10. Vanity Fair (2004)
| Director | Mira Nair |
| Writers | Matthew Faulk, Mark Skeet, Julian Fellowes |
| Casts | Reese Witherspoon, Eileen Atkins, Jim Broadbent |
| Release Date | September 1, 2004 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Vanity Fair is a film adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel of the same name, set in the early 19th century.
The movie follows the life of Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon), a young woman determined to rise in society despite lacking wealth or connections.
Becky makes many friends as she lives her life. She also marries, not for love but to improve her social position.
The movie surprises its viewers after Beck marries Rawdon Crawley (James Purefoy) for love that eventually pushes her out of the rich circle.
Becky’s journey shows the ups and downs while seeking a better life in a society that values wealth and titles over everything else.
It is a good watch for its beautiful scenes, fancy outfits, and new portrayal of historical romances.
9. Reign (2013)
| Directors | Fred Gerber, Holly Dale, Norma Bailey |
| Writer | Laurie McCarthy, Spethaine Sengupta |
| Casts | Adelaide Kane, Megan Follows, Torrance Coombs |
| Release Date | October 17, 2013 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Reign is a show about Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), and her life at the French court. It is a mix of history and fiction, with lots of drama.
The main story is about Mary’s rise to power and her marriage to Prince Francis (Toby Regbo), facing many problems, like political enemies and personal issues.
When Francis dies, everything in Mary’s life changes. She returns to Scotland to rule alone, where many unforeseen challenges await her, including secret relationships, secret children, and shocking betrayals.
The show isn’t just about Mary. It also tells the stories of her friends and enemies, who have secrets and problems.
Reign is worth watching because it has love stories, secrets, and perfect outfits as per the role, all set in the exciting world of 16th-century royalty.
8. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)
| Director | Tom Verica |
| Writer | Shonda Rhimes |
| Casts | India Amarteifio, Adjoa Andoh, Michelle Fairley |
| Release Date | May 4, 2023 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story takes us back to the past to tell the story of Queen Charlotte’s rise and her love life.
It is a prequel to the popular Bridgerton series that focuses on the young queen’s early days.
Charlotte (India Amarteifio) is set to marry King George. Their marriage starts off as a political setup, but it turns into a deep and true love story.
The series highlights how Charlotte adjusts to her normal life in the royal court and faces challenges as a young queen.
A big twist in the series is the discovery of secrets that could change the future of the characters and the kingdom.
There are also unexpected relationships and events that shook up the court.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a must-watch for its attractive mix of love, power, and high society drama.
7. The Empress (2022)
| Director | Katharina Eyssen |
| Writers | Katharina Eyssen, Bernd Lange, Janna Maria Nandzik |
| Casts | Devrim Lingnau, Philip Froissant |
| Release Date | September 29, 2022 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
The Empress tells the story of Elisabeth (Devrim Lingnau), a young woman who becomes Empress of Austria.
The series focuses on Elisabeth’s unexpected love life with Emperor Franz Joseph (Philip Froissant), which leads to a quick marriage.
Elisabeth, aka “Sisi,” is not used to the rules of the royal court and finds it hard to keep up with all the orders and her duties as empress.
The series also shows how Sisi handled her complicated life after being part of the royal family.
Unsurprisingly, she encountered challenges from those who surpassed her and had to deal with the pressures of being an empress.
A major twist comes when Sisi discovers secrets within the palace walls that could threaten her position and the empire’s future.
This series is a treat for those who enjoy royal dramas, as it offers a mix of personal and political challenges with romance.
6. The Gilded Age (2022)
| Directors | Michael Engler, Salli Richardson Whitfield |
| Writers | Julian Fellowes, Sonja Warfield |
| Casts | Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson |
| Release Date | January 24, 2022 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
The Gilded Age is set during the time of great wealth change in America, also known as the boom years of the 1880s in New York City.
It highlights two families with different social backgrounds: Russel and the Van Rhijn family.
The main plot of the series is the clash between the old ways of the rich and the new rich trying to find their place.
A big twist in the series is when characters who seem to be friends turn out to be enemies.
There are also surprising connections between families that no one knew about, changing the relationships and power among the people.
The Gilded Age is worth watching because it is a drama that shows the different lives of families in the 1980s.
Additionally, I learned how people back then tried to get ahead in society with all the secrets and plans they had.
5. The White Queen (2013)
| Directors | James Kent, Jamie Payne, Colin Teague |
| Writers | Emma Frost, Lisa McGee, Nicole Taylor |
| Casts | Rebecca Ferguson, Amanda Hale, Faye Marsay |
| Release Date | June 16, 2013 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
The White Queen is a battle for the throne of England, set during the Wars of the Rose.
The show focuses on three women from different sides of the conflict: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville.
The main story is about Elizabeth Woodville (Rebecca Woodville), a normal girl who marries King Edward IV (Max Irons).
Her marriage causes a lot of drama because it’s unexpected, and she’s not from a royal family. This leads to power struggles, betrayals, and tension between the noble families.
The movie takes a drift when people who were once friends become enemies, and those who seem loyal commit betrayal.
The series shows how Elizabeth uses her intelligence and connections to influence the battle for the crown.
The White Queen is a good watch because it has an exciting history, love stories, and battles for power, all told by powerful women in old England.
4. Victoria (2016)
| Directors | Geoffrey Sax, Olly Blackburn, Tom Vaughan |
| Writers | Daisy Goodwin, A.N. Wilson, Guy Andrews |
| Casts | Jenna Coleman, Adrian Schiller, Tommy Knight |
| Release Date | August 28, 2016 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
The Victoria is about the real-life story of Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman), focusing on her life after becoming queen at 18.
The show’s biggest surprise comes when Victoria discovers that the man she believed to be her half-sister’s father is actually not real.
In the series, her husband, Prince Albert, faced challenges while ruling the country in the 1800s, and she also struggled to become a mother, wife, and queen.
The series reveals palace secrets and drama and shows Victoria’s growth from a sheltered girl into a bold queen.
Victoria is worth watching as it beautifully portrays Queen Victoria’s rise to power.
3. Outlander (2014)
| Directors | Metin Hüseyin, Jamie Payne, Stephen Woolfenden |
| Writers | Diana Gabaldon, Ronald D. Moore, Matthew B. Roberts |
| Casts | CaitrÃona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton |
| Release Date | August 19, 2014 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Outlander is a series that mixes history, romance, and adventure. It is based on Diana Gabaldon’s novel of the same name.
The series is about a nurse, Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), from 1945, who mysteriously travels back in time to 1743 Scotland.
Transported back in time, she suddenly visits a world full of clan conflicts and Jacobite risings.
The show takes a new turn when Claire, who is already married in the future, falls in love with a brave Scottish Warrior, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan).
Now, after she gets into a new place, Claire is caught between two partners, and things get interesting after she knows what will happen to her future.
She tries to change history to prevent future disasters, leading to unexpected consequences.
The series is worth watching for its strong characters and unique way of presenting a time-travel romance movie.
2. The Crown (2016)
| Directors | Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, Jessica Hobbs |
| Writers | Peter Morgan, Jonathan Wilson, Edward Hemming |
| Casts | Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton |
| Release Date | November 4, 2016 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
The Crown highlights the story of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to the early 21st century.
Elizabeth (Claire Foy) takes the throne, facing challenges as a young queen in a changing world.
The series changes its course after the revelation that Prince Philip (Matt Smith) is unhappy with his role and the pressure it puts on their marriage.
You will get goosebumps when you find out what they had to deal with within their family and alongside world events.
The series also highlights the tension between personal desires and public duties, showing the queen balancing her own needs.
The Crown is a must-watch because it gives a rare peek into Queen Elizabeth II’s life, showing her personal and royal challenges.
1. Downton Abbey (2010)
| Director | Julian Fellowes |
| Writers | Julian Fellowes, Shelagh Stephenson, Tina Pepier |
| Casts | Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael |
| Release Date | September 26, 2010 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Downton Abbey is about a rich family and their staff in the 1900s, which shows big changes and secrets happening in their villa.
The story takes an unusual turn when everyone thinks the family’s next heir, Patrick Crawley, dies on the Titanic.
Now, they have to pick a new person to be in charge, which brings Matthew Crawley into the limelight, a family member unfamiliar with wealth.
It is the story of the Crawley family’s efforts to maintain their traditional lifestyle despite time changes.
Downton Abbey is worth watching because it has a great mix of drama and history and is about family, tradition, and beautiful changes.
| Movie/Series | Length |
|---|---|
| Vanity Fair | 2 Hour 21 Minutes |
| Reign | 42 Minutes |
| Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | 58 Minutes |
| The Empress | 55 Minutes |
| The Glided Age | 1 Hour |
| The White Queen | 1 Hour |
| Victoria | 1 Hour |
| Outlander | 1 Hour 30 Minutes |
| The Crown | 1 Hour |
| Downton Abbey | 1 Hour |
