Vishnu Warrier
Great period romantic films like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ are rare to find. The reason being if not done right, period romances can quickly be labeled as old-fashioned and tedious. The magic of period romantic movies like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ lies in its subtle beauty and simmered emotions that are waiting to burst. Most of the films on this list are beautiful to look at and wonderful to experience. So with all that said now, let’s take a look at list of best movies similar to ‘Pride and Prejudice’ that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these movies like Pride and Prejudice on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
15. Bright Star (2009)
Jane Campion’s graceful period romance chronicles the last three years of the renowned English poet John Keats and depicts his love affair with Fanny Brawne. There’s a very restrained sense of drama here, devoid of any kind of manipulation, that lets you slip into the world of its characters and feel their emotions and desires. Another beautiful aspect about the film is the way in which it captures the beauty of Abbie Cornish who plays the lead woman in the film. Campion lets us see the film through Fanny Brawne’s eyes and there’s an authentic sense of feminine power and beauty that so beautifully pervades the film, making it all the more intoxicating and hypnotic.
Read More: Movies Like Boyhood
14. A Room With a View (1985)
James Ivory has made some of the most gorgeously mesmerizing, emotionally absorbing period dramas and ‘A Room With a View’ probably sits at the top of his highly distinguished oeuvre. The film depicts the confined, conservative culture of Edwardian era England where a young woman falls in love with a charming young man. Jhabvala’s well constructed, intelligent script is masterfully handled by Ivory with subtle elegance and absorbing atmospheric power. Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith and Julian Sands find the perfect tone for the film and their performances reward the film for its impeccable craft and passion.
Read More: Movies Like The Notebook
13. Atonement (2007)
One of the finest romantic dramas of the century, ‘Atonement’ is a staggeringly ambitious film built on the strength of raw human emotions, brutal and stark naked. The film is about a young girl who grows increasingly jealous of her older sister’s relationship with a man and how a small incident goes on change their lives forever. There are moments in the film that just manage to hit you so hard that leave you completely shattered and emotionally damaged. ‘Atonement’ is bolstered by career defining performances from Keira Knightley and James Ivory and elevates the film to stunning heights.
Read More: Movies Like Basic Instinct
12. Gone With the Wind (1939)
One of the most iconic romantic dramas ever made, ‘Gone With the Wind’ continues to move, exhilarate and entice viewers with the raw power of drama and the way in which it manages to capture the essence of romance that makes it so universal. Whilst I hold my view that it’s a work of art that hasn’t aged really well, I do admit that parts of it work brilliantly, especially the ending where Clark Gable famously rebuffs Vivien Leigh as she breaks down into tears before gathering herself, hoping for a better tomorrow. It’s so soaked in a sense of drama that you can’t help but feel enamored by its heartbreaking honesty and endearing charm.
Read More: Movies Like Gone Girl
11. The Remains of the Day (1993)
‘The Remains of the Day’ is about a loyal butler who gets involved in romantic relationship with a housekeeper and is emotionally torn between his own life and serving duty to his master. But things turn increasingly complex when the dark secrets of his master get unveiled and he begins to question himself and his loyal service to the house. James Ivory masterfully captures the raw essence of drama here and Ruth Prawer Jhabwala’s screenplay sketches the conflicts of the characters with immaculate detailing and precision. The great Anthony Hopkins delivers an understated performance here that may very well be one of the best of his career.
Read More: Movies Like The Reader
10. The New World (2005)
Every Terrence Malick film is an experience. Malick is not the kind of filmmaker who is interested in just weaving a tale but more of an auteur who uses the visuality of cinema to craft such deeply profound experiences that manage to stay with you for a long, long time. ‘The New World’ is, in many ways, a flawed masterpiece. It’s Malick at his most experimental and so there are moments that work like pure magic but it’s still quite messed up at places. What’s fascinating about the film is the way in which Malick captures the essence of love in such a profoundly delicate manner by crafting such gorgeously hypnotic, exquisite imagery. This is quite simply an experience like no other.
Read More: Movies Like Divergent
9. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
‘Shakespeare in Love’ received a lot of unwarranted hate after its infamous Best Picture win at the Oscars, trumping Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama, ‘Saving Private Ryan’. While it doesn’t come anywhere near breathing distance of Spielberg’s masterpiece, ‘Shakespeare in love’ is far from a mediocre film. The film is a period rom-come that depicts a hilariously imaginary relationship between the great William Shakespeare and Viole de Lesseps. The humor element here feels genuinely refreshing for a period drama and there’s also the inherent charm and sweetness of a rom-com which makes for a hilariously endearing experience.
