Last Updated on August 1, 2023
You’ve found your way to one of our older lists… while some of the period dramas below may still be included with your Prime Video membership, you’ll want to visit our latest list as well. Hop over to our homepage or use the pulldown menu for the New-to-Streaming section.
We’ve gathered up the new-in-July period dramas that are included with your US Amazon Prime Video membership.
Then, we share the period dramas that are newly available to rent, coming to Prime Video Channels, and some historical / costume / period movies that are being released to DVD in July. Finally, we list some newly added non-period movies and series that you may also like, that are included with your Prime Video membership.
Check this list throughout the month; we’ll update all the sections (alphabetically) as more titles become available.
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It’s easy to watch the trailers for the films on this list, or add the movies and TV series to your watchlist: just click.
There’s a lot here by the end of the month, so to help you keep track: the blue TVs next to the title mean the film is included with your membership, the orange TVs mean it is available to rent or is available with a Prime Video Channel subscription.
Period Dramas New on Prime Video in July
This section contains newly added historical, costume and period dramas (movies and TV series) that are included with your Prime Video membership. In addition to the titles below, the following period-set movies and series are also available this month: Available July 1: Morning Glory (1993), The Adventures of Ociee Nash (2004). Available July 2: Voice from the Stone (2017), As I Lay Dying (2013). Available July 8: Eight Men Out (1988). Available July 10: Sobibor (2019). Available July 13: Never Grow Old (2019). Available July 18: Monarch (2000). Available July 31: Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996), A Viking Saga: The Darkest Day (2013). Available July 20: War and Peace (1956). Available July 28: Goya’s Ghosts (2007), The Slipper and the Rose (1976). Available July 31: Rob Roy (1995). Also see Soraya (2015) and Becket (1964).
The Admiral: Love and Fate in a Time of War (2009)
In this gripping historical drama, a heroic Russian Admiral and his lover are swept up in the fast-moving events of World War I and the Russian Revolution. Aleksandr Kolchak’s skills would later propel him to Supreme Ruler of Russia. All the while, he struggles to maintain a passionate love affair with a married woman, the poet Anna Timireva. Can he remain on the right side of History? Or will Fate intervene?
10 episodes, in Russian with English subtitles.
Starring Konstantin Khabensky, Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Anna Kovalchuk.
Rated 16+
Available July 6
A Royal Night Out (2015)
As Europe celebrates V-E Day in 1945, teenage princesses Elizabeth and Margaret spend an unforgettable evening out in London. Directed by acclaimed UK director Julian Jarrold (Becoming Jane, Brideshead Revisited), “A Royal Night Out” is an affectionate ‘what-if’ story about the adventures Elizabeth and Margaret might have had on the joyous night that brought the whole of London together.
“A Royal Night Out” is a film about one perfect, glorious evening in the lives of two real-life princesses. They are Elizabeth and Margaret Windsor and the night is 8 May 1945, V-E Night. The whole of London is on the streets to celebrate the official end of World War II in Europe. It is known the young princesses, aged 19 and 14, slipped out of the palace to join the communal euphoria and went dancing at the Ritz.
Starring Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Jack Reynor, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson.
Rated PG-13
Available July 20
The Chosen (1981)
Set in the Brooklyn of the 1940s, the story elucidates the friendship between two young Jews of differing factions. Daniel is Hassidic, while Reuven is a Zionist; though separated ideologically, the boys find a common bond through their love of the neighborhood games of stickball.
Starring Maximilian Schell, Rod Steiger, Robby Benson.
Rated PG
Available July 1
Dostoevsky (2010)
Khotinenko’s 8-part television series based on the unconventional life of the mysterious and tragic Russian writer Dostoevsky is a study in contrast. Disdained by authorities, he had the grace of a sovereign. Both loving and jealous, rejoicing and suffering, Dostoevsky the man was a living, breathing paradox.
8 episodes, in Russian with English subtitles.
Starring Evgeniy Mironov, Elizaveta Arzamasova, Pavel Barshak.
Rated 13+
Available July 1
Fairytale: A True Story (1997)
Two children in 1917 take a photograph, believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on a true story.
