Blu-ray.com Community Top 25 Historically Based Films [READ OP]

[Darth Marcus]

I know, I know. Another voting thread.

But hey, I like lists, you like lists, Schindler likes lists, so let's make more lists!

"But Darth Marcus, what counts as a historically based film?"
Good question peasant, what counts as a historically based film for the purposes of this thread is this:

1. The film must contain some factual accuracy based in history, whether it be the story or the atmosphere in which the story is centered. It does not have to be ancient or older history, it can be very recent history.
2. The story itself does NOT have to be factually accurate. It can be "based" on true events with embellishments, or mostly made up, but as long it is loosely based on something or someone in history I'll allow it. Let's face it, if this list was designed around films that were 100% factually accurate, we wouldn't have a list. Examples: Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot, The Lives of Others, Titanic, Apocalypto, Gladiator.
3. Heavily fantasized films do count as long as they fall in line with Rules #1 and #2. Example: 300.
4. Historical religious films do count, again as they normally have a basis in history, even if some of you consider many of the elements contained within as more fantasy than fact. Examples: The Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur.
5. "Alternate" history is allowed, as long it is based on things of historical significance. Example: Inglourious Basterds.
6. Documentaries DO NOT count, nor do TV mini-series or TV shows. (Sorry, Band of Brothers fans).

Also, while I realize several films will be debatable in terms of their "historically-based" significance, here's a general rule to follow:

If a film on either IMDb, Blu-ray.com, or Letterboxd has a Genre tag of History, I'll allow it. Exceptions can be and will be made, but I feel like this is a good general rule to follow.

And lo, I have descended from Mount Sinai to present to you commandments that I, Darth Marcus hath made, which I may or may not have stolen from similar threads, and will now pass off as my own divine commandments:

THREAD COMMANDMENTS

1) To participate, peasants may list anywhere from 20-25 films. 20-25 shall be the numbers that thou shall count, and the number of the counting shall be 20-25. 26 shall thou not count, neither count thou 19, excepting that thou then proceed to 20. 27 is right out.

2) The Point System: List your top 20 - 25 films in order descending from your favorite, the higher up the film is the more points it will be rewarded:

1. 25 Points
2. 19 Points
3. 18 Points
4. 17 Points
5. 16 Points
................
16. 5 Points
17. 4 Points
18. 3 Points
19. 2 Points
20. 1 Point
................
21. 1 Point
22. 1 Point
23. 1 Point
24. 1 Point
25. 1 Point

Entries 21-25 shall be for those who would like to add some runner ups, and they will all be assigned 1 point each. If you can't think of the extra 5 films worth mentioning, then you are not required to. But the minimum amount of submissions is 20 films, the extra 5 are for people who might want them. If you can't think of 20 and create of list of 19 films or less, your list will NOT be counted.

Also, list your films in order of preference. Unnumbered lists will be assigned points as/is in descending order.

3) There can be only one list! You can update your list as much as you need to up to the deadline, but if you post multiple lists I will contact you to remove them.

4) Do not combine multi-part or multi-volume films into one line. Example: Che: Part One and Che: Part Two cannot be combined simply as Che.

5) Please indicate the year of production in parenthesis. This is to avoid confusion of films with similar titles from different periods. For example: if you list the most recent Ben-Hur film, please list is as Ben-Hur (2016) so I know it's not Ben-Hur (1959), and vice versa.

6) Trolls shall not pass! Every peasant is entitled to their own list, please respect their lists and opinions.

7) OPTIONAL: Leave a personal review of your choices. Reviews are welcome and could potentially be incorporated in the final list. You know you want your name there with your quote, you know you do.

8) The Deadline is set for: May 6th at 12:00 PM EST Why so far in the future? Well, I'm getting married on April 30th, and after I return from my honeymoon and my future wife returns to her job, I'll need something to do as I'll be off work that following Monday. And besides, my life will be filled with wedding preparation stuff until the 30th, so, deal with it.

[october27]

I have been watching a lot of these types of movies lately with stuff like The Patriot and The New World and Doctor Zhivago so I will definitely get in on this list. Many of these types of movies also tend to land in the genre of epic movies of which I am a very big fan.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

1. The Godfather 2
2. The Godfather
3. Casino
4. Goodfellas
5. Boogie Nights
6. L.A. Confidential
7. Platoon
8. Chinatown
9. Inglorious Basterds
10. The Aviator
11. At Close Range
12. American Gangster
13. Tombstone
14. Dead Presidents
15. Zodiac
16. Donnie Brasco
17. Apollo 13
18. Schindler's List
19. Raging Bull
20. Saving Private Ryan
21. Young Guns
22. Young Guns 2
23. Changeling 2008
24. Bugsy
25. Amadeus

Let me know if any don't count

[imsounoriginal]

This is a hard one, there are too many good movies that technically count but will probably go under the radar and not get enough/any points. So I'm gonna just do a list that highlights some of these. Mostly Westerns, with some Cold War, which are my two favorite time periods when it comes to history. Not tryna be contrarian or anything, all 25 of these are movies I would enthusiastically recommend and several of them would make my more objective Top 25 Historical Films list.

