10 UNDERRATED PERIOD DRAMAS THAT ARE FLAWLESS FROM BEGINNING TO END

When it comes to film, the period drama has always been a staple of Hollywood. Before the age of blockbuster superhero films, it seemed like every A-list actor had at least one period drama on their resume. With these films taking place in specific time periods rather than in the modern day, there is extra effort put into the costuming, props, and set design to create a realistic, immersive experience for the viewer, transporting them back in time.

While period pieces like Pride & Prejudice (2005), Emma (2020), Little Women (2019), and The Pianist are universally regarded as great period dramas, there are plenty of period pieces that have fallen under the radar in terms of audience reception or box office returns. With Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation recently announced, it seems that the period drama has the potential to make a comeback, and many of these films are great examples of fantastic period dramas.

Spielberg’s West Side Story Was a Masterpiece

The Remake Underperformed at the Box Office

While 1961’s West Side Story is a beloved film, especially among musical fans, Steven Spielberg’s remake is incredibly underrated. While the original film was released only 4 years after the time setting, Spielberg’s adaptation was released 64 years after its time setting of 1957, meaning production had to put in much more effort into creating an immersive experience for the audience.

The film had the unfortunate timing of being released in 2021 when audiences were still unwilling to go to the cinema after the COVID-19 pandemic. The film is remarkable from start to finish, with Spielberg’s direction creating a dynamic take on the movie musical. In terms of performances, Rachel Zegler as Maria and Ariana Debose as Anita were clear highlights, with both receiving awards for their performances.

The Young Victoria Followed the Titular Queen’s Rise to the Throne

Emily Blunt Gave a Stellar Performance in This Underrated Film

While Netflix’s The Crown provided an incredible take on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, 2009’s The Young Victoria followed the story of Queen Victoria, played by Emily Blunt. Like The Crown, the film follows Victoria’s early life and ascension to the throne. The film highlights both the new Queen's political side and the emotional journey of the titular character and her relationships.

The film was incredibly well cast, with Blunt giving a stellar performance as the titular queen. Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, and Mark Strong also delivered stand-out portrayals, among many other well-regarded British actors. The film’s costume and set design was remarkable, with each character looking perfectly fitting for the era.

The Count of Monte Cristo Made Slight Changes From the Source Material

Henry Cavill Shined in His Second Film Role

With 2024’s The Count of Monte Cristo delivering a new take on the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas, many fans have gone back to 2002’s The Count of Monte Cristo, which was a rather decent adaptation despite its lower budget. While the 1990s saw period dramas from Hollywood, the early 2000s saw a slight dip in the genre, with The Count of Monte Cristo being a rare example.

The film follows the story depicted in the novel of a sailor who is falsely accused of treason by his best friend. However, there were slight changes made to the relationship between the characters, as well as the ending, which caused some negative responses from book purists. While Jim Caviezel gave a good performance as the lead character Edmond Dantès, the clear stand out was Henry Cavill, despite the film being only his second acting role.

Dorian Gray Was Criticized for Its Changes

The 2009 Adaptation Was the First to Include the Queer Themes From the Novel

2009’s Dorian Gray was an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and was generally not well received by audiences and critics. Many felt that the changes made to the film were unnecessary, such as the painting essentially coming to life in the third act. However, there is a lot to Dorian Gray that can be appreciated.

Firstly, the film was the first adaptation of the Oscar Wilde novel to actually address the LGBTQIA+ elements of the story, which previous adaptations strictly avoided. Ben Barnes gave a stellar performance as the titular character, portraying the complicated nature of the character remarkably well. The film, despite its low budget, is visually stunning, perfectly capturing the era in both a realistic and stylistically dark manner to convey the dark elements of the story.

Cemetery Junction Looked At Working Class Life in the 1970s

The Film Took a Deep Look At a Small Story

While most think of the Victorian or Edwardian era when it comes to period pieces set in England, sometimes a period drama is released that looks at a different era, such as 2010’s Cemetery Junction, directed by Ricky Gervais. The story follows a trio of young men in 1970s England, dealing with the troubles of living in a small, working-class town.

