The Best R-Rated History Movies

Updated January 3, 2020 1.7k votes 110 voters 8.6k views83 items

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List of R-Rated history movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. This list takes the best R-Rated history movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest R-Rated History movie of all time is. This list of popular R-Rated history movies includes information like who directed the film, when it was released and which actors starred in the movie. If you think the top R-Rated History movie isn't as high as it should be then be sure to vote it up so it can take its rightful place among the other great R-Rated History films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific R-Rated History film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

With movies ranging from The King's Speech to The Pianist, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorites.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best R-Rated history movies?" and "What are the most famous R-Rated history movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you.

Use this list if you're looking for some new history movies that are rated R. Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great history movies rated R, so get out there and start watching.

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Rob Roy
Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange
Released: 1995
Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones
Rob Roy is a 1995 adventure film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Liam Neeson stars as Rob Roy... more
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#75 of 78 The Best Period Romance Movies#42 of 47 The Best Historical Movies from the '90s
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United 93
Olivia Thirlby, Cheyenne Jackson
Released: 2006
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
United 93 is a 2006 drama film written, co-produced and directed by Paul Greengrass that... more
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#2 of 26 The Best Movies About 9/11#315 of 317 The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time
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Amistad
Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey
Released: 1997
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Amistad is a 1997 historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the true story... more
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#120 of 661 The Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked#50 of 275 The Best Movies Based On True Stories
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Alexander
Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer
Released: 2004
Directed by: Oliver Stone, Wilhelm Sasnal, Anka Sasnal
Alexander is a 2004 action adventure biography film written by Oliver Stone, Christopher Kyle... more
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#4 of 12 The 12 Most Inaccurate War Movies Ever Made#36 of 47 The Best Sword and Sandal Films Ever Made
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Bowling for Columbine
Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 American documentary film written, directed, and narrated by... more
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The Passion of the Christ
Monica Bellucci, Jim Caviezel
Released: 2004
Directed by: Mel Gibson
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film directed by Mel Gibson... more
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#255 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books#62 of 88 The Goriest Movies Ever Made
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We Were Soldiers
Mel Gibson, Lyndon B. Johnson
Released: 2002
Directed by: Randall Wallace
We Were Soldiers is a 2002 film that dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965.... more
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#56 of 277 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry#3 of 24 Brutal War Movies That Absolutely Got It Right
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Das Boot
Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer
Released: 1981
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Das Boot is a 1981 German epic film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, produced by... more
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#117 of 206 The Best Adventure Movies#1 of 51 The Best Submarine Movies Of All Time
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The Pianist
Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann
Released: 2002
Directed by: Roman Polanski
The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama film co-produced and directed by Roman Polanski,... more
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#165 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#108 of 374 The 50+ Best War Movies Ever Made, Ranked
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Black Hawk Down
Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy
Released: 2001
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Black Hawk Down is a 2001 American-British war film directed by Ridley Scott. It is an... more
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#172 of 557 The Greatest Film Scores of All Time#53 of 134 The Best Movies You Never Want to Watch Again
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JFK
Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman
Released: 1991
Directed by: Oliver Stone
JFK is a 1991 American historical legal-conspiracy thriller film directed by Oliver Stone. It... more
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#11 of 13 These Are The Most Historically Inaccurate Movies Of All Time#33 of 89 The Greatest Movies About CIA Agents & Operatives
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Ip Man
Donnie Yen, Simon Yam
Released: 2008
Directed by: Wilson Yip
Ip Man is a 2008 Hong Kong semi biographical martial arts film very loosely based on the life... more
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#7 of 57 The 25+ Best MMA Movies About Fighting#73 of 92 The Most Rewatchable Action Movies
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Troy
Brad Pitt, Eric Bana
Released: 2004
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Troy is a 2004 epic period war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, loosely based on Homer's... more
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The Film Version Of 'Troy' Doesn't Even Come Close To The Brutality Of The Source Texts#140 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies

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Changeling
Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
Released: 2008
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Changeling is a 2008 American drama film, written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed,... more
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#469 of 782 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made#9 of 23 23 Disturbing, Brutal Movies Based on Real-Life Atrocities
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The King's Speech
Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth
Released: 2010
Directed by: Tom Hooper
The King's Speech is a 2010 British historical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and written... more
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#38 of 92 The Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture#1 of 14 Pretty Good Movies About Historical Royals
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Defiance
Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber
Released: 2008
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Defiance is a 2008 WWII era film written, produced, and directed by Edward Zwick, and set... more
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#110 of 221 The Greatest World War II Movies of All Time#8 of 66 The Best Movies About the Holocaust
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Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson
Released: 1973
Directed by: Sam Peckinpah
This film is a 1973 American Western drama film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring James... more
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#301 of 553 The Best '70s Movies#79 of 291 The Greatest Soundtracks of All Time
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Tombstone
Val Kilmer, Kurt Russell
Released: 1993
Directed by: Kevin Jarre, George P. Cosmatos
Tombstone is a 1993 American western film directed by George P. Cosmatos, written by Kevin... more
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#11 of 480 The Greatest Movies For Guys#28 of 261 The Best Ensemble Movies
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Death of a President
Marek Walczewski, Henryk Bista
Released: 1977
Directed by: Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Death of a President is a 1977 Polish drama film directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. It was... more
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Gettysburg
Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger
Released: 1993
Directed by: Ronald F. Maxwell
Gettysburg is a 1993 epic film written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, adapted from the... more
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#1 of 28 Civil War Movies List#48 of 69 The Best Movies That Are Super Long
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Bloody Sunday
James Nesbitt, Gerard McSorley
Released: 2002
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Bloody Sunday is a 2002 film about the 1972 "Bloody Sunday" shootings in Derry, Northern... more
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Heaven's Gate
Mickey Rourke, Willem Dafoe
Released: 1980
Directed by: Michael Cimino
Heaven's Gate is a 1980 American epic Western film written and directed by Michael Cimino. It... more
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#195 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#455 of 522 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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Wilde
Jude Law, Orlando Bloom
Released: 1997
Directed by: Brian Gilbert
Wilde is a 1997 British biographical film directed by Brian Gilbert with Stephen Fry in the... more
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#9 of 25 The Best Biopics About LGBTQ+ Figures#129 of 150 The Very Best Biopics About Real People

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Hollywoodland
Ben Affleck, Diane Lane
Released: 2006
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Hollywoodland is a 2006 American period detective film directed by Allen Coulter in his... more
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#68 of 135 The Best Mystery Thriller Movies, Ranked#34 of 57 Top 30+ Best Ben Affleck Movies of All Time, Ranked
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Barbarossa
Rutger Hauer, Abraham Murphy
Released: 2009
Directed by: Renzo Martinelli
Barbarossa is a 2009 film set primarily in northern Italy during the late 12th century.... more