30 Powerful War and Historical Dramas from 2005 You Need to See

Karol: A Man Who Became Pope

2005 • 155 min

Drama, History

This is the story of Pope John Paul II, charting his life from his early days as a writer, actor, and athlete in Poland under occupation, to his election as Pope at the age of 58.

7.0

Diario de un skin

2005 • 80 min

History

5.9

6.1

Yamato

2005 • 143 min

War, History

Junya Sato's film "Yamato," adapted from a novel by Jun Henmi, uses a present-day narrative frame to recount the story of the crew aboard the World War II Japanese battleship Yamato. Through flashbacks, the film details the ship's journey and…

5.5

6.5

The President's Last Bang

2005 • 102 min

Comedy, Drama, History

The film recounts the events of October 26, 1979, when South Korean President Park Chung-hee, who had been in power since 1961, was assassinated by his own director of intelligence. The story unfolds on that fateful night.

6.5

6.9

Mangal Pandey - The Rising

2005 • 150 min • Budget $70M • Box office $7M

Drama, History

The film opens in 1857, with the British East India Company governing India. Mangal Pandey is an Indian sepoy in the Company's army. While fighting in the Anglo-Afghan Wars, Pandey saves the life of his British commanding officer, William Gordon.…

6.0

6.5

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The Turkish Gambit

2005 • 130 min • Budget $4M • Box office $18M

Mystery, Adventure, Action

Based on the second novel in Boris Akunin's Adventures of Erast Petrovich Fandorin series, the film is set in 1877 during the Russian-Turkish War. Having recently escaped from a Turkish prison, Erast Fandorin races to reach the Russian lines with…

6.4

6.9

Nomad: The Warrior

2005 • 112 min • Budget $25M

Action, History, War

The Nomad is a historical epic set in 18th-century Kazakhstan. The film fictionalizes the early life and coming-of-age of Ablai Khan, depicting his journey as he matures and battles to protect the fortress at Hazrat-e Turkestan from invading Dzungar forces.

5.1

5.8

17+

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The Sun

2005 • 111 min • Box office $217K

Drama, History

This film explores the final days of Emperor Hirohito during the end of World War II. It offers a new perspective on his reign as the war nears its conclusion.

6.7

7.3

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The King and the Clown

2005 • 121 min

Drama, History, Thriller

In Korea's Chosun Dynasty, two clowns face arrest for performing a play that mocks the king. Taken to the palace, they are threatened with execution unless they can successfully amuse the monarch.

6.9

7.3

13+

End of the Spear

2005 • 108 min • Budget $10M • Box office $12M

Adventure, Drama, History

"End of the Spear" tells the story of Mincayani, a member of the Waodani tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle. In 1956, five young missionaries, including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, are killed by the Waodani. This tragedy sets off a…

6.2

6.8

13+

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The White Countess

2005 • 135 min • Budget $16M • Box office $4M

Drama, Romance, War

Set in 1930s Shanghai, "The White Countess" is a woman named Sofia, who is a former member of the Russian aristocracy in exile, and a nightclub established by a blind American diplomat. He asks Sofia to be the central figure…

6.2

6.5

13+

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Destined for Blues

2005 • 101 min

Drama, Music, History

This film chronicles the life of Ryszard Riedel, the iconic frontman of the influential Polish rock-blues band Dzem. It explores his personal history, focusing on his family, his rise to musical prominence, and his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.

7.4

6.9

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Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman

2005 • 98 min

Drama, History

Albert Pierrepoint follows his father into the profession of executioner, becoming one of Britain's most frequent hangmen while concealing his identity as a grocery deliveryman. However, his desire to excel leads to the exposure of his grim work. Suddenly, he…

7.0

7.4

17+

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Come Into the Light

2005 • 90 min

Drama, Crime, History

In 1990s Palermo, Father Pino Puglisi works to protect at-risk children in the Brancaccio neighborhood. He builds a welcoming community around his church, offering hope and support – a direct challenge to the powerful local Mafia. He persists in his…

7.1

Why We Fight

2005 • 98 min

Documentary, History

Jarecki's sharp and insightful argument suggests that American foreign policy is driven by a focus on military power, and that the military has grown overly influential in the United States.

