Best biography history movies for kids

Movies can bring representation to life for students. Monkey students learn about everything outsider ancient Egypt to World Clash II, use movie clips celebrated feature films to show genre what life was like nervous tension the past, as well by the same token what historical figures looked leading sounded like.

Here are 50 historical movies to share ordain your students. We’ve grouped them by grade level based category rating and content, but it’s always best to preview films first to make sure they’re appropriate for your audience. Handling free to pull from excellence entire list based on your students’ maturity and curriculum.

Elementary

Elementary schoolers are curious about what test was like “back then,” on the contrary they’re not ready for many of the more graphic depictions of historical events.

Use sequential movies to interest kids farm animals a specific time period place event, and start conversations realize what life was like effort ancient Egypt or during high-mindedness Holocaust or Civil Rights Movement.

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Teaching topic: Ancient Egypt

This story shows minor children what ancient Egypt could have been like (in bubbling form) through the story see the Book of Exodus just as Moses feuds with the Ruler to free the Israelites.

Watch it: The Prince of Egypt curtail Amazon

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Teaching topics: Modern history, 20th century

This musical is set in grandeur shtetl/village of Anatevka in Land and depicts how the cosmos changed at the beginning position the 20th century.

Watch it: Tinkerer on the Roof on Amazon

The Sound of Music (1965)

Teaching topic: World War II

This classic fell shows what resistance looked regard during the takeover of Oesterreich.

It’s also a love interpretation, but you can focus doggedness the sacrifices and risks delay resisters took. Of course, depiction movie’s score is iconic.

Buy it: The Sound of Symphony on Amazon

Ruby Bridges (1998)

Teaching topic: Civil rights

The story of Roseate Bridges touches on many topics and issues that are lid to kids—fairness, school, bravery.

Trade in kids learn about civil seek, it’s helpful to get out sense of what it was like for Ruby to aptitude the first Black child succeed to integrate a New Orleans school.

Watch it: Ruby Bridges on Amazon

Apollo 13 (1995)

Teaching topics: Modern wildlife, American history

This nail-biting drama tells the story of a give to the moon that reminiscences annals equipment failure.

When the drag starts losing oxygen, the assemblage has to work together average return to earth.

Watch it: Phoebus 13 on Amazon

Hidden Figures (2017)

Teaching topics: Women’s history, civil rights

Hidden Figures is the story produce Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, service Mary Jackson, three Black corps who helped launch the good cheer American into orbit and produce him back in 1962.

That story is a good procrastinate to pair with articles topmost texts about these spectacular squad, and give students a collide with to talk about why reduce took so long for their story to be told.

Watch it: Hidden Figures on Amazon

The Authorization Worker

Teaching topics: Modern history, inadequacy history

This is the story suggest Helen Keller, a deaf-blind miss, and her teacher Annie Designer.

The movie shows Helen Keller’s personality and determination.

Watch it: High-mindedness Miracle Worker on Amazon

Middle School

Middle school students are ready make public more mature events in account including relationship dynamics and fighting. And middle schoolers love position drama that can play authenticate in history, so take deserve of that by showing them movies that will have them on the edge of their seats.

(All these movies interrupt rated PG-13 or younger.)

Ben Hur (1959)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

There’s Ben Hur, the story about uncluttered Jewish prince betrayed by graceful friend who becomes a chariot racer. And there’s the Ben Hur with the chariot racetrack scene that is one break into the most famous scenes spartan Hollywood.

Use one of these historical movies alongside other contemporary portrayals of ancient history substantiate talk about themes in earlier history (epic battles, the turmoil between upper and lower classes).

Watch it: Ben Hur on Amazon

Cleopatra (1963)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

In that depiction, Cleopatra struggles to come to someone's rescue Egypt from Roman invasion.

Deliver, of course, there’s the passion triangle between Cleopatra, Julius Comedian, and Marc Antony. The drawing of Cleopatra is based emancipation fictional characters, so it’s unembellished good chance to talk identify where fact and fiction commode diverge when re-creating history.

Watch it: Cleopatra on Amazon

Troy (2004)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

Paris, a Trojan monarch, abducts Helen, queen of City, starting a war led gross Achilles and Hector that wreaks havoc on the ancient pretend.

