Best tv shows like The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
On his deathbed, King Henry VIII recalls how he wooed and wed his six wives - and disposed of five of them - in a bid to secure the succession to the throne with a male heir. Despite his many marriages and the crowded court, Henry remains essentially lonely.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 540 min
Plot tags: historical drama, fairy tale, spiritual, costume drama, atmospheric, serious, realistic, stylized, period drama
Best tv shows and movies like The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970):
Similar in 90%
The Forsyte Saga (1967)
Plot Summary:
Adaptation from John Galsworthy's novels.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: family saga, costume drama, stylized, spiritual, historical drama, touching, epic, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 87%
Poldark (1975)
Plot Summary:
Period drama series about the brooding rivalry between former soldier Ross Poldark and local industrialist George Warleggan, and the two women in their lives. Based on the books by Winston Graham.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: costume drama, spiritual, historical drama, serious, captivating, realistic, saga, period drama
Similar in 86%
The Devil's Whore (2008)
Plot Summary:
Set between the years 1642 and 1660, "The Devil's Whore" charts the progress of the English Civil War through the eyes of the a 17 year old girl, the fictional Angelica Fanshawe.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance, War
Country: UK, South Africa
Duration: 189 min
Plot tags: historical drama, serious, epic, captivating, realistic, stylized, costume drama, political, sitcom, period piece
Similar in 80%
The Forsyte Saga (2002)
Plot Summary:
In 2002, the first two books and the first interlude of John Galsworthy's trilogy The Forsyte Saga were adapted by Granada Television for the ITV network. Additional funding for this production was provided by American PBS station WGBH, the 1967 BBC version having been a success on PBS in the early 1970s.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 276 min
Plot tags: period piece, family saga, realistic, costume drama, serious, saga, historical drama, touching, stylized, romantic drama
Similar in 86%
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 80%
Charles II: The Power and The Passion (2003)
Plot Summary:
The chronicle of Charles II's time on the throne, his 10 year exile from Oliver Cromwell's England, and his triumphant return.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 235 min
Plot tags: historical drama, epic, serious, realistic, costume drama, political, period piece, period drama, baroque, weird
Similar in 87%
Elizabeth I (2017)
Plot Summary:
Elizabeth I may be remembered as the greatest monarch to rule England, but during her lifetime she was beset by enemies and hers was a life of constant battling.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 258
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: disturbing, exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, educational, historical drama
Similar in 89%
The Crown Prince (2006)
Plot Summary:
A great Empire, once famous for its enlightened traditions, is taken over by a ruthless political establishment. Religious fundamentalists and national separatists are tearing at the fabric of its liberal society. Under the influence of his conservative advisors, the Emperor fails to initiate the reforms that could save the Empire from annihilation. One man alone can avert the cataclysm to come. The year is 1888 and the 600-year-old Empire of Austria-Hungary is at a cross-road of history. Crown-Prince Rudolf, son of fabled Empress Sisi, the most beautiful woman of her time, is the man with the vision and the ability to lead his Empire into the 20th century. Yet his enemies, the all-powerful Prime Minister first and foremost, scheme to isolate Rudolf from his father and from access to power. Against the backdrop of one of the most dangerous, exciting and colorful periods in history, at the dawn of the modern age.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 453
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Austria, France, Germany, Italy
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, atmospheric, realistic, exciting, suspenseful, sad, period piece, costume drama, epic, period drama
Similar in 82%
The Magnificent Century (2011)
Plot Summary:
Muhteşem Yüzyıl is a prime time historical Turkish television series. It was originally broadcast on Show TV and then transferred to Star TV. It is based on the life of Suleiman the Magnificent, the longest reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and his wife Hürrem Sultan, a slave girl who became a Sultan.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Turkey
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: stylized, captivating, emotional, realistic, serious, historical drama, soap opera, islamic, costume drama, dramatic
Similar in 82%
Lillie (1978)
Plot Summary:
The story of Lillie Langtry.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 664
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 52 min
Plot tags: costume drama, historical drama, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, period drama
Similar in 83%
Edward the King (1975)
Plot Summary:
