to ensure they’re applicable on your viewers. Be at liberty to drag from your complete listing primarily based in your college students’ maturity and curriculum.

Elementary

Elementary schoolers are interested in what life was like “again then,” however they’re not prepared for a number of the extra graphic depictions of historic occasions. Use historic motion pictures to curiosity youngsters in a particular time interval or occasion, and begin conversations about what life was like in historical Egypt or throughout the Holocaust or Civil Rights Motion.

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Instructing subject: Historical Egypt

This story reveals younger kids what historical Egypt might have been like (in animated kind) by way of the story of the E book of Exodus when Moses feuds with the Pharaoh to free the Israelites.

Watch it: The Prince of Egypt on Amazon

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Instructing subjects: Trendy historical past, twentieth century

This musical is about within the shtetl/village of Anatevka in Russia and depicts how the world modified in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Watch it: Fiddler on the Roof on Amazon

The Boy within the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Instructing subjects: World Struggle II, the Holocaust

The son of a Nazi commander and a Jewish boy in a focus camp develop into mates and ultimately depend on one another. This film is a option to introduce college students to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.

Watch it: The Boy within the Striped Pajamas on Amazon

The Sound of Music (1965)

Instructing subject: World Struggle II

This traditional movie reveals what resistance regarded like throughout the takeover of Austria. It’s additionally a love story, however you’ll be able to concentrate on the sacrifices and dangers that resisters took. In fact, the film’s rating is iconic.

Purchase it: The Sound of Music on Amazon

Ruby Bridges (1998)

Instructing subject: Civil rights

The story of Ruby Bridges touches on many subjects and points which might be vital to youngsters—equity, college, bravery. As youngsters study civil rights, it’s useful to get a way of what it was like for Ruby to be the primary Black little one to combine a New Orleans college.

Watch it: Ruby Bridges on Amazon

Apollo 13 (1995)

Instructing subjects: Trendy historical past, American historical past

This nail-biting drama tells the story of a mission to the moon that experiences tools failure. When the capsule begins shedding oxygen, the crew has to work collectively to return to earth.

Watch it: Apollo 13 on Amazon

Hidden Figures (2017)

Instructing subjects: Ladies’s historical past, civil rights

Hidden Figures is the story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three Black girls who helped launch the primary American into orbit and produce him again in 1962. This story is an efficient one to pair with articles and texts about these spectacular girls, and provides college students an opportunity to speak about why it took so lengthy for his or her story to be advised.

Watch it: Hidden Figures on Amazon

The Miracle Employee

Instructing subjects: Trendy historical past, incapacity historical past

That is the story of Helen Keller, a deaf-blind woman, and her trainer Annie Sullivan. The film reveals Helen Keller’s persona and dedication.

Watch it: The Miracle Employee on Amazon

Center Faculty

Center college college students are prepared for extra mature occasions in historical past together with relationship dynamics and conflict. And center schoolers love the drama that may play out in historical past, so benefit from that by exhibiting them motion pictures that may have them on the sting of their seats. (All these motion pictures are rated PG-13 or youthful.)

Ben Hur (1959)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

There’s Ben Hur, the story a couple of Jewish prince betrayed by a buddy who turns into a chariot racer. And there’s the Ben Hur with the chariot racing scene that is among the most well-known scenes in Hollywood. Use one in every of these historic motion pictures alongside different trendy portrayals of historical historical past to speak about themes in historical historical past (epic battles, the battle between higher and decrease courses).

Watch it: Ben Hur on Amazon

Cleopatra (1963)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

On this depiction, Cleopatra struggles to save lots of Egypt from Roman invasion. And, after all, there’s the love triangle between Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Marc Antony. The depiction of Cleopatra is predicated on fictional characters, so it’s a very good probability to speak about the place reality and fiction can diverge when re-creating historical past.

Watch it: Cleopatra on Amazon

Troy (2004)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

Paris, a Trojan prince, abducts Helen, queen of Sparta, beginning a conflict led by Achilles and Hector that wreaks havoc on the traditional world. Heroes, love, and the fall-out—might there be a extra apt center college story?

Watch it: Troy on Amazon

Becket (1964)

Instructing subject: European historical past

That is the story of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, and King Henry II throughout a change in energy. Henry II surprises England by naming his valet Thomas Becket as chancellor. Becket is nice for educating concerning the monarchy in addition to the sixteenth century.

