Humanity’s storied history never ceases to entertain us. From modern history and its major conflicts, to Ancient Rome to Feudal Japan, many films have been inspired by or adapted historical stories and events, with many succeeding commercially or receiving critical acclaim. The historical epic has proven itself to be a breeding ground for prolific and highly acclaimed directors to show off their chops and deliver an exemplary experience that only film could recreate.

Filmmakers love to revisit historical stories and, just as much, historical myths. Ancient Greece, therefore, is a breeding ground for some of the medium’s most gripping tales, mixing the power and truth of a historical epic with high fantasy and creativity that draws in wider audiences. Whether you’re a fan of the Underworld and the Olympians, or the era of antiquity that Ancient Greece embodies, there are more than a few films that every budding classicist might enjoy.

10 ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ (2010)

Director: Chris Columbus

This one is for the young adult fiction fans out there. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is based on the 2005 young adult novel of the same name, the first in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Directed by Chris Columbus, this 2010 fantasy adventure film stars Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson, a seemingly normal boy who becomes forced to journey across the United States in order to recover Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt.

Especially with the recent release of the Disney+ series, there is no better time than the present to go back and experience the original adaptation of Rick Riordan‘s classic YA series. Percy Jackson is brimming with parallels and references to many iconic characters and stories from Greek mythos, acting as the perfect modernization and contemporary version of these stories. While not as accurate to the books as the new streaming series is, the original feature-length adaptations are still filled with enough charm and quirks to make them worth a watch.

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9 ‘Immortals’ (2011)

Director: Tarsem Singh

A massive high-budget historical epic that retells the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, Immortals sees Henry Cavill as the legendary Greek hero, who is chosen by Zeus to lead an army in his name. As the deadly and treacherous King Hyperion continues his onslaught across Greece in search of a weapon that has the potential to destroy humanity, it becomes up to Theseus and his army to put a stop to the mad king and save humanity.

While Immortals may seem relatively simple in its adaptation of a classic Greek tale, the true highlight of the film comes from its exceptional execution and delivery on all fronts. Director Tarsem Singh provides a distinct creative vision and visual clarity throughout Immortals that helps the film massively stick out when compared to other stylized historical epics of the era. Cavill also does a tremendous job as Theseus, in what can easily be considered one of his greatest acting roles to date. – Robert Lee

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8 ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ (2017)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

While not set in or about Ancient Greece, The Killing of a Sacred Deer still deserves your time and attention as a film that perfectly understands and adapts the themes and message of a Greek classic. This psychological horror, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, and Sunny Suljic as the Murphys, a family that begins to fall severely ill after befriending a mysterious young man (Barry Keoghan).

What fans of Ancient Greece will love about this film is how it serves as a chilling adaptation of Agamemnon’s offense against the goddess Artemis in the leadup to the Trojan War. The film takes a wild and unorthodox approach to retelling this story, a gambit that pays off masterfully to create a massive independent hit among audiences and critics. With a modern setting and elements of horror, Lanthimos (also known for directing The Lobster and Poor Things) and The Killing of a Sacred Deer engage with the grim Greek parable in a unique, genre-defining way.

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7 ‘Alexander’ (2004)

Director: Oliver Stone

Alexander is an epic drama of the Gladiator era of sword-and-sandal films, drawing massive inspiration from the style of high-stakes historical drama mixed with action and a compelling lead. Unlike Ridley Scott’s historical action film, director Oliver Stone chose to focus on the psychological intricacies of one of history’s most successful conquerors, Alexander the Great. The film follows the story of Alexander as he leads his legions against the powerful Persian Empire, and then uses his newfound success to spread his power across the entire world.

The film stars Colin Farrell in the titular role and focuses on the childhood, trauma, and interpersonal relationships of the ill-fated conqueror in addition to rendering the battles and feats of Alexander’s military years. It’s this focus and melding of both action and deep inner turmoil and emotions that helps Alexander become a true historical epic, as opposed to the many copycats who failed to understand the strengths of the genre.

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6 ‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)

Director: Desmond Davis

Clash of the Titans holds the crown as one of cinema’s seminal adventure films, in addition to being one of the most enjoyable films about Greek mythology. Directed by Desmond Davis, the movie is inspired by the story of Perseus and adapts a version of his story for the silver screen. The film sees Perseus having to complete various seemingly impossible tasks, including cutting off the head of the deadly Medusa, to win the right to marry his true love, Princess Andromeda.

The film boasted impressive visual effects for its time and featured some big names within its cast, including Maggie Smith and Laurence Olivier. Clash of the Titans has become the premiere example of how to adapt a classic Greek mythos tale to the big screen, with its inspiration and legacy still being felt in stories about Ancient Greece to this day. Clash of the Titans was remade in 2010, with Sam Worthington playing Perseus, and was successful enough to get a sequel, Wrath of the Titans, which was released in 2012.

