The period drama will never go away. As one of the most acclaimed film genres, it has produced some of the best and most beloved films from any given decade. Period dramas offer a loving, usually romanticized and highly stylized look at a bygone era, and audiences loved them for it.
Luckily for film lovers, the 2010s delivered more than a few incredibly lush and compelling entries into the esteemed genre. From modernized adaptations of literary masterpieces to searing romantic dramas and even a few LGBTQ+ classics-in-the-making, these period dramas represent the finest filmmaking of the 2010s.
10’The Beguiled' (2017)
Sofia Coppoladirects an all-star cast, includingNicole Kidman,Kirsten Dunst,Elle Fanning, andColin Farrellin the Southern Gothic period dramaThe Beguiled. A remake of the eponymous 1971 film, Coppola’s version follows a wounded Union soldier who seeks refuge in a Southern all-female boarding school. Things get complicated when sexual tension between the soldier and the school’s women leads to mistrust, jealousy, and confrontation.
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Tense and riveting,The Beguiledis a near-unbearable slow burn, heightened by passionate, committed performances from its acclaimed cast. Coppola’s restrained approach, coupled with the film’s distinctive Southern Gothic atmosphere, results in an anxious psychological drama that ranks among the director’s most confident efforts.
Three-time Oscar winnerDaniel Day-Lewisstars oppositeVicky KriepsandLesley ManvilleinPaul Thomas Anderson’s psychological period romantic dramaPhantom Thread. The plot centers on Reynolds Woodcock, a high-maintenance fashion designer in 1950s London, who develops a complicated relationship with a young waitress and turns her into his muse.
Phantom Threadis amongthe best romantic dramas of the 21st century. Anchored by Day-Lewis' all-time great performance, the film is a poignant exploration of love, obsession, co-dependency, and seduction that is as thought-provoking as seductive. Sumptuous and delicately crafted,Phantom Threadis a love story like only Anderson could make.
8’Jane Eyre' (2011)
Jane Eyre, the 2011 adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 classic, starsMia Wasikowskain the title role, withMichael Fassbenderas Mr. Rochester. The plot chronicles Jane’s life, from her painful childhood to her young adulthood working for Mr. Rochester, with whom she falls in love.
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It’s not an overstatement to call Wasikowska the best actress to have played the iconic role of Jane Eyre. The actress is astonishing in the film, conveying a million emotions with her pale, unmoving canvass of a face. Much like its title character,Jane Eyreis bright, insightful, quiet, and utterly beautiful, revealing an inner wealth to all those willing to pay close attention.
7’Brooklyn' (2015)
Saoirse Ronanreceived her second Oscar nomination for her lead performance in the 2015 romantic period dramaBrooklyn. Based on the eponymous 2009 novel and set in the 1950s, the film revolves around Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who moves to the United States, where she meets and falls for a young Italian man. Returning home following a tragedy, Eilis' encounter with a fellow Irishman will make her question her new life in the US.
Brooklynfeatures a brilliant lead performance from Ronan, who beautifully conveys the doubt and fears of coming-of-age. A profound and thoughtful love story about breaking free from childhood innocence and venturing into adulthood,Brooklynis a searing and loving portrayal of a pivotal moment in every person’s life.
6'12 Years a Slave' (2013)
Based on Solomon Northup’s memoir,Steve McQueen’s 2013 biographical period drama12 Years a Slaveis a gut-wrenching viewing experience. Oscar-nominated for his powerful performance,Chiwetel Ejioforstars as Northup, a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film depicts his twelve years of servitude before his eventual release.
Harrowing and haunting,12 Years a Slaveis a brutal and eye-opening portrayal of one of history’s greatest injustices. Powered by an outstanding performance from Ejiofor and a scene-stealingLupita Nyong’o, the film will prove challenging for many; however, it’s a must-watch work of art and one ofthe all-time best biopicsthat lives up to its seminal source material.
5’The Shape of Water (2017)
Arguably the most refreshing Best Picture winner in the 2010s,Guillermo del Toro’s romantic fantasyThe Shape of Wateris a love story unlike any other. Two-time Oscar nomineeSally Hawkinsplays Elisa, a mute custodian who falls in love with a humanoid amphibian trapped in a secret government facility.
Set in 1960s Baltimore and overflowing with del Toro’s trademark love for the unusual and monstrous,The Shape of Wateris aromantic movie for non-romance fans. The film is delicate, sweet, and incredibly humane, a love letter to and a much-needed win for cinema’s classic monsters, featuring spectacular production values and career-best performances from everyone involved.
4’Carol' (2015)
Todd Haynes' 2015 period romantic dramaCarolstars Oscar-winnerCate Blanchettopposite Oscar-nomineeRooney Mara. Based on the influential novelThe Price of Salt, the film chronicles the romance between an older woman going through a divorce and a young aspiring photographer unsure of what she wants.
Carolis an elegant, sweeping film, elevated by Blanchett and Mara’s passionate, captivating performances. Enhanced by its rich period setting and guided by Haynes' confident approach, the film is powerful, searing, and profoundly rewarding,a classic sapphic love storythat offers a close look at melancholy and longing without descending into the tragedy audiences have come to expect with their queer content.
3’Portrait of a Lady on Fire' (2019)
The groundbreaking, thoughtful, and outright masterfulPortrait of a Lady on Fireis nothing short of a work of art. Directed byCéline Sciammaand starringAdèle HaenelandNoémie Merlant, the film deals with the romance between a French aristocrat and the artist commissioned to paint her picture in 18th-century France.
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A triumph of LGBTQ+ cinema,Portrait of a Lady on Fireis one of the best period pieces in recent memory. Accompanying its delicate yet striking visuals with an equally impactful story,Portrait of a Lady on Fireis a deeply affecting and enriching examination of passion and love, more interested in what provokes these feelings than what results from them.
2’Little Women' (2019)
The incredibleGreta Gerwigmight very well be the defining director of her generation; her 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic,Little Women, proves it. Saoirse Ronan stars as the timeless heroine Jo March, with an equally compellingFlorence Pughas the artistic and ambitious Amy.Emma WatsonandEliza Scanlenround up the main cast, playing Meg and Beth, respectively.
What Gerwig does withLittle Womenis nothing short of extraordinary. The writer and director successfully reinvigorates a well-known classic, making it timely, topical, and refreshing. Powered by amazing, Oscar-nominated performances from Ronan and Pugh and bringing 19th-century Massachusetts to vibrant life,Little Womenproves some stories truly are timeless.
1’The Favourite' (2018)
The 2018 biting black period comedy-dramaThe Favouriteis the perfect and inspired match forYorgos Lanthimos' wicked and idiosyncratic directorial style.Olivia Colman,Emma Stone, andRachel Weiszdeliver a trio of titanic performances in this unrelenting tale, set in Queen Anne’s court and focusing on her relationships with Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, and Abigail Masham.
Absurd, cruel, and unforgiving,The Favouriteis a wicked and quite hysterical movie from one of cinema’s most interesting auteurs. The mighty Olivia Colman gives a career-best performance as the broken Queen Anne, an exquisite yet grotesque performance that seamlessly blends pity with sympathy.The Favouriteis a singular and refreshing take on the period piece and further confirmation that Yorgos Lanthimos is a one-of-a-kind talent.