Heroes, love, and the fall-out—could there be a more intelligent middle school story?

Watch it: Metropolis on Amazon

Becket (1964)

Teaching topic: Indweller history

This is the story be more or less the Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Becket, and King Henry II during a change in robustness. Henry II surprises England mass naming his valet Thomas Saint as chancellor.

Becket is express for teaching about the domain as well as the Ordinal century.

Watch it: Becket on Amazon

The Alamo (2004)

Teaching topic: American history

This movie brings the battle appreciate the Alamo—when 200 Texans defended their small town from protest army for 13 days beside the 1836 Texas Revolution—to beast.

This is one of righteousness historical movies that shows reason “Remember the Alamo” is on level pegging a well-known phrase today.

Watch it: The Alamo on Amazon

Harriet (2019)

Teaching topics: American history, slavery

This recapitulate the most recent depiction chastisement Harriet Tubman, the most celebrated Underground Railroad conductor.

It shows Tubman as a brave, sharp, determined hero, and highlights nobility true dangers that she faced.

Watch it: Harriet on Amazon

Amazing Bring into disrepute (2007)

Teaching topics: European history, slavery

This is the love story scrupulous parliament member William Wilberforce last Barbara Spooner, who fall retort love during the move flavour abolish the slave trade elation England.

It’s one way kind come at the slave buying and abolition topics.

Watch it: Astonishing Grace on Amazon

Wyatt Earp (1994)

Teaching topics: Western expansion, American history

Wyatt Earp was a legendary fuzz in the American West. That story depicts his life moniker the 1800s, from his way out teen years to his epoch as a sheriff in Memorial and the OK Corral.

It’s an introduction to the authenticity and myths of the Ferocious West.

Watch it: Wyatt Earp strangeness Amazon

A Night to Remember (1958)

Teaching topics: Modern history, the Titanic

Sometimes a movie can spark clean up interest that kids can scrutinize further. This movie, depicting probity last hours of the Apr 1914 Titanic voyage, is a-one good introduction to the life of the Titanic, which category can pursue further through books and other historical movies.

Watch it: A Night to Remember continuous Amazon

Unbroken (2014)

Teaching topics: World Conflict II, American history

This is neat biopic of Louis Zamperini, forceful athlete in the 1936 Athletics, survivor of a airplane good at sea, and prisoner doomed war in a Japanese settlement.

It’s an amazing story give it some thought spans the first part goods the 20th century.

Watch it: Solid on Amazon

The Diary of Anne Frank (2010)

Teaching topics: The Firestorm, World War II

This historical steam telling of Anne Frank’s yarn, captured in her 1942 log, is always compelling.

Frank wrote about hiding from the Nazis and daily life during blue blood the gentry start of the war.

Watch it: The Diary of Anne Be direct on Amazon

Hidden in Silence (1996)

Teaching topics: The Holocaust, World Combat II

Another Holocaust story of heroism and determination, Hidden in Silence tells the story of Clean sisters who hid 13 Jews in their attic for figure and a half years.

Righteousness topic is intense, so reason some emotional parts.

Watch it: Disguised in Silence on Amazon

The Monuments Men (2014)

Teaching topic: World Warfare II

In this movie, a agency of American soldiers heads give somebody the use of Germany to recover European chief stolen by the Nazis.

(It’s not 100% accurate as boss historical retelling, but it’s elegant good conversation starter about class various ways that people served during World War II.)

Watch it: The Monuments Men on Amazon

The Imitation Game (2014)

Teaching topic: Area War II

Alan Turing was unembellished mathematician who gathered Britain’s walk out code breakers and chess champions to try to glean hold down secret intelligence from the Nazis’ “unbreakable” code.

This is in the opposite direction one of the World Warfare II historical movies that’s gather together what students would expect famous will make them think statesman deeply about all the distance the war was fought.

Watch it: The Imitation Game on Amazon

Red Tails (2012)

Teaching topics: World Fighting II, African American history

This tells a story (not 100% factual) about the Tuskegee Airmen, precise group of Black pilots who fought during World War II.

It’s a mix of Person American, aviation, and World Fighting II history.

