Every once in a while, we need to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life and technology. Sometimes the best way is by tuning into a great TV show—particularly, a special kind of comfort TV series: the period drama. The historical series illustrate how people (often white royals) lived through major historical events—or sometimes how they just lived, without electricity, indoor plumbing, or Facebook (some innovations vastly more important than others).
Lucky for Netflix fans, the streamer has great period dramas and historical movies from around the globe, with fascinating stories spanning from ancient Greece to 1970s America, filled with romance, intrigue, action, and beautiful gowns. Though they may not all be historically correct, they're definitely entertaining. Below, find the best period dramas on Netflix for when you need a break from modern life.
'Alias Grace' (2017)
Historical era: mid-1800s
Starring: Sarah Gadon, Anna Paquin, Edward Holcroft, Kerr Logan, Paul Gross, Rebecca Liddiard, and Zachary Levi
Why watch: This miniseries tells the story of the 1843 murders of a husband and wife by their household servants, with a focus on their maid Grace (Gadon). Though she tells the story, through her psychiatric sessions, you never know whether she's telling the truth or lying.
'All the Light We Cannot See' (2023)
Historical era: 1934-1944 France
Starring: Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger, Hugh Laurie, Marion Bailey, and Mark Ruffalo
Why watch: The adaptation of Anthony Doerr's 2014 novel shows the fated love story between a blind French teenager (Loberti) and a German soldier (Hofmann) amid WWII.
'Anne with an E' (2017–2019)
Historical era: 1890s Prince Edward Island
Starring: Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, R.H. Thomson, Dalila Bela, and Lucas Jade Zumann
Why watch: This adaptation of the novel Anne of Green Gables is a grittier version of the childhood favorite. It has a fervent fanbase who say it was canceled too soon, so it may be time you become a part of the hive, too.
'Black Sails' (2014–2017)
Historical era: Early 1700s, in the "Golden Age of Piracy"
Starring: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz, and Clara Paget
Why watch: This adventure drama, centered on the feared Captain Flint (Stephens) of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, is the closest we'll get to a pirate's life. Time to set sail!
'Bridgerton' (2020– )
Historical era: Early 1800s, Regency London
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Jonathan Bailey, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Andoh, and Golda Rosheuvel
Why watch: All the romance, gossip, and intrigue of matchmaking, plus a Regency-era Gossip Girl? Sign us up. The smash hit series adapted from Juila Quinn's popular book series is a must-watch if you're a fan of every romance trope, from enemies to lovers to second chances, as well as incredible Regency-era fashion. (Don't forget to check out the fan-favorite spinoff Queen Charlotte.)
'Cable Girls' (2017–2020)
Historical era: 1920s Madrid, Spain
Starring: Ana Fernández, Nadia de Santiago, Blanca Suárez, and Maggie Civantos
Why watch: In this Spanish-language series, four women join the progressive National Telephone Company as switchboard operators, becoming career women while dealing with the sexism of 1900s Spain.
'Call the Midwife' (2012– )
Historical era: late 1950s-1960s East London
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Laura Main, Jenny Agutter, Stephen McGann, Judy Parfitt, Cliff Parisi, and Helen George
Why watch: This award-winning series follows a tight-knit group of midwives as they deal with heavy issues including poverty, racism, and disease in the post-war era.
'The Crown' (2016–2023)
Historical era: Queen Elizabeth II's reign, 1952-2005
Starring: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, Jonathan Pryce, Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh O'Connor, Dominic West, Emma Corrin, and Elizabeth Debicki
Why watch: This behind-the-scenes look at the British royal family becomes more and more fascinating as it covers the 21st century, before its stunning series finale celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth's legacy.
'Derry Girls' (2018–2022)
Historical era: early 1990s
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Jaime-Lee O'Donnell, Siobhán McSweeney, and Dylan Llewellyn
Why watch: This hilarious coming-of-age comedy shows a group of teens growing up and going on absurd adventures during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
'The Empress' (2022– )
Historical era: Late 1800s to mid-1900s
Starring: Devrim Lingnau, Philip Froissant, Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Elisa Schlott, Jördis Triebel, and Almila Bagriacik
Why watch: If you've already binged everything there is on Queen Elizabeth and Catherine the Great, this German series introduces a lesser-known yet still-legendary queen: Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Lingnau).
'Frontier' (2016–2018)
Historical era: Late 1800s Canada
Starring: Jason Momoa, Landon Liboiron, Zoe Boyle, Greg Byrk, Jessica Matten, Allan Hawco, and Lyla Porter-Follows
Why watch: Momoa plays a half-Irish, half-Cree outlaw who fights to keep the Hudson's Bay Company from keeping their cruel monopoly on the North American fur trade, complete with Khal Drogo-levels of violence.
