10 Greatest R-Rated Historical Movies, Ranked
Historical films have been a staple of Hollywood since its inception, with many focusing on untold or revealing stories throughout humanity’s time on Earth. Predictably, most of these stories are pretty debilitating and tend to show the darker parts of human nature, often earning these films an R rating. While they might not be appropriate for children, they’re still essential films that must be watched by any self-proclaimed cinephile.
For the purpose of this list, the only historical films that will be considered will be the ones that weren’t made during the time period that the story is about. For example, Apocalypse Now was made in the ’70s, the same era in which the Vietnam War was happening, so it’s hardly historical. Another consideration is that only films that actually received a rating will be considered, because many fantastic movies were made long before the conventional rating system even existed. With that in mind, these are the best R-rated historical films of all time.
10
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)
There have been multiple iterations of Erich Maria Remarque‘s All Quiet on the Western Front, but this is the only one to actually receive an R rating, considering the previous iterations were either filmed before the rating system or made for TV. The movie stars Felix Kammerer as Paul, a German youth who is fooled by propaganda and volunteers for the First World War with his friends from school, none of them having any idea what they’ve just gotten themselves into.
Netflix’s amazing World War I epic received critical acclaim and numerous Oscars, and has been stated to be one of the only true anti-war films. This is due to how it depicts sacrifice as utterly meaningless, with no stories of heroes or great crusades, showing the violence with unflinching accuracy. This is likely why it received an R rating — it is pretty gruesome at times. One of the finest films in recent memory, this is destined to be one of the greatest historical films ever made.
9
‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
Oppenheimer is a recent biopic directed by Christopher Nolan, which tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy. Oppenheimer was an American scientist who headed the Manhattan Project towards the end of World War II, which was a secret weapons development operation aimed at creating one so destructive that it would force the Japanese Empire to surrender. Their efforts would later culminate in what became known as the atomic bomb, two of which were famously dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing tens of thousands of people.
Oppenheimer is a long movie filled with drama rather than action, but it does feature some foul language and nudity, hence the R rating. That said, it won a few Oscars for Murphy’s stellar portrayal of a profoundly guilty man with a lot of demons on his back. This film is a masterpiece, allowing audiences to see deep into the mind of a conflicted man with a terrible burden on his shoulders. It’s likely to become a classic in the history of cinema, if it isn’t already.
8
‘Downfall’ (2004)
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Downfall is another biopic set during World War II’s final days, only this time, it’s not about an American, but the prime evil of the conflict himself: Adolf Hitler. As pretty much everybody knows, Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany during the Second World War and was responsible not just for initiating the war, but for causing the Holocaust, the world’s deadliest genocide, which killed millions of Jewish people across Europe.
In this film, Hitler is played by Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, who perfectly embodies the darkness and anger behind Hitler’s visage, as well as the paranoia he was known for. The film focuses mostly on the Battle of Berlin, with the Soviet Union closing in, and the end of the Third Reich being imminent. Downfall dives deep into the psyche of evil, exploring what it was like in Hitler’s bunker during those last fateful days. This isn’t a film that glorifies anything — rather, it just tells it like it is. The R rating, of course, comes from violence and language, but it is well worth a watch.
Stanley Kubrick‘s Full Metal Jacket is a film about the Vietnam War, which had only come to a close about 12 years prior to the movie’s release. The movie is famous for its hard-ass drill sergeant, who is played by R. Lee Ermey. Ermey wasn’t just an actor — he was an actual drill sergeant in real life, which is why he came off as so intimidating and real. Much of the movie centers on how horrific training for the armed forces can be, as the administrators seek to break the new recruits down and build them into killing machines.
Combat is featured, too, of course, but the movie is primarily a drama at heart, and is a little bit lighter on the action as it explores the psychological effects of war and of boot camp. The R rating, of course, comes from the violence depicted, but also from the rapid-fire foul language that flies out of Ermey’s mouth. Even in spite of its adult content, it is a must-see movie and one of the greatest films ever made by one of cinema’s finest directors.
6
‘Glory’ (1989)
Glory is set during the American Civil War and follows the lives of Black soldiers fighting for the Northern Union. The Civil War in America was started after then-President Abraham Lincoln moved to abolish slavery throughout the entire country. The Southern states weren’t too thrilled with this and seceded from the rest of the country, forming the Confederacy and beginning the deadliest conflict on American soil. Of course, the Confederacy fortunately lost, and slavery was completely abolished throughout the United States.
