List of films about the American Revolution

Last updated

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

Contents

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

1910s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1914United States The Spy Otis Turner Drama, war. Based on the 1821 novel The Spy .
1915United StatesA Continental GirlJoseph AdelmanDrama, war.
1916United States The Heart of a Hero Emile Chautard Drama, war. Based on the play Nathan Hale. Nathan Hale
1917United States Betsy Ross Travers Vale
George Cowl 		Biography, drama, romance.
1917United States The Spirit of '76 Frank Montgomery Drama, history, war.
1918United States The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds Arthur Ashley Drama, history.

1920s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1922United States Cardigan John W. Noble Drama. Based on the novel Cardigan.
1924United States Janice Meredith E. Mason Hopper
E. J. Babille 		Drama, history, romance, war. Based on a novel and the play Janice Meredith.
1924United States America D. W. Griffith Drama, history, war. Based on the novel The Reckoning.
1929United Kingdom The American Prisoner Thomas Bentley Drama. Based on the 1904 novel The American Prisoner .

1930s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1931United States Alexander Hamilton John G. Adolfi Biography, Drama, history. Based on the 1917 play Hamilton . Alexander Hamilton
1934United States The Pursuit of Happiness Alexander Hall Comedy, romance. Hessian
1936United States Daniel Boone David Howard Biography, family, western. Daniel Boone, Simon Girty
1936United States Give Me Liberty B. Reeves Eason Events surrounding Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech
1938United States Declaration of Independence Crane Wilbur Drama, Academy Award winning short film
1939United States Drums Along the Mohawk John Ford Drama, romance, war, western. Based on the 1936 novel Drums Along the Mohawk .

1940s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1940United States The Howards of Virginia Frank Lloyd Drama, history, war. Based on a novel The Tree of Liberty.

1950s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1950United States Bunker Hill Bunny Fritz Freleng Animated short featuring Bugs Bunny
1953United States Sangaree Edward Ludwig Drama, history. Based on the novel Sangaree.
1954United States Yankee Doodle Bugs Fritz Freleng Animated short featuring Bugs Bunny
1955United States The Scarlet Coat John Sturges Adventure, drama, history, romance, war. Benedict Arnold
1956United States Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer Albert C. Gannaway
Ismael Rodríguez 		Drama, western. Daniel Boone
1957United States Johnny Tremain Robert Stevenson Adventure, family, war. Based on a novel Johnny Tremain .
1959United Kingdom
United States		 The Devil's Disciple Guy Hamilton Comedy, history, romance, war. Based on the 1897 play The Devil's Disciple .
1959Spain
United States		 John Paul Jones John Farrow Action, biography, history, romance, war. Based on the story "Nor'wester". John Paul Jones

1960s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1961France
Italy		 La Fayette Jean Dréville Biography, drama, history, war. Gilbert du Motier

1970s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1970Italy Paths of War Franco e Ciccio sul sentiero di guerra Aldo Grimaldi Comedy, western.
1972United States 1776 Peter H. Hunt Drama, family, history, musical. Based on the 1969 musical 1776 .
1975United States Valley Forge Fielder Cook Drama, war. Based on the 1934 play Valley Forge .
1976United States Spirit of Seventy Sex Stu Segall Adult, comedy, history.
1976United StatesPinky DoodleSid MarcusAnimated short featuring the Pink Panther
1978United StatesYankee Doodle PinkSid MarcusAnimated short featuring the Pink Panther - remake of Pinky Doodle

1980s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1985United Kingdom
Norway		 Revolution Hugh Hudson Adventure, drama, history, war.
1989United States A More Perfect Union Peter N. JohnsonDrama, history. Constitutional Convention

1990s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1995United StatesThe Little Patriot J. Christian Ingvordsen Family, adventure.
1996France Beaumarchais Beaumarchais l'insolent Édouard Molinaro Adventure, comedy, history, romance. Based on the play Beaumarchais. Pierre Beaumarchais

2000s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
2000United States
Germany		 The Patriot Roland Emmerich Action, drama, history, war.
2003United StatesThe DeserterEric Bruno BorgmanComedy, drama, history, war.
2009United StatesAll for Liberty Chris Weatherhead Drama

2010s

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
2010United StatesSybil LudingtonKim RobinsonDrama, family, history. Sybil Ludington
2015United States Beyond the Mask Chad 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

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
2020United States Hamilton Thomas Kail War, Alexander Hamilton. Filming of the 2015 musical
2023United StatesThe Battle of CamdenChristopher ForbesWar. Battle of Camden
2023United StatesThe Battle of Hobkirk's HillChristopher Forbes Battle of Hobkirk's Hill

Fantasy

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1945United States Where Do We Go from Here? Gregory Ratoff Fantasy, musical.
1946United States The Time of Their Lives Charles Barton Comedy, family, fantasy.