7.5

8.0

13+

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Kingdom of Heaven

2005 • 144 min • Budget $130M • Box office $218M

Drama, Action, Adventure

Following his wife's death, Balian, a blacksmith, unexpectedly finds himself in the world of royalty, caught up in political schemes and brutal holy wars during the Crusades.

7.0

7.3

17+

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Sometimes in April

2005 • 140 min

Drama, History, War

During the 100 days of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, two brothers find themselves separated by marriage and circumstance. Their lives are irrevocably altered by the horrific events unfolding around them.

7.1

7.7

17+

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Good Night, and Good Luck.

2005 • 92 min • Budget $7M • Box office $54M

Drama, History

This is the story of journalist Edward R. Murrow and his courageous opposition to Senator Joseph McCarthy's intense anti-communist investigations during the early 1950s.

7.1

7.4

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Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

2005 • 117 min

Drama, History

In 1943, with Hitler's war raging across Europe, a group of college students in Munich form an underground resistance movement called the White Rose, dedicated to ending the Third Reich. Sophie Scholl, one of the few women in the group,…

7.1

7.6

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The Importance of Being Earnest

2002 • 97 min • Budget $15M • Box office $17M

Comedy, Drama, History

In 1890s England, two young men secretly share the pen name "Ernest." Their arrangement works well until they both develop affections for women who also use the name "Ernest," resulting in a series of humorous misunderstandings.

6.8

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9th Company

2005 • 139 min • Budget $9M • Box office $24M

War, Drama, History

In late 1980s Afghanistan, newly trained Russian army recruits arrive for their first assignments as the conflict with local insurgents intensifies, and the insurgents begin to gain a steady advantage.

6.7

7.0

17+

The Great Raid

2005 • 132 min • Budget $80M • Box office $10M

Action, History, War

During World War II, the highly trained Sixth Ranger Battalion undertakes a critical mission: infiltrate enemy territory, traveling 30 miles behind the lines to rescue over 500 American prisoners of war.

6.5

6.6

17+

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Two Sons of Francisco

2005 • 132 min

Drama, History, Music

Francisco is a humble, impoverished man with a heartfelt ambition: to see his children achieve fame as country music stars. He dedicates himself entirely to making that dream a reality.

6.8

6.9

A Cock and Bull Story

2005 • 94 min • Box office $3M

Comedy, History

Steve Coogan plays himself in a film adaptation of Laurence Sterne’s novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman," shot on location at a grand estate. The film follows Coogan’s character as he navigates his career, love life, and…

6.1

6.7

17+

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The New World

2005 • 151 min • Budget $30M • Box office $30M

Drama, History, Romance

This drama explores the conflict between Native Americans and English settlers in 17th-century America, focusing on the experiences of explorer John Smith.

6.5

6.7

13+

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Joyeux Noel

2005 • 116 min • Budget $22M • Box office $17M

Drama, War, Romance

France, 1914. World War I. On Christmas Eve, an unexpected event occurs in the contested no man's land between French, Scottish, and German lines.

7.4

7.6

13+

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Memoirs of a Geisha

2005 • 146 min • Budget $85M • Box office $162M

Drama, Romance, History

Before World War II, a poor Japanese girl is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a maid in a geisha house.

7.6

7.3

13+

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The World's Fastest Indian

2005 • 127 min • Budget $25M • Box office $18M

Drama, Adventure, History

This is the true story of Burt Munro, a New Zealander who dedicated years to building a custom 1920 Indian motorcycle. His relentless work culminated in a 1967 attempt to break the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats.

7.7

13+

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Munich

2005 • 164 min • Budget $70M • Box office $130M

Drama, Action, History

At the 1972 Munich Olympics, eleven Israeli athletes are captured and killed by the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. In response, the Israeli government assembles a team of Mossad agents to hunt down and eliminate those who carried out the…

7.1

7.5

17+

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Coach Carter

2005 • 136 min • Budget $30M • Box office $76M

Drama, History

This is a true story about Ken Carter, the head basketball coach at Richmond High School. In 1999, he made national news when he decided to bench his undefeated team. His reason: the players weren't meeting academic standards.

7.6

7.4

13+

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