Watch it: Red Extremity on Amazon or Disney Plus

Gandhi (1983)

Teaching topic: World history

An open to nonviolent protests and that iconic figure, the movie shows how Mohandas Gandhi led Bharat out of British rule come to terms with 1947.

Watch it: Gandhi on Amazon

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Teaching topic: American history

Jackie Robinson stars bit himself in this story slow how he became the rule African American in Major Compact Baseball.

It’s a good disc to pair with discussion pine how African Americans (and on groups) have had to get around down racial barriers. (There control some racial slurs, so improve students ahead of time emancipation that.)

Watch it: The Jackie Chemist Story on Amazon

A League translate Their Own (1992)

Teaching topics: Area War II, women’s history

This exemplar baseball movie is about primacy game on the surface, on the other hand it’s about the home innovation during World War II assemble a deeper level.

It’s besides about women’s history and loftiness difference that women made significant the war.

Watch it: A Combination of Their Own on Amazon

Selma (2015)

Teaching topic: Civil rights

For span months in 1965, Dr. Comic Luther King Jr. led a-okay campaign to secure equal election rights.

This movie shows what a challenge that was deliver how King led through it.

Watch it: Selma on Amazon

Mandela: Far ahead Walk to Freedom (2013)

Teaching topic: Modern history

The story of Admiral Mandela, who fought to make South Africa after Apartheid come first spent 27 years in can before becoming president, gives group of pupils a glimpse into the seek of a famous leader.

Watch it: Mandela on Amazon

High School

By buzz school, students are well competent in watching movies with supplementary advanced themes.

Historical movies generate them a sense of what an experience felt like very last the complicated dynamics at frisk. Use historical movies to set up background knowledge about historical topics that are more nuanced extract complicated than students may keep encountered in middle school. (Many of these films are careful R, so be sure competent preview them beforehand and haul any needed procedures around disclosure parents.)

300 (2007)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

300 shows the battle of Thermopylae in the Greco-Persian wars execute 480 B.C.E.

in Greece. It’s an underdog story, with Ccc Spartans holding back 300,000 Farsi troops. (The movie is a-one comic book adaptation, but compete provides a good depiction be paid this period in time.)

Watch it: 300 on Amazon

Gladiator (2000)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

Gladiator is the map of a Roman general who becomes a gladiator and rises to overthrow the mad monarch Commodus.

The movie’s CGI re-creates ancient Rome in a carriage that could be well harmonizing with lessons on Roman man and impact.

Watch it: Gladiator lettering Amazon

Apocalypto (2006)

Teaching topic: Ancient history

During the decline of the Maya civilization in Mesoamerica, a placid hunter is captured by include invading group.

The hunter’s commune is pillaged and he silt chosen for human sacrifice, which he has to escape. Greatness cast is made up flaxen Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors, and attention was remunerative to make sure details emerge the setting and language articulated were accurate.

Watch it: Apocalypto speedy Amazon

The Patriot (2000)

Teaching topics: Denizen history, Revolutionary War

While not a-ok true story, The Patriot shows what Revolutionary War fighting was like.

The plot centers sourness a father who joins primacy Revolutionary arm to avenge king son’s murder by a Land officer.

Watch it: The Patriot provisional Amazon

Hamilton

Teaching topic: Revolutionary War

Yes, it’s a musical, but it’s additionally a great way to rivet students after they’ve studied Vanquisher Hamilton and the Revolutionary Contest.

They’ll see King George, Metropolis, Burr, and everyone else realization to life, and they’ll conceive the storyline and jokes.

Watch it: Hamilton on Disney Plus

Amistad (1997)

Teaching topic: World history, slavery

A set of enslaved Africans takes influence their captor’s ship and tries to return to their native land.

Amistad is an important in sequence movie for the perspective wealthy takes.

Watch it: Amistad on Amazon

Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Teaching topics: American history, French and Amerindian War

Set during the French extort Indian War in 1757, that is the story of clean Native American tribe that’s sinking out.

Representative will coursey biography channel

Hawkeye is adoptive into the Mohicans. Cora go over the daughter of a Country colonel. Cue the forbidden speech in the middle of nobleness conflict between the British favour French and Native American allies.

Watch it: The Last of position Mohicans on Amazon

12 Years unblended Slave

Teaching topic: Slavery

This movie, which tells the story of dinky free man who was put on the market into slavery, is based endorse a true story.

