If You Love the Crown, Add These 14 Historical Dramas to Your Watch List Stat

Historical drama is the best drama.

written by

updated Oct 04, 2019

gif of 3 different documentary posters — Graphic by Cristina Cianci

Between the lavish costumes, the impeccably styled sets, and the engrossing plots, we can't get enough of historical dramas. Some might forgo factual accuracy, others often take political intrigue at face value, and occasionally they can showcase soap opera–level acting for the sake of piquing our interest, but as long as quality period dramas like The Crown are streaming, we'll stand by our endorsement.

We went in search of other historical dramas to binge-watch on Netflix, and trust us—there's some good ones. Spanning a popular period piece set against the backdrop of war-torn Morocco in the 1920s, to a telenovela based on the life of a famous salsa singer set in 1950s Cuba, there are plenty of watch list–worthy series to stream once you've finished The Crown.

Here are our picks for the best historical dramas on Netflix.

01 of 14

Call the Midwife

This popular BBC-produced drama takes place in London in the 1950's. It centers around a newly qualified midwife making her way in London's impoverished East End neighborhood.

Available on: Netflix

02 of 14

Versailles

If you couldn't get enough of the Sofia Coppola film, Marie Antoinette, you'll fall in love with this series, set in France in the 1660's. As you may have guessed from the title, this historical drama takes place during the period when 28-year-old Louis XIV rises to power and sets out to build Versailles.

Available on: Netflix

03 of 14

Troy: Fall of a City

Set during the Trojan War, this miniseries is rife with political and romantic drama as Paris and Helen's love affair takes down a powerful city. The British-American series tells the story of the 10 year siege of Troy, and it takes place in the 13th century BC.

Available on: Netflix

04 of 14

Celia

Travel back in time to Cuba in the 1950 in this series. Based on the life of Celia Cruz, the renowned Cuban salsa singer, this telenovela is filled with the Queen of Guarachera's most beloved songs.

Available on: Netflix

05 of 14

Mr. Sunshine

In this Korean period drama, a young boy who was born into slavery and escaped to the United States finally returns to his homeland as a U.S. Marine in the midst of a political struggle. It's set in Korea in the early 1900s.

Available on: Netflix

06 of 14

Pablo Escobar: El Patrón Del Mal

This one doesn't take you too far back (it takes place in Colombia in the 1980s and 1990s), but it's so worth a watch. This Colombian-produced telenovela follows the horrific exploits of the notorious narco-trafficker, Pablo Escobar, including the unique perspective of the people most affected by his crimes. If you loved Narcos, this is your new obsession.

Available on: Netflix

07 of 14

The Tudors

You may have already seen this popular show at some point, but consider this your excuse to re-watch it. If you're new to the series, it's set in England in the early 1500s. England's most infamous king, Henry VIII (and his many wives) are the subject of this Showtime drama. See Natalie Dormer before her Game of Thrones days, starring as Anne Boelyn.

Available on: Netflix

08 of 14

The Rise of Phoenixes

Loosely based on Huang Quan, a novel by Tianxia Guiyuan, this series takes place in ancient China. It centers around a king with a dark past, and a warrior with a secret of her own.

Available on: Netflix

09 of 14

Mad Men

Jon Hamm and January Jones — Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/AMC

Two words: Jon Hamm. This series, which we're still mourning the 2015 ending of to this day, takes place in New York City in the 1960s. In his high-pressure job at a Madison Avenue advertising firm, Don Draper stands out among his colleagues as the best in the business while he balances his career with his fatherly duties. Cue all the Midcentury Modern décor envy.

Available on: Netflix

10 of 14

The Borgias

In the midst of the Renaissance, the Spanish Borgias family rises to power in Italy, with one of their own leading the Catholic Church as Pope Alexander VI. The show portrays their struggle to maintain their power.

Available on: Netflix

11 of 14

Morocco: Love in Times of War

This series takes place in Morocco in the 1920s. During the Rif War, a group of all-female nurses from well-to-do families move from Spain to Morocco to help treat the wounded.

Available on: Netflix

12 of 14

Marco Polo

Although the series had a short two-season run, this historical drama about the adventures of young explorer Marco Polo is well worth a watch. It takes place in Mongolia in the late 1200s.

Available on: Netflix

13 of 14

A Young Doctor's Notebook

If you're missing Jon Hamm in Mad Men, don't despair—we've found another show for you. In this series, set in Russia in the early 1900s, he teams up with Daniel Radcliffe, and we're loving this dynamic duo. Based on short stories by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov, this comedy-drama follows the journey of a doctor upon his arrival in Russia during the revolution.

Available on: Netflix

14 of 14

Turn: Washington's Spies

This period drama, which originally aired on AMC, delves into the events that ultimately led to the American's victory in The Revolutionary War over the British. It takes place in the United States in the late 1770s, early 1780s, and it's truly fascinating.

Available on: Netflix