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Historical Costume Drama is a subgenre of the broader Historical Period Drama writing style that has , since the inception ofDownton AbbeyandBridgerton , slow become a cultural phenomenon on the small-scale screen . UntilSquid Gamearrived and shattered viewership track record , the highest viewed original Netflix television series had been the first season ofBridgertonand its sultry admixture of machination and regal melodrama of a sudden made corsets and corsages of the essence component of television set vogue .
However , both of these serialized sensations have their inspirations firmly rooted in cinema , and the historic costume drama has had its fair share of critically adore silver silver screen hits throughout the decennium .
The Princess of Montpensier (2010) - 78
All corking historical costume dramas have within their refined narratives a reckless dash of Latinian language and the vehement and amatory extremes of the elite during the seventeenth - century religious uprisings in provincial France is the subject of Bertrand Tavernier’sThe Princess of Montpensier .
Related:10 Best Period Drama Movies Of The 2010s , According To IMDb
critic , for the most part , enjoyed Tavernier ’s fine elaborated celluloid , which does not shy off from challenging themes of ordered wedlock and the effect lead to the St. Bartholemew ’s Day carnage in 1572 .
Corsage (2022) - 81
debut to plenteousness of critical plaudits atthe 2022 Cannes Film Festival , director Marie Kreutzer ’s biopic of the impulsive and blemished Empress Elisabeth of Austria , Corsage , is a diachronic costume dramatic event in the moulding of Sofia Coppola’sMarie Antoinette .
Corsagestars Vicky Krieps ofPhantom Threadfame and , much like Coppola ’s seminal period drama , attempts to contemporize the themes inherent within historical costume play for modern time and modern audiences . According to Metacritic , it succeed .
The Marquise Of O (1976) - 86
French auteur Eric Rohmer made a name for himself directing scrumptiously composed cinematic queerness and is one of the foremostartistic voices of the Gallic fresh wave . Rohmer ’s tragical costume dramaThe Marquise Of Ois an elegant and maudlin masterpiece that has been critically adored since its release .
The picture follows the torturesome tale of its nominal widow protagonist who faces transportation whilst carrying child . The movie debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1976 and even outdo the in demand Grand Prix Spécial Prize at its closure ceremonial .
The Madness Of King George (1994) - 89
The Alan Bennett penned playThe Madness Of King Georgewas adapted for the grownup screen in 1994 by fellow pioneer of theatre Nicholas Hytner and is wide considered by critic to be one ofthe greatest British films ever made .
The Madness Of King Georgeis a haunting period study of genial malady and beyond its regal veneer presume to confront how position towards those who had endure from serious condition throughout history have changed . The movie load down an emotional slug like no other and is still to this day an influential edifice of British picture palace .
Barry Lyndon (1975) - 89
Stanley Kubrick ’s catalog of motion-picture show is littered with classics , and the historical costume dramaBarry Lyndonis arguably one of his most complete works . Spanning several 10 , Barry Lyndoncharts the ascension and downslope of its eponymous lead character and is a cinematic marvel to lay eyes on .
Related : Every Stanley Kubrick Movie , Ranked By Rewatchability
Critics have long championedBarry Lyndon . Despite its epic run time , the film feel outstandingly concise and is notable for Kubrick ’s use of natural ignitor in several splendid scenes of period detail .
Gosford Park (2001) - 90
Robert Altman’sGosford Parkbrought post - war anxiousness amongst the established elite in thirties England to the fore in a razor - sharp and eminently rewatchable black comedy that has been the inspiration for many asmall screen period costume dramatic play , includingDownton Abbey , which was also written byGosford Parkscreenwriter Julian Fellowes .
Altman ’s movie was a critical hit at the time of its release and many critics swooned at its lavishly reimagined period setting and mouth off at the performances of its star - studded cast , include stalwart such as Charles Dance and Derek Jacobi .
The Favourite (2018) - 91
Yorgos Lanthimos ' esoteric blade of directing was stylistically well - suited to a flow prepare andThe Favouritemarried all the imperial refinement of an eighteenth - century palacial dramatic event with an astringent machiavellian border that has been universally adore by critic ever since its dismission .
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The Favouriteincluded powerhouse performance across the gameboard and catapulted Lanthimos into the upper echelons of critical cinematic discourse . For a historical costume drama that at times feels more akin to a horror moving-picture show , look no further thanThe Favourite .
Mr. Turner (2014) - 94
Darling of British cinema Mike Leigh bring his semi - improvisational approach to directing films into a time period do for the 2014 historical biopic of painter J M W Turner . Like much of Leigh ’s employment , Mr. Turnerwas reverence by critics , who champion the fundamental performance of Timothy Spall , who played the film ’s nominal artist .
Mr. Turner was an unflinching portrayal of flawed artist whose predatory proclivity were as much a reason to critique and oppugn the puma as there is reason to celebrate his groundbreaking ceremony work .
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019) - 95
Celine Sciamma’sPortrait Of A Lady On Fireis a dear - faultless movie that exudes wild-eyed flare from every pore of its being . Sciamma ask every refined layer of period design and wedded it to an LGBTQ+ inspire story that is as timeless as it is powerful .
critic could scarcely find demerit in the moving-picture show and lauded its two central execution from Noémie Merlant and Adéle Haenel . portraiture Of A Lady On Fireis a historical costume dramatic play that is much unparalleled in its scope and invention .
The Leopard (1963) - 100
Italian director Luchino Visconti ’s epic historical costume dramaThe Leopardwon the Palme d’Or at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and ever since has been one and only in universal critical worship . The movie is a swooning masterpiece of amorous pomp and ceremonial .
It is rare for a moving picture to fall such a perfect score on critical aggregator sites such as Metacritic , but Visconti ’s film is a masterful outlier to this and will always be appreciated as one of the greatest moving picture ever made .
Next:10 forthcoming Period Dramas / Historical Romances Releasing After Bridgerton ( & Where To Stream )
