Best tv shows like The Last Days of Pompeii
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
This costume series portrays aspects of life in Pompeii, a coastal luxury resort near Naples catering for the very rich of imperial Rome, mainly before but culminating in the eruption of the Vesuvian volcano, which wipes it from the face of the earth. The main characters include Diomed, a common upstart merchant whose self-made riches from trade allow him to consider running for political office against sitting city magistrate Quintus and an impoverished aristocratic marriage for his daughter Julia; the cultivated Greek Glaucus; the gladiator Lydon; the noble-born Antonius and his sister Ione, the evil Isis-priest Arbaces who is after (their) money and power; the persecution-fearing Christian slaves Petrus, his true love Chloe and their secret leader Olinthus.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 608
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Italy, UK, USA
Duration: 310 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic
Best tv shows and movies like The Last Days of Pompeii (1984):
Similar in 86%
Quo Vadis (2001)
Plot Summary:
Ancient Rome, during the time of Emperor Nero. Vinicius, a young patrician, falls in love with the beautiful Lygia, the daughter of a Barbarian commander who was killed in battle, and wants her for his concubine. For Lygia, a Christian, being a pagan's concubine is a severe sin and disgrace. However, when Vinicius is wounded, Lygia cares for him, and starts to reciprocate his feelings. Vinicius, in return, becomes interested in Christian learning and asks Apostle Peter to teach him. In the meantime, Emperor Nero accuses Christians of having started a great fire in Rome. He encourages the imprisonment, torture and murder of his Christian subjects.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Poland, USA
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, captivating, epic, tragic
Similar in 88%
79 A.D. (1962)
Plot Summary:
Intrigue at the Roman Emperor's court prior to its destruction by Vesuvius.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 132
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
The Bible (2013)
Plot Summary:
The Bible comes to life in History Channel's epic new miniseries. From Genesis to Revelation, these unforgettable stories unfold through live action and cutting-edge computer-generated imagery, offering new insight into famous scenes and iconic characters. Created by producer Mark Burnett and featuring an international cast that includes Roma Downey, this 10-hour docudrama explores the sacred text’s most significant episodes, including Noah’s journey in the ark, the Exodus and the life of Jesus.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Drama, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 440 min
Plot tags: christian film, biblical, spiritual, serious, captivating, uplifting, historical drama, inspirational
Similar in 84%
Duel of Champions (1961)
Plot Summary:
A Roman nobleman, Horatius leads an imperial legion during the long and bloody war between the Romans and the Albans. A desperate arrangement is agreed on how to settle the war. Three valiant brothers are chosen from each side to fight one last fierce and bloody duel.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 343
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Italy, Yugoslavia
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious
Similar in 82%
Julius Caesar (1979)
Plot Summary:
The assassination of the would be ruler of Rome at the hands of Brutus and company has tragic consequences for Brutus and the republic.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 253
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 161 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 82%
The Dovekeepers (2015)
Plot Summary:
This four-hour miniseries is based on Alice Hoffman’s acclaimed historical novel about four extraordinary women whose lives intersect in a fight for survival at the siege of Masada.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 913
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, realistic, biblical, touching, period piece, historical drama, captivating, stylized, soap opera
Similar in 89%
A.D. (1985)
Plot Summary:
Set just after the death of Jesus Christ, this mini-series chronicles the life & adventures of Jesus's disciples, and events in Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 511
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Italy, France, USA
Duration: 600 min
Plot tags: christian film, biblical, epic
Similar in 80%
St. Paul (2000)
Plot Summary:
Director Roger Young (JOSEPH AND JESUS) presents this dramatic television miniseries that recounts the life of Paul (Johannes Brandrup) the Apostle of Jesus Christ. Originally known as Paul of Tarsus, Paul tortured and persecuted Christians until he experienced a vision of Jesus that forever changed his life. After converting to Christianity, Paul suffered persecution and imprisonment, but never stopped trying to spread the teachings of Christ. Notably, this program was shot on location in the Moroccan desert.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Italy, Germany, France, USA, Czech Republic, Netherlands, UK
Duration: 170 min
Plot tags: biblical, realistic, serious, exciting, tense, captivating, suspenseful, christian film, spiritual
Similar in 85%
The Red Tent (2014)
Plot Summary:
