If you are a big history buff, then historical fiction must be your safe haven once you are done with guzzling down books. Homer’s Iliad, a piece of ancient Greek history, has served as inspiration for many books and movies. One of them has been the historical epic Troy (2004). A big-budget war movie, movies like Troy are not made ever so often. So if you are in search of something similar, your search effectively ends here!
With a budget of around $200 million back in the early 2000s, Troy’s production was a mammoth task. Planning and scheduling took months, and filming took even longer. The production was taken up by three different studios across Britain, Mexico, and Malta. With such a huge budget, Troy gave favorable returns and became one of the highest-grossing movies in 2004!
7 Historical Classic Movies Like Troy | The Best Movies You Can Stream Right Now!
Troy isn’t just a commercial success but has garnered critical acclaim too. With a healthy dose of war mixed with lots of early greek lovemaking, the movie has something for everyone. Critics gave more credit to its entertainment value than its historical accuracy. Bradd Pitt, who played the role of Achilles – the main protagonist of the movie – also received adoration.
With that in mind, let’s check out some movies that have historical wars, actions sequences, and legendary outfits. While these movies like Troy may not all be big-budget bonanzas, they will certainly fit the bill otherwise.
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1# Gladiator (2000)
Okay, we said the movies might not all be big-budget, but Gladiator isn’t one of them. Directed by the legendary director Ridley Scott, the movie is an experience on its own. With Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix as the two main leads, do you need any more reason to watch Gladiator?
It focuses on the life of the Roman general Maximus who is made to fight like other common gladiators after the current emperor is murdered by his son. Maximus promises to rise the ranks and get his revenge on the new Emperor Commodus. With nothing to live for, Maximus fights his way to vengeance for his loved ones and family.
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 2000 |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Cast | Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Oliver Reed |
| Genre | Action/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.5/10 |
| Run-Time | 2h 35m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 77% |
| Platform On | Netflix |
2# Ben-Hur (1959)
Ben-Hur is a true classic, a story of faith and religion along with betrayal and struggle. No wonder, almost 7 decades later, the movie is still considered one of the best movies ever to be made. In the 1950s, the production of Ben-Hur was done on the biggest set of that time.
To this day, it holds claim to the longest original score created for a movie. The movie follows the life of the titular Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is betrayed by his Roman friend. He ends up being sold into slavery and becomes destitute. Vowing to come back and take revenge, he succeeds in doing so. Ben-Hur is based on a novel written by Lew Wallace and belongs on everyone’s watch list.
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 1959 |
| Director | William Wyler |
| Cast | Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, and Hugh Griffith |
| Genre | Adventure/Drama |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 |
| Run-Time | 3h 32m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 86% |
| Platform On | Apple TV |
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3# Spartacus (1960)
Another from the classics, Spartacus is a great movie to watch if you are looking for movies like Troy. The movie has elements of history on screen and has a rich off-screen history. Written by infamous screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, Spartacus had been blacklisted by filmmakers in Hollywood.
It took the then president of the US, John F Kennedy watching the movie himself, that led to the duo being removed from the blacklist. Spartacus is a movie about a gladiator Spartacus who leads a revolt by the slaves. Kirk Douglas plays the lead role, and the movie is well written. If it interests you, there is a movie about Dalton himself called Trumbo which we suggest you should watch!
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 1960 |
| Director | Stanley Kubrik |
| Cast | Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton. |
| Genre | Drama/Action |
| IMDb Rating | 7.9/10 |
| Run-Time | 3h 17m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 93% |
| Platform On | Apple TV |
4# The Last Samurai (2003)
If we were to base our decision on IMDb ratings alone, then The Last Samurai is now Tom Cruise’s best movie. The Mission Impossible series are a close second. The critics, as well as the audiences, praised pretty much all the aspects of the movie. From directing to writing, it had it all going for it.
The Last Samurai is based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion and shows how Japan was quickly westernizing. With cultural conflict playing a major part, the movie shows the story of a United States Captain who is stuck in Japan around the same time as the rebellion takes place. A commercial Hollywood success, The Last Samurai, is a good alternative to movies like Troy.
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 2003 |
| Director | Edward Zwick |
| Cast | Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Hiroyuki Sanada, Koyuki, Timothy Spall. |
| Genre | War/Action |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8/10 |
| Run-Time | 2h 35m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 66% |
| Platform On | Netflix |
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5# 300 (2006)
A movie about grit, determination, loyalty, and honor – 300 is a fictional retelling of the Persian wars. It is based on the comics of the same name, and the producers did a very good job staying true to the source material. With Gerard Butler playing the lead role of a greek lord, it’s a treat to watch.
300 tells the story of King Leonidas I of Sparta, who has allied with multiple small Greek city-states. Given two choices – either surrender under the Persian inquisition or fight against Xerxes I of the Achaemenid Empire. The Greeks choose the latter even though they are massively outnumbered. Directed by Zack Snyder, 300 is an exciting watch!
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 2006 |
| Director | Zack Snyder |
| Cast | Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, David Wenham, Michael Fassbender |
| Genre | Action/War |
| IMDb Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Run-Time | 1h 57m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 61% |
| Platform On | Netflix |
6# Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
On its initial release, Kingdom Of Heaven was received with a mixed bag of reviews, but later on, the perspective on the movie seems to have shifted. Featuring a star cast of actors, a strong (albeit controversial) storyline, and some good cinematography, Kingdom of Heaven has a lot to offer.
The Kingdom Of Heaven is set in the 12th century Crusades and follows the life of a blacksmith Balian. A blacksmith by profession, he travels to Jerusalem and decides to become a warrior to defend the city from the ongoing wars. As with many Ridley Scott movies, Kingdom Of Heaven was made with a big budget and has lots of action involved.
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 2005 |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
| Cast | Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Edward Norton. |
| Genre | War/Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 7.2/10 |
| Run-Time | 2h 24m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 39% |
| Platform On | Apple TV |
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7# Centurion (2010)
Centurion could not generate enough revenue at the Box Office and was deemed a commercial failure. Yet, it received enough critical acclaim and is still remembered alongside other classic historical movies. So there must be something right with the film.
Centurion is based on the events of the roman empire in second-century Anno domino when they failed to fully capture the British regions. It shows the events that lead up to the disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion in Caledonia and the consequences following that. Centurion is an interesting watch and one of those movies like Troy for the action rather than its historical accuracy.
Additional Details About The Movie
| Release Date | 2010 |
| Director | Neil Marshall |
| Cast | Michael Fassbender, Olga Kurylenko, Neil Marshall, Imogen Poots, and Dominic West |
| Genre | War/Action |
| IMDb Rating | 6.3/10 |
| Run-Time | 1h 37m |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 61% |
| Platform On | Amazon Prime Video |
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Final Words
This concludes our list of the best movies like Troy that you can watch right now. With historical drama, war, action sequences, and big-budget flicks, these movies will not disappoint you. If you are looking for historical accuracy in these movies, we will suggest watching a documentary instead. But if sword-wielding action is more your thing, then have a crack at these movies and let us know your experience!