(Thanks again for doing this )

FINAL LIST:

1. Amadeus (Director's Cut)
2. The Good Shepherd
3. Zodiac (Director's Cut)
4. The Sting
5. The Sound of Music
6. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
7. Apocalypto
8. Steve Jobs
9. The Searchers
10. Shutter Island
11. A Serious Man
12. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
13. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
14. By the Sea
15. Spotlight
16. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
17. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
18. Straight Outta Compton (Director's Cut)
19. Inherent Vice
20. Devdas (2002)
21. True Grit (2010)
22. Public Enemies
23. The New World
24. The Hateful Eight
25. The Imitation Game

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Does "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" count?

[Hoke Moseley]

1. Goodfellas
2. Apocalypse Now
3. Gladiator
4. The Deer Hunter
5. Au revoir les enfants
6. Barry Lyndon
7. King of the Hill (1993)
8. Raging Bull
9. Army of Shadows
10. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
11. The Social Network
12. The Untouchables
13. Dog Day Afternoon
14. Boogie Nights
15. The Wolf of Wall Street
16. Donnie Brasco
17. Bonnie & Clyde
18. Casino
19. Catch Me if You Can
20. The Last Samurai
21. In Cold Blood
22. Gangs of New York
23. The Pianist
24. Lenny
25. Ed Wood

Let me know if any of these wouldn't count. Will update/order later.

[Hucksta G]

1. Goodfellas
2. City of God
3. Almost Famous
4. The Godfather
5. Raging Bull
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Godfather Part II
8. Apocalypse Now
9. Schindler's List
10. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
11. Gangs of New York
12. Saving Private Ryan
13. Into the Wild
14. Casino
15. Silence
16. The Wolf of Wall Street
17. Inglorious Basterds
18. Road to Perdition
19. The Revenant
20. Paths of Glory
21. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
22. 12 Years a Slave
23. Gladiator
24. Zero Dark Thirty
25. Inside Llewyn Davis

Let me know if any don't count

[jabbercash]

1. Goodfellas
2. The Godfather
3. The Godfather Part II
4. Boogie Nights
5. L.A. Confidential
6. Fargo
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. Once Upon a Time in America
9. Chicago
10. The Sting
11. Raging Bull
12. American Hustle
13. Dances With Wolves
14. The Deer Hunter
15. True Grit
16. The Wolf of Wall Street
17. There Will Be Blood
18. The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford
19. The Bridge on the River Kwai
20. Gladiator
21. Once Upon a Time in the West
22. City of God
23. Inglorious Basterds
24. Amadeus
25. Schindler's List

[Gerby]

Work in progress

All The President's Men (1976)
The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)
Operation Daybreak (1975)
Zodiac (2007)
Glory (1989)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Missing (1982)
The Insider (1999)
Eight Men Out (1988)
A Night To Remember (1958)
Robbery (1967)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Escape From Sobibor (TV Movie) (1987)
Jack The Ripper (TV Movie) (1988)
The Tunnel (2001)
Downfall (2004)
Christiane F. (1981)
Story Of Women (1988)
Ed Wood (1994)
Army Of Shadows (1969)
Snowtown (2011)
Sergeant York (1941)

[Trollhunter]

Reserved

[Talleyrand]

Should be fun but I'm afraid it's a broad enough category that it won't look much different than my list of crime films, or, for that matter, of my list overall films.

I may self-regulate to films set before 1900.

[Darth Marcus]

I'll make a list as well.

My Top 25 Historically Based Films

1. Schindler's List
2. Goodfellas
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Saving Private Ryan
5. Raging Bull
6. The Bridge on the River Kwai
7. 12 Years a Slave
8. Downfall
9. Munich
10. Amadeus
11. The Thin Red Line
12. The Right Stuff
13. Kingdom of Heaven
14. The New World
15. Patton
16. Glory
17. Army of Shadows
18. Zodiac
19. Apocalypse Now
20. The Pianist
21. The Insider
22. Silence
23. Lincoln
24. Das Boot
25. Black Hawk Down

Considered...
Zero Dark Thirty, The Killing Fields, Empire of the Sun, The Good Shepherd, The Untouchables, United 93, Serpico, Chariots of Fire, Hero, Spotlight, Red Cliff, Gladiator, Dog Day Afternoon, Inglourious Basterds, Casino, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Great Escape, Apollo13, Braveheart, Full Metal Jacket, Rush, The Sound of Music, Thirteen Days, The Aviator, Bridge of Spies, Good Night and Good Luck, Hacksaw Ridge, War Horse, Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam, Born on the Fourth of July

[esteban²]

I really try to focus on the "Historical" term, if that connection isn't there, it's just a biopic.