Starring Harvey Keitel, Jason Salkey, Peter O’Toole.
Rated PG
Available July 17
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
A must-see musical period drama set in a pre-revolutionary Russian village in 1905.
Tevye the milkman is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the romantic entanglements of his five daughters, and the prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews. Tevye carries on lengthy conversations with God whenever the weight of the world becomes too much for him, he does not answer but he is at least more willing to listen than the milkman’s remonstrative wife Golde.
Tevye is forced to do some quick rearranging when his oldest daughter Tzeitel falls in love with poor tailor Motel Kamzoil after he has already arranged a marriage between her and wealthy butcher Lazar Wolf. Fancying himself more broad-minded than his gentile oppressors, Tevye cannot accept the notion that his other daughter Chava would want to marry Fyedka, a non-Jew. When Tevye and his neighbors are forced out of Anatevka by the Czar’s minions he must find a way to change his tune and his entire life.
Starring Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey.
Rated G
Available July 31
Hysteria (2012)
This mischievously inspired romantic comedy set in the late 19th century is based on the surprising truth of how Mortimer Granville came up with the world’s first electromechanical vibrator in the name of medical science.
“Set in the Victorian era of scientific ignorance and cultural Puritanism, its style is still more Restoration comedy than Victorian decadence—postcolonial feminism with a temperament more Austen than Bronte. Considering the subject, ripe with titillating possibilities, it’s surprisingly about as sexy as a week-old meat loaf. Tastefully directed by Tanya Wexler, it is a total joy from start to finish.”- Observer
Starring Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllehaal, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones, Rupert Everett.
Rated R
Available July 1
Jane and Emma (2018)
In 1844, after traveling hundreds of miles on foot, a black woman finds enduring friendship with the wife of the founder to the Mormon Church.
Starring Danielle Deadwyler, Emily Goss, Brad Schmidt, K. Danor Gerald.
Rated PG
Available July 7
Lady Jane (1986)
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 marries off his son, Guildford, to Lady Jane Grey, whom he places on the throne after Edward dies. Once sat atop the throne, the young couple faces the dangers that come with great power.
Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, Patrick Stewart, Pip Torrens, John Wood.
Rated PG-13
Available July 22
The Madness of King George (1994)
The late 18th century…England’s benevolent King George III suddenly takes ill and shows signs of mental instability–opening the door for court intrigue and the usurping of the throne by his worthless son, the Prince of Wales. The film took home an Academy Award for its spectacular Art and Set Decoration.
Starring Nigel Hawthorne, Rupert Everett, Rupert Graves.
Rated PG-13
Available July 31
Marshall (2017)
In 1940, Thurgood Marshall is the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. The story follows him as he battles through one of his career-defining cases in conservative Connecticut. He soon teams up with Sam Friedman, a local Jewish lawyer who’s never handled a criminal case. Together, the two men build a defense while contending with racist and anti-Semitic views from those who deem his client to be guilty.
Starring Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Chadwick Boseman.
Rated PG-13
Available July 7
Mr. Selfridge – Seasons 1 – 4
In 1909 London, an American retail tycoon arrives at the unfashionable end of Oxford Street to jettison fusty British tradition and open one of the finest department stores the world has ever seen. Jeremy Piven stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant—and troubled—entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London’s shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill.
The British period drama was shown on PBS Masterpiece, and created by Andrew Davies.
Starring Jeremy Piven, Frances O’Connor, Aisling Loftus, Zoe Tapper, Amanda Abbington.
Rated TV-14
Available July 3
Peterloo (2018)
An epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history.
Starring Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Neil Bell, Simona Bitmate.
Rated PG-13
Available July 3
The Razor’s Edge (1984)
An American WWI vet undertakes a spiritual quest that takes him from Paris to Nepal to the Himalayas and back to his hometown. Upon his return, he discovers he is not the only one who has changed. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razor’s edge.
Starring Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Catherine Hicks, James Keach, Peter Vaughan.
Rated R
Available July 2
Also see the list of period dramas added to Amazon in June.