Television films

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		DirectorSubject
1975United StatesFirst Ladies Diaries: Martha WashingtonJohn J. DesmondBiography, drama. Martha Washington
1976United StatesThe Other Side of VictoryBill Jersey
1986United States George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation William A. Graham Biography, drama, history. George Washington
1988United States
Canada		April MorningDelbert MannDrama, history, war. Based on the novel April Morning.
1990Canada Divided Loyalties Mario Azzopardi Biography. Joseph Brant, Molly Brant
1993United States The Broken Chain Lamont Johnson Drama, war, action. Joseph Brant
1994CanadaMary Silliman's War Stephen Surjik Drama, history, war. Based on biography The Way of Duty. Mary Silliman
1995United StatesTaking Liberty Stuart Gillard Drama. Based on an unknown story.
2000United States The Crossing Robert Harmon Biography, drama, history, war. Based on the novel The Crossing. George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, Battle of Trenton
2003United States Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor Mikael Salomon Drama, history. Benedict Arnold
2005United States Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Nadia Tass Drama, family. Based on the novels about American Girl.

TV series

YearCountryMain title
(Alternative title)		Original title
(Original script)		Original networkDirectorSubject
1959-1961United States The Swamp Fox (part of Walt Disney Presents anthology)ABC Harry Keller Adventure, drama, family. Francis Marion, Banastre Tarleton
1964-1970United States Daniel Boone NBCAdventure, western. Daniel Boone
1970-1971United States The Young Rebels ABC Harve Bennett Adventure.
1974United States Benjamin Franklin CBS Glenn Jordan Biography, drama, history. Benjamin Franklin
1976United States The Adams Chronicles WNET 13/New York City (PBS)Drama, history. John Adams
1978United StatesThe BastardOperation Prime Time Lee H. Katzin Drama, history, romance. Based on the 1974 novel The Bastard .
1979United StatesThe RebelsFourth Television Network Russ Mayberry Drama, history, war. Based on the 1975 novel The Rebels .
1979United StatesThe SeekersHBO Sidney Hayers Drama, history, war. Based on the 1975 novel The Seekers .
1982East Germany The great adventure of Kaspar Schmeck Das große Abenteuer des Kaspar Schmeck Gunter Friedrich Adventure, drama, war. Based on a novel Das große Abenteuer des Kaspar Schmeck. Hessian
1984United States George Washington CBS Buzz Kulik Biography, drama, history, war. George Washington
1987United Kingdom
Canada		 The Devil's Disciple BBC David Hugh Jones Comedy, drama, romance. Based on the 1897 play The Devil's Disciple .
1997United States Liberty! The American Revolution PBS Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer Documentary, history, American Revolution
2002United States Benjamin Franklin PBSDocumentary, history. Benjamin Franklin
2002-2003United States Liberty's Kids PBS Kids (PBS)Judy Reilly
Marsha Goodman Einstein		Animation, adventure, family, history, war.
2006United States The Revolution History ChannelPeter SchnallDocumentary, history, American Revolution
2008United States John Adams HBO Tom Hooper Biography, drama, history. Based on the 2001 biography John Adams about John Adams
2014-2017United States Turn: Washington's Spies AMC Drama, history, war. Based on the book Washington's Spies . Culper Ring
2015United States Sons of Liberty History Channel Kari Skogland Drama, history.
2015Canada The Book of Negroes CBC Clement Virgo Drama, history, war. Based on the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes . Black Loyalist
2022United States Benjamin Franklin PBS Ken Burns Documentary, biography, history.
2024United States Franklin Apple TV+ Tim Van Patten Biography, drama, history. Based on the 2005 book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America.
2025United States Thomas Jefferson History Channel Biography, drama, history

See also

References

    Further reading

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