01 | Agora (2009)
02 | The Sound of Music (1965)
03 | Titanic (1997)
04 | There Will be Blood (2007)
05 | The Pianist (2002)
06 | Master and Commander : The Far Side of the World (2003)
07 | Apocalypto (2006)
08 | L.A. Confidential (1997)
09 | Gladiator (2000)
10 | The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

11 | Milk (2008)
12 | 12 Years a Slave (2013)
13 | Three Kings (1999)
14 | Black Hawk Down (2001)
15 | The Last King of Scotland (2006)
16 | Amistad (1997)
17 | Empire of the Sun (1987)
18 | The Passion of the Christ (2004)
19 | Downfall / Der Untergang (2004)
20 | The Eagle (2011)

[Darth Marcus]

I'm not banning any specific films outright that I've seen yet, but I have seen some that are questionable, and we can discuss those if you guys like.

The Shawshank Redemption - While being set in the past, that's pretty much all it has going for it. Not even loosely based on any real events or persons, nor is it even really set against a backdrop of any real historical significance. Other films that kinda fall into this trap are Stand By Me, Once Upon a Time in the West, LA Confidential, True Grit.

Boogie Nights will get a pass since it's a fictionalized retelling of "The Golden Age of Porn".
The Godfather will get a pass since it's a fictionalized retelling of the Five Families and contains many allusions to real-life mobsters and accounts.
And other films like that will get a pass for being fiction but being influenced by historical events or people.

I'm also seeing several films so far that I've never even heard of and have had to Wiki, so for the awareness.

What do you guys think?

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

I'm not banning any specific films outright that I've seen yet, but I have seen some that are questionable, and we can discuss those if you guys like.

The Shawshank Redemption - While being set in the past, that's pretty much all it has going for it. Not even loosely based on any real events or persons, nor is it even really set against a backdrop of any real historical significance. Other films that kinda fall into this trap are Stand By Me, Once Upon a Time in the West, LA Confidential.

Boogie Nights will get a pass since it's a fictionalized retelling of "The Golden Age of Porn".
The Godfather will get a pass since it's a fictionalized retelling of the Five Families and contains many allusions to real-life mobsters and accounts.
And other films like that will get a pass for being fiction but being influenced by historical events or people.

I'm also seeing several films so far that I've never even heard of and have had to Wiki, so for the awareness.

What do you guys think?

Even though Shawshank and L.A. Confidential are 2 of my top favorite films I was wondering as well if they would count. I wasn't sure if they had to be based on a type of true story of history or if they could also count if they were very historically accurate in terms of setting and production design....pretty much that they really do feel like they authentically take place during those time periods. Your call though.

[Hucksta G]

I'm sweet with whatever, there are lots more films I can list

[Jasonic]

I think my list may come as mostly biopics, but it's just far too broad for me to go over if I just go by historical settings. In which I'll personally not be listing movies like The Godfather or Saving Private Ryan.

I'll post mine later. Still deliberating on some films.

[Rich65]

1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. The Bounty
3. A Night To Remember
4. Tombstone
5. The Right Stuff
6. Sands of Iwo Jima
7. Schindler's List
8. Apollo 13
9. Ben Hur (1959)
10. The Vikings
11. Spartacus (1960)
12. The Searchers
13. Paths of Glory
14. Lincoln
15. Mutiny on The Bounty (1935)
16. Inherit The Wind
17. Das Boot
18. Casablanca
19. The Blue Max
20. The Enemy Below
21. My Darling Clementine
22. Scarface (1932)
23. Two Women
24. The Great Race
25. King Arthur

[Jasonic]

1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. Munich
3. Lincoln
4. 12 Years a Slave
5. Dog Day Afternoon
6. Rush
7. Apollo 13
8. Schindler's List
9. All the President's Men
10. Glory
11. The King's Speech
12. The Social Network
13. Zero Dark Thirty
14. Steve Jobs
15. Ip Man
16. Amadeus
17. A Beautiful Mind
18. United 93
19. Gandhi
20. Catch Me If You Can
21. 127 Hours
22. Everest
23. Captain Phillips
24. Spotlight
25. The Elephant Man

[Darth Marcus]

Okay, I've made my decision, and I've also made a slight amendment to the rules as to what qualifies as a historically based film for the purposes of this thread. The film itself doesn't have to be true, but as long as it is loosely based (and I'll use that term liberally) on something or someone of historical significance then I'll allow it.

Films simply set in the past are not allowed. Here are some films that are not allowed for just being simply set in the past but not even being loosely based on anyone or any event:

The Shawshank Redemption, True Grit, There Will Be Blood, Stand By Me, L.A. Confidential, Once Upon a Time in the West

I debated The Good the Bad and the Ugly, but I'll allow it because of its heavy themes in regards to The Civil War.

Hopefully this clears up any potential confusion as to what is and is not allowed. If you think a film that is not being counted should be counted, I'm open to be convinced provided you can provide a backup source.