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- Ridley Scott is back to the epic genre with the upcoming release of Napoleon (November 22), his take on the famous leader's life. Scott has produced some of the 21st century's best-known epic movies, from sword-and-sandal efforts to medieval romances. Like him, many other directors have gone into the epic genre, exploring important moments in humanity's past through a larger-than-life and undeniably cinematic lens.
Epic movies have fallen out of fashion. Although they were once Hollywood's bread and butter, the genre declined after the Golden Age, seeing few successes during the New Hollywood Age. Fortunately, the 90s saw a rise in epic movies, with the new millennium welcoming back with open arms.
Nowadays, the epic genre is still far from what it once was, but it remains a compelling and fascinating genre full of spectacle and the ultimate representation of the term "escapism." The 21st century has produced several iconic epic movies, from sweeping sword-and-sandal adventures to action-packed takes on crucial historical events.
Updated on August 19, 2023, by David Caballero:
Ridley Scott is back to the epic genre with the upcoming release of Napoleon (November 22), his take on the famous leader's life. Scott has produced some of the 21st century's best-known epic movies, from sword-and-sandal efforts to medieval romances. Like him, many other directors have gone into the epic genre, exploring important moments in humanity's past through a larger-than-life and undeniably cinematic lens.
15 '300' (2006)
Zack Snyder's 2005 historical epic 300 stars Gerard Butler in the role that launched him to stardom. Loosely based on Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's 1998 eponymous comic book set during the Greco-Persian Wars, the film presents a fictionalized version of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Highly stylized, riveting, and shamelessly over-the-top, 300 showcases Snyder's strengths and weaknesses as a filmmaker. However, it remains a fascinating and thrilling look at one of history's most decisive battles, anchored by a larger-than-life performance from Butler. 300 largely succeeds because it never pretends to be anything else than a bombastic take on Greek history - and that's what Snyder's fans wanted to see.
14 'War Horse (2011)
The 2011 historical war drama War Horse is among Steven Spielberg's most underrated efforts. The plot centers on Joey, a bay Irish Hunter horse raised by a young man before being sold to the British Army during World War I. The film features Jeremy Irvine in his feature film debut, leading an ensemble cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, and David Thewlis.
War Horse found the perfect director in Steven Spielberg. The filmmaker's trademark humane approach does justice to the story's emotional aspect without descending into cheap sentimentality. War Horse shies away from showing the brutality of war, instead focusing on Joey's grand journey, resulting in a rewarding and heartwarming story about endurance and perseverance.
13 'Lincoln' (2012)
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Daniel Day-Lewis won his third and final Oscar for playing Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's 2012 biopic, Lincoln. Co-starring Oscar winners Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones, the film focuses on the president's last months, chronicling his efforts to pass the Thirteenth Amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.
Powered by Day-Lewis' outstanding lead performance, Lincoln is the most entertaining history lesson from the 2010s. Although not entirely historically accurate, the film crafts an informative, compelling portrait of one of the 19th century's defining figures that seamlessly blends the political and personal aspects of his life.
12 'King Kong' (2005)
It takes real talent to remake a film widely considered a cinematic masterpiece. Peter Jackson's 2005 epic adventure King Kong attempts it and emerges victorious - mostly. Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody, and Jack Black star in the classic story of a film crew who arrive at the mysterious Skull Island, populated by dangerous prehistoric beasts and home to the mighty Kong, a giant gorilla who becomes infatuated with the film's leading lady, Anne Darrow.
King Kong features spectacular visual effects and non-stop action. It loses some of the story's most poignant emotional elements in favor of a more bombastic approach, but Jackson's version remains a bittersweet tale of ambition and love that is every bit as majestic as its ape protagonist.
11 'Noah' (2014)
Darren Aronofsky is not one for subtlety. Daring and often confrontational, Aronogsky's pictures demand everything from their audience, even at their most commercial, and 2014's historical epic Noah is the perfect example. Russell Crowe stars as the titular Biblical figure, with the director adapting the tale of Noah's Ark.
Noah has several big ideas, and while the movie can't quite realize them, it remains a fascinating reinterpretation of a well-known tale. Aronofsky's reach has always exceeded his grasp, but Noah might be among his most balanced efforts, expertly mixing spectacle with artistry to offer an epic tale of survival that never sacrifices its humanity.
10 'Gladiator' (2000)
Crowe won the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in Ridley Scott's historical epic Gladiator. The film tells the story of Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor, Commodus, and sold into slavery. Rising among the ranks as a gladiator, Maximus seeks revenge against Commodus for his family's murders.
Gladiator is a throwback to the big sword-and-sandal productions of the late 50s and early 60s. Scott's larger-than-life approach benefits from passionate performances from Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, resulting in a thrilling yet intimate revenge story that will satisfy audiences. Immaculate production values and a suitable sense of wonder bring ancient Rome to life, making Gladiator among the new millennium's best epics.
9 '1917' (2019)
War movies are a favorite of Hollywood, but few stick out and make an impression; Sam Mendes' 2019 war epic 1917 is among the most successful ones. George McKay and Dean Charles Chapman star as two young soldiers sent on a dangerous mission to deliver a message before a doomed attack occurs.
