List of films about the American Revolution explained

Below is an incomplete list of films which include events of the American Revolution. This list does not include documentaries or short films.

1910s

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1914United StatesThe SpyOtis TurnerDrama, war. Based on the 1821 novel The Spy.
1915United StatesA Continental GirlJoseph AdelmanDrama, war.
1916United StatesThe Heart of a HeroEmile ChautardDrama, war. Based on the play Nathan Hale. Nathan Hale
1917United StatesBetsy RossTravers Vale
George Cowl
Biography, drama, romance.
1917United StatesThe Spirit of '76Frank MontgomeryDrama, history, war.
1918United StatesThe Beautiful Mrs. ReynoldsArthur AshleyDrama, history.

1920s

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1922United StatesCardiganJohn W. NobleDrama. Based on the novel Cardigan.
1924United StatesJanice MeredithE. Mason Hopper
E. J. Babille
Drama, history, romance, war. Based on a novel and the play Janice Meredith.
1924United StatesAmericaD. W. GriffithDrama, history, war. Based on the novel The Reckoning.
1929United KingdomThe American PrisonerThomas BentleyDrama. Based on the 1904 novel The American Prisoner.

1930s

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1931United StatesAlexander HamiltonJohn G. AdolfiBiography, Drama, history. Based on the 1917 play Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton
1934United StatesThe Pursuit of HappinessAlexander HallComedy, romance. Hessian
1936United StatesDaniel BooneDavid HowardBiography, family, western. Daniel Boone, Simon Girty
1939United StatesDrums Along the MohawkJohn FordDrama, romance, war, western. Based on the 1936 novel Drums Along the Mohawk.

1940s

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1940United StatesThe Howards of VirginiaFrank LloydDrama, history, war. Based on a novel The Tree of Liberty.

1950s

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1953United StatesSangareeEdward LudwigDrama, history. Based on the novel Sangaree.
1955United StatesThe Scarlet CoatJohn SturgesAdventure, drama, history, romance, war. Benedict Arnold
1956United StatesDaniel Boone, Trail BlazerAlbert C. Gannaway
Ismael Rodríguez
Drama, western. Daniel Boone
1957United StatesJohnny TremainRobert StevensonAdventure, family, war. Based on a novel Johnny Tremain.
1959United Kingdom
United States
The Devil's DiscipleGuy HamiltonComedy, history, romance, war. Based on the 1897 play The Devil's Disciple.
1959Spain
United States
John Paul JonesJohn FarrowAction, biography, history, romance, war. Based on the story "Nor'wester". John Paul Jones

1960s

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1961France
Italy
La FayetteJean DrévilleBiography, drama, history, war. Gilbert du Motier

1970s

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1970ItalyPaths of WarFranco e Ciccio sul sentiero di guerraAldo GrimaldiComedy, western.
1972United States1776Peter H. HuntDrama, family, history, musical. Based on the 1969 musical 1776.
1975United StatesValley ForgeFielder CookDrama, war. Based on the 1934 play Valley Forge.
1976United StatesSpirit of Seventy SexStu SegallAdult, comedy, history.

1980s

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1985United Kingdom
Norway
RevolutionHugh HudsonAdventure, drama, history, war.
1989United StatesA More Perfect UnionPeter N. JohnsonDrama, history. Constitutional Convention

1990s

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1995United StatesThe Little PatriotJ. Christian IngvordsenFamily, adventure.
1996FranceBeaumarchaisBeaumarchais l'insolentÉdouard MolinaroAdventure, comedy, history, romance. Based on the play Beaumarchais. Pierre Beaumarchais

2000s

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2000United States
Germany
The PatriotRoland EmmerichAction, drama, history, war.
2003United StatesThe DeserterEric Bruno BorgmanComedy, drama, history, war.
2009United StatesAll for LibertyChris WeatherheadDrama

2010s

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2010United StatesSybil LudingtonKim RobinsonDrama, family, history. Sybil Ludington
2015United StatesBeyond the MaskChad BurnsAction, adventure, drama, romance.
2016United StatesThe Culper Spy AdventureJames Canale III
Michael Tessler
Andrew Mastronardi
History.
2017United StatesOne Life to GiveLeah Dunaief
Michael Tessler
Benji Dunaief
History.

