We’ve gathered up the new-in-February period dramas that are included with your US Amazon Prime Video membership.
Then, we share the period dramas that are newly available to rent, any period shows that are coming to Prime Video Channels, and some historical / costume / period movies that are being released to DVD in February. 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.
Period Dramas New on Prime Video in February
Hercule Poirot, older and greyer, receives letters threatening murder. The sender signs themselves only as “A.B.C.” When he takes the letters to the police looking for help, Hercule finds all his old friends have moved on. But soon there is a murder and the once-great detective must take matters into his own hands.
“Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders” is set in 1933. 3 episodes.
Starring John Malkovich, Eamon Farren, Michael Shaeffer, Rupert Grint, Tara Fitzgerald.
Rated TV-14
Available February 1
Ancient mysteries, and a fearless hero’s quest through a fantastical realm of steam-powered wonders and sinister magic… Seventeen-year-old Mariah Mundi’s life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his younger brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues to the darkly majestic Prince Regent Hotel, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his world, and his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box!
Starring Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headey, Aneurin Barnard, Loan Gruffudd.
Rated PG
Available February 25
A fantasy romance set in 19th century France. The film revolves around Sobran, a young peasant winemaker, and the three important figures in his life – his beautiful wife Celeste, baroness Aurora de Valday and an angel named Xas. Also known as “The Vinter’s Luck.”
Starring Vera Farmiga, Jérémie Renier, Gaspard Ulliel, Keisha Castle-Hughes.
Rated R
Available February 12
Martin Clunes garnered critical acclaim by playing John George Haigh, the notorious “Acid Bath Murderer” who killed at least 6 victims in 1940s England and disposed of their remains by dissolving them in sulphuric acid.
Starring Martin Clunes, Keeley Hawes, Richard Hope, Celia Imrie.
Not rated, but contains dark subject matter not suitable for sensitive viewers.
Available February 25
In Nazi-occupied WWII Paris, actress Arletty carries out passionate affairs with both a Resistance fighter and a German soldier.
Starring Laetitia Casta, Marie-Josee Croze, Ken Duken, Natalia Dontcheva, Marc Arnaud, Franck Victor.
In French with English subtitles.
Available February 27
A young caretaker learns about the Graham mansion from an ex-socialite who recalls its significance among London’s mid-20th century aristocracy.
Starring Maggie Smith, Danny Lee Wynter, David Walliams
Not rated.
Available February 4
In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.
Starring John Mills, Tony Wager, Valerie Hobson, Jean Simmons, Bernard Miles, Francis L. Sullivan.
Not rated.
Available February 4
Laurence Olivier directs himself in this classic rendition of William Shakespeare’s tale of the brooding Danish prince who decides to exact revenge on his uncle for the murder of his father.
Starring Laurence Olivier, John Laurie, Jean Simmons, Esmond Knight, Anthony Quayle.
Not rated.
Available February 4
A young and uncertain monarch, King Henry defeats the French, but sadly learns that victory takes it toll in bloodshed.
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Simon Shepherd, Derek Jacobi, James Larkin, Brian Blessed, James Simmons.
Rated PG-13
Available February 4
Based on Anne Holm’s acclaimed young adult novel North to Freedom, the Second World War set period drama chronicles the struggles of a 12-year-old boy who manages to flee a Communist concentration camp on his own — through sheer will and determination. All he has in his possession is a loaf of bread, a letter to deliver to someone in Denmark and a compass to help get him there.
“Beautiful, gentle adaptation of classic novel.” – Common Sense Media
Starring Ben Tibber, James Caviezel, Joan Plowright, Paul Feig, Lucy Russell, Maria Bonnevie, Viola Carinci.
Rated PG
Available February 1
In 1935, after disobeying orders from Col. John Hardesty, Sgt. John Libbey is sent to an Army base in the American Southwest and, along with Lt. Marshall Buxton, given the horrifying task of sending 500 horses to their deaths. Though Gen. Douglas MacArthur believes that the invention of motorized tanks has made the animals obsolete, Libbey and Buxton decide to try to transport the horses all the way to the Canadian border, where they’ll be safe.
Starring Don Johnson, Craig Sheffer, Gabrielle Anwar, Bob Gunton, Rod Steiger.