Kinetic and anxiety-inducing, 1917 is a stressful and immersive depiction of war, benefitting from Mendes' technical prowess and McKay's compelling performance. And while style often trumps substance in several of the film's key moments, 1917 remains a monumental technical achievement and one of the best war movies in recent memory.
8 'The Revenant' (2015)
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in Alejandro González Iñárritu's epic drama The Revenant. The film dramatizes the real-life story of Hugh Glass, a frontiersman betrayed and left for dead after a bear savagely mauls him. Facing the elements, Glass must make his way back to civilization to take his revenge on the man that killed his son.
Brutal and unsubtle, The Revenant is a visually stunning picture that's as striking as unrelenting. DiCaprio delivers one of his most heart-wrenching performances, going to extreme lengths to capture Glass' struggle and immerse the audience in his hardships. Like most of Iñárritu's movies, The Revenant isn't an easy watch, a revenge tale that doesn't end well for anyone; however, a cathartic conclusion and the film's unrestrained approach make for a rewarding experience.
7 'Gangs of New York' (2002)
Martin Scorsese's 2002 epic historical drama Gangs of New York stars DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and a woefully miscast Cameron Diaz. Set in the Five Points slum in 1863, the film follows Amsterdam Valon, an Irish immigrant seeking revenge against the man who killed his father, the dangerous gang leader William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting.
In typical Scorsese fashion, Gangs of New York is violent, thought-provoking, and exhilarating. Elevated by a masterful performance from Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York is a powerful portrayal of vengeance and social tensions. It might not rank among Scorsese's best works, but the film remains a fascinating and uncompromising examination of a dark period in US history.
6 'Silence' (2016)
Academy Award nominees Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson star in Martin Scorsese's 2016 historical epic Silence. The plot follows two 17th-century Jesuit priests who travel to Japan to locate their missing mentor and spread Christianity.
The acclaimed director's long interest in religion and faith reaches its apex with Silence, a thrilling, larger-than-life epic. Boasting powerful performances from a trio of stellar actors, Silence is a bold, thoughtful, intense, thought-provoking, and rewarding experience that ranks among Scorsese's most underrated efforts.
5 'Dunkirk' (2017)
When talking about war movies from the 2010s, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Christopher Nolan's historical war epic Dunkirk dramatizes the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II from different points of view, using a sprawling ensemble to explore different sides of the conflict.
Epic in scale and narratively insightful, Dunkirk ranks highly among Nolan's best movies as a modern masterpiece. With richly detailed production values, a masterful score from Hans Zimmer, and Nolan's technical genius behind the camera, Dunkirk is a rewarding cinematic experience that expertly walks the line between commercial filmmaking and artistry.
4 'Munich' (2005)
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Munich is among Steven Spielberg's finest works from the 2000s. Eric Bana leads an ensemble cast including Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush in a fictionalized depiction of Operation Wrath of God, Israel's secret counter-attack against the Palestine Liberation Organization following the 1972 Munich massacre.
Riveting and insightful, Munich is a political thriller with genuine bite. Divisive but unforgettable, the film is among Spielberg's most provocative entries, with the director abandoning his usually accommodating approach to deliver an uncompromising and expertly crafted thriller. And while its ambitions are far too grand to be satisfied within the film's length, Munich is a worthy and epic look at one of history's most pivotal moments.
3 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (2003)
Russell Crowe might as well be the king of epic movies in the new millennium. Following Gladiator, Crowe starred in another large-scale historical epic, Peter Wier's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Set in the early 19th century, the film follows Captain Jack Aubrey, who commands the H.M.S. Surprise to venture into the South American Coast to hunt down a French vessel.
Grand, epic, and endlessly entertaining, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is blockbuster filmmaking at its finest. The film is thrilling and awe-inspiring without forgetting about the much-needed human elements that make up the cornerstone of cinema. The result is an electrifying, one-of-a-kind adventure enhanced by Crowe's tough, gritty charm and a mix of lush production values.
2 'Inglourious Basterds' (2009)
Quentin Tarantino's first detour into revisionist history remains one of his most original and rewarding pictures. Inglourious Basterds presents an alternative version of World War II and follows two stories: one concerning a group of US soldiers plotting to kill Adolf Hitler during a movie premiere, and the other following a young French woman seeking revenge against the Nazi regime and the colonel that killed her family.
Featuring one of Quentin Tarantino's cleverest screenplays and boasting a tour de force villainous performance from Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds is a unique entry into the epic genre. Violent but cathartic, the film juggles genres, themes, and characters, delivering an exciting take on World War II unlike anything audiences have ever seen.
1 'There Will Be Blood' (2007)
Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 epic drama There Will Be Blood is one of the best, most ambitious and rewarding pictures of the 21st century. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oilman pursuing wealth during the oil boom in 19th-century California.
Strengthened by Anderson's brilliant screenplay and assured direction and featuring a once-in-a-lifetime performance from Day-Lewis, The Will Be Blood is a cinematic masterpiece. Sprawling and relentless, There Will Be Blood is a harsh condemnation of capitalism and an unforgiving, fascinating, and terrifying look at human ambition.