'Halston' (2021)
Historical era: 1960s to late 1980s
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Dayan, David Pittu, Krysta Rodriguez, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Sietzka Rose, and Megan Gerald
Why watch: McGregor stars as the titular designer who rose to fame thanks to his innovative designs, all the while dealing with his own ego and self-sabotaging nature.
'Hollywood' (2020)
Historical era: Post-WWII Hollywood
Starring: David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Jeremy Pope, Jake Picking, Samara Weaving, Dylan McDermott, and Holland Taylor
Why watch: See both sides of the classic Hollywood studio system, as a screenwriter (Pope) and filmmaker (Criss) fight their way in while an actress (Harrier) gets her big break.
'Kingdom' (2019–2020)
Historical era: the Joseon era, 1600s
Starring: Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Hye-jun, and Jun Suk-ho
Why watch: Another fictionalized depiction of a bygone era, this historical K-drama takes the Korean Joseon era and fills it with zombies.
'The King's Affection' (2021– )
Historical era: Joseon dynasty
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyoung, and Jung Chae-yeon
Why watch: In this gender-swap drama, the hidden twin sister (Park) of the Crown Prince assumes his identity after he's killed. Though she's terrified of being found out, she begins to develop feelings for her teacher (Rowoon).
'The Last Kingdom' (2015–2022)
Historical era: 9th century England
Starring: Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, Arnas Fedaravicius, Millie Brady, Emily Cox, Mark Rowley, and Ian Hart
Why watch: A man named Uhtred (Dreymon), born Anglo-Saxon and adopted by the Danes, a.k.a. the Vikings, has to prove himself a great warrior and decide which side he falls on during the formation of England.
'The Law According to Lidia Poët' (2023– )
Historical era: 1880s Italy
Starring: Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, Sinéad Thornhill, Sara Lazzaro, and Dario Aita
Why watch: This Italian series is the fictional story of Italy's real-life, first-ever female lawyer (De Angelis), as she solves crimes and fights to keep her license (because male egos are fragile in every era).
'Mr. Sunshine' (2018)
Historical era: Late 1800s Hanseong (modern-day Seoul)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Byun Yo-han, Kim Min-jung, Kim Byeong-cheol, Lee Jeong-eun, and Shin Jeong-geun
Why watch: If you want historical romance, this story of a Korean Marine (Lee) who travels back to his home country and falls in love with an aristocrat's granddaughter (Kim) is a must-watch.
'Outlander' (2014– )
Historical era: 1743-1772 and 1945-1970s
Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Duncan Lacriox, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, Tobias Menzies, César Domboy, and Graham McTavish
Why watch: Claire (Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Heughan) have a love that literally overcomes time, where sadistic British soldiers and drastic lifestyle differences aren't enough to keep them apart.
'Peaky Blinders' (2013–2022)
Historical era: post-WWI England
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, and Finn Cole
Why watch: This gangster noir follows the Shelby family as they fight against other gangs for control of their city (including guest stars like Tom Hardy and Adrien Brody).
'The Queen's Gambit' (2020)
Historical era: 1960s America
Starring: Anna Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Chloe Pirrie, Marcin Dorocinski, Marielle Heller, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Moses Ingram, and Harry Melling
Why watch: If you've never seen chess as interesting, Taylor-Joy's depiction of a female prodigy playing in a mostly-male competition will change your mind.
'Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker' (2020)
Historical era: Late 1800s to mid 1900s
Starring: Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Blair Underwood, Kevin Carroll, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Garrett Morris
Why watch: See the full story of Black haircare innovator Madam C.J. Walker, as her homemade hair products made her America's first Black woman millionaire.
'Troy: Fall of a City' (2018– )
Historical era: 13th century BC
Starring: Louis Hunter, Bella Dayne, Jonas Armstrong, Christiaan Schoombie, Chloe Pirrie, Johnny Harris, David Gyasi, and Alfred Enoch
Why watch: Have you watched Orlando Bloom in Troy a million times and wished the film was longer? Then this 10-episode depiction of the Trojan War may be what you're looking for.
'Vikings: Valhalla' (2022– )
Historical era: Early 11th century (1000s)
Starring: Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavvson, Leo Suter, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Laura Berlin, Bradley Freegard, and Caroline Henderson
Why watch: This sequel to Vikings shows the Norse warriors near the end of their age, filled with action and intrigue.
'Warrior' (2019–2023)
Historical era: Late 1870s
Starring: Andrew Koji, Olivia Cheng, Jason Tobin, Dianne Doan, and Kieran Bew
Why watch: In this much-hyped martial arts epic (from the mind of Bruce Lee!), a Chinese immigrant (Koji) in San Francisco is pulled into the underground wars between rival gangs, as he searches for his lost sister (Doan).
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