If you are searching for the best American Revolution movies for a family-friendly kick-off to your own family revolution, we’ve got you covered.
These top 10 American Revolution Movies and series are engaging and educational enough to be enjoyed by teens and tweens and captivating enough for adults, too.
10 Best American Revolution Movies
Here is our top 10 list pick of the best American Revolution movies and Series.
#10. Revolution (1985)
The 1985 film Revolution, starring Al Pacino and Donald Sutherland, is the first on our list.
Revolution depicts the narrative of a trapper who, against his choice, becomes entangled in the American Revolution, only to discover that exiting the conflict isn’t simple.
Despite being an accurate replica of the American trapper’s lifestyle at the time, this British film was a critical and commercial flop. So much so that following the film’s debut, Al Pacino took a break from acting.
#9. Sons of Liberty (1939)
This little video from 1939 is a classic American antique. Sons of Liberty is a film from the early days of cinema that portrays the true tale of Haym Salomon, a Polish merchant who immigrated to New York during the American Revolution. Salomon would go down in history as one of the most important funders of the American army.
Sons of Liberty, which was shot in color, was a huge hit with reviewers when it was released. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject Film by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
#8. The Howards of Virginia (1940)
The Founding Fathers did, after all, play a crucial part in the American Revolutionary War. The lives of the average people of the period, on the other hand, are just as fascinating and deserving of a film.
As is the case with The Howards of Virginia, a film set immediately before the American Revolutionary War begins.
Jane Peyton, an aristocratic woman, and her farmer husband, Matt Howard, are the central characters of the film.
As the plan unfolds and the Revolution begins, Matt abandons Jane to join the fight. Columbia Pictures purposefully picked the topic of a family member going to war in this picture.
Seeing World War II raising Europe, the studio knew that many Americans would probably have to see combat soon, so they decided to boost the people’s morale and patriotic spirits with movies dealing with such an event.
#7. The Scarlet Coat (1955)
Benedict Arnold’s surrender of the West Point Fort to British soldiers is depicted in The Scarlet Coat, a swashbuckling historical drama.
However, it is John André and John Bolton who are at the core of the plot, not the hated Arnold. André works for the British Empire as a spy, whereas Bolton works for the Americans.
They both strive for the good of their countries, but when they both have to compete for the affection of the seductive Sally Cameron, their competition turns personal.
Despite getting favorable ratings, MGM records showed that the film resulted in financial loss.
#6. John Paul Jones (1959)
Scenes of two armies battling in the middle of an open battlefield may be the first image that comes to mind when we think of the American Revolutionary War.
The reality is that the Revolutionary War was fought on several fronts, including the one of the seas. Let us not forget that at the time, the British Empire boasted the world’s most powerful navy.
The biography of the eponymous American Revolutionary War hero is chronicled in John Paul Jones. Jones is followed throughout the film, from his boyhood in Scotland through his service in Europe to his participation in the American Revolution.
Directed by John Farrow, this film also marks the onscreen debut of his daughter, actress Mia Farrow.
#5. All for Liberty (2009)
This is one of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous remarks regarding taxes. This is the world. Except for death and taxes, nothing is guaranteed.
High taxes were one of the numerous factors that led to the American Revolution, and they are also the catalyst for the events in All for Liberty.
Henry Felder, a Swiss German colonist in 1775, is fed up with British exploitation. Felder rebels against the Empire with the support of his Native American comrade, and eventually joins the American side in the Revolutionary War.
Although the film received generally positive reviews, it’s one of the least well-known on this list.
#4.The Patriot (2000)
Mel Gibson has a long history of patriotism. The American actor previously played William Wallace, a hero of Scotland’s First War of Independence, in the epic film Braveheart (1995).
Gibson also starred in The Patriot, a film about an American colonist whose life is ruined by the British, in 2000.
Despite the film’s economic success, historians and reviewers have criticized it for historical errors. The representation of British military is one topic of dispute.
British soldiers are shown in the film as cold-blooded assassins who would gladly burn down a church with people inside.
That said, the movie still became a cultural phenomenon, earning three Oscar nominations in the process and grossing over $215,000,000 at the box office.
#3. George Washington (1984)
George Washington is usually regarded as the father of the United States of America and was a key player in the American Revolution.
From the age of eleven to 51, this 1984 biography chronicles Washington’s early life and growth.
The novel follows young Washington’s engagements during the French and Indian War of 1754, during which he earned a reputation as a skilled tactician.
The story comes to a close shortly after the American Revolutionary War, when a victorious Washington returns to his ancestral home of Mount Vernon.
#2. George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation (1986)
The Forging of a Nation is a sequel to the 1984 miniseries George Washington, and it depicts Washington’s position as the first President of the United States of America, rather than as a Warner.
The Revolutionary War was merely the beginning, and keeping the country together would need more guts than fighting the British.
Here, we see a seasoned Washington coping with the fallout from the American Revolution. Mobs and rioting erupt across the country, as not every British citizen is prepared to accept their new overlords calmly.
This is a great demonstration of the hardships that Washington had to endure, and it remains an example of why his figure is so revered in American history.
#1. John Adams (2008)
This detailed account of the biography of American Revolutionary War hero John Adams stars Paul Giamatti. From his early days fighting for the Revolution to his role as the United States’ second President. This is one of the most comprehensive biopics of a founding father ever made.
Giamatti’s acting is as good as it is fascinating, which helps with the whole presentation. John Adams was released in 2008 to near-universal acclaim.
It achieved a score of 8.5 on a scale of ten on the IMDb website and received a meta score of 78 on Metacritic.
This was our top 10 list of the best American Revolution movies ever made. It is a great list of the best American Revolution movies of all time.
Do you agree with our list? If you have any suggestions or comments please shoot them down in the comments below. Â
