Best tv shows like Immortal Yi Soon-shin
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin is a South Korean television series based on the life of Yi Sun-sin, starring Kim Myung-min in the title role. It aired on KBS1 from September 4, 2004 to August 28, 2005 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 for 104 episodes. Many times, the series filmed on location at the actual battle sites. It made extensive use of rendered images and a reconstruction of a turtle ship. Due to the preparation needed, the show took many months to produce.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 118
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating
Best tv shows and movies like Immortal Yi Soon-shin (2004):
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Genghis: The Legend of the Ten (2012)
Plot Summary:
A little known fact is that Chinggis Khaan, better known as Genghis Khan, would collect orphans from his bloody battlefields and have his own mother raise them. These adopted brothers grew up to become his most loyal officials and advisers. Khaan organised his Mongol soldiers into groups according to the decimal system. Soldiers were arranged in units of 10 ("aravt"), 100 ("zuut"), 1,000 ("minghan") and 10,000 ("tumen"). Each unit had an appointed leader reporting to a larger unit. A 10-person "aravt" unit is ordered by Khaan to locate a skilled doctor who lives in a forest. En route, they discover an abandoned baby. He is in fact the child of an enemy warrior who gives pursuit, even though they have saved the child's life. Whilst protecting the child from attacks from enemy soldiers, the members of the "aravt" must also complete their mission. Through their actions, they demonstrate the benevolence and bravery of Mongol warriors as the final battle closes in.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 435
Genere: Action, History
Country: Mongolia
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating
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Clash of Futures (1918-1939) (2018)
Plot Summary:
From the armistice of 1918, which marked the end of the First World War, to the declaration of war in September 1939, the beginning of the Second World War: an era during which there was an aspiration to create a new world, prosperous and at peace, but which provoked a new tragedy, seen through the destinies of thirteen people who were both actors and witnesses of the upheavals of the so-called inter-war period.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 302
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg
Duration: 52 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, captivating, disturbing, historical drama, period drama
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Nokdu Flower (2019)
Plot Summary:
Set during the period of the 1894 Donghak Peasant Revolution against the Japanese, the drama tells the story of two half-brothers, one illegitimate and low born, and one, part of the pro-Japanese ruling elite, who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 202
Genere: Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 35 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, disturbing, romantic
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Sanadamaru (2016)
Plot Summary:
Spanning over 50 episodes, we follow the historical fiction of the Sanada clansmen as they plotted and fought their ways to survive the changing political alliances during the Warring States Period of Japan.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 484
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, captivating, disturbing, exciting
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The Trusted Confidant (2007)
Plot Summary:
Fūrin Kazan was the 46th NHK Taiga drama beginning on January 7, 2007. It was aired throughout 2007. The four characters from left to right are wind, woods, fire, and mountain. The title is a reference to the war banner used by Takeda Shingen, which in turn was taken from Sun Tzu's The Art of War. It means "Swift as the Wind, Silent as a Forest, Fierce as Fire and Immovable as a Mountain.".
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 177
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, captivating, disturbing
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The Qin Empire (2009)
Plot Summary:
The Qin Empire is a 2009 Chinese television series based on Sun Haohui's novel of the same Chinese title. The 51 episodes long series chronicles the rise of the Qin state in the Warring States period during the reign of Duke Xiao of Qin. It was produced in 2006 and first aired on television channels in China in December 2009.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 136
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating
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The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
Plot Summary:
Korean War, winter 1950. In the frozen and snowy area of Changjin Lake, a bloody battle is about to begin between the elite troops of the United States and China.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 176 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, disturbing
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Designation Forever (2011)
Plot Summary:
Li Chishui is a Militia Captain. In an unexpected delaying action, he goes to the front line and becomes the captain of the battalion in his county. In order to be a good captain, Li Chishui tries everything from enhancing trainings to recruiting new members. Thanks to his efforts, his battalion gradually develops. When Japanese army sweeps the Northern China area, Li Chishui's battalion is assigned to delay an elite troop of over 30,000 Japanese soldiers at all costs so that the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army will have time to transfer. Before he accepts this essential task, Li Chishui makes a request: he wants an official designation for his battalion. After making this request, Li Chishui leads his battalion to the front, devoting their lives to this task. The battalion sticks to the battlefield for several days until they all have nothing to fight with and die in the battle. One month later, the CPC cadre who assigns this task to Li Chishui's battalion returns to this battlefield. Facing the tombs of all the soldiers, he fulfills his promise to Li Chishui and grants Li Chishui's battalion a designation. He says, "They defend the dignity of The Eighth Route Army with their lives. Today, I award them this designation which will last forever! For China, we will fight any enemy until we drain every drop of our blood.".
