The Best American Revolution Movies

Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite movies that take place during the American Revolution.

Here is a list of the best movies ever made about the American Revolution. These films all depict the events of the Revolutionary War, or events surrounding it. (For example, "Drums Along the Mohawk" is set during Revolutionary times, but focuses on the adventures of one family experiencing these events. "The Patriot" takes a similar tack, but eventually features more of the actual Revolutionary War battles.) Some of these Revolutionary war movies are based on classic literature about the Revolution, such as "Johnny Tremain" and contain imagery familiar from classic American Revolution paintings.

Because this is an open list, you can add any American Revolution films that may be missing. (But, please, only the best Revolutionay war movies!) The order of the films is also determined by Ranker Community votes, so be sure to pick your favorites! And if you want a more thorough collection of films, see Ranker's complete guide to Movies Involving the American Revolution. 

What are the best Revolutionary War movies? There are some great movies made about the American Revolution so take a look and decide for yourself what's the best.

Ranked by
  • John Adams
    1
    Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, John Dossett
    721 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Tom Hooper
    Founding father guides America.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • The Crossing
    2
    Jeff Daniels, Roger Rees, Sebastian Roché
    387 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Robert Harmon
    The Crossing is a 2000 historical TV film about George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton, directed by Robert Harmon. Based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast, ...more
  • The Patriot
    3
    Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson
    1,236 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Roland Emmerich
    Mel Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, an unassuming man who is forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take his farm away from him. Together with his patriotic son, ...more

    Available On:

  • 1776
    4

    1776

    William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard
    158 votes
    • Released: 1972
    • Directed by: Peter H. Hunt
    The nation's fathers harmonize their way through the founding of America in this musical adapted from a popular Broadway show. Colonial representatives gather in Philadelphia with the aim of ...more

    Available On:

  • Johnny Tremain
    5
    Hal Stalmaster, Luana Patten, Jeff York
    283 votes
    • Released: 1957
    • Directed by: Robert Stevenson
    An apprentice silversmith (Hal Stalmaster) is there at the Boston Tea Party and other highpoints of the Revolution.

    Available On:

  • Drums Along the Mohawk
    6
    Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, John Carradine
    104 votes
    • Released: 1939
    • Directed by: John Ford
    The year is 1776, and newlyweds Gilbert (Henry Fonda) and Lana Martin (Claudette Colbert) have decided to take up a rural lifestyle. However, following the onset of the American Revolutionary War, ...more

    Available On: