20th Century Period Pieces on Netflix
Last updated May 30, 2023
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
2009 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsOscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who overcomes enormous obstacles to study medicine and save lives at Johns Hopkins Hospital in this made-for-cable drama based on Carson's memoirs.
Details about Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Forrest Gump
1994 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsForrest Gump, a simpleminded man, finds himself in the middle of nearly every major event of the 1960s and '70s. Along the way, he makes friends, changes lives and yearns for his childhood sweetheart, Jenny.
Details about Forrest Gump
The King's Speech
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsIn this biographical drama that chalked up multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture, Britain's King George VI struggles with an embarrassing stutter until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue.
Details about The King's Speech
Winnie Mandela
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsSouth Africa's Winnie Mandela, one of the most galvanizing public figures in modern history, comes to life in this absorbing biopic. Though it traces Winnie's whole story, the film hinges on the Apartheid-era imprisonment that would define her image.
Details about Winnie Mandela
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
2008 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsWhen his family moves to Poland, young Bruno befriends Shmuel, a boy who lives on the other side of the fence, where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey.
Details about The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Life Is Beautiful
1997 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsA Jewish Italian waiter named Guido is sent to a Nazi concentration camp, along with his wife and their young son. Refusing to give up hope, Guido tries to protect his son's innocence by pretending that their imprisonment is an elaborate game.
Details about Life Is Beautiful
Captain America: The First Avenger
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsIn Marvel's superhero slugfest, Steve Rogers volunteers for a secret experiment during WWII after being deemed unfit for duty. Transformed into super soldier Captain America, he takes on his Nazi-created counterpart, Red Skull, and the evil Hydra.
Details about Captain America: The First Avenger
The Pianist
2002 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsFamed Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman struggles to survive the onslaught of Nazi tyranny during World War II in this drama based on his memoirs. In spite of his well-known talent, Szpilman spends several years holed up in Warsaw, clinging to life.
Details about The Pianist
The Legend is Born: Ip Man
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis martial arts biopic follows the early years of Ip Man -- the master who would one day become Bruce Lee's mentor -- as he perfects his Wing Chun style of combat against a small army of villainous foes.
Details about The Legend is Born: Ip Man
Paid in Full
2002 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis fictionalized account of three real-life Harlem drug dealers is told in flashbacks as they plunge into the world of hustling. Ace learns the business, and soon the trio becomes a dominant force. But the cost may ultimately be Ace's conscience.
Details about Paid in Full
Platoon
1986 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsHelmed by Oliver Stone, this searing autobiographical drama chronicles the Vietnam experiences of naive volunteer soldier Chris Taylor, whose view of the conflict starts to change after witnessing murder and rape at the hands of his compatriots.
Details about Platoon
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
2008 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThe lives of three 12-year-old buddies -- sharing a carefree existence in the summer of 1970 -- suddenly change when one of them, Dustin (Jansen Panettiere), makes an unexpected friend after cutting the lawn of 75-year-old Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod). As Jonathan shares lessons in faith with Dustin and his pals (Frankie Ryan Manriquez and Allen Isaacson), a spiritual transformation occurs in this Christian drama helmed by Rich Christiano.
Details about The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank
2009 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsIn this production based on the classic book, teenager Anne Frank tells, in her own words, how she and her Jewish family hid from the Nazis during World War II. As time drags on, they must balance the fear of their situation and "normal" family life
Details about Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank
The Untouchables
1987 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsG-Man Eliot Ness will stop at nothing to take down legendary gangster Al Capone -- even if it means bending some rules -- in director Brian De Palma's period crime drama penned by playwright David Mamet.
Details about The Untouchables
Masterpiece Mystery!: Endeavour
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsShaun Evans steps into John Thaw's shoes as the younger version of Colin Dexter's iconic creation, Inspector Morse, shedding new light on the origins of the detective famed for his love of crosswords, classical music, real ale and classic cars.
Details about Masterpiece Mystery!: Endeavour
The Mighty Macs
2009 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsBased on true events, this drama tells the story of Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino), who becomes the head women's basketball coach at Immaculata College in Pennsylvania and whips the team into shape to win the first women's basketball national championship. David Boreanaz co-stars as Cathy's husband, NBA referee Ed Rush, with Marley Shelton as a nun and assistant coach, and Ellen Burstyn as Mother Superior.
Details about The Mighty Macs
Haute Cuisine
2013 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsBased on real characters and lives, this food-rich drama recounts Hortense Laborie's experiences as personal chef for the president of France. After reluctantly accepting the job, Hortense braves the intimidating atmosphere of the Elysee Palace.
Details about Haute Cuisine
The Sapphires
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThe spirit and vitality of 1960s soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career. Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan.
Details about The Sapphires
The Long Walk Home
1990 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsSissy Spacek stars as Miriam Thompson, a Montgomery, Ala., housewife who finds herself in the midst of a civil rights revolution when she helps her black maid, Odessa (Whoopi Goldberg), during the infamous bus boycott of the 1950s. When Miriam discovers Odessa is forced to walk the 9 miles to her house and back, she volunteers to give Odessa a ride -- much to the dismay of Miriam's husband and social circle.
Details about The Long Walk Home
Titanic: Blood and Steel
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsIrish immigrant Mark Muir works on construction of the doomed RMS Titanic while hiding his Catholic heritage from the project's Protestant financiers. As the ship is built, Muir falls in love amid the tensions of the period and Muir's own past.
Details about Titanic: Blood and Steel
The Scapegoat
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsSoon after meeting his doppelgänger, schoolteacher John Standing is duped into taking the man's place at the head of an aristocratic but troubled family. As Standing grows into his new identity, he learns that his lookalike has sinister intentions.
Details about The Scapegoat
Titanic: Blood and Steel
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsIrish immigrant Mark Muir works on construction of the doomed RMS Titanic while hiding his Catholic heritage from the project's Protestant financiers. As the ship is built, Muir falls in love amid the tensions of the period and Muir's own past.
Details about Titanic: Blood and Steel
The Way Back
2010 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsAfter narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of multinational soldiers desperately undertakes a harrowing journey to traverse Siberia, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas on foot.
Details about The Way Back
October Sky
1999 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsAs the Soviet satellite Sputnik streaks across the heavens in October 1957, it's a source of inspiration for 17-year-old Homer Hickam. Drafting a few friends to help, Homer crafts a rocket to compete for a science fair scholarship.
Details about October Sky
Billy Elliot
2000 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsWhen 11-year-old Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) trades boxing school for ballet lessons, his father (Gary Lewis) -- a hardworking miner from Northern England who despises the idea of his son running around in toe shoes -- is less than pleased. But when the boy wins an audition for the Royal Ballet School, he experiences a change of heart. Stephen Daldry directs this Oscar-nominated drama that spawned a Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name.
Details about Billy Elliot
About Best on Netflix USA
Best on Netflix is the place to discover the best TV shows and movies available on Netflix. Find the newest releases of your favorite movies and TV shows available for streaming on Netflix today. This site lists all the amazing content available to Netflix members. If you want to watch a movie or TV shows, you must go to the official Netflix website. Best on Netflix is not related to Netflix and its purpose is to highlight the great content already available on Netflix since we're such huge fans of their service. We love Netflix just as much as you do! We hope you enjoy this movie and tv show discovery tool.
We have a lot of great features coming up in the next few weeks to help highlight the best movies and TV shows on Netflix, so stay tuned!