Subgenre Sampler
Television > History: 87 Films to Buy & Rent
- Doctor Who (Series 11) [Jodie Whittaker] (2018)
- Feat. Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole…
- The Thirteenth Doctor and first Doctor to be a woman, played by Jodie Whittaker, touches down on Earth where she recruits three new friends –…
- Looming Tower, The (TV Mini-Series) (2018)
- Feat. Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim, Bill Camp
- Mini–series exploring the rivalry between the FBI and the CIA in the lead up to 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan. Based on Lawrence Wright's…
- Britannia (TV Series) (2017)
- Feat. David Morrissey, Kelly Reilly, Nikolaj Lie Kaas…
- A historical fiction series set in 43AD, following the Roman conquest of Britain and it's opposition by the wild warrior women and powerful Druids of…
- Gunpowder (TV Mini-series) (2017)
- Dir. J Blakeson
Feat. Kit Harington, Peter Mullan, Mark Gatiss…
- Three–part BBC dramatisation of the famous Gunpowder Plot in London of 1605 where activist Guy Fawkes conspires with a group of provincial…
- Joanna Lumley's India (2017)
- Feat. Joanna Lumley
- Actress and presenter Joanna Lumley, who was born in India in the last days of The Raj, travels back this country to explore it's wildlife, culture,…
- Knightfall (TV Series) (2017-2019)
- Feat. Tom Cullen, Jim Carter
- Historical drama series about the Knights Templar, the powerful and mysterious Catholic military order from the middle ages. Made by The History…
- 1916: The Irish Rebellion (2016)
- Feat. Liam Neeson
- Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Irish Rebellion, this superb three–part documentary covers the impact of this seminal event.…
- Joanna Lumley's Japan (2016)
- Feat. Joanna Lumley
- British actress and presenter Joanna Lumley continues her series of travel documentaries with a 2,000 mile journey across the four main islands of…
- Roots (TV Mini-Series) (2016)
- Dir. Phillip Noyce, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter
Feat. Laurence Fishburne, Matthew Goode, Derek Luke…
- A powerful new adaptation of Alex Haley's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. This tragic story of resilience is told in four parts covering four…
- Tutankhamun (TV Mini-series) (2016)
- Dir. Peter Webber
Feat. Max Irons, Jonathan Aris, Sam Neill…
- A four–part dramatisation of how a penniless, ostracised archaeologist named Howard Carter became a household name following his discovery of…
- Banished (TV Mini-series) (2015)
- Feat. Orla Brady, Ewen Bremner, MyAnna Buring…
- British period drama created by Jimmy McGovern (CRACKER), set in the 18th century in the first penal colony founded by the British in New South…
- Story of China with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Michael Wood
- Veteran historian and broadcaster Michael Wood follows his celebrated Story of India with this in–depth portrait of the most populous country…
- Intrepid New Zealand (2014)
- Ambitious follow–up to Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald's FIRST CROSSINGS (2012) finds the pair tackling a new set of legendary journeys…
- Bonnie and Clyde (TV Mini-Series) (2013)
- Dir. Bruce Beresford
Feat. Emile Hirsch, Holliday Grainger, Sarah Hyland…
- The legend of depression era outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker is given the full treatment in this evocative History Channel drama.
- Da Vinci's Demons (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. Tom Riley
- A lavishly produced historical fantasy which imagines Leonardo da Vinci's life as an artist, inventor and genius.
Season One: eight episodes…
- Richard III: The King in the Car Park & The Unseen Story (2013)
- Dir. Louise Osmond
Feat. Simon Farnaby
- In the British town of Leicester, archaeologists unearth the skeleton of a man. The man's spine is deformed. His skull shows signs of violent trauma.…
- Vikings, The (TV Series) (2013)
- Going beyond their bloodthirsty reputation, Neil Oliver charts the rise of the Vikings, from their prehistoric Scandinavian homelands to a vast…
- Village, The (TV Series) (2013)
- Feat. John Simm, Maxine Peake, Juliet Stevenson…
- A gritty riposte to the swell of glossy period dramas, this small scale epic charts the progress of a village of working class characters in early…
- First Crossings (TV Series) (2012)
- This rugged adventure series literally retraces the steps of New Zealand's pioneer explorers in the intrepid, no–holds–barred style of…
- Labyrinth (TV Mini-Series) (2012)
- Dir. Christopher Smith
Feat. Jessica Brown-Findlay, Vanessa Kirby, John Hurt…
- The search for the Holy Grail provides the link between two parallel story lines – one set in medieval France, the other during a modern day…
- Story Of Wales, The (TV Series) (2012)
- An ambitious, all–encompassing 30,000 year history of Wales, as told by the BBC's Huw Edwards. Covers everything from the Tudor Court, to the…
- Titanic (TV Mini-series) (2012)
- Dir. Jon Jones
Feat. Linus Roache, James Wilby, Timothy West…
- Four–part serial from the pen of DOWNTON ABBEY creator Julian Fellowes that tells the story of the doomed ship through four very different…
- Fry's Planet Word (2011)
- Dir. John Paul Davidson
Feat. Stephen Fry
- This five–part BBC series joins Stephen Fry as he travel's the continents exploring the nuanced diverse world of human language.