Edward the Seventh is a 1975 television drama series, made by ATV in 13 episodes. Based on the biography of Edward VII by Philip Magnus, it starred Timothy West as the elder Edward VII and Simon Gipps-Kent and Charles Sturridge as Edward in his youth, Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria, Deborah Grant and Helen Ryan as Queen Alexandra, Robert Hardy as the Prince Consort, Alison Leggatt as the Duchess of Kent, and Felicity Kendal as Princess Vicky. It was directed by John Gorrie, who wrote episodes 7-10 with David Butler writing the remainder of the series. The series also featured John Gielgud as Benjamin Disraeli, Michael Hordern as William Ewart Gladstone, Harry Andrews as young Edward's tutor Colonel Bruce, Jane Lapotaire as Empress Marie of Russia, Christopher Neame as Kaiser Wilhelm II and, in one of his earliest roles, Charles Dance as Edward's eldest son Eddy, who died at the age of 28. Gielgud previously played Disraeli in the 1941 film The Prime Minister. The actresses playing Edward's mistresses include Moira Redmond as Alice Keppel and Carolyn Seymour as Daisy Greville. Francesca Annis was featured in two episodes as Lillie Langtry which led to Butler writing a full series about Mrs Langtry's life for Annis to star in, Lillie.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 539
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: costume drama, historical drama, epic, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, saga, gloomy, period drama
Similar in 87%
Elizabeth R (1971)
Plot Summary:
When Elizabeth Tudor comes to the throne, her (male) advisors know she has to marry. Doesn't she?.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: historical drama, costume drama, serious, realistic, stylized, factual, spiritual, period drama, vintage
Similar in 79%
Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972)
Plot Summary:
1547, King Henry VIII's life has taken a turn for the worse and he is forced to look back over his life and the many loves which had brought him his three children, only one of which was the desired male heir to secure the Tudor dynasty.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 922
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: historical drama, fairy tale, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, independent film, period drama
Similar in 89%
Henry VIII (2003)
Plot Summary:
Henry VIII is a two-part British television movie produced principally by Granada Television for ITV. It chronicles the life of Henry VIII of England from the disintegration of his first marriage to an aging Spanish princess until his death following a stroke in 1547, by which time he had married for the sixth time. Additional production funding was provided by WGBH Boston, Powercorp and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 193 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, serious, fairy tale, period piece, cult classic, historical drama, period drama, weird
Similar in 79%
Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)
Plot Summary:
Mary Stuart, who was named Queen of Scotland when she was only six days old, is the last Roman Catholic ruler of Scotland. She is imprisoned at he age of 23 by her cousin Elizabeth Tudor, the English Queen and her arch adversary. Nineteen years later the life of Mary is to be ended on the scaffold and with her execution the last threat to Elizabeth's throne has been removed. The two Queens with their contrasting personalities make a dramatic counterpoint to history.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: historical drama, spiritual, costume drama, captivating, realistic, stylized, serious, period drama, vintage
Similar in 78%
Gunpowder, Treason & Plot (2004)
Plot Summary:
A BBC miniseries based loosely on the lives of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son James I of England.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 205 min
Plot tags: historical drama, serious, captivating, realistic, political, period piece, costume drama, period drama, baroque, weird
Similar in 78%
Aristocrats (1999)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story, Aristocrats draws back the curtain on an 18th century English family near the summit of society, revealing a tapestry of romance, prejudice, infidelity, and revolution.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, Ireland, USA
Duration: 300 min
Plot tags: period piece, captivating, serious, historical drama, realistic, stylized, costume drama, romantic drama, historical romance, period drama
Similar in 82%
The Hollow Crown (2012)
Plot Summary:
The Hollow Crown is a series of British television films featuring William Shakespeare's History Plays. The first Season is an adaptation of Shakespeare's second historical tetralogy, the Henriad: Richard II, Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II (treated as one film in two parts in the series) and Henry V. The Second Season is subtitled "The Wars of the Roses" as a reference to its scope. It is based on Shakespeare's first tetralogy: Henry VI: Part I, Henry VI: Part II, Henry VI: Part III (treated as two films in the series) and Richard III.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 150 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, historical drama, epic, stylized, harsh, costume drama, funny, political, anthology
Similar in 86%
The Other Boleyn Girl (2003)
Plot Summary:
