We discuss 10 movies from the Victorian Era you must watch. Add these well-recommended and highly-rated films to your watch list.
If you didn’t know, the Victorian Era was from 1837-1901 and marked the reign of Queen Victoria. The films that have taken place in this era all have different stories but roughly have the same themes.
The films on the list below have strong love stories and characters handling the economic downfall during this period. Love and perseverance are the two things that carried people during that time.
It’s important to see what happened during the Victorian Era to only see other period pieces when others ruled.
10 Movies from the Victorian Era
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Many will say that Martin Scorsese is known for his mob films, but he has worked in a variety of genres in his early days.
The Age of Innocence is a tale of nineteenth-century New York high society in which a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband while engaged to the woman’s cousin. Daniel Day-Lewis, Michell Pfieffer, and Winona Ryder are all incredible in this, and it’s one of his most underappreciated works.
A Christmas Carol (2009)
There are classic stories that get remade almost every decade, and A Christmas Carol is one of them. Robert Zemeckis turns to animation to tell the story of Scrooge, who is voiced by Jim Carrey.
This animated retelling of the Charles Dickens classic novel is about a Victorian-era miser who is taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. No matter which version you watch, the message is still the same. And surprisingly, it is still effective after all these years.
Enola Holmes (2020)
We have all heard of Sherlock Holmes, but once the world found out about his sister Enola, she became an instant favorite. When Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) discovers her mother is missing, she endeavors to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brothers and unravels a dangerous conspiracy.
Great Expectations (1946)
Charles Dickens wrote many stories with great messages about perseverance and kindness. Director David Lean decided to adapt Great Expectations, which is about a humble orphan boy in 1810s Kent who is given the opportunity to go to London and become a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The musical has been stationed at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway for years, and director Joel Schumacher’s adaptation was really well done. A young soprano (Emmy Rossum) becomes the obsession of a disfigured and murderous musical genius (Gerard Butler) who lives beneath the Paris Opera House.
The Prestige (2006)
Many confuse this film with The Illusionist, which came out around the same time, but The Prestige is one of Christopher Nolan’s underrated films. After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.
The Young Victoria (2009)
Visionary director Jean-Marc Vallée presented the most realistic dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria’s rule and her enduring romance with Prince Albert. This was still fairly early in Emily Blunt’s career, but she commanded the screen giving audiences something to talk about.
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
When Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Sherlock Holmes, many people didn’t quite understand the casting. He’s not British and had to carry an accent the entire movie. However, Guy Ritchie wanted to add some ruggedness to Holmes, and that’s why Downey Jr. was perfection.
His chemistry with Jude Law, who played Watson, made the cheeky banter and sharp dialogue worth the watch.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Martin Scorsese enjoys period pieces, but only if they’re set in New York City in order to tell the important stories that helped build his city. In 1862, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), his father’s killer.
Moulin Rouge (2001)
Baz Luhrmann has made a name for himself based on the style of his films and how he reworks classic stories. Moulin Rouge! is about a poor Bohemian poet (Ewan McGregor) in 1890s Paris who falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star named Satin (Nicole Kidman) coveted by a jealous duke.
Do you have any other recommendations for movies from the Victorian Era? Let us know in the comments.
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