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 19
Genere: War
Country: China
Duration: 47 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing
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The War Below (2021)
Plot Summary:
During World War I, a group of British miners are recruited to tunnel underneath no man's land and set bombs from below the German front in hopes of breaking the deadly stalemate of the Battle of Messines.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, powerful
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Jackpot (2016)
Plot Summary:
Dae-Gil and King Yeongjo enter a match. Dae-Gil bets his life and King Yeongjo bets the entire Kingdom of Joseon on the outcome. Dae-Gil is the best gambler in the Joseon era. He holds deep resentment inside, but is also cool on the exterior. King Yeongjo is a man who never lower his head without a convincing reason. Meanwhile, Dam-Seo exists solely to take revenge upon king.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 297
Genere: Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, captivating, disturbing
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Besieged (2015)
Plot Summary:
For three years, 500 Spaniards endured the attack of the indigenous natives in the south of Chile. Only 22 survived. This is the story of those brave men and women and their incredible journey to freedom.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 134
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Chile
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, erotic, sensual
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Water Gate Bridge (2022)
Plot Summary:
In the follow-up to "The Battle At Lake Changjin", brothers Wu Qianli and Wu Wanli undertake a new task for the People's Volunteer Army, defending a bridge part of the American troops' escape route from the advancing Chinese.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 153 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing
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Ryōmaden (2010)
Plot Summary:
Ryōmaden is the 49th NHK Taiga drama. It was shown on NHK from January 3 to November 28, 2010 spanning 48 episodes. The story centers on the life of 19th-century Japanese historical figures Iwasaki Yatarō and Sakamoto Ryōma. It has been announced that the series will be aired in several other countries, for example Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 348
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing
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Warriors Of The Dawn (2017)
Plot Summary:
A crown prince emerges as a leader during the war between Korea and Japan in 1592.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating
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Convoy PQ-17 (2004)
Plot Summary:
"PQ-17 was the code name for an Allied Second World War convoy in the Arctic Ocean. In July 1942, the Arctic convoys suffered a significant defeat when Convoy PQ-17 lost 24 of its 35 merchant ships during a series of heavy enemy daylight attacks which lasted a week.".
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 91
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Russia
Duration: 416 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense
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The Battle: Roar to Victory (2019)
Plot Summary:
In 1920, when Korea is under Japanese rule the Korean Independence Army’s Hae-chul and his subordinates are carrying out the operation to deliver funds to the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai. During the operation Hae-chul is reunited with Jang-ha, a young squad commander, whose mission is to defend Samdunja. They unite and trap the Japanese soldiers in Samdunja, soundly defeating them. Now they’re chased by Japanese troops and Hae-chul finds out that Jang-ha’s mission isn’t over yet. A crucial yet dangerous task is still assigned to him.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 873
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea, USA
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: rough, suspense, disturbing, compassionate
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The Sacrifice (2020)
Plot Summary:
In 1953, the Korean War is entering the final stage. The People's Volunteer Army of China has launched the last major battle in Kumsong. In order to arrive at the battleground on time and deliver enough force to the Kumsong front line, the soldiers have to defend themselves against the never ending bombing of enemy bombers and race with time to repair bridges, all under the circumstance of supply shortages and inferior equipment. The rarely told history slowly unfolds.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, War
Country: China
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, philosophical, political
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Emperor of the Sea (2004)
Plot Summary:
Emperor of the Sea is a South Korean television drama series directed by Kang Il-soo and Kang Byung-taek and starring Choi Soo-jong, Chae Shi-ra, Song Il-gook and Soo Ae. It aired on KBS2 from November 24, 2004 to May 25, 2005 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:50 for 51 episodes. The historical drama is based on Choi In-ho's novel of the same title, which depicts the life of Jang Bogo, who rises from a lowly slave to a powerful maritime figure who dominated the East Asia seas and international trade during the Unified Silla Dynasty. The drama was received extremely well, holding the number one spot in the ratings for majority of the weeks it aired. It was also exported to eight countries earning approximately US$1.8 million in profits. The filming set in Wando County, South Jeolla Province also became a tourist attraction.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, suspenseful, tense, captivating, disturbing, historical drama, sageuk, epic
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Rocket Hunter (2020)
Plot Summary:
In one of the most dangerous missions of the war, an American B-17 pilot volunteers to fly a surrendered Messerschmitt 109 on a daring flight through the heart of Germany to try to prevent the people of London from being terrorized by the V-2 rockets. "Rocket Hunter" tells the story of an amazing pilot and his bombardier brother from the time they are teenagers dreaming of taking to the skies to the dark days of January 1945.