The Red Tent is a sweeping tale that takes place during the times of the Old Testament, told through the eyes of Dinah (Rebecca Ferguson), the daughter of Leah (Minnie Driver) and Jacob (Iain Glen). Dinah happily grows up inside the red tent where the women of her tribe gather and share the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood. The film recounts the story of Rachel (Morena Baccarin), Leah, Zilpah and Bilhah, the four wives of Jacob. Dinah matures and experiences an intense love that subsequently leads to devastating loss, and the fate of her family is forever changed. The all-star cast also includes Debra Winger and Will Tudor.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: captivating, emotional, stylized, political, spiritual, period piece, sentimental, serious, realistic, saga
Similar in 85%
Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978)
Plot Summary:
While still the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII meets the married American socialite, Wallis Simpson. Their relationship causes furor in the palace and in parliament, especially when King George V dies, Mrs. Simpson gets divorced, and King Edward announces his intentions to marry her.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 448
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 350 min
Plot tags: costume drama, historical drama, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, period drama
Similar in 87%
Scarlett (1994)
Plot Summary:
The greatest love story ever told began with Gone with the Wind and continues in this sweeping epic sequel, as Scarlett, Rhett and a host of unforgettable characters go from tragedy to triumph in an action-packed saga of international scope.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: France, USA, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Austria
Duration: 360 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, stylized, romantic, sentimental, emotional, realistic, epic, sexy, period drama
Similar in 84%
Duel of the Titans (1961)
Plot Summary:
Steve Reeves and George Scott are raised by wolves, but grow up to become the founders of Rome.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 928
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: perverse, exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, psychotronic, campy
Similar in 85%
Barabbas (1961)
Plot Summary:
Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was spared crucifixion when Pilate manipulated the crowd into pardoning him, rather than Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 137 min
Plot tags: biblical, epic, intense, exciting, serious, captivating, christian film, retro, technicolor, realistic
Similar in 84%
Pompeii: The Last Day (2003)
Plot Summary:
In 79 AD, one of the infamous natural disasters in human history occurred when Mount Vesuvius erupted. With speculative dramatizations of various inhabitants' final hours along with detailed documentation of the known facts concerning the eruption, the horrific day is vividly brought to life.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, USA, Germany, France
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic, semi documentary, period drama, disaster movie
Similar in 90%
Pompeii (2007)
Plot Summary:
Forbidden love blossoms in the city of Pompeii, which until the eruption of volcano Vesuvius in 79 AD, is one of the empire's most powerful cities.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 228
Genere: History, Romance
Country: Italy
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, suspenseful, realistic, period drama
Similar in 87%
The Antagonists (1981)
Plot Summary:
After the destruction of the Second Temple, 900 Jewish zealots hold out against a 5000 man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 394 min
Plot tags: captivating, exciting, tense, serious, biblical, political thriller, mythical, realistic, epic
Similar in 76%
Cleopatra (1999)
Plot Summary:
Cleopatra, the famed Egyptian Queen born in 69 B.C., is shown to have been brought by Roman ruler Julius Caesar at age 18. Caesar becomes sexually obsessed by the 18 year old queen, beds her, and eventually has a son by her. However, his Roman followers and his wife are not pleased by the union. In fact, as Caesar has only a daughter by his wife, he had picked Octavian as his successor. The out-of-wedlock son of Cleopatra is seen to be a threat to his future leadership. Thus Brutus and other Roman legislators plot the assassination of Caesar. Caesar's loyal general, Marc Antony, and Octavian then divide up the Roman empire. Antony takes Egypt and soon takes up the affair with Cleopatra. However, Octavian soon launches an attack on Antony and ultimately defeats and mortally wounds him. Rather than permitting herself to be humiliated by Octavian, Cleopatra sends her son away to India and she commits suicide by permitting the deadly asp to bite her.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 177 min
Plot tags: historical drama, fairy tale, costume drama, epic, serious, captivating, stylized, period drama
Similar in 90%
Ben Hur (2010)
Plot Summary:
About the struggle between the Roman Empire and its rebellious conquest Judaea, and two best friends caught in a terrible moment in history.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: UK, Germany, Spain, Canada, USA
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, epic, captivating, historical drama, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
Helen of Troy (2003)
Plot Summary:
When Paris of Troy abducts the beautiful Helen, wife of Spartan King Menelaus, the trojan war begins.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 175 min
Plot tags: exciting, semi serious, captivating, tense, fairy tale, romantic, historical drama, surprise ending, epic, period drama