2020s

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2020United StatesHamiltonThomas KailWar, Alexander Hamilton. Filming of the 2015 musical
2023United StatesThe Battle of CamdenChristopher ForbesWar. Battle of Camden
2023United StatesThe Battle of Hobkirk's HillChristopher ForbesBattle of Hobkirk's Hill

Fantasy

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1945United StatesWhere Do We Go from Here?Gregory RatoffFantasy, musical.
1946United StatesThe Time of Their LivesCharles BartonComedy, family, fantasy.

Television films

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1975United StatesFirst Ladies Diaries: Martha WashingtonJohn J. DesmondBiography, drama. Martha Washington
1976United StatesThe Other Side of VictoryBill Jersey
1986United StatesWilliam A. GrahamBiography, drama, history. George Washington
1988United States
Canada
April MorningDelbert MannDrama, history, war. Based on the novel April Morning.
1990CanadaDivided LoyaltiesMario AzzopardiBiography. Joseph Brant, Molly Brant
1993United StatesThe Broken ChainLamont JohnsonDrama, war, action. Joseph Brant
1994CanadaMary Silliman's WarStephen SurjikDrama, history, war. Based on biography The Way of Duty. Mary Silliman
1995United StatesTaking LibertyStuart GillardDrama. Based on an unknown story.
2000United StatesThe CrossingRobert HarmonBiography, drama, history, war. Based on the novel The Crossing. George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, Battle of Trenton
2003United StatesMikael SalomonDrama, jistory. Benedict Arnold
2005United StatesNadia TassDrama, family. Based on the novels about American Girl.

TV series

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1959-1961United StatesThe Swamp FoxHarry KellerAdventure, drama, family. Francis Marion, Banastre Tarleton
1964-1970United StatesDaniel BooneAdventure, western. Daniel Boone
1970-1971United StatesThe Young RebelsHarve BennettAdventure.
1974United StatesBenjamin FranklinGlenn JordanBiography, drama, history. Benjamin Franklin
1976United StatesThe Adams ChroniclesDrama, history. John Adams
1978United StatesThe BastardLee H. KatzinDrama, history, romance. Based on the 1974 novel The Bastard.
1979United StatesThe RebelsRuss MayberryDrama, history, war. Based on the 1975 novel The Rebels.
1979United StatesThe SeekersSidney HayersDrama, history, war. Based on the 1975 novel The Seekers.
1982East GermanyThe great adventure of Kaspar SchmeckDas große Abenteuer des Kaspar SchmeckGunter FriedrichAdventure, drama, war. Based on a novel Das große Abenteuer des Kaspar Schmeck. Hessian
1984United StatesGeorge WashingtonBuzz KulikBiography, drama, history, war. George Washington
1987United Kingdom
Canada
The Devil's DiscipleDavid Hugh JonesComedy, drama, romance. Based on the 1897 play The Devil's Disciple.
1997United StatesLiberty! The American RevolutionEllen Hovde and Muffie MeyerDocumentary, history, American Revolution
2002United StatesBenjamin FranklinEllen Hovde and Muffie MeyerDocumentary, history. Benjamin Franklin
2002-2003United StatesLiberty's KidsJudy Reilly
Marsha Goodman Einstein
Animation, adventure, family, history, war.
2008United StatesJohn AdamsTom Hooper
2014-2017United StatesDrama, history, war. Based on the book Washington's Spies. Culper Ring
2015United StatesSons of LibertyKari SkoglandDrama, history.
2015CanadaThe Book of NegroesClement VirgoDrama, history, war. Based on the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes. Black Loyalist
2022United StatesBenjamin FranklinKen BurnsDocumentary, biography, history.
2024United StatesFranklinTim Van PattenBiography, drama, history. Based on the 2005 book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America.

See also

Further reading