Best Indian History Movies

64 films · 39 with 3+ critic reviews

Period epics and historical drama, a genre that draws unusually polarised critical response in India.

The best Indian history movies, ranked by aggregated critic score.

01SatlujHindi · 2026“It's just as well that the story is now being told in its intended form, which delivers a…” — Neeshita Nyayapati

7.2

12 criticsRecommended02RaaziHindi · 2018“Raazi is an excellent film because of how easily it could have not been one. On another…” — Rahul Desai

7.1

27 criticsRecommended03RRRTelugu · 2022“There is a story that can potentially move you, make you weep for the characters — but it…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

7.1

20 criticsRecommended04Rang De BasantiHindi · 2006“If the first half abounds in light moments, the post-interval portions get into a serious…” — Taran Adarsh

7.1

4 criticsRecommended05IkkisHindi · 2026“Sriram Raghavan turns to the Battle of Basantar to honour a real-life martyr and take a…” — Anuj Kumar

7.0

15 criticsRecommended06Chauthi KootPunjabi · 2015“This is a crafty move on the director's part, as it translates facts into a humane…” — Rohit Vats

7.0

7 criticsRecommended07Jai BhimTamil · 2021“Jai Bhim is perhaps one of the boldest films to come out of Tamil cinema. The politics…” — Srivatsan S

6.8

6 criticsRecommended08Emperor Vs. Sarat ChandraBengali · 2026“Unfortunately, despite an intriguing premise and an ambitious narrative approach, Srijit…” — Vinayak Chakravorty

6.8

7 criticsRecommended09Bajirao MastaniHindi · 2015“If you appreciate Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opulence and grandeur, this won't disappoint.…” — Sweta Kaushal

6.7

42 criticsRecommended10Keu Bole Biplobi, Keu Bole DakatBengali · 2026“Jeet delivers a compelling performance as Ananta Singh in this gripping tale of…” — MissFilmy Editorial Desk

6.7

8 criticsRecommended11Bhaag Milkha BhaagHindi · 2013“For a film about sprinting and clocking shortest timings possible, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag…” — Sarit Ray

6.6

23 criticsRecommended12MantoHindi · 2018“Director Nandita Das beautifully stitches five of the famous Urdu author's short stories…” — Rahul Desai

6.5

14 criticsRecommended13ChhaavaHindi · 2025“However, the intrigue seldom translates into something substantial on screen. Amidst the…” — Anuj Kumar

6.4

15 criticsMixed14Raja ShivajiMarathi · 2026“This epic drama starring Riteish Deshmukh is more admirable than riveting.” — Rishabh Suri

6.2

24 criticsMixed15PadmaavatHindi · 2018“I'm an admirer of Sanjay's passion and rigour, of his operatic sensibility and his…” — Anupama Chopra

6.2

26 criticsMixed16ThangalaanTamil · 2024“Pa Ranjith's film is intertwined with some fantasy and mystical realism. A must watch for…” — Latha Srinivasan

6.2

8 criticsMixed17Sky ForceHindi · 2025“However, in Sky Force, they have somewhat deviated from the path... the film's gaze is…” — Anuj Kumar

6.1

9 criticsMixed18RangoonHindi · 2017“At 167 minutes, Rangoon isn't only long but painful. And this isn't the pain of love. And…” — Rohit Vats

6.0

27 criticsMixed19GoldHindi · 2018“Despite the presence of the national anthem, the tricolour, and a story based on India's…” — Namrata Joshi

6.0

20 criticsMixed20Manikarnika: The Queen of JhansiHindi · 2019“A flat retelling of the legend of Jhansi Ki Rani that aims at stoking nationalism but…” — Namrata Joshi

5.9

27 criticsMixed21Mission MangalHindi · 2019“It's hard to make intelligence look entertaining. But it's harder to make intelligence…” — Rahul Desai

5.9

26 criticsMixed22KaanthaTamil · 2025“Kaantha is sincere and compelling in parts, which helps balance the portions that feel…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

5.9

10 criticsMixed23KancheTelugu · 2015“Kanche doesn't stand out merely by being different, but also because it's earnest.” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

5.8

13 criticsMixed24Sam BahadurHindi · 2023“At the end of it all, the point of Sam Bahadur eludes you completely. The film chooses to…” — Prannay Pathak

5.8

16 criticsMixed25Children of WarHindi · 2014“A worthy film based on fact, but lacking the zing of good fiction.” — Baradwaj Rangan

5.6

8 criticsMixed26MaharajHindi · 2024“Though Maharaj has powerful storytelling, it lacks impact overall. Jaideep Ahlawat…” — Monika Rawal Kukreja

5.4

8 criticsMixed27Mission MajnuHindi · 2023“A generic spy thriller that overtly dramatises true events from our prickly relationship…” — Anuj Kumar

5.2

9 criticsMixed28KannappaTelugu · 2025“In striving for grandeur, it forgets to tell the story that matters. Kannappa had a…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

5.2

9 criticsMixed29BawaalHindi · 2023“Bawaal is an epic misfire. Bawaal trivializes this unimaginable horror. The Holocaust is…” — Anupama Chopra

5.1

9 criticsMixed30Begum JaanHindi · 2017“The 134-minute long Begum Jaan has Vidya Balan in good form, but it lacks cohesiveness as…” — Rohit Vats

5.0

27 criticsMixed31KD – The DevilKannada · 2026“The film makes a big entrance but doesn't keep you hooked till the end” — Latha Srinivasan

4.9

8 criticsMixed32KochadaiiyaanHindi · 2014“Watch Kochadaiiyaan for the vivid motion capture technology and Rajini's tandav in the…” — Sweta Kaushal

4.8

22 criticsMixed33RanabaaliTelugu · 2026“Ranabaali has a story that needed to be told, but it could have been sharper and tauter.…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

4.8

16 criticsMixed34Indu SarkarHindi · 2017“Madhur Bhandarkar's latest film starring Kriti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh has a…” — Sweta Kaushal

4.7

19 criticsMixed35KalankHindi · 2019“Kalank often feels too much, and I only wish it made me do the same. It is a stunningly…” — Raja Sen

4.6

25 criticsMixed36Mohenjo DaroHindi · 2016“The very straight, simple and oft-repeated tale of foster parents, mistaken identity,…” — Namrata Joshi

4.5

37 criticsMixed37Thugs of HindostanHindi · 2018“Ambitious in its visual scale, 'Thugs of Hindostan' reveals a disappointing lack of heft…” — Namrata Joshi

4.1

30 criticsUnfavorable38Tiger Nageswara RaoTelugu · 2023“Despite Ravi Teja's relentless energy, the drama is bogged down by tedious emotional…” — Mayur Sanap

3.9

6 criticsUnfavorable39PM Narendra ModiHindi · 2019“Vivek Oberoi stars in Omung Kumar's latest biopic. The film, PM Narendra Modi, isn't mere…” — Raja Sen

3.3

17 criticsUnfavorable

See all 64 Indian history films →

Recent Indian History releases

4.8

Ranabaali

16 critics

6.8

Emperor Vs. Sarat Chandra

7 critics

6.7

Keu Bole Biplobi, Keu Bole Dakat

8 critics

7.2

Satluj

12 critics

6.2

Raja Shivaji

24 critics

4.9

KD – The Devil

8 critics

← All genres