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5 ‘Troy’ (2004)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Adapting the Trojan War from Homer’s Iliad is quite a daunting task, but that was what Wolfgang Petersen (and writer David Benioff) did in the creation of the movie Troy. Petersen’s historical war film features an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, and Orlando Bloom. The film closely recreates the massive scope and gravitas of Homer’s powerful story with its then gargantuan $185 million budget, one of the most expensive films of all time when it was released.

The film strips Homer’s original myth of its fantastical elements, choosing to instead focus more on the humanity and gritty realism behind the war and bloodshed told in the story. Most notably, the film does not depict the gods participating in the events leading up to and during the Trojan War. Despite this, the focus on the humans in the movie makes this more than a visceral action epic; 2004’s Troy is a gripping, if not tragic, viewing experience throughout.

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4 ‘300’ (2006)

Director: Zach Snyder

Zack Snyder’s films are considered to be some of the most exciting, yet frustrating, movies made today. Take 300 for example, his 2006 adaptation of the comic book series of the same name. Featuring kick-ass action, abs, and more slow-motion swordplay than any action movie fan can handle, the movie stars Gerard Butler as King Leonidas, leader of the Spartan fighting force known for their brave stand against the army of King Xerxes at the Battle of Thermopylae.

Fans of Greek history be warned: Snyder’s film throws realism and historical accuracy out the window, choosing instead to remain faithful to the heavily stylized fantasy of the graphic novel that it adapts. However, it’s hard to deny that Snyder’s directorial vision and knack for pure style make for a visually enthralling and enchanting retelling of Greek history. There’s a reason that the film was seemingly inescapable in the late 2000s, as its fantastical pure execution made up for the many issues and changes from the original stories.

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3 ‘Medea’ (1969)

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

While many stories of Ancient Greece focus on the action and battles between the powerful Greek army and the array of iconic fantasy figures and opposing armies, the Italian classic Medea takes a step back and focuses on a story of political drama and betrayal. The film adapts the story of Euripides’ Medea, following the story of the titular Greek icon as she attempts to do anything and everything she can to keep her position of power, including revenge against her husband, Jason.

Euripides’ story of Madea and Jason and the Argonauts is so often adapted to focus on the battles and struggles of Jason, yet Madea‘s change of scope and focus on the figure makes for a highly refreshing cinematic experience. Madea is still able to recreate and accomplish the beautiful production design and iconography of Ancient Greece, while at the same time telling a completely different story tonally using the same iconic characters. It’s a testament to just how versatile and timeless the Greek mythos truly is, able to be melded and adapted in numerous creative and artful depictions. – Robert Lee

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2 ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ (1963)

Director: Don Chaffey

Jason and the Argonauts is a delight for fans of film and Greek mythology alike. The movie is known for heavily featuring some of the most impressive work by Ray Harryhausen, who propelled the film and the field of special effects to greatness with his groundbreaking stop-motion animation. The film follows the story of Jason, a fearless explorer who to claim his right to the throne, must travel off to find a magical Golden Fleece, defeating many dangerous foes on his journey.

For fans of fantasy and myth, Jason and the Argonauts, as you might have guessed, retells the story of the heroic Jason and his crew, their maritime adventures aboard the Argo, and their quest for the Golden Fleece. Even in terms of pure filmmaking and ingenuity, the creativity and innovations made in Jason and the Argonauts are considered some of the earliest and most important steps for CGI and animation in film as a whole.

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1 ‘Iphigenia’ (1977)

Director: Mihalis Kakogiannis

Iphigenia is a retelling of the sacrifice of Iphegenia, King Agamemnon’s daughter, in the leadup to the Trojan War. The must-watch foreign-language film is an adaptation of Iphigenia in Aulis, a play written by Euripides in 405 BC. Like Euripides’ play, director Mihalis Kakogiannis highlights the drama and tragedy of Iphigenia’s final days and the sequence of events that would lead to the painful downfall of King Agamemnon and his people.

Trapped on Aulis, King Agamemnon (Kostas Kazakos) is commanded to kill his daughter (Tatiana Papamoschou) to ensure that his army and fleet reach Trojan soil. Nominated for the 1977 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Iphigenia is a refreshing, somber take on one of Greek mythology’s most overlooked tragic figures. It’s this mixture of effective action and epic set pieces with pure, unadulterated drama and emotional weight that makes Iphigenia such a powerful and resonating adaptation of one of the best stories of Ancient Greece.

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NEXT: The Best Movies Set in Ancient Rome