Read More: Movies Like The Vow
8. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Hazel and Augustus are two teenagers who fell in love despite an arduous life. Their relationship is special, given that Hazel’s constant companion is an oxygen tank and Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg. This moving love story is unique and unpredictable, something very rare nowadays. As the main characters, Elgort and Woodley truly deliver a great performance. Their chemistry is so good you forget you are watching a movie. Overall, “The Fault in Our Stars” is a sad but incredibly beautiful teen love story, an emotional roller coaster about life.
Read More: Movies Like The Den
7. Far From the Madding Crowd (2015)
‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ is easily one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen in recent times. It’s such an incredibly profound and beautifully atmospheric piece of pure romance that takes you back in time. The film tells the story of a woman struggling with her life and torn between three men who are deeply attracted to her. Vinterberg beautifully captures the aura of its time and gives a peek into the tragic lives of these people and asks us to empathize with its characters. Carey Mulligan is fantastic as Bathsheba and carries the film on her own in a performance of raw strength and confidence.
Read More: Movies Like Marley And Me
6. The English Patient (1996)
People often criticize ‘The English Patient’ for being overly sentimental, dramatic and Oscar-baity but I vehemently disagree with this. I think it’s a beautifully crafted film that weaves a very moving tale of love and albeit it does come off as a bit too long, it’s nevertheless a very effecting piece of cinema. It depicts the relationship between a nurse and her patient who is badly burned after surviving a plane crash during the close of World War II. The characters are truly well etched and whilst the direction seems pretty muddled at places, the performances make up for its flaws and when something as beautiful and ambitious such as this could be Oscar-baity, one couldn’t care less.
Read More: Movies Like Me Before You
5. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
‘Shakespeare in Love’ received a lot of unwarranted hate after its infamous Best Picture win at the Oscars, trumping Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama, ‘Saving Private Ryan’. While it doesn’t come anywhere near breathing distance of Spielberg’s masterpiece, ‘Shakespeare in love’ is far from a mediocre film. The film is a period rom-come that depicts a hilariously imaginary relationship between the great William Shakespeare and Viole de Lesseps. The humor element here feels genuinely refreshing for a period drama and there’s also the inherent charm and sweetness of a rom-com which makes for a hilariously endearing experience.
Read More: Movies Like The Proposal
4. Romeo & Juliet (1996)
A list of tragic love stories would never be complete with William Shakespeare heartbreaking classic “Romeo and Juliet”. This adaptation from 1996 stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the doomed young lovers. Despite being set in the modern city of Verona Beach, this movie uses the original dialogue from Shakespeare’s play which makes it feel even more romantic and dreamy. Romeo and Juliet are two young lovers that come from two feuding families. Therefore, their parents do not allow them to be together, leading to a hidden (and tragic) relationship.
Read More: Movies Like The Big Short
3. Manhattan (1979)
Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan’ is a film that changed my understanding and perceptions of human relationships. Also the beautiful absurdities of the human nature. Like any other Woody Allen film, this is so much more than just a cute little romantic comedy. The film centers around Allen’s character Issac. He is a divorced New Yorker who is in a relationship with a high school girl, Tracy. Issac considers himself to be far too matured to be in a relationship with this little girl. So, he ends up falling in love with a woman of his age, the mistress of his best buddy. Issac soon realizes that Tracy was his true love. And that she loved him with all her heart despite his arrogance and narcissism. But perhaps life is just a beautifully wrapped up box of missed chances. It’s this realization that makes ‘Manhattan’ so profoundly moving.
Read More: Movies Like The Girl Next Door
2. The Age of Innocence (1993)
‘The Age of Innocence’ is one film that displays how deeply humane and emotionally profound Martin Scorsese is as a director. Such beauty. Such elegance. Such inspiring subtlety. This is simply one of the greatest period romances ever made. The film tells the story of a young lawyer who falls in love with the cousin of the woman he’s engaged to. Their clandestine relationship goes through various phases but what’s truly heartbreaking here is the sheer brutality of their emotions. It’s so raw, genuinely painful and honest and you can’t help but feel for them. Daniel Day-Lewis is beyond brilliant and delivers a gorgeously subtle performance, complimented beautifully by the ever reliable Michelle Pfeiffer.
Read More: Movies Like Stuck in Love
1. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Ang Lee’s visually hypnotic, emotionally resounding period drama explores the struggling lives of three sisters who are left poor after their father dies. Romance here isn’t the central element of the film but it does become a vital element to the plot making it more and more involving as the story progresses. Winslet, Grant, Thompson are wonderful here and deliver some of the most amazingly layered performances you’ll ever see. It’s a film that must be watched for its visual beauty, refreshing tone and endearingly honest performances.
Read More: Movies Like Good Will Hunting