Watch it: Becket on Amazon

The Alamo (2004)

Instructing subject: American historical past

This film brings the battle of the Alamo—when 200 Texans defended their small city from a military for 13 days throughout the 1836 Texas Revolution—to life. This is among the historic motion pictures that reveals why “Bear in mind the Alamo” remains to be a well known phrase right now.

Watch it: The Alamo on Amazon

Harriet (2019)

Instructing subjects: American historical past, slavery

That is the latest depiction of Harriet Tubman, essentially the most well-known Underground Railroad conductor. It reveals Tubman as a courageous, good, decided hero, and highlights the true risks that she confronted.

Watch it: Harriet on Amazon

Wonderful Grace (2007)

Instructing subjects: European historical past, slavery

That is the love story of parliament member William Wilberforce and Barbara Spooner, who fall in love throughout the transfer to abolish the slave commerce in England. It’s one option to come on the slave commerce and abolition subjects.

Watch it: Wonderful Grace on Amazon

Wyatt Earp (1994)

Instructing subjects: Western enlargement, American historical past

Wyatt Earp was a legendary lawman within the American West. This story depicts his life within the 1800s, from his loopy teen years to his days as a sheriff in Tombstone and the OK Corral. It’s an introduction to the truth and myths of the Wild West.

Watch it: Wyatt Earp on Amazon

A Night time to Bear in mind (1958)

Instructing subjects: Trendy historical past, the Titanic

Typically a film can spark an curiosity that youngsters can discover additional. This film, depicting the final hours of the April 1914 Titanic voyage, is an efficient introduction to the historical past of the Titanic, which college students can pursue additional by way of books and different historic motion pictures.

Watch it: A Night time to Bear in mind on Amazon

Unbroken (2014)

Instructing subjects: World Struggle II, American historical past

It is a biopic of Louis Zamperini, an athlete within the 1936 Olympics, survivor of a airplane crash at sea, and prisoner of conflict in a Japanese camp. It’s a tremendous story that spans the primary a part of the twentieth century.

Watch it: Unbroken on Amazon

The Diary of Anne Frank (2010)

Instructing subjects: The Holocaust, World Struggle II

This historic film telling of Anne Frank’s story, captured in her 1942 diary, is at all times compelling. Frank wrote about hiding from the Nazis and day by day life throughout the begin of the conflict.

Watch it: The Diary of Anne Frank on Amazon

Hidden in Silence (1996)

Instructing subjects: The Holocaust, World Struggle II

One other Holocaust story of bravery and dedication, Hidden in Silence tells the story of Polish sisters who hid 13 Jews of their attic for 2 and a half years. The subject is intense, so count on some emotional elements.

Watch it: Hidden in Silence on Amazon

The Monuments Males (2014)

Instructing subject: World Struggle II

On this film, a bunch of American troopers heads into Germany to get better European artwork stolen by the Nazis. (It’s not 100% correct as a historic retelling, nevertheless it’s a very good dialog starter concerning the numerous ways in which individuals served throughout World Struggle II.)

Watch it: The Monuments Males on Amazon

The Imitation Recreation (2014)

Instructing subject: World Struggle II

Alan Turing was a mathematician who gathered Britain’s prime code breakers and chess champions to attempt to glean prime secret intelligence from the Nazis’ “unbreakable” code. That is one other one of many World Struggle II historic motion pictures that’s not what college students would count on and can make them suppose extra deeply about all of the methods the conflict was fought.

Watch it: The Imitation Recreation on Amazon

Pink Tails (2012)

Instructing subjects: World Struggle II, African American historical past

This tells a narrative (not 100% factual) concerning the Tuskegee Airmen, a bunch of Black pilots who fought throughout World Struggle II. It’s a mixture of African American, aviation, and World Struggle II historical past.

Watch it: Pink Tails on Amazon or Disney Plus

Gandhi (1983)

Instructing subject: World historical past

An introduction to nonviolent protests and this iconic determine, the film reveals how Mohandas Gandhi led India out of British rule in 1947.

