Best Indian History Movies

60 films · 30 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.

01RaaziHindi · 2018“Raazi is an excellent film because of how easily it could have not been one. On another…” — Rahul Desai

6.9

27 criticsRecommended02RRRTelugu · 2022“There is a story that can potentially move you, make you weep for the characters — but it…” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

6.9

20 criticsRecommended03Superboys of MalegaonHindi · 2025“Despite an efficient ensemble of actors and honest moments of camaraderie, Reema's…” — Anuj Kumar

6.8

12 criticsRecommended04IkkisHindi · 2026“Sriram Raghavan turns to the Battle of Basantar to honour a real-life martyr and take a…” — Anuj Kumar

6.6

11 criticsRecommended05SatlujHindi · 2026“It's just as well that the story is now being told in its intended form, which delivers a…” — Neeshita Nyayapati

6.6

9 criticsRecommended06Bajirao MastaniHindi · 2015“If you appreciate Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opulence and grandeur, this won't disappoint.…” — Sweta Kaushal

6.5

42 criticsRecommended07Bhaag Milkha BhaagHindi · 2013“For a film about sprinting and clocking shortest timings possible, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag…” — Sarit Ray

6.5

23 criticsRecommended08Chauthi KootPunjabi · 2015“Much of the power of Chauthi Koot is in that which is not spelt out or spoken of, but…” — Namrata Joshi

6.5

7 criticsRecommended09Rang De BasantiHindi · 2006“If the first half abounds in light moments, the post-interval portions get into a serious…” — Taran Adarsh

6.5

4 criticsRecommended10MantoHindi · 2018“Director Nandita Das beautifully stitches five of the famous Urdu author's short stories…” — Rahul Desai

6.3

14 criticsMixed11Jai BhimTamil · 2021“Jai Bhim is perhaps one of the boldest films to come out of Tamil cinema. The politics…” — Srivatsan S

6.2

6 criticsMixed12PadmaavatHindi · 2018“Padmaavat is sparkling, extravagant, dazzling, magnificent and wonderful. It's a feast…” — Rohit Vats

6.1

26 criticsMixed13Raja ShivajiMarathi · 2026“This epic drama starring Riteish Deshmukh is more admirable than riveting.” — Rishabh Suri

6.1

12 criticsMixed14RangoonHindi · 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 criticsMixed15GoldHindi · 2018“Despite the presence of the national anthem, the tricolour, and a story based on India's…” — Namrata Joshi

5.9

20 criticsMixed16Manikarnika: The Queen of JhansiHindi · 2019“A flat retelling of the legend of Jhansi Ki Rani that aims at stoking nationalism but…” — Namrata Joshi

5.8

27 criticsMixed17Mission MangalHindi · 2019“It's hard to make intelligence look entertaining. But it's harder to make intelligence…” — Rahul Desai

5.8

26 criticsMixed18KancheTelugu · 2015“Kanche doesn't stand out merely by being different, but also because it's earnest.” — Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

5.8

13 criticsMixed19Sam BahadurHindi · 2023“Vicky Kaushal has delivered a commendable effort, but 'Sam Bahadur' falls short of being…” — Abhishek Srivastava

5.7

4 criticsMixed20Children of WarHindi · 2014“A worthy film based on fact, but lacking the zing of good fiction.” — Baradwaj Rangan

5.6

8 criticsMixed21Sky ForceHindi · 2025“SKY FORCE is the ideal Republic Day entertainer, with action, grandeur and an emotional…” — Bollywood Hungama News Network

5.6

3 criticsMixed22Mission MajnuHindi · 2023“A generic spy thriller that overtly dramatises true events from our prickly relationship…” — Anuj Kumar

5.2

4 criticsMixed23KD – The DevilKannada · 2026“'KD: The Devil' flirts with the idea of an underdog's ascent in a blood-soaked world of…” — Sruthi Ganapathy Raman

5.1

7 criticsMixed24Begum JaanHindi · 2017“The 134-minute long Begum Jaan has Vidya Balan in good form, but it lacks cohesiveness as…” — Rohit Vats

5.0

27 criticsMixed25KochadaiiyaanHindi · 2014“Part of the problem is surely the generic revenge-oriented plot, which plays out between…” — Baradwaj Rangan

4.9

22 criticsUnfavorable26Indu SarkarHindi · 2017“Madhur Bhandarkar's latest film starring Kriti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh has a…” — Sweta Kaushal

4.8

19 criticsUnfavorable27KalankHindi · 2019“Kalank's visual grandeur burdens its romance and shoves Partition politics to the…” — Namrata Joshi

4.7

25 criticsUnfavorable28Mohenjo DaroHindi · 2016“The very straight, simple and oft-repeated tale of foster parents, mistaken identity,…” — Namrata Joshi

4.6

37 criticsUnfavorable29Thugs of HindostanHindi · 2018“Ambitious in its visual scale, 'Thugs of Hindostan' reveals a disappointing lack of heft…” — Namrata Joshi

4.2

30 criticsUnfavorable30PM Narendra ModiHindi · 2019“Omung Kumar's hagiography on the Hindu nationalist leader makes you wonder if life is a…” — Kennith Rosario

3.6

17 criticsUnfavorable

See all 60 Indian history films →

Recent Indian History releases

6.6

Satluj

9 critics

6.1

Raja Shivaji

12 critics

5.1

KD – The Devil

7 critics

6.6

Ikkis

11 critics

6.8

Superboys of Malegaon

12 critics

5.6

Sky Force

3 critics

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