Period Dramas Added to Prime Video Channels
This section contains newly added period dramas (movies and TV series) that are included with add-on Prime Video Channels. If you don’t already subscribe to the channel, follow the link below the film to sign up for a free trial.
Grantchester – Season 4 (PBS)
Sidney Chambers is feeling adrift. Soon Will Davenport is the new Vicar of Grantchester, drawn to crime solving. While Will embraces the future, Geordie is left entirely baffled by it. In a world without Sidney, where does he fit in?
Starring James Norton, Robson Green, Tom Brittney.
Rated TV-14
Available July 15 with PBS Masterpiece Channel.
Pennyworth (2019)
A ten-episode, one-hour drama series that follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960’s London.
Starring Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Paloma Faith.
Rated TV-MA
Available July 28 with EPIX Channel
Period Dramas Newly Available to Rent
This section contains historical, costume and period dramas (movies and TV series) that are newly available to rent on Amazon this month. In addition to the following titles, Sunset (2019) was recently added, and is worth a look. The reviews on Amazon aren’t great, but NYT calls the 1913-set film “mysterious and stunning.” Available July 7: School of Life (2017). Available July 12: A Promise (2014). Available July 13: The Duchess of Langeais (2007), The Countess (2009). Available July 15: Grantchester – Season 4 (PBS). Available July 23: The Lion in Winter (1968), The Man Who Would Be King (1975).
Belle and Sebastian (2013)
Based on the beloved children’s book, this exciting tale set in the picturesque French Alps follows the friendship of a 6-year-old boy and a stray dog who prove to be heroes when they help defend their occupied village from the Nazis in 1943.
Starring Félix Bossuet, Tchéky Karyo, Margaux Chatelier.
Rated: All
Available July 3
Dumbo (2019)
From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight.
Circus owner Max Medici enlists former star Holt Farrier and his children Milly and Joe to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere, who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland.
Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant, until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.
Starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Alan Arkin.
Rated PG
Available July 2
The Edge of Love (2008)
The life of poet Dylan Thomas is told through the stories of two free-spirited women who loved him in this fiery romantic drama set in wartime London.
Starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy.
Rated R
Available July 9
Gentleman Jack (2019)
The epic story of 19th Century landowner Anne Lister who returns to her home to transform its fate–and with plans to marry a woman.
Starring Suranne Jones, Saul Marron, Sophie Rundle.
Rated 18+
Available July 8
The Grand Meaulnes (2006)
A coming-of-age story set in France in the years leading up to World War I. A teenage boy experiences love, loss, anguish and betrayal in a rural setting of great beauty.
In 1910, the adventurous and impulsive Augustin Meaulnes wanders into a mysterious party at a sumptuous chateau where he meets the beautiful Yvonne de Galais.
Starring Nicolas Duvauchelle, Clémence Poésy, Emilie Dequenne.
In French with English subtitles.
Not rated.
Available July 12
Ophelia (2019)
As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gerturde as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, Ophelia captures the affections of the young Prince Hamlet. A passionate romance secretly kindles between the two as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and betrayal. When Hamlet’s father is murdered and the prince begins to unravel, Ophelia sharply navigates the rules of power in Denmark.
Starring Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, George MacKay.
Rated PG-13
Available July 1
Grand Hotel – Season 1 was also recently added. Contemporary-set, but inspired by the Spanish period series “Gran Hotel.”
New Period Drama DVD Releases in July 2019
This section contains historical, costume, and period dramas that are being released this month to DVD and Blu-ray.
Europa Europa (The Criterion Collection): As World War II splits Europe, sixteen-year-old German Jew Salomon (Marco Hofschneider) is separated from his family after fleeing with them to Poland, and finds himself reluctantly assuming various ideological identities in order to hide the deadly secret of his Jewishness. Based on the real-life experiences of Salomon Perel, Agnieszka Holland’s wartime tour de force “Europa Europa” is a breathless survival story told with the verve of a comic adventure, an ironic refutation of the Nazi idea of racial purity, and a complex portrait of a young man caught up in shifting historical calamities and struggling to stay alive. Available HERE July 9, 2019.