Rated PG-13
Available February 4
Captain Robert Adams falls in love with Eveline, a governess from Pennsylvania who recently relocated to South Carolina in order to work for Robert’s first cousin. This film was written and produced by the descendants of Robert and Eveline.
Starring Julian Adams, Gwendolyn Edwards, Amy Redford.
Rated R
Available February 26
Period fantasy / science fiction / horror starring “Game of Thrones” Iwan Rheon. A dark homage to Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” set in the 1930s Dust Bowl. During the Depression, a young girl is discovered to be a mermaid and both her family and a group of gangsters fight over her magical, deadly powers. Also known as “Charlotte’s Song.”
Starring Iwan Rheon, Katelyn Mager, Brendan Taylor, Jessie Fraser, Steve Bradley.
Not rated but this is creepy horror set against a period backdrop.
Available February 1
Academy Awards went to Best Actress Anne Bancroft and Best Supporting Actress Patty Duke for their moving portrayals of Annie Sullivan and her remarkable blind and deaf pupil, Helen Keller.
Starring Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory.
Rated PG-13
Available February 4
The British dramatic film chronicles the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The John Huston-directed biopic traces the life and work of Toulouse-Lautrec as he worked in the bohemian subculture of Paris in the late 19th century, especially around the burlesque hall known as the Moulin Rouge. There he sketched the dancers as they performed, painted promotional posters for the establishment, and became a pawn of cruel women whose love he craved. José Ferrer’s performance as the legendary French artist was widely acclaimed, and the set designs are excellent.
Starring José Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Suzanne Flon, Claude Nollier, Katherine Kath, Muriel Smith.
Not rated.
Available February 4
Wrongfully convicted for murder, Henri Charriere forms an unlikely relationship with fellow inmate and quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, in an attempt to escape from the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island. A remake of the 1973 film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
Set beginning in 1931 in French Guiana.
Based on the international best-selling autobiographic books “Papillon” and “Banco.”
“The principally unchanged story of survival in colonial French Guiana remains a compelling one, no less when played as a relatively straightforward action-suspense saga rather than as a gargantuan allegory about the Indomitable Human Spirit.” – Variety
Starring Rami Malek, Charlie Hunnam, Damijan Oklopdzic, Christopher Fairbank.
Rated R (contains graphic violence)
Available February 7
Ms. Isabel Archer isn’t afraid to challenge societal norms. Impressed by her free spirit, her kindhearted cousin writes her into his fatally ill father’s will. Suddenly rich and independent, Isabelle ventures into the world, along the way befriending a cynical intellectual and romancing an art enthusiast. However, the advantage of her affluence is called into question when she realizes the extent to which her money colors her relationships.
Set in the 1870s in the Victorian era and based on the book by Henry James.
“Physically, the film is ravishing, with Stuart Dryburgh’s resplendent lensing taking full advantage of the carefully chosen British and Italian locations and showing off the lush beauty of Janet Patterson’s production and costume designs.” – Variety
Starring Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, Barbara Hershey, Mary-Louise Parker, Richard E. Grant.
Rated PG-13
Available February 1
Brilliant medical student Michael meets beautiful dance instructor Ana in late 1914. Their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between Michael and Ana’s boyfriend, an American photojournalist who’s dedicated to exposing the truth. As the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos, their conflicting passions must be deferred as they join forces to get themselves and their people to safety.
Starring Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, Christian Bale, Daniel Gimenez-Cacho.
Rated PG-13
Available February 8
An easy-to-like period comedy-fantasy set in the Depression-era, directed by Woody Allen. In New Jersey in 1935, the day-to-day existence of a movie fan/waitress is enlivened when her latest idol walks right off the screen and into her life.
“Delightful from beginning to end, not only because of the clarity and charm with which Daniels and Farrow explore the problems of their characters, but also because the movie is so intelligent.” – Roger Ebert
Starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Dianne Weist.
Rated PG
Available February 1
Set in January 1901, just after the death of Queen Victoria, this tribute to John Wayne is a dramatic Western with some romance.
J.B. Books (John Wayne, in his final film role) is an aging gunfighter diagnosed with cancer who comes to Nevada at the turn of the 20th century. Renting a room from widowed Bond Rogers and her son Gillom, Books is confronted by several people of questionable motives, including a man seeking to avenge his brother’s death and a few who are looking to profit from Books’ notoriety. Not wanting to die a quiet, painful death, Books devises a plan to go out with a bang.
