4 Period Pieces That Transport You Through History

The period piece is a classic example of exploring history through media, transporting the audience to a time often unfamiliar to them. Here are four period piece films to explore history with.

Train Dreams (2025)

Train Dreams, directed and written by Clint Ventley with writing assistance from Greg Kwedar, focuses on the life of a man named Robert Grainier. It serves as an adaptation of the novella of the same name written by Denis Johnson. The story explores themes of nature, loss, trauma, regret, and explores the passage of time and how it passes us by. The film was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. Adolpho Veloso won for Best Cinematography at the Critics Choice Awards.

Adolpho Veloso’s cinematography brings a gorgeous visual style to the film, highlighting the beauty of the Washington woods and developing cityscapes. The most notable shots include the camera following the perspective of a falling tree, sitting atop the tree line as branches fall below, and far off shots showing the toppling of trunks. Zooming closeup shots during memorable monologues lock the audience into the various character’s expressions as they speak, creating a close bond with them.

Robert Grainier works as a logger in the early 20th century. He meets a young woman at church named Gladys, who he marries and builds a log cabin with. Together, they have a daughter named Kate. Grainier meets many colorful characters during his time as a logger, whilst simultaneously building up regret at having to spend so much time away from his family.

The film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier and Felicity Jones as Gladys. William H Macy joins the cast as Arn Peeples, a logger who works alongside Grainier. Kerry Condon plays Claire Thompson, a forestry services worker who befriends Grainier. Will Patton provides narration throughout the film.

Train Dreams can be streamed on Netflix.

Frankenstein (2025)

Frankenstein, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, is an adaptation of the classic literary story written by Mary Shelley. The film was nominated in 9 different categories at the 98th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Hairstyling and Makeup. It won in the latter 3 categories. 

Taking place in the 19th century, Doctor Victor Frankenstein is seeking out the impossible: bringing a mysterious creature of his own creation to life. However, upon succeeding, Victor regrets his creation, seeking to kill the creature. Surviving the fire that Victor started, the creature sets out on his own, learning from others he encounters along his journey of locating Victor to enact his revenge.

The film explores a slightly fantastical version of the 19th century through vast sets of Gothic scientific laboratories and old merchant vessels shrouded in arctic ice. Victor’s laboratory where he creates the Creature is a large secluded tower provided to him by a man named Henrich Harlander, featuring a beautiful circular window at its top. Other notable set pieces include the Frankenstein family estate, where actor Charles Dance plays Victor’s stern father Leopold, and a small cabin out in the countryside, where actor David Bradley plays a blind man who befriends the Creature.

The film stars Oscar Isaac as Doctor Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, Mia Goth as Elizabeth, Victor’s sister-in-law, and Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander, who helps fund the creation of the Creature. Goth also stars in the film as Claire Frankenstein, Victor’s late mother, while Felix Kammerer plays Victor’s younger brother William, who is engaged to Elizabeth.

Frankenstein can be streamed on Netflix.

Nosferatu (2024)

Nosferatu, written and directed by Robert Eggers, is a remake of the original 1922 film Nosferatu, which in and of itself is a loose adaptation of the literary classic written by Bram Stoker, Dracula. The film was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Hairstyling and Makeup at the 97th Academy Awards.

Much like Eggers’ other works, Nosferatu meticulously recreates Germany and Orlok’s Transylvanian castle with period accurate lighting, costumes, and props. Orlok’s castle is dimly lit by candlelight, while homesteads like that of the Hutter’s or the Harding’s are packed full of small details, journals and picture frames scattered about every surface. 

Set in Germany in 1838, newly wed couple Ellen and Thomas Hutter are struggling for money. Seeking a promotion, Thomas takes a job to journey to Transylvania to meet with the mysterious Count Orlok in his remote castle, as Orlok wishes to move to Germany. Meanwhile, Hellen suffers from psychic visions from a dangerous spirit, who turns out to be Orlok, an ancient vampire seeking her love.

The film stars Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok, the Nosferatu/vampire who seeks out new property in Germany, Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter, a woman stuck in a psychic connection with the Nosferatu, Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent tasked with meeting Count Orlok, and Willem Dafoe as Professor Albin Eberhart, the only man who understands Ellen’s connection to Orlok. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin play Friedrich and Anna Harding respectively, a married couple who are best friends with Ellen and Thomas.

Nosferatu can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

Lincoln (2012)

Lincoln, directed and produced by Stephen Spielberg, is a biographical historical drama focused on the life of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The screenplay is loosely based on the 2005 biography Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln written by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The film was nominated in 12 different categories at the 85th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It won for Best Production Design and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis’ role as Lincoln.

Set in 1865, the film follows Lincoln and his cabinet in the final days of the American Civil War as he attempts to pass the Thirteenth Amendment and end both the war and slavery alongside it.

The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln, Sally Field as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, David Strathairn as Secretary of State William Seward, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham and Mary’s eldest son. James Spader plays William N. Bilbo, an attorney who aided in the passing of the amendment, Hal Holbrook plays Francis Preston Blair, a founder of the Republican Party, and Tommy Lee Jones plays Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens.

In a group of stellar actors, Day-Lewis’ performance as Lincoln shines through. Much to the accuracy of reports from real life, he speaks with a softer, slightly shrill voice, rather than the deep tone one might immediately expect from a man of Lincoln’s size. 

Lincoln can be rented from Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.