Watch it: Gandhi on Amazon

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Instructing subject: American historical past

Jackie Robinson stars as himself on this story about how he grew to become the primary African American in Main League Baseball. It’s a very good movie to pair with dialogue about how African Individuals (and different teams) have needed to break down racial boundaries. (There are some racial slurs, so put together college students forward of time for that.)

Watch it: The Jackie Robinson Story on Amazon

A League of Their Personal (1992)

Instructing subjects: World Struggle II, girls’s historical past

This traditional baseball film is concerning the sport on the floor, nevertheless it’s concerning the house entrance throughout World Struggle II on a deeper degree. It’s additionally about girls’s historical past and the distinction that girls made throughout the conflict.

Watch it: A League of Their Personal on Amazon

Selma (2015)

Instructing subject: Civil rights

For 3 months in 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a marketing campaign to safe equal voting rights. This film reveals what a problem that was and the way King led by way of it.

Watch it: Selma on Amazon

Mandela: Lengthy Stroll to Freedom (2013)

Instructing subject: Trendy historical past

The story of Nelson Mandela, who fought to rebuild South Africa after Apartheid and spent 27 years in jail earlier than changing into president, offers college students a glimpse into the lifetime of a well-known chief.

Watch it: Mandela on Amazon

Excessive Faculty

By highschool, college students are nicely versed in watching motion pictures with extra superior themes. Historic motion pictures give them a way of what an expertise felt like and the difficult dynamics at play. Use historic motion pictures to construct background information about historic subjects which might be extra nuanced and sophisticated than college students could have encountered in center college. (Many of those movies are rated R, so make sure to preview them beforehand and comply with any wanted procedures round informing dad and mom.)

300 (2007)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

300 reveals the battle of Thermopylae within the Greco-Persian wars in 480 B.C.E. in Greece. It’s an underdog story, with 300 Spartans holding again 300,000 Persian troops. (The film is a comic book guide adaptation, nevertheless it gives a very good depiction of this era in time.)

Watch it: 300 on Amazon

Gladiator (2000)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

Gladiator is the story of a Roman normal who turns into a gladiator and rises to overthrow the mad emperor Commodus. The film’s CGI re-creates historical Rome in a method that could possibly be nicely paired with classes on Roman life and influence.

Watch it: Gladiator on Amazon

Apocalypto (2006)

Instructing subject: Historical historical past

Through the decline of the Mayan civilization in Mesoamerica, a peaceable hunter is captured by an invading group. The hunter’s village is pillaged and he’s chosen for human sacrifice, which he has to flee. The forged is made up of Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors, and a spotlight was paid to ensure particulars just like the setting and language spoken have been correct.

Watch it: Apocalypto on Amazon

The Patriot (2000)

Instructing subjects: American historical past, Revolutionary Struggle

Whereas not a real story, The Patriot reveals what Revolutionary Struggle preventing was like. The plot facilities round a father who joins the Revolutionary arm to avenge his son’s homicide by a British officer.

Watch it: The Patriot on Amazon

Hamilton

Instructing subject: Revolutionary Struggle

Sure, it’s a musical, nevertheless it’s additionally a good way to interact college students after they’ve studied Alexander Hamilton and the Revolutionary Struggle. They’ll see King George, Hamilton, Burr, and everybody else come to life, and so they’ll perceive the storyline and jokes.

Watch it: Hamilton on Disney Plus

Amistad (1997)

Instructing subject: World historical past, slavery

A gaggle of enslaved Africans takes over their captor’s ship and tries to return to their homeland. Amistad is a crucial historic film for the angle it takes.

Watch it: Amistad on Amazon

Final of the Mohicans (1992)

Instructing subjects: American historical past, French and Indian Struggle

Set throughout the French and Indian Struggle in 1757, that is the story of a Native American tribe that’s dying out. Hawkeye is adopted into the Mohicans. Cora is the daughter of a British colonel. Cue the forbidden romance in the midst of the battle between the British and French and Native American allies.

Watch it: The Final of the Mohicans on Amazon

12 Years a Slave

Instructing subject: Slavery

This film, which tells the story of a free man who was offered into slavery, is predicated on a real story. Solomon Northrup was born free however then kidnapped and offered. His memoir was revealed in 1853. This is among the nice historic motion pictures to make use of as a place to begin for speaking concerning the brutality of slavery.