“Simply beautiful, and beautifully simple.” – Variety
Starring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, John Carradine.
Rated PG
Available February 2
Note: Also available is the Civil War set The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
As WWII rages, a group of Australian nurses and Catholic nuns on a Pacific island become Japanese prisoners of war. Based on real events, this riveting film is a tale of strength, survival, and forgiveness in the most harrowing times.
Starring Claire van der Boom, Sarah Snook, Susie Porter.
Not rated.
Available February 12
At a rural railway station in Victorian England, Jim is a spunky Jack Russell Terrier who escapes his mean master at the circus, and is soon befriended by station porter Bob and lonely orphan Henry. His performing feats soon become a local attraction, and before long he’s in the middle of a battle to save the local orphanage.
Starring George Cole, Charlie Creed-Miles, Matine Savage.
Not rated, but this is a family-friendly movie.
Available February 21
An unsettling feeling overwhelms a small Hungarian town when two orthodox Jews arrive with a mysterious trunk. As residents begin to speculate on the purpose of the visit of these two strangers, order starts to crumble in town with some pursuing devious plans and others finding remorse in their hearts.
Starring Peter Rudolf, Bence Tasnadi.
Not rated.
Available February 10
Period Dramas Newly Available to Rent
The life of Vincent Van Gogh: A journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule, and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art.
Starring Willem DaFoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen.
Rated PG-13
Available February 12
It’s August 1939, and four cousins visit family and friends at their country home in Cornwall. With WWII imminent the heat of summer brings a sense of freedom to enjoy young love. Forty years later, they return for the funeral of the man who changed their lives. Stories are told of how the cousins’ paths cross and re-cross during a war that brings them suffering, sex and love.
Starring Felicity Kendal, Virginia McKenna, Paul Eddington, Claire Bloom, Oliver Cotton, Richard Johnson.
5 episodes
Not rated.
Available February 22
British officer Ashton Pelham-Martyn returns to India where he had been raised by a Hindu nurse after his parents’ deaths. Danger and romance follow when Ash is unexpectedly reunited with his childhood friend, Princess Anjuli.
Starring Ben Cross, Amy Irving, Christopher Lee, Robert Hardy.
Not rated.
Available February 4
In early 18th-century England, the relationship between Queen Anne and her close friend, Lady Sarah, is threatened by a new servant who schemes to return to her aristocratic roots.
Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn.
Rated R
Available February 12
Dr Don Shirley is a world-class African-American pianist, who is about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962. In need of a driver and protection, Shirley recruits Tony Lip, a tough-talking bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx. Despite their differences, the two men soon develop an unexpected bond while confronting racism and danger in an era of segregation.
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Mike Hatton.
Rated PG-13
Available February 19
In a cheap Parisian hotel, Oscar Wilde lies on his death bed and recalls his past with wit and irony. Was he once the most famous man in London? He reviews the failed attempt to reconcile with his long suffering wife, the ensuing reprisal of his fatal love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas and the devotion of Robbie Ross, who tried and failed to save him from himself. From Dieppe to Naples to Paris, Oscar is a penniless vagabond, shunned by his old acquaintances, but revered by a strange group of outlaws to whom he tells the old stories – his incomparable talent still sharp.
Starring Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson.
Rated R
Available February 12
Benedict Cumberbatch shines as real-life war hero and pioneer of modern-day computing, Alan Turing, who saved millions of lives by cracking Germany’s so-called unbreakable code during WWII.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode.
Rated PG-13
Available February 8
When three shipwrecked sailors land on an island abandoned except for four sole residents, one sailor starts to question what happened on the island. He must uncover the truth while he battles to save his own life and escape the isle’s clutches. Set in the 1840s.
Starring Conleth Hill, Alex Hassell, Fisayo Akinade.
Not rated, but this is a suspense thriller bordering on horror.
Available February 10
On what feels like the edge of the world sits Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. For 12 years, it has been populated only by men, but the settlement is shaken up when the first women land in this wilderness. The disruptive new arrivals are immediately thrust into a new world of desire, power, and survival.