Jefferson in Paris (Blu-ray): Chronicles the time that Thomas Jefferson spent as the American Ambassador to France (1784-1789). These were significant years for him in his public and personal life, and fateful ones for France, where the revolution was about to break out. Available HERE July 30, 2019.
Masterpiece Mystery!: Endeavour, Season 6: It’s 1969, and things have taken a darker turn for the old Cowley team. With Endeavour, Thursday, and the gang now scattered across Oxfordshire, it takes a series of brutal crimes to reunite them. Now joined by former adversary DCI Ronnie Box and his sidekick DS Alan Jago, the gang must battle crime and corruption to finally solve their greatest challenge –the truth behind George Fancy’s death. Available HERE July 9, 2019.
Masterpiece Mystery!: Grantchester, Season 4: It’s 1956 and Sidney Chambers is feeling adrift — until Violet Todd arrives and fires up his need for social justice. Soon there’s a new Vicar of Grantchester, idealistic Will Davenport, who finds himself drawn into Inspector Geordie Keating’s world of crime. While Will embraces the future, Geordie is left entirely baffled by it. Navigating a world without Sidney, where does he fit in? Available HERE July 30, 2019.
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 9-12 Collection: Set in Edwardian Toronto, this award-winning Canadian series explores the intriguing world of Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye) as he solves crimes using ingenious inventions and trailblazing forensic techniques. With help from his brilliant wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy); eager assistant, Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris); and no-nonsense superior, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Murdoch tackles Toronto’s most dangerous criminals. Available HERE July 30, 2019.
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 12: Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye) returns to solve Edwardian Toronto’s most intriguing crimes in this award-winning Canadian series. In Season 12, Murdoch and his wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Gemini winner Hélène Joy, Durham County), have moved into a modern new house, but they soon discover their home has mysteries of its own. Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Still Standing) helps Higgins (Lachlan Murdoch, Copper) prepare for his wedding, while Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street) confronts someone from his past who could jeopardize his relationship with his family. Available HERE July 30, 2019.
Tell it to the Bees (2019): In 1950’s small town Britain, a doctor (Anna Paquin) develops a relationship with her young patient’s mother (Holliday Grainger). Based on the Fiona Shaw novel. Available HERE July 9, 2019.
Vidago Palace (2017): In 1936 Portugal, the opulent Vidago Palace hotel is a haven for Europe’s elite from the Spanish Civil War erupting across the border. Beautiful young aristocrat Carlota (Mikaela Lupu) arrives at the resort to plan her wedding to the wealthy César (Pedro Barroso), which will save her family from bankruptcy. But her heart is preoccupied with thoughts of Pedro (David Seijo), the handsome son of the hotel’s concierge. The illicit lovers have been separated by social class and war, but when a fateful chain of events brings them together again, Carlota must decide her destiny. Available HERE July 30, 2019.
Other Shows You May Also Like
This section contains a curated list of movies and TV series new and are included on Prime, that are NOT period dramas. We think fans of historical and costume dramas will enjoy them just the same. Follow the links to watch the trailers. You may also like: Available July 8: Freedom Writers (2007). Available July 15: Love Happens (2009). July 16: Breakthrough (2019). July 18: Greenfingers (2001). July 31: A Very Brady Sequel (1996), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to see The Period Films List, with the best British, historical and costume dramas sorted by era. Also see the list of period dramas added to Netflix US during the 2019 summer.
Sharon Kaska
August 4, 2021 at 11:56 am (3 years ago)I’m such a big fan of period dramas and look forward to your newsletter.
Gail Hicks
August 18, 2019 at 3:11 pm (5 years ago)Love the news letter. I read it through and will save it for when I have.lots of free time to watch
Bonnie Dressen
July 26, 2019 at 9:43 am (5 years ago)These shows just rise so far above what is offered on network. Many are so detailed and well done it is like reading a book.
Margaret collier
July 15, 2019 at 4:00 pm (5 years ago)Love all this news!!!!