21 Gripping Period Pieces For "Oppenheimer" Fans
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This summer, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has helped to propel the theatrical box office to new heights, breaking records for R-rated films while fueling the two-headed pop cultural fascination known as "Barbenheimer."
On its own accord, Oppenheimer has connected with wider audiences by not only showing another visually spectacular tale from Nolan, but giving modern audiences an intimate lesson on the tense and chaotic life of one of history's most complicated geniuses.
With Oppenheimer on my mind, I've decided to assemble 21 equally as intense dramas set in the past that should scratch the itch for those seeking even more thrilling historical fiction.
1.Dunkirk (2017)
Oppenheimer was not Christopher Nolan's first dive into the past, having previously brought his penchant for intimate yet spectacular storytelling to the Dunkirk evacuation (aka Operation Dynamo) in World War II. Not only is this pulse-pounding war film a true testament to Nolan's craft, as it hit big with critics and audiences alike, but the filmmaker would later collaborate with several of Dunkirk's cast again in Oppenheimer, including Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh, and James D'Arcy.
2.BlackBerry (2023)
It may feel kind of strange to call a movie that takes place mostly between 1996 and 2008 a period piece, but here we are in 2023, doing just that. Nevertheless, BlackBerry is a really excellent and surprisingly riveting film following the rise and fall of the titular mobile phone brand, as well as the evolutions of the extreme personalities involved as they pioneered the smartphone industry by any means necessary.
3.Enemy at the Gates (2001)
A very suspenseful yet fictionalized retelling of Soviet hero Vasily Zaitsev's tenure as a sniper during the Battle of Stalingrad, with an emphasis on his duel with fellow sniper Major Erwin König, Enemy at the Gates may not entirely thrive in its romantic triangle plot but there's no denying that the film's many action sequences are expertly executed nailbiters. With some impressive performances on display from Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins, and Ron Perlman, Enemy at the Gates is well worth your time, even if you're not exactly watching the most accurate depiction of the aforementioned battle.
4.The Proposition (2005)
Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century Australia, John Hillcoat's The Proposition is a gritty and brutal Western in which an outlaw (Guy Pearce) is given the chance to save his younger brother's (Richard Wilson) life in exchange for tracking and killing his far more volatile older brother (Danny Huston). Often considered as one of the best films of its time, The Proposition is a heavy watch at times but the gorgeous visuals, undeniably effective performances and gripping script from Aussie rocker, Nick Cave, will keep you glued to the screen.
5.1917 (2019)
A sweeping World War I epic utilizing a series of long takes to simulate two continuous shots, 1917 follows two British soldiers who are entrusted with delivering information critical to calling off an offensive that could cost the lives of 1,600 men. A masterfully nerve-wracking film from Skyfall filmmaker Sam Mendes, 1917 will test just how long you can hold your breath as the film drives its characters further and further into the heart of a particularly unforgiving war.
6.Munich (2005)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Munich is a taut and captivating drama that follows the Mossad efforts to assassinate the terrorists involved with the Israeli Olympic Team massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Anchored by a powerful performance from Eric Bana, as well as a featured role for pre-Bond Daniel Craig, Munich is one of the more underrated films in Spielberg's filmography. Nonetheless, it's one that has aged like fine wine, especially given Spielberg's fascination with subsequent period dramas about less-publicized events in history including Bridge of Spies and The Post.
7.Rescue Dawn (2006)
Adapted from his 1997 documentary, Little Dieter Needs to Fly, Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn showcases the unbelievable true story of Dieter Dengler, a US Navy pilot who was shot down over Laos and taken as a prisoner-of-war in 1966, after which he plans a daring escape while dealing with malnutrition and torture. A tale of an unbreakable spirit in the face of near-insurmountable odds, Rescue Dawn is an excellent, if underrated, historical thriller that deserved to be told.
8.A Dangerous Method (2011)
Helmed by genre film maestro David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method offers an intimate and surprisingly intense historical drama surrounding the tumultuous and emotionally volatile relationships between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly). One of the more provocative titles on this list, this cinematic battle of minds is a fantastic and occasionally unnerving true story entrenched in the nascent days of psychology.
9.Gangs of New York (2002)
Based on the 1927 non-fiction book by Herbert Asbury, Gangs of New York is Martin Scorsese's violent and dense immersion into the clash between Catholics and Protestants in New York City in the mid-to-late 1800s. Though the film is messy enough to prevent it from reaching the apex of Scorsese's filmography, Gangs of New York is still far beyond most of its peers in the historical drama genre, largely thanks to some exceptional cinematography from Michael Ballhaus and a thunderous performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.