- Story of Ireland, The (TV Mini-Series) (2011)
- An RTE and BBC co–production in which presenter Fergal Keane showcases Irish history, charting the origin and impact of the myths that have…
- Churches: How To Read Them (TV Series) (2010)
- Dir. Jonathan Mayo
- Six–part series presented by historian and author Richard Taylor, exploring ideas about God, salvation, life and death through visits to some…
- History of Christianity, A (TV Mini-Series) (2010)
- In this fascinating six–part series Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, one of the world's leading historians and Professor of History of the Church…
- Royal Upstairs Downstairs (TV Series) (2010)
- The secret lives of British servants and aristocrats are speculated on this prim history series which takes viewers on a tour of the houses and…
- Turn Back Time (TV Series) (2010)
- Illuminating series that takes a group of modern shopkeepers and has them experience their occupations through differing periods of history beginning…
- Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2009)
- Following on from his "History of Modern Britain", Andrew Marr this time overviews the first half of the 20th Century, re–visiting the dramas…
- Darwin's Brave New World (TV Mini-series) (2009)
- Feat. Socratis Otto, Richard Jongejan, Nicola Bowman
- Three–part dramatized series tells the story of Charles Darwin and his contemporaries, Joseph Hooker, Thomas Huxley and Alfred Russel Wallace,…
- Horrible Histories (TV Series) (2009)
- Feat. Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Sarah Hadland…
- Educational irreverance for kids, offering an unconventional take on history's funniest – and most gruesome – moments in a multitude of…
- South (TV Series) (2009)
- Feat. Marcus Lush
- Another "love story" from intrepid broadcaster Marcus Lush, who this time explores the South Island of New Zealand, an area he fell in love with…
- Underbelly - Season 2 (TV Mini-series) (A Tale of Two Cities: The Mr Asia Story) (2009)
- Feat. Roy Billing, Anna Hutchison, Matthew Newton…
- A prequel to the events of the original series, this is loosely based on the hard drug trade that hit New South Wales and Victoria between 1976 and…
- A History of Scotland (TV Series) (2008)
- A fresh and exhaustive chronology of Scotland's fascinating narrative, full of battles and allegiances, political intrigue and religious conflict.…
- Devil's Whore, The (TV Mini-series) (Devil's Mistress) (2008)
- Dir. Martine Brant, Peter Flannery
Feat. Andrea Riseborough, Dominic West, John Simm…
- Period romp set during the English Civil War concerning the devilishly manipulative Angelica (Riseborough), and her marriage to revolutionary Thomas…
- India Reborn (2008)
- Fascinating and disturbing doco series that looks at India as the next superpower, and the juxtapositions to its mighty wealth that cloud its future…
- John Adams (2008)
- Dir. Tom Hooper
Feat. Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Sarah Polley…
- Acclaimed miniseries on the life of America's second president and founding father John Adams. Simultaneously epic and intimate this is compulsory…
- Underbelly - Season 1 (TV Mini-series) (2008)
- Feat. Vince Colosimo, Kevin Harrington
- Gritty, unflinching crime series dramatising the Melbourne gangland killings and seedy underworld, featuring Aussie actors who bear a striking…
- Andrew Marr's The History of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2007)
- Political commentator Andrew Marr turns his astute focus on the key events that have shaped British society since the end of WWII, including the…
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)
- Dir. Yves Simoneau
Feat. Aidan Quinn, Adam Beach, Anna Paquin…
- Distinguished HBO western based on the 1970 book of the same name by Dee Brown.
A historical drama set in the 1860's and 1870's, the plot…
- Gangland (TV Series) (2007)
- Hard hitting expose of today's nastiest gangs provides the viewer with both historical context and unprecedented access. Some of the stories are now…
- Here to Stay (TV Series) (2007)
- An enlightening, culturally pertinent reference point for the current make up of New Zealand society, this six part series revisits a number of key…
- James May's 20th Century (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. James May
- TV presenter James May presents a candid look at the creations of the 20th century; ranging from weaponry to medical breakthroughs and the…
- Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (TV Series) (2007)
- Dir. Matt Reid
- In–depth television series spanning a year in the life of the British Royal Family and the myriad of employees that keep the Royal Machine…
- Roman Mysteries (TV Series) (2007)
- Children's mystery series set in 79 AD, Rome, based on a series of kids books that focuses on a group of young friends embarking on crime solving…
- Story of India with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Michael Wood
- Acclaimed historian Wood takes to the destination du–jour – India – in order to acknowledge its history and research its…
- Ancient Rome (TV Series) (2006)
- Extensive series dramatising the rise and fall of the Ancient Roman Empire through six episodes each presenting a different turning point in the fate…
- Battleplan (TV Series) (2006)
- A comprehensive history and analysis of military strategies, combat tactics, and the art of modern warfare.