This movie takes an honest look at the prejudice Black soldiers faced not just from the Confederates, but from their own allies, too, even though they were literally fighting for their own freedom. Glory scored incredibly well with critics, many of whom found the film moving, and allowed some of the unsung heroes of the Civil War to have their moment of fame. Being a war film, the R rating obviously comes from the graphic level of violence found within the film. With a star-studded cast and three Oscars behind it, Glory is a film for the ages that has to be seen by anyone interested in American history.
5
‘Ran’ (1985)
Ran is a movie directed by the one and only Akira Kurosawa, a Japanese filmmaker who is known for his extensive repertoire of incredible films. Ran was one of the final films he worked on before he died, and it also happens to be one of his finest. It was, however, the very last epic film Kurosawa made, and found success both in Japan and internationally. Based on William Shakespeare‘s King Lear, Ran follows an aging Japanese warlord who opts to step down and allow his three sons to take his title, sparking a conflict between them.
While this story is fictional, similar things did happen fairly often throughout the Edo Period of Japan, a time marked by civil wars, strife, political upheavals, and constant societal unrest. The R rating here comes from the graphic violence, which is a common trope of other Japanese period dramas, especially for Kurosawa flicks. Ran, however, is perhaps one of his better-known movies around the world, and is much more palatable since it’s in color and feels more modern. Ran is a historical epic for the ages that any fan of samurai cinema will love.
4
‘The Pianist’ (2002)
The Pianist is another biopic, this time about Władysław Szpilman, a Polish Jewish pianist and composer. Szpilman is played by Adrien Brody, a role that would earn him his very first Oscar. While Szpilman was a respected pianist and musician, he unfortunately lived during the Holocaust, and his being Jewish meant that he was targeted by the Nazis after the German invasion of Poland in 1939. Szpilman survived, but he witnessed unimaginable cruelty at the hands of his oppressors.
This movie definitely leans more into the drama side of things, with a focus more on the Holocaust rather than the Second World War, which happened concurrently. The R rating, like many Holocaust films, comes from nudity and abhorrent violence, as well as the inherent prejudice and dehumanization inflicted by the Nazi Party. While it is an extremely depressing film to watch, it is something that absolutely must be seen.
3
’12 Years a Slave’ (2013)
12 Years a Slave is a biopic about Solomon Northup, who is expertly portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Northup lived when slavery in the US was still legal in the South, but fortunately, he was born in the North, meaning he was born into freedom. Though he was still not treated as an equal in society, his initial existence allowed him to pursue a job and a relatively normal life. However, in his adulthood, he was abducted by two Southerners, who brought him to a slave plantation in the South, forcing him into slave labor for 12 long years.
Northup’s experience was grueling and a devastating untold story from one of America’s darkest points in history. As expected, the movie is extremely depressing, as Northup’s family believes he is dead and is forced to move on without him, all while he endures the horrors of slavery. The movie earned its R rating due to nudity and the cruel violence depicted within, but it’s a masterpiece of cinema and a film that is absolutely necessary to experience.
2
‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)
Saving Private Ryan opens up on June 6, 1944 — D-Day, the day the Allied forces invaded Normandy during World War II. This is commonly seen as the beginning of the end for the Axis and is marked by one of the largest amphibious invasions in history. The opening scene particularly focuses on the landings at Omaha Beach, which was probably the worst place to be. American troops suffered heavy casualties, and the movie makes sure the audience feels the horror and chaos.
Blood and gore are everywhere in this movie, which is why it was rated R. In just the first 20 minutes, the movie depicts the horrors of war to such an accurate degree that the people behind the film had to open up a hotline for traumatized veterans receiving flashbacks. Despite how frighteningly real the movie feels, this only makes it better in the long run and helps the audience appreciate the sacrifices made by the Allied troops. After earning numerous Oscars, it’s definitely accurate to say it’s one of the best historical films ever made.
1
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
Schindler’s List is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It also happens to be the second Steven Spielberg flick on this list, but this one comes in as his magnum opus. The movie is based on a novel by Thomas Keneally, which, in turn, is based on true events. The movie serves as a biopic of Oskar Schindler, who is played by Liam Neeson. Schindler was a German factory owner who initially registered as a member of the Nazi Party, but later became disillusioned once the Holocaust started to happen.
Schindler came up with an idea to save as many Jewish inmates as possible by giving them jobs in his factory. Schindler saved countless lives, enduring a harrowing identity crisis. This movie won numerous Oscars and made a profound cultural impact with its depiction of the nightmare that was the Holocaust. It’s so realistic that it doesn’t shy away from showing violence, dehumanization, and nudity, which is why it earned its rating. That said, it’s one of the finest historical movies ever made.
