First, a disclaimer: these are historical dramas. None of them are perfectly historically accurate, and I encourage you to go out and seek more information about these real life events portrayed in the films. But these movies are stunning in their cinematography and use star-studded casts to bring the conflicts to life. So check them out during your next movie night or late Netflix binge!

1. "12 Years A Slave" (2013)

The compelling tale of a young man from upstate New York kidnapped and sold into slavery. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, this movie is brutal and punishing to watch, but well worth it for the insight it gives into the culture of this era.

2. "Braveheart" (1995)

Braveheart tells the tale of the legendary thirteenth-century Scottish revolt against English monarch Edward I. You will feel every tragedy and success that William Wallace endures as he rallies a band of amateur Scottish warriors that are far stronger than any British army.

3. "Gladiator" (2000)

OK, this is very low on the scale of the scale of historically accurate movies. Nevertheless, it's a great one that does show what the life of a Gladiator was really like. The main character, a kind-hearted family man, will capture your heart. Every. Time.

4. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)

This film opens on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. It's bloody, gruesome, and brilliantly filmed. A group of reluctant soldiers is ordered to venture into enemy territory to save one man, you guessed it, Private Ryan, and return him to his family. It perfectly balances the inhumanity of war with the humanity of the men, and it definitely doesn't pull any punches.

5. "The Patriot" (2000)

Another Brilliant Mel Gibson film. He plays an unassuming man forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take away his farm and livelihood. It's an exciting and thoroughly entertaining look at the birth of our nation.

6. "Lincoln" (2013)

This is a highly political film about the making of the 13th amendment; the most important post-bill of rights amendment our nation has seen. It follows Lincoln through the innards of Congress as he attempts to make history by permanently abolishing slavery and ending the civil war.

7. "Gangs of New York" (2002)

Loosely based on true events, this film plays on the themes of 1860s New York City: lust, revenge, ambition, and hope. High-caliber actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis bring to life this emotional epic of a young Irish immigrant seeking justice...and revenge.

8. "Band of Brothers" (2001)

Yeah, I know. This isn't a movie. But this HBO mini series is gritty and real, taking you through WWII with the Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. It has been heralded by veterans as unbelievably authentic, down to the uniforms and signs.