The film does a great job at capturing the era in which it is set, with the costuming and props really helping to capture a 1970s world without the disco glamour seen in so many other Hollywood attempts. The soundtrack of the film does a lot to emphasize the setting, including Mott the Hoople’s All the Young Dudes and Slade’s Cum on Feel the Noize. Acting stand-outs include Tom Hughes, Christian Cooke, and Felicity Jones.

This David Copperfield Adaptation Underperformed

Dev Patel Gave a Great Performance in This Historical Comedy-Drama

Like many period dramas, The Personal History of David Copperfield was based on a novel, David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, which was first published in 1850. The film is a more comedic take on the period drama, starring Dev Patel in the titular role. While the film received a lot of praise from critics when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019, it seriously underperformed at the box office.

The film’s low performance was mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being released in the US in August 2020. Some also took issue with the colorblind casting of the film, with many critiquing the choice of casting Dev Patel for a character that was traditionally depicted as white. However, the film was a refreshing entry in the genre, and Dev’s performance made him perfect for the role.

Madame Bovary Is Seriously Underrated

The French Film Was Nominated for a Golden Globe

While foreign period dramas tend to fly under the radar with Western audiences, 1991’s Madame Bovary, a French film directed by Claude Chabrol, seemed to stand out, with many American audiences responding positively to the film. The story is set in Normandy, France, in the 1850s and is based on the novel of the same name by Gustave Flaubert.

Hollywood often features foreign period pieces in English for their intended audience, but this film's being in French really helps to create an immersive experience for the viewer. The story is universal, following a young woman deeply dissatisfied with her life. Critics praised the film, and it was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. However, the language barrier certainly makes it underrated with a Western audience.

Hidden Figures Tackled Themes of Race and Gender in the Workplace

The Star-Studded Film Explored the Space Race

When one thinks of Hollywood period pieces, the standard is usually pre-industrial era Europe. However, Hollywood has made several attempts at capturing other eras and settings, with Hidden Figures being a perfect example. The story, based on the non-fiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly, follows three African-American women who worked at NASA during the space race of the 1950s and 1960s.

The film, which takes place specifically in 1961, is incredibly well-made, with the set and costume design doing a fantastic job at capturing the era. The film highlights some important themes about race and gender in the workplace, earning positive reviews from critics and audiences. The film has a star-studded cast, with Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe delivering incredible performances. Despite the film earning several award nominations and wins, it is often forgotten when looking back on well-made Hollywood period dramas.

The Portrait of a Lady Was a Dark Exploration of a Woman’s Life

Nicole Kidman Gave an Incredible Performance in This Underrated Film

The Portrait of a Lady is a psychodrama that follows the story of an American woman named Isabel Archer, who inherits a large sum of money before falling into a complicated relationship that turns her life upside down. The film was based on the 1881 novel by Henry James and was directed by Jane Campion. The film featured Nicole Kidman as the lead in one of her earliest performances, and her acting chops are on full display in this often-forgotten film.

This film is incredibly well directed, with the acting performances, costuming, and set design helping to bring the world described in James’ novel to life. However, some felt that the changes made to the story were ill-advised, as the work was adapted to fit a more '90s take on feminism. Despite these criticisms, the film is an incredible, dark exploration of a privileged young woman’s life in the era.

Atonement Was a Heartbreaking Masterpiece

This Joe Wright Film Is Overshadowed by Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright, is often considered one of the best period dramas of all time. While the film is iconic, its status makes many forget the other period drama directed by Wright, also starring Keira Knightley. Atonement, released in 2007, is a beautifully tragic tale, tackling themes of love, miscommunication, and war.

The film follows the love story between Kiera Knightley’s Cecilia and James McAvoy’s Robbie, who are torn apart due to a misunderstanding at the hands of Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony, portrayed by Saoirse Ronan. The film is beautiful, with Joe Wright delivering a stunning visual masterpiece from start to finish. The film’s Dunkirk sequence was especially notable, featuring a stunning long take that should’ve gotten the film a Best Cinematography nomination. The film did receive several other award nominations and wins but is often overshadowed by Wright’s Pride & Prejudice adaptation.

2025-01-16T13:06:36Z