Across eighteen episodes, historical…
- Power of Art (TV Series) (2006)
- A scholarly, and indeed powerful, roam through art history’s seminal figures, with knowledge imparted by the revered Simon Schama.
Disc 1…
- What Lies Beneath (TV Series) (2006)
- Feat. Simon Dallow
- An eight–part series about New Zealand's archaeological heritage, presenting a series of intriguing site studies, with Simon Dallow asking the…
- Empire (2005)
- Feat. Colm Feore, Emily Blunt, Jonathon Cake
- Glossy and occasionally patchy drama which reconstructs the events surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar (Freore) and the succession of…
- In Search of Myths and Heroes (TV Series) (2005)
- Feat. Michael Woods
- BBC presenter Michael Wood explores four of the most famous myths in the world – Shangri–la, the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba, and…
- Monarchy (TV Series) (2004)
- Historical TV Series presented by Dr David Starkey tracing the blood–stained history of the English monarchy covering all the epic battles and…
- Augustus (TV Mini-Series) (2003)
- Dir. Roger Young
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Charlotte Rampling
- Peter O'Toole takes on the role of Augustus Caesar in this refreshing series focusing on the time when Augustus stepped into his adopted father's…
- Days That Shook The World (TV Series) (2003)
- A monumental overview of the world’s most profound and history–defining events, this tome to humankind's great achievements and failures is…
- Hitler - The Rise of Evil (2003)
- Dir. Christian Duguay
Feat. Robert Carlyle, Stockard Channing, Peter O'Toole…
- Somewhat controversial account of Adolf Hitler's rise to power, attempting to fathom his potential for evil–doing.
An only…
- Killing Hitler (TV Mini-series) (2003)
- Dir. Jeremy Lovering
Feat. Peter McDonald, Kate Ashfield, Kenneth Cranham…
- Accurate docu–drama merging archival footage with recreations and educated interview to portray and dissect 'Operation Foxley' – a secret…
- Kings and Queens (TV Series) (2002)
- A solid TV documentary series tracing lives and reigns of 12 of England's most influential monarchs. Historian Dr Nigel Spivey draws from an array of…
- Nuremberg (2000)
- Feat. Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessy, Brian Cox…
- This two part miniseries follows the Chief Prosecutor through the Nuremberg Trials of 1945–46.
- Scarlet Pimpernel, The (Mini Series) (1999)
- Dir. Simon Langton
Feat. Richard E. Grant, Elizabeth McGovern
- A lively television adaptation of the Baroness Orczy's famous novel set around the bloody chaos of post–revolutionary France and one English…
- Barry Humphries - Flashbacks (TV Series) (1998)
- Feat. Barry Humphries
- Iconic Aussie entertainer Barry Humphries and his alter–ego's Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone take us on a journey through a slice…
- Rhodes (TV Mini-series) (1996)
- Dir. David Drury
Feat. Martin Shaw, Frances Barber, Joe Shaw
- Lengthy but worth–it biopic telling the story of Cecil Rhodes, the 19th–Century businessman who was sent to Africa to die, but came back…
- Lost Civilizations (TV Series) (1995)
- Historical series covering nearly 7000 years of history over 25 countries. Brought to life with spfx technology and recreated historically accurate…
- House of Windsor, The (TV Series) (1994)
- The story of the most famous family in the world – from the reign of the first Windsors, King George V and Queen Mary, to the long rule of…
- Time Team (TV Series) (1994)
- Feat. Tony Robinson
- Stimulating television series featuring a group of enthusiastic archaeologists unearthing the secrets of British history from overlooked areas of…
- Monocled Mutineer, The (TV Mini-series) (1986)
- Dir. Jim O'Brien
Feat. Paul McGann, Robert Fellows
- A four–part BBC historical drama depicting the life of Private Percy Toplis, who supposedly led a British army mutiny against training officers…
- Peter the Great (TV Mini-Series) (1986)
- Feat. Maximilian Schell, Vanessa Redgrave, Omar Sharif…
- Emmy Award–winning mini–series about Peter I, Tsar of Russia from 1682, and his efforts to transform Russia in an "all European" country,…
- Dunera Boys, The (Mini-series) (1985)
- Dir. Ben Lewin
Feat. Bob Hoskins, Warren Mitchell, Julia Blake
- WW2 set mini–series following a group of suspected Jewish spies sent from England to a POW camp in NSW, Australia. Nicely balanced historical…
- In Search of the Trojan War (1985)
- Dir. Bill Lyons
- A thorough, intelligible excavation of Homer’s epic poems and the speculation of a Trojan Society, historian Michael Wood takes us back in time via…
- Nancy Astor (TV Mini-series) (1982)
- Dir. Richard Stroud
Feat. Lisa Harrow, Pierce Brosnan
- Rags–to–riches biography of the life of Nancy Astor, the first woman to hold a seat in the house of commons.
