Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the best historical movies set in Colonial Africa or that address elements of colonialism.
This list contains information on the best movies about African colonialism, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best films about African colonialism come in many forms. Some good films about African colonialism find characters engaged in forbidden love affairs while other good films about African colonialism feature epic battles. Many of the best African colonialism films star award-winning actors and actresses.
What films will you find on this top African colonialism movies list? The English Patient has to be near the top. The 1996 film won a total of nine Academy Awards including trophies for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director for Anthony Minghella. Gabriel Yared also won an Oscar for Best Score. Out of Africa is another good movie set in an era of African colonialism.
Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart joined forces for The African Queen in 1951. Other good movies about African colonialism include Zulu Dawn, The Hill, and Nowhere in Africa.
Do you have a favorite African colonialism movie? Give the best films a thumbs up and share your thoughts in the comments section.
1
3112Out of Africa
Meryl Streep, Robert RedfordReleased: 1985
Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Out of Africa is a 1985 American epic romantic drama film directed and produced by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. The film is based loosely on the autobiographical book... more2
235Zulu
Michael Caine, Stanley BakerReleased: 1964
Directed by: Cy Endfield
Zulu is a 1964 epic film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879. It depicts 150 British soldiers who successfully held off a force of 4,000 Zulu... more- 3205
The English Patient
Willem Dafoe, Ralph FiennesReleased: 1996
Directed by: Anthony Minghella
The English Patient is a 1996 romantic drama directed by Anthony Minghella from his own script based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje and produced by Saul Zaentz. The film was... more - 4122
Zulu Dawn
Peter O'Toole, Bob HoskinsReleased: 1979
Directed by: Douglas Hickox
Zulu Dawn is a 1979 film about the historical Battle of Isandlwana between British and Zulu forces in 1879 in South Africa. The screenplay was by Cy Endfield, from his book, and Anthony Story. The... more - 5103
The African Queen
Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey BogartReleased: 1951
Directed by: John Huston
The African Queen is a 1951 adventure film adapted from the 1935 novel of the same name by C. S. Forester. The film was directed by John Huston and produced by Sam Spiegel and John Woolf. The... more - 6115
Mister Johnson
Pierce Brosnan, Edward WoodwardReleased: 1990
Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Mister Johnson is a 1990 American drama film based on the 1939 novel by Joyce Cary. The film was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival, where Maynard Eziashi won the Silver Bear... more - 782
White Mischief
Hugh Grant, John HurtReleased: 1987
Directed by: Michael Radford
White Mischief is a 1987 film dramatising the events of the Happy Valley murder case in Kenya in 1941, when Sir Henry "Jock" Delves Broughton was tried for the murder of Josslyn Hay, Earl of... more - 81514
The Ghost and the Darkness
Val Kilmer, Michael DouglasReleased: 1996
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
The Ghost and the Darkness is a 1996 historical adventure film starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas set in Africa at the end of the 19th century. It was directed by Stephen Hopkins and the... more - 972
White Material
Isabelle Huppert, Christopher LambertReleased: 2010
Directed by: Claire Denis
White Material is a 2009 French film directed by Claire Denis and co-written with Marie NDiaye. The film stars Isabelle Huppert as Maria Vial, a struggling French coffee producer in an unnamed... more - 1064
Diamond City
Honor Blackman, Diana DorsReleased: 1949
Directed by: David MacDonald
Diamond City is a 1949 British drama film directed by David MacDonald and starring David Farrar, Honor Blackman, Diana Dors and Niall MacGinnis.... more - 1165
Nowhere in Africa
Matthias Habich, Juliane KöhlerReleased: 2001
Directed by: Caroline Link
Nowhere in Africa is a 2001 German film that was written and directed by Caroline Link. The screenplay is based on the 1995 autobiographical novel of the same name by Stefanie Zweig. It tells the... more - 1242
The Flame Trees of Thika
Hayley Mills, Ben CrossReleased: 1981
Directed by: Roy Ward Baker
The Flame Trees of Thika is a British television serial of seven 50-minute episodes made by Euston Films for Thames Television in 1981. It was adapted by John Hawkesworth from the 1959 book of the... more - 1354
Adanggaman
Rasmané Ouedraogo, Mireille Andrée BotiReleased: 2000
Directed by: Roger Gnoan M'Bala
Andanggaman is a 2000 Ivorian, Burkinabé, French, Swiss and Italian historical drama film directed by Roger Gnoan M'Bala.... more - 1478
The Hill
Sean Connery, Ossie DavisReleased: 1965
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
The Hill is a 1965 film directed by Sidney Lumet, set in a British army prison in North Africa in the Second World War. It stars Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ossie Davis, Ian Hendry,... more - 1545
Wah-Wah
Julie Walters, Gabriel ByrneReleased: 2006
Directed by: Richard E. Grant
Wah-Wah is a 2005 drama film, written and directed by British actor Richard E. Grant and loosely based on his childhood in Swaziland. It stars Nicholas Hoult, Gabriel Byrne, Emily Watson, Miranda... more - 1637
Chocolat
Kenneth Cranham, Isaach de BankoléReleased: 1988
Directed by: Claire Denis
Chocolat is a 1988 film directed by Claire Denis, about a French family that lives in colonial Cameroon. Marc and Aimée Dalens are the parents of France, a young girl who befriends Protée, a Cameroon... more
