If you’re a fan of romantic period dramas like Pride & Prejudice (2005), then you’re in for a treat. Below is a curated list of 20 movies that capture the same essence of romance, drama, and historical settings. Click on each title to watch the trailer and dive into these captivating stories.
1. Sense and Sensibility
Based on Jane Austen’s novel, this film follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love and heartbreak. Starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant, this movie is a beautiful exploration of societal expectations and personal desires.
2. Atonement
This romantic drama tells the story of lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner, whose lives are torn apart by a lie. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy deliver stunning performances in this visually arresting film.
3. Jane Eyre
Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender star in this adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel. The story revolves around the orphaned Jane Eyre, who becomes a governess and falls in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester.
4. Becoming Jane
Anne Hathaway stars as a young Jane Austen in this biographical drama. The film explores her early life and her romance with a young Irishman, Thomas Lefroy, played by James McAvoy.
5. Anna Karenina
Keira Knightley stars in this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel. The film tells the tragic story of Anna Karenina, a Russian aristocrat who falls into a forbidden love affair with Count Vronsky, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
6. Emma
Anya Taylor-Joy stars in this delightful adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel about a young woman who enjoys matchmaking. Set in the Georgian-Regency era, the film is a visual and emotional treat.
7. Little Women
Directed by Greta Gerwig, this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, and Timothée Chalamet. The story follows the lives of the March sisters as they grow up and find their places in the world.
8. The Duchess
Keira Knightley stars as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, in this biographical drama. The film explores her tumultuous marriage and her quest for love and political influence.
9. Far from the Madding Crowd
Carey Mulligan stars as Bathsheba Everdene in this adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel. The film follows her as she navigates relationships with three very different suitors.
10. North & South
This BBC mini-series adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel stars Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage. The story follows Margaret Hale, who moves to an industrial town and clashes with mill owner John Thornton.
11. The Young Victoria
Emily Blunt stars as Queen Victoria in this biographical drama that explores her early reign and romance with Prince Albert, played by Rupert Friend.
12. Bright Star
This romantic drama tells the story of poet John Keats and his muse, Fanny Brawne. Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw deliver compelling performances in this visually stunning film.
13. Persuasion
This adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel stars Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot, who gets a second chance at love with her former fiancé, Captain Frederick Wentworth, played by Rupert Penry-Jones.
14. The Age of Innocence
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder. The story is set in 1870s New York and revolves around a love triangle among the city’s elite.
15. The Painted Veil
Naomi Watts and Edward Norton star in this adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel. The film tells the story of a couple who move to a remote Chinese village to combat a cholera outbreak, only to find love and redemption.
16. Belle
Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Dido Elizabeth Belle, the mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. The film explores her struggles with race and class in 18th-century England.
17. Howard’s End
Helena Bonham Carter and Anthony Hopkins star in this adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel. The film explores the intersecting lives of three families in early 20th-century England.
18. The Remains of the Day
Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson star in this adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel. The story follows a butler who looks back on his life and missed opportunities for love.
19. A Room with a View
Helena Bonham Carter stars as Lucy Honeychurch in this adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel. The film follows her journey of self-discovery and romance in Italy and England.
20. Wuthering Heights
This adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel stars Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley. The film tells the passionate and tragic love story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