IMDB Rating: 1.4
IMDB Votes: 314
Genere: Action, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, captivating, suspenseful
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The Fortress (2017)
Plot Summary:
Ancient Korea, 17th century. The powerful Khan of the Jurchen tribe of Manchuria, who fights the Ming dinasty to gain China, becomes the first ruler of the Qing dinasty and demands from King In-jo of Joseon to bow before him; but he refuses, being loyal to the Mings. On December 14th, 1636, the Qing horde invades Joseon, so King In-jo and his court shelter in the mountain fortress of Namhan and prepare to defend the kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, interesting, period drama
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Alyosha (2020)
Plot Summary:
Summer 1944. The Second World War rages. On one side, elite German soldiers serving in the most dangerous and cruel army the world has ever seen. On the other, Russian partisans-fatigued, wounded and hungry, they have almost forgotten the warmth of home. But they do remember one thing: their country is behind them, and they cannot give up. The story is about machine gunner Yefrem Zhavoronok and Alyosha, a young boy. Alyosha is only sixteen, and Yefrem knows that he must look after him like his own. In war, everyone's children, mothers, wives and brothers are your family.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 19
Genere: Drama, War
Country: Russia
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense
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The Young Guard (2015)
Plot Summary:
A young partisan Viktor Tretyakov and his school friends decide to organize a resistance group to the fascists. They call it the "Young Guard" and attract familiar boys and girls to it. After a while, the Young Guards are joined by scouts sent to the city to collect information — Lyubov Shevtsova and the Artist. For a long time, the "Young Guard" manages to successfully commit sabotage, but they are opposed by an experienced and insidious enemy, who, in the end, manages to expose the Young Guards.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 56
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: Russia
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating, suspense
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Death and Glory in Changde (2010)
Plot Summary:
Directed by Shen Dong and starring Ray Lui, An Yixuan and Yuan Wenkang, Death and Glory in Changde recalls one of the most cruel and controversial battles during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), Changde Battle, in November 1943.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 283
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, disturbing
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Legend of the Patriots (2010)
Plot Summary:
Legend of the Patriots is a remake of the 1975 South Korean drama Comrades. Its production was spawned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. The story centers around the lives of eleven Korean soldiers fighting in the Korean War. Director Kim Sang-hwi remarked that the series is not about the ideologies of South and North Korea, but rather focuses on the struggles of ordinary people who lived through the war.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 58
Genere: History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing
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The King Dae Joyoung (2006)
Plot Summary:
This 100-episode epic drama vividly depicts the life of King Dae Jo-yeong and other heroes of the Balhae Kingdom, which dates back 1300 years ago.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 211
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, costume drama
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Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022)
Plot Summary:
In 1592, admiral Yi Sun-sin and his fleet face off against the might of the invading Japanese navy and its formidable warships. As the Korean forces fall into crisis, the admiral resorts to using his secret weapon, the dragon head ships known as geobukseon, in order to change the tide of this epic battle at sea.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, disturbing, period drama
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Tokyo Trial (2016)
Plot Summary:
In the wake of World War II, 11 Allied judges are tasked with weighing the fates of Japanese war criminals in a tense international trial.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Canada, Japan, Netherlands
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, tense, captivating, disturbing, political, historical drama
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Misja Afganistan (2012)
Plot Summary:
Story about soldiers of the II platoon of the first company of the mechanized infantry from Wedrzyn, under the command of a junior officer - lieutenant Pawel Konaszewicz.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 167
Genere: Action, War
Country: Poland
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: captivating
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The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
Plot Summary:
The film mainly follows the famous 1597 Battle of Myeongryang during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598), where the iconic Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin managed to destroy a total of 133 Japanese warships with only 13 ships remaining in his command. The battle, which took place in the Myeongryang Strait off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula, is considered one of the greatest victories of Yi.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: epic, tense, exciting, suspenseful, captivating, suspense, serious, realistic, period piece, period drama
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Rough Riders (1997)
Plot Summary:
In 1898 the US government decided to intervene on the side of the Cuban rebels in their struggle against Spanish rule. Assistant Navy Secretary Theodore Roosevelt decides to experience the war first hand by promoting and joining a volunteer cavalry regiment. The regiment, later known as the Rough Riders, brings together volunteers from all corners of the nation and all walks of life. When Roosevelt and his men finally land on Cuba, they face ambush, intense enemy fire, and a desperate, outnumbered charge up a defended hill.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 240 min
Plot tags: realistic, sincere, serious, captivating, tense, suspenseful, political