- Scarlet Pimpernel, The (TV Mini-Series) (1982)
- Dir. Clive Donner
Feat. Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen
- Top–notch mini–series version of the classic tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel – an English nobleman who lived a double–life…
- Our Heritage (TV Series) (1981)
- A unique series of television snippets, in which seven ballads by legendary Waitakere historian Jack Diamond are recited over historical imagery and…
- Oppenheimer (TV Mini-series) (1980)
- Dir. Barry Davis
Feat. Sam Waterston, Shane Rimmer, David Suchet
- Excellent mini–series starring Waterson as nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped build the atomic bomb for the 'Manhattan…
- Shogun (Mini Series) (1980)
- Dir. Jerry London
Feat. Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune
- Exciting TV mini–series version of James Clavell's novel set in Feudal Japan. Great locations and rousing battle–scenes make for a most…
- Strumpet City (Mini-Series) (1980)
- Feat. Peter O'Toole, Peter Ustinov
- Broad, sweeping Irish history of Dubliners in the early 20th century. Based on James Plunkett’s popular novel.
- Dick Turpin (TV Series) (1979)
- Feat. Richard O'Sullivan, Alfie Bass
- Historical adventure series about the real–life 18th century highwayman Dick Turpin and his "Robin Hood" thieving of the rich to give to the…
- Frost/Nixon Watergate Interviews (1977)
- Dir. Jorn Winther
Feat. David Frost, Richard Nixon
- The legendary 28 hour interview between the charismatic David Frost and former President Richard Nixon is touted as the greatest political interview…
- Hunter's Gold (TV Series) (1976)
- Feat. Ken Blackburn, Andrew Hawthorn, Ian Mune…
- Classic kidult series follows young Scott Hunter as he searches for his father amidst the Otago Gold Rush in thismagnificent recreation of early New…
- Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (TV Mini-Series) (1974)
- Dir. James Cellan Jones
Feat. Lee Remick, Warren Clarke, Barbara Parkins…
- Rightly acclaimed series that reveals the fascinating life of the Lady Randolph Churchill, and mother of Winston. Adroitly scripted and acted –…
- Ascent of Man, The (TV Series) (1973)
- Feat. Jacob Bronowski
- Renowned TV series from the era of epic–length documentaries, this analyses the progress of mankind through scientific and technological…
- Alistair Cooke's America (TV Series) (1972)
- Feat. Alistair Cooke
- Considered one of the great TV documentary series, this is English broadcaster Cooke's personal view of American history and its teeming,…
- Edwardians, The (1972)
- Dir. John Howard Davies, James Cellan Jones, Alan Clarke
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Timothy West, Robert Powell…
- Superb examination of eight famous Edwardians who helped shape the early 20th century. Impeccably presented and directed by some of the BBC's finest…
- Rossellini's History Films: Renaissance and Enlightenment (The Age of the Medici, Cartesius, Blaise Pascal) (1972-1974)
- Dir. Roberto Rossellini
- Three TV films about some of the western world's major figures and moments, from Italian master Roberto Rossellini in the final phase of his…
- Six Wives of Henry VIII, The (TV Mini-Series) (1970)
- Feat. Keith Michell, Rosalie Crutchley, Jane Seymour
- Accurate BAFTA–winning TV series chronicling the life of the notorious Henry VIII by way of six plays, featuring a notable cast and immaculate…
- Civilisation (TV Series) (1969)
- "Not a history of the arts, but a history of life–giving beliefs and ideas made visible and audible through the medium of art." Kenneth Clark's…
- Complete and Utter History of Britain, The (TV Series) (1969)
- Dir. Maurice Murphy
Feat. Michael Palin, Terry Jones
- A comedy sketch show created by future Monty Python members Michael Palin and Terry Jones, which depicts various events in British history as if…
- Classic TV Commercials of the 50's 60's & 70's (1950-1979)
- Collection of American TV commercials from the decorous 50's, rampant 60's and radical 70's. Includes ads on every perfect housewifes dream products…