“Jamestown” returns for a second season of dazzling adventures in love, war, and diplomacy. Even the purest of loves will be tested. The power of politics will impact the whole community, as the battle for supremacy continues.
Rated TV-14
Available February 8
An exploration of the turbulent life of the Mary Stuart, who returns to Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne, threatening Queen Elizabeth’s sovereignty.
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant.
Rated R
Available February 19
An action-packed retelling of the classic legend, filled with thrilling battle sequences, mind-blowing fight choreography, and epic adventure.
Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin.
Rated PG-13
Available February 5
It is the mid 17th century . The Jesuits spread their influence in Central Europe. Maria, a young Countess lives in the castle. Father Had is a honest and ardent servant of the Society of Jesus. He is dedicated to his life’s mission, and as such he is an ideal tool in the hands of his superiors. Had becomes Maria’s confessor. Will the Jesuits, at last, achieve their goals and take the castle? Also known as “Družba Isusova.”
Starring Leona Paraminski, Milan Plestina, Ivica Vidovic.
Not rated.
In Croatian with English subtitles.
Available February 12
The account of keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion.
Starring Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Michael McElhatton.
Rated PG-13
Available February 10
Historical Danish drama series shown on BBC. “Here was a story that, from the off, took you by the hand and pulled you along. The sweeping storyline of two young soldier brothers in love with the same girl is as high flown as anything in “Poldark,” while bearing a rather more sophisticated emotional heft. At the same time there was plenty of historical, political and ethical complexity to engage the brain.” – The Telegraph When Prussia and Austria declare war on Denmark, two brothers are called to serve in the bloodiest battle in Denmark’s history.
Starring Pilou Asbæk, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Bent Mejding.
8 episodes
Rated TV-14
Available February 21
New on Prime Video Channels in February
Author Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley declare their love for each other and elope much to her family’s horror. As tension grows between them during a stay at Lord Byron’s house at Lake Geneva, the idea for ‘Frankenstein’ is conceived when all the houseguests are challenged to write a ghost story. Mary challenges societies notions to protect her work and forge her own identity.
Starring Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Tom Sturridge, Bel Powley, Douglas Booth, Joanne Froggatt.
Rated PG-13
Available on Showtime Channel
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Available February 1
Period Drama New Releases on DVD in February 2019
The life of Vincent Van Gogh: A journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule, and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art.
Starring Willem DaFoe, Rupert Friend, Mads Mikkelsen.
Rated PG-13
This title will be released on February 12, 2019. Order it here.
Throughout history, Dracula has filled men’s hearts with fear – and the hearts of women with desire. In this stylish production of Bram Stoker’s classic tale, Frank Langella gives an electrifying performance as the bloodthirsty Count Dracula in search for his ultimate bride. Meanwhile, the renowned and relentless vampire hunter, Van Helsing seeks to end the Dark Prince’s reign of terror over the citizens of Transylvania. Featuring a mesmerizing cast, fine direction and a superbly atmospheric musical score, Dracula is an unforgettable adaptation of one of the most enduring horror legends of all time.
Starring Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Kate Nelligan, Donald Pleasence, Trevor Eve.
Rated R
This title will be released on February 19, 2019. Order it here.
In a cheap Parisian hotel, Oscar Wilde lies on his death bed and recalls his past with wit and irony. Was he once the most famous man in London? He reviews the failed attempt to reconcile with his long suffering wife, the ensuing reprisal of his fatal love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas and the devotion of Robbie Ross, who tried and failed to save him from himself. From Dieppe to Naples to Paris, Oscar is a penniless vagabond, shunned by his old acquaintances, but revered by a strange group of outlaws to whom he tells the old stories – his incomparable talent still sharp.
Starring Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson.
Rated R
This title will be released on February 12, 2019. Order it here.
An exploration of the turbulent life of the Mary Stuart, who returns to Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne, threatening Queen Elizabeth’s sovereignty.
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant.
Rated R
This title will be released on February 26, 2019. Order it here.