Watch it: 12 Years a Slave on Amazon

Glory (1990)

Instructing subjects: Civil Struggle, African American historical past

Robert Gould Shaw is the commander of the primary all-African-American regiment within the Civil Struggle. The troop faces challenges to be revered from the beginning, however Shaw fights for his troop to be on the entrance traces.

Watch it: Glory on Amazon

Gettysburg (1993)

Instructing subject: Civil Struggle

Gettysburg was filmed on the precise battlefield, and this epic manufacturing re-creates the pivotal Civil Struggle battle.

Watch it: Gettysburg on Amazon

Lincoln (2012)

Instructing subject: Civil Struggle

This epic biopic tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s final 4 months in workplace earlier than he was assassinated in April 1865. This could be a very good introduction to Lincoln or a wrap-up to a Civil Struggle unit.

Watch it: Lincoln on Amazon

Iron Jawed Angels (2004)

Instructing subjects: Ladies’s historical past, voting historical past

That is the story of Alice Paul, who picketed the White Home for the proper to vote within the early twentieth century. It’s going to present college students how hard-won and vital the proper to vote was for ladies.

Watch it: Iron Jawed Angels on Amazon

All Quiet on the Western Entrance (1979)

Instructing subject: World Struggle I

The novel (written in 1929) is fictional, however the story is predicated on the creator’s private experiences serving in Wold Struggle I.

Watch it: All Quiet on the Western Entrance on Amazon

The King’s Speech (2010)

Instructing subjects: World Struggle II, European historical past

Throughout World Struggle II, King George VI should make a wartime radio broadcast, however he has to work by way of his stuttering first. The King’s Speech can be a great way to point out the British monarchy, behind the scenes, in a method college students will not be conversant in.

Watch it: The King’s Speech on Amazon

Fats Man and Little Boy

Instructing subject: World Struggle II

A narrative concerning the Manhattan Challenge, the key undertaking to construct an atomic bomb. Fats Man and Little Boy focuses on the connection between Basic Leslie Grovers and the scientist on the undertaking, Robert Oppenheimer.

Watch it: Fats Man and Little Boy on Amazon

The Longest Day (1962)

Instructing subject: World Struggle II

It is a full account of D-Day, all carried out in black and white with traditional movie strategies.

Watch it: The Longest Day on Amazon

Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)

Instructing subjects: European historical past, World Struggle II

This shares a fictionalized model of the Nuremberg trials, when Nazis have been placed on trial for conflict crimes. It’s fiction however can begin conversations about what occurred after World Struggle II, and the way we must always deal with conflict crimes right now.

Watch it: Judgement at Nuremberg on Amazon

Mississippi Burning

Instructing subject: Civil rights

In Nineteen Sixties Mississippi, two FBI brokers come to analyze the homicide of civil rights activists. It’s loosely primarily based on the 1964 homicide investigation of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner in Mississippi.

Watch it: Mississippi Burning on Amazon

The Proper Stuff

Instructing subject: Trendy American/Chilly Struggle

The story of the House Race and the primary astronauts who have been making an attempt to meet up with the Russians by going to the moon.

Watch it: The Proper Stuff on Amazon

All of the President’s Males (1976)

Instructing subject: Trendy American historical past

All of the President’s Males reveals the story of the reporters (Woodward and Bernstein) who uncovered the Watergate scandal that ultimately result in President Nixon’s resignation. Along with the Watergate scandal, this is among the nice historic motion pictures to encourage dialog about journalism and its position in shaping historical past.

Watch it: All of the President’s Males on Amazon

Lodge Rwanda (2005)

Instructing subjects: Trendy historical past, Rwandan genocide

Set throughout the Rwandan genocide in 1994, this story tells of the genocide of the Tutsi inhabitants by the Hutus. It occurred over 100 days, throughout which Hutus killed greater than 75% of the Tutsi inhabitants—round 800,000 individuals. Through the genocide, Paul Rusesabagina, a lodge supervisor, saved 1,200 individuals in his lodge.

Watch it: Lodge Rwanda on Amazon

In search of extra articles like this? Make sure to subscribe to our newsletters to search out out once they’re posted!

What historic motion pictures do you wish to carry into the classroom? Come share within the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Fb!