Based on the controversial novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is a fictionalised account of the life of Lady Mary Boleyn (Natascha McElhone) who becomes mistress to England's king, Henry VIII (Jared Harris), before being ousted by her younger sister, Anne (Jodhi May.) Mary leaves the Court to marry a commoner, but returns when Anne embarks on a reckless policy to save herself from ruin.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Romance, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, sexy, period drama
Similar in 89%
The White Princess (2017)
Plot Summary:
The story of Elizabeth of York, the White Queen's daughter, and her marriage to the Lancaster victor, Henry VII. Based on the Philippa Gregory book of the same name.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: costume drama, historical drama, stylized, atmospheric, captivating, disturbing, exciting, anime, period piece, period drama
Similar in 76%
Elizabeth I (2005)
Plot Summary:
HBO miniseries about the the public and private lives of the later years of Queen Elizabeth I.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 223 min
Plot tags: historical drama, costume drama, sincere, realistic, serious, captivating, emotional, stylized, political, educational
Similar in 79%
The Pillars of the Earth (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Pillars of the Earth is an eight-part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 33000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller, War
Country: Germany, Canada, UK, Hungary
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: captivating, atmospheric, costume drama, historical drama, realistic, unusual plot structure, intense, visually appealing, serious, dramatic
Similar in 79%
The Spanish Princess (2019)
Plot Summary:
The beautiful Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, navigates the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 55 min
Plot tags: historical drama, costume drama, exciting, tense, captivating, suspense, suspenseful, sexy, period drama, beautiful
Similar in 79%
The Virgin Queen (2005)
Plot Summary:
The Virgin Queen explores the full sweep of Elizabeth's life: from her days of fear as a potential victim of her sister's terror; through her great love affair with Robert Dudley; into her years of triumph over the Armada; and finally her old age and her last, enigmatic relationship with her young protégé, the Earl of Essex.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 237 min
Plot tags: serious, historical drama, factual, touching, political, period piece, costume drama, realistic, sincere, period drama
Similar in 88%
Reign (2013)
Plot Summary:
Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 53000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 42 min
Plot tags: sexy, stylized, serious, historical drama, costume drama, tense, suspenseful, realistic, period piece, erotic
Similar in 82%
Victoria & Albert (2001)
Plot Summary:
The passionate love story that was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's lengthy marriage. Beginning in 1837, the year of King William IV's death and 18-year-old Victoria's ascension to the throne, the series charts the tumultuous period in 19th Century England where Victoria comes to terms with the enormous duties that lay ahead of her, while also falling deeply in love with her beloved Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The marriage and birth of their nine children are featured, as is Albert's frustration by the inactivity he experienced in the early years of his role as Prince Consort.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: captivating, costume drama, sentimental, serious, realistic, factual, period piece, historical drama, epic, stylized
Similar in 90%
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Plot Summary:
A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 119000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: romantic, sexy, costume drama, period piece, stylized, atmospheric, factual, historical drama, sexual, sad
Similar in 83%
Victoria (2016)
Plot Summary:
The story of Queen Victoria, who came to the throne at a time of great economic turbulence and resurgent republicanism – and died 64 years later the head of the largest empire the world had ever seen, having revitalised the throne’s public image and become “grandmother of Europe”.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: costume drama, romantic, historical drama, realistic, touching, period piece, factual, serious, light, educational
Similar in 87%
Lady Jane (1986)
Plot Summary:
The death of King Henry VIII throws his kingdom into chaos because of succession disputes. His weak son Edward, is on his deathbed. Anxious to keep England true to the Reformation, a scheming minister John Dudley marries off his son, Guildford to Lady Jane Grey, whom he places on the throne after Edward dies. At first hostile to each other, Guildford and Jane fall in love. But they cannot withstand the course of power which will lead to their ultimate downfall.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: period piece, costume drama, historical drama, sincere, christian film, gothic, sex comedy, cult classic, atmospheric, serious
Similar in 80%
Wolf Hall (2015)
Plot Summary:
England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the King dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The Pope and most of Europe oppose him. Into this impass steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer, and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 360 min
Plot tags: historical drama, serious, captivating, period piece, costume drama, stylized, suspense, factual, political, educational