Herman Melville’s classic 1851 sea tale comes to life in this suspenseful and thrilling adaptation from Francis Ford Coppola. Welcome aboard the Pequod, a Nantucket whaling ship under the dubious command of Captain Ahab, a man obsessed with vengeance against a menacing beast that not only stole the lives of his former crew but continues to haunt him from the sea. “Moby Dick” takes you on an epic journey into the deepest waters of the ocean – and the furthest reaches of sanity – in pursuit of the legendary white whale.
3-part TV mini-series.
Winner, Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (Gregory Peck).
Starring Patrick Stewart, Henry Thomas, Gregory Peck.
Rated PG
This title will be released on February 19, 2019. Order it here.
A remastered DVD/Blu-ray edition of the classic television mini-series adapted from Jane Austen’s delectable story of life, love and marriage among the 19th-century English gentry.
Starring Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Susannah Harker, Julia Sawalha, Alison Steadman.
This title will be released on February 12, 2019. Order it here.
Based on a true story, C.S. Lewis is a world renowned writer and professor. Unmarried, he leads a gentleman’s life filled by intellectual pursuits, remaining untouched by any great passion until he meets Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). Joy is a feisty, abrasive New York divorcee whose sharp-edged, no-nonsense attitudes take Lewis by surprise. Bursting unexpectedly into Lewis’ world, Joy shocks his associates and awakens him to deep emotions he had written about, but never experienced. Slowly he opens his heart to this woman, and their romance shatters the walls of his cloistered world. But life is made up of delicate balances, and Lewis must confront a terrible truth: that a heart awakened to great love is also opened to great pain. Set in the 1950s.
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, Julian Fellowes.
Rated PG
This title will be released on February 5, 2019. Order it here.
Prince Edward wants to marry for love, but the King is anxious for the prince to wed no matter what. When the prince meets Cinderella at a ball, he’s sure she’s the one.
A grand musical adventure in the tradition of “The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady.” This lavish production features Richard Chamberlain in a spirited retelling of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, and the Academy Award-nominated score is provided by the Oscar-winning song-writing duo the Sherman Brothers (“Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”). A brilliant mix of fantasy and realism that will enchant viewers of all ages.
Starring Richard Chamberlain, Gemma Craven, Annette Crosbie, Margaret Lockwood.
Rated G
This title will be released on February 5, 2019. Order it here.
You May Also Like
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
A reserved Englishman meets attractive American Carrie at a wedding and falls in love with her, but his inability to express his feelings seems to forestall any possibility of relationship – until they meet again and again.
Starring Hugh Grant, John Hannah, Kristen Scott Thomas, Charlotte Coleman, Andie MacDowell, Hames Fleet, Simon Callow.
Rated R
Available February 1
Thelma & Louise (1991)
A full-throttle adventure hailed as one of the best road movies of all time. Accidental outlaws on a desperate flee across the Southwest after a tragic incident at a roadside bar. With a determined detective on their trail, a sweet-talking hitchhiker in their path and a string of crimes in their wake, their journey alternates between hilarious, high-speed thrill ride and empowering – and heartbreaking – personal odyssey even as the law closes in.
Starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Brad Pitt.
Rated R
Available February 1
The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
What if you suddenly, unpredictably and uncontrollably traveled through time? Life can be harrowing for a time traveler, but in this romance about the victory of love over age and time, life is even more challenging for The Time Traveler’s Wife. Clare has been in love with Henry her entire life. She believes they are destined to be together, even though she never knows when they will be separated: Henry is a time traveler–cursed with a rare genetic anomaly that causes him to live his life on a shifting timeline, skipping back and forth through the years with no control. Despite the fact that Henry’s travels force them apart with no warning, and never knowing when they will be reunited, Clare desperately tries to build a life with her one true love.
Starring Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Arliss Howard, Ron Livingston, Stephen Tobolowsky.
Rated PG-13
Available February 1
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)
T.S. Spivet lives on a remote ranch in Montana with his parents, his sister Gracie and his brother Layton. A gifted child with a passion for science, he has invented a perpetual motion machine, for which he has been awarded the prestigious Baird Prize by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He leaves a note for his family and hops on a freight train to make his way across the United States and receive his prize. But no one there suspects that the lucky winner is a ten-year-old child with a very dark secret…
Starring Kyle Catlett, Helena Bonham Carter, Callum Keith Rennie, Judy Davis.
Rated PG
Available February 28
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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 BBC Period Dramas added to Prime in 2018.
