Ranker FilmList RulesVote up your favorite period films set in the 1800s and the Victorian era.
The 19th century often seems like the distant past, but the classic stories found in 1800s period films prove to be timeless. The top 1800s movies feature passionate love stories, epic war sagas, and intriguing mysteries. This is a list of the best 19th century period movies, including everything from How Green Was My Valley to The Age of Innocence to The Piano.
What films will you find on this list of the best Victorian era movies? Gone with the Wind follows Scarlett O'Hara, a spoiled Southern belle who finds her life upended by the Civil War. The 1939 epic took home eight Academy Awards, including the trophies for Best Picture and Best Director. Wuthering Heights is another great film set in the 1800s. Mia Wasikowska played the title character in the 2011 drama Jane Eyre. Other good movies featured on this list include The Portrait of a Lady and Anna Karenina.
Which film set in the Victorian era is your favorite? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any good films that are missing.1
21532Gone With The Wind
Clark Gable, Vivien LeighReleased: 1939
Directed by: Sam Wood, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret... more2
10033Jane Eyre
Michael Fassbender, Judi DenchReleased: 2011
Directed by: Cary Fukunaga
Jane Eyre is a 2011 British romantic drama film directed by Cary Fukunaga and starring Mia... more3
7825Bram Stoker's Dracula
Monica Bellucci, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1992
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Bram Stoker's Dracula is a 1992 American horror film directed and produced by Francis Ford... more4
7425Phantom Of The Opera
Claude Rains, Hume CronynReleased: 1943
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
David and Jade, a young couple, are consumed by their feelings for each other. With the toll... more5
6619Wuthering Heights
Laurence Olivier, David NivenReleased: 1939
Directed by: William Wyler
Wuthering Heights is a 1939 American black-and-white film directed by William Wyler and... more6
5529Anna Karenina
Keira Knightley, Jude LawReleased: 2012
Directed by: Joe Wright
Anna Karenina is a 2012 British epic romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright. Adapted by... more7
4119Mrs. Brown
Judi Dench, Billy Connolly8
4220How Green Was My Valley
Maureen O'Hara, Roddy McDowallReleased: 1941
Directed by: John Ford
How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 drama film directed by John Ford. The film, based on the... more9
3515The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Clint Eastwood, Eli WallachReleased: 1966
Directed by: Sergio Leone
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western film directed by... more10
3718The Portrait Of A Lady
Nicole Kidman, Christian BaleReleased: 1996
Directed by: Jane Campion
The Portrait of a Lady is a 1996 film adaptation of Henry James's novel The Portrait of a Lady... more11
4024Madame Bovary
Paul Giamatti, Mia WasikowskaReleased: 2014
Directed by: Sophie Barthes
Madame Bovary is a 2014 drama film directed by Sophie Barthes and starring Mia Wasikowska,... more12
3726The Piano
Anna Paquin, Holly HunterReleased: 1993
Directed by: Jane Campion
The Piano is a 1993 romantic drama film about a mute female piano player and her daughter. Set... more13
3321The Age Of Innocence
Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona RyderReleased: 1993
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The Age of Innocence is a 1993 American film adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 novel of the... more14
3929Hello, Dolly!
Barbra Streisand, Louis ArmstrongReleased: 1969
Directed by: Gene Kelly
Hello, Dolly! is a 1969 romantic comedy musical film based on the Broadway production of the... more15
2411Lust For Life
Kirk Douglas, Anthony QuinnReleased: 1956
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli, George Cukor
Lust for Life is a MGM biographical film about the life of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh,... more16
145Emma.
Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh O'ConnorReleased: 2020
Directed by: Autumn de Wilde
Emma. is a 2020 British comedy-drama film directed by Autumn de Wilde, based on the 1815 novel... more17
2116The Importance Of Being Earnest
Michael Redgrave, Margaret RutherfordReleased: 1952
Directed by: Anthony Asquith
The Importance of Being Earnest is a British film adaptation of the play by Oscar Wilde. It... more18
2116Babette's Feast
Bibi Andersson, Stéphane AudranReleased: 1987
Directed by: Gabriel Axel
Babette's Feast is a 1987 Danish drama film directed by Gabriel Axel. The film's screenplay... more19
1712An Ideal Husband
Cate Blanchett, Julianne MooreReleased: 1999
Directed by: Oliver Parker
An Ideal Husband is a 1999 film based on the play An Ideal Husband of the same name written by... more20
1914Tess
Nastassja Kinski, Peter FirthReleased: 1979
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Tess is a 1979 romance film directed by Roman Polanski, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891... more21
1315Nicholas Nickleby
Anne Hathaway, Charlie HunnamReleased: 2002
Directed by: Douglas McGrath
Nicholas Nickleby is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Douglas McGrath. The screenplay... more22
78Black 47
Hugo Weaving, James FrechevilleReleased: 2018
Directed by: Lance Daly
Black 47 is a 2018 drama directed by Lance Daly, based on the Irish short film An Ranger.... more23
1422Ethan Frome
Liam Neeson, Patricia ArquetteReleased: 1993
Directed by: John Madden
Ethan Frome is a 1993 drama film directed by John Madden.... more24
1022Posse
Pam Grier, Big Daddy KaneReleased: 1993
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
Posse is a 1993 American Western film directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles. Featuring a... more
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