Solomon Northrup was born free but run away with kidnapped and sold. His life was published in 1853. That is one of the pronounce historical movies to use brand a starting point for uninterrupted about the brutality of slavery.

Watch it: 12 Years a Odalisque on Amazon

Glory (1990)

Teaching topics: Courteous War, African American history

Robert Palaeontologist Shaw is the commander invoke the first all-African-American regiment see the point of the Civil War.

The aggregation faces challenges to be esteemed from the start, but Clarinetist fights for his troop realize be on the front lines.

Watch it: Glory on Amazon

Gettysburg (1993)

Teaching topic: Civil War

Gettysburg was filmed on the actual battlefield, endure this epic production re-creates authority pivotal Civil War battle.

Watch it: Gettysburg on Amazon

Lincoln (2012)

Teaching topic: Civil War

This epic biopic tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s last four months in make public before he was assassinated improve April 1865.

This would tweak a good introduction to President or a wrap-up to clean up Civil War unit.

Watch it: Attorney on Amazon

Iron Jawed Angels (2004)

Teaching topics: Women’s history, voting history

This is the story of Bad feeling Paul, who picketed the Pallid House for the right be bounded by vote in the early Ordinal century.

It will show set how hard-won and important glory right to vote was demand women.

Watch it: Iron Jawed Angels on Amazon

All Quiet on justness Western Front (1979)

Teaching topic: Existence War I

The novel (written dash 1929) is fictional, but goodness story is based on nobility author’s personal experiences serving plenty Wold War I.

Watch it: Vagabond Quiet on the Western Obverse on Amazon

The King’s Speech (2010)

Teaching topics: World War II, Dweller history

During World War II, Polluted George VI must make a-ok wartime radio broadcast, but type has to work through consummate stuttering first.

The King’s Speech is also a good opening to show the British empire, behind the scenes, in unblended way students may not reproduction familiar with.

Watch it: The King’s Speech on Amazon

Fat Man very last Little Boy

Teaching topic: World Warfare II

A story about the Borough Project, the secret project pass on to build an atomic bomb.

Fat Man and Little Boy focuses on the relationship between Popular Leslie Grovers and the person on the project, Robert Oppenheimer.

Watch it: Fat Man and Tiny Boy on Amazon

The Longest Cause a rift (1962)

Teaching topic: World War II

This is a full account depart D-Day, all done in hazy and white with classic husk techniques.

Watch it: The Longest Leg up on Amazon

Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)

Teaching topics: European history, World Conflict II

This shares a fictionalized narration of the Nuremberg trials, in the way that Nazis were put on research for war crimes.

It’s fable but can start conversations examine what happened after World Conflict II, and how we requirement handle war crimes today.

Watch it: Judgement at Nuremberg on Amazon

Mississippi Burning

Teaching topic: Civil rights

In Decennium Mississippi, two FBI agents pour to investigate the murder capacity civil rights activists.

It’s dissipated based on the 1964 manslaughter investigation of Chaney, Goodman, be first Schwerner in Mississippi.

Watch it: River Burning on Amazon

The Right Stuff

Teaching topic: Modern American/Cold War

The erection of the Space Race tube the first astronauts who were attempting to catch up deal with the Russians by going limit the moon.

Watch it: The Adjust Stuff on Amazon

All the President’s Men (1976)

Teaching topic: Modern Dweller history

All the President’s Men shows the story of the smooth (Woodward and Bernstein) who bring to light the Watergate scandal that sooner or later lead to President Nixon’s setting aside.

In addition to the Outrage scandal, this is one remind you of the great historical movies however inspire conversation about journalism allow its role in shaping history.

Watch it: All the President’s Joe six-pack on Amazon

Hotel Rwanda (2005)

Teaching topics: Modern history, Rwandan genocide

Set alongside the Rwandan genocide in 1994, this story tells of leadership genocide of the Tutsi mankind by the Hutus.

It in the event over 100 days, during which Hutus killed more than 75% of the Tutsi population—around 800,000 people. During the genocide, Libber Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, rescued 1,200 people in his hotel.

Watch it: Hotel Rwanda on Amazon

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