10.Thirteen Days (2000)
Yellowstone's Kevin Costner headlines this dramatized retelling of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, with Thirteen Days focusing largely on the tension brewing in the White House as threats and warnings continue to escalate between the US and the Soviet Union. Though the film failed to set the box office aflame, Thirteen Days became a quick critic favorite and received an impressive "A-" CinemaScore from those who did see it — though the film's lasting legacy may be the fact that Costner reportedly traveled to Cuba in 2001 to screen the film for Fidel Castro himself.
11.Phoenix (2014)
Frequently ranked among the best films of the 2010s, Christian Petzold's Phoenix surrounds a Holocaust survivor who returns to Berlin after undergoing facial reconstruction surgery and subsequently seeks out her husband, who she suspects of having betrayed her to the Nazis. Mixing noir and pulp influences with top-tier historical drama, Phoenix effortlessly wraps the audience around its finger, winding them in until the explosive, unforgettable finale.
12.The Woman King (2022)
A crowd-pleasing action-thriller that debuted to impressive box office numbers last year, The Woman King follows an all-female group of West African warriors known as the Agojie, who protected the citizens of Dahomey from slavers and rival armies from the Oyo Empire in the early 19th century. With extraordinary performances from Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega, The Woman King delivered both hard-hitting action and a spotlight on a section of history that's far too underserved by mainstream fiction.
13.The Imitation Game (2014)
The true story of renowned mathematician Alan Turing's efforts to aid Britain during World War II, The Imitation Game doubles as a glimpse into the life of Turing himself, who frequently collided with other cryptographers and hid his secret truth as a homosexual man from the British government. Equal parts compelling and devastating, The Imitation Game was a worldwide hit during Oscar season in 2014 and eventually garnered eight Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay.
14.Come and See (1985)
Undoubtedly the most powerful and disturbing anti-war film of all time, Come and See depicts a young teenager who witnesses the Nazi occupation of Belarus and all of the horrors suffered by those around him, as told from first-hand accounts in the non-fiction book, I Am from the Fiery Village. A brutal, uncompromising watch that you won't be able to shake, Come and See recently re-emerged into the public consciousness with its restoration and inclusion in the Criterion Collection.
15.Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
An amazing tale of unparalleled courage and dedication to one's fellow man, Hacksaw Ridge follows the life and times of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who was committed to serving in World War II as a combat medic without ever picking up a weapon. Andrew Garfield shines in his Academy Award-nominated role as Doss, and the film resonated with audiences in a major way back in 2016, earning $180.5 million on a $40 million budget.
16.The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)
17.Apollo 13 (1995)
A stunning and successful drama that was a commercial and critical hit in the mid-'90s, Apollo 13 brings the disastrous 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission to the big screen with an all-star cast and state-of-the-art special effects that were aided by NASA itself. An exhilarating thrill ride with some truly outstanding performances, Apollo 13 makes the most of every second of its 140-minute runtime.
18.12 Years A Slave (2013)
Steve McQueen's harrowing and soul-shattering drama, 12 Years a Slave, details the real story of Solomon Northup, an African American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, where he languished for over a decade. Headlined by star-making performances from the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o, and Michael Fassbender, this Academy Award-winning adaptation of an enslaved person's memoir is a difficult watch but one that's so historically significant that it cannot be ignored.
19.Valkyrie (2008)
The first collaboration between Tom Cruise and filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, who served as a writer and producer on this historical thriller, Valkyrie tells the true tale of the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944 and utilize "Operation Valkyrie" to declare a national emergency that would enable the conspirators to gain control of the country. Featuring a stacked ensemble cast that included Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Bill Nighy, and Carice van Houten, Valkyrie is an entertaining, performance-driven drama that will keep you on edge, even if you know how the assassination attempt ultimately shakes out.
20.Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
A heartbreaking period piece that follows a social and cultural revolution that was stopped in its tracks by a shocking act of cowardice and betrayal, Judas and the Black Messiah surrounds the real story of Chicago-based Black Panther leader, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), whose rise as a politician and voice for the oppressed African American community in the late 1960s was quelled by an FBI informant in his inner circle (LaKeith Stanfield). Stymied by a day-and-date release in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Judas and the Back Messiah was a critical darling upon release and earned Kaluuya an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 93rd Academy Awards.
21.Das Boot (1981)
The masterpiece of esteemed German filmmaker Wolfgang Peterson, Das Boot is a claustrophobic and action-packed film based on the true experiences of Lothar-Günther Buchheim as a crewmember of U-96 during World War II. One of the more human tales of war in historical fiction, Das Boot is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of all time and launched the international careers of both Peterson and star Jürgen Prochnow.