Similar in 77%
Romulus (2020)
Plot Summary:
The story of Romulus and his twin brother Remus, in eighth century B.C. as seen through the eyes of three people marked by death, loneliness and violence.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, History
Country: Italy, UK
Duration:
Plot tags: atmospheric, serious, captivating, heroic, realistic
Similar in 87%
Empire (2005)
Plot Summary:
As Conqueror Julius Caesar is drawing his last breath, he swears Tyrannus—Rome's finest warrior—to an oath to protect his successor, Octavius, his 18-year-old nephew. Tyrannus and Octavius are forced into exile to protect the young man from those who want to sever Caesar's bloodline once and for all.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 360 min
Plot tags: epic, realistic, exciting, serious, historical drama
Similar in 81%
Domina (2021)
Plot Summary:
Domina follows Livia’s journey from a naïve young girl whose world crumbles in the wake of Julius Caesar’s assassination, to Rome’s most powerful and influential Empress, driven by a deep desire to avenge her father and secure power for her sons. Livia and her peers navigate their way through a brutal society by means of strategy, conspiracy, seduction and murder. This is a visceral and authentic family saga, grounded in historical accuracy and bringing to life the incredible true stories of the women who would create one of the most enduring and fascinating dynasties of all time.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, Italy
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: historical drama, social documentary, period drama
Similar in 80%
I, Claudius (1976)
Plot Summary:
Tracing the lives of several Roman emperors, this is an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marked him a fool - yet whom prophecies have foretold will one day rule Rome.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 669 min
Plot tags: costume drama, political thriller, historical drama, clever, epic, spiritual, political, controversial, mind blowing, dark comedy
Similar in 77%
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (2006)
Plot Summary:
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire is a 2006 BBC One docudrama series, with each episode looking at a different key turning point in the history of the Roman Empire.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Documentary, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 59 min
Plot tags: captivating, epic, realistic, serious, historical drama, educational, mythical, period drama
Similar in 85%
Attila (2001)
Plot Summary:
A romanced story of Attila the Hun, since his childhood, when he lost his parents until his death. Attila is disclosed as a great leader, strategist and lover and the movie shows his respect to the great Roman strategist Flavius Aetius, his loves and passions, the gossips, intrigues and betrayals in Rome, all of these feelings evolved by magic and mysticism.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: USA, Lithuania
Duration: 177 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, touching, epic, inspirational, historical drama, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Pompeii (2014)
Plot Summary:
In 79 A.D., Milo, a slave turned gladiator, finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 115000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Canada, Germany, USA, UK
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, realistic, stylized, romantic, period piece, costume drama, romantic drama, disgusting
Similar in 75%
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011)
Plot Summary:
Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed through the gates onto the sand.'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus in a more ruthless time before Spartacus' arrival where honor was just finding its way into the arena.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 144000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 331 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, serious, realistic, stylized, rough, suspense, factual, sexy, tense
Similar in 78%
Spartacus (2004)
Plot Summary:
Sentenced to spend out the rest of his adult life laboring in the harsh deserts of Egypt, the Thracian slave Spartacus gets a new lease on life when he is purchased by the obese owner of a Roman gladiator school. Moved by the defiance of an Ethiopian warrior, Draba, Spartacus leads a slave uprising which threatens Rome's status quo. As Spartacus gains sympathy within the Roman Senate, he also makes a powerful enemy in form of Marcus Lucinius Crassus, who makes it a matter of personal honor to crush the rebellion.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 174 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, atmospheric, tense, uplifting, realistic, suspenseful, stylized, emotional, rough
Similar in 76%
Rome (2005)
Plot Summary:
A down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 182000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 1193 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, historical drama, period piece, stylized, captivating, sexual, costume drama, erotic, dramatic
Similar in 83%
Spartacus (2010)
Plot Summary:
Spartacus is an American television series inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BCE led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic departing from Capua.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 253000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 55 min
Plot tags: epic, sexy, sexual, exciting, stylized, heroic, realistic, historical drama, mythical, erotic