PERIOD DRAMAS ON NETFLIX STREAMING: DARK and MIDDLE AGES
Wondering what period dramas are available to watch online now? Here is a list of Medieval (Dark or Middle Ages) period dramas that are currently available TO STREAM on NETFLIX and Amazon in the United States.
The TITLE links you to the film / movie / television miniseries STREAMING on NETFLIX.
The PHOTO links you to the film / movie / TV miniseries STREAMING on AMAZON.
There are also text links. The titles are listed alphabetically.
This list is fairly comprehensive for full episodes of Medieval period films that are currently available to watch online on NETFLIX in the United States – some have been received better than others – but there is enough here that you should discover something you like, that you can watch right now.
Follow the Amazon links to view trailers.
“In European history, the Middle Ages or Medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. “Starting around the 14th century, European thinkers, writers and artists began to look back and celebrate the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Accordingly, they dismissed the period after the fall of Rome as a “Middle” or even “Dark” age.“ – HISTORY
Arn The Knight Templar (2007): Set in the mid-12th century.
In a time of brave knights, powerful queens and treacherous kings, Arn, a skilled swordsman, is sent to war as a Knight Templar, while Cecilia, the love of his life, is imprisoned in a convent.
Starring Joakim Nätterqvist, Sofia Helin.
In Swedish with English subtitles.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
Hamlet (1990): Set in the late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries, or 1300 to 1499) in and around (mostly) the royal palace in Elsinore, a city in Denmark.
Mel Gibson stars as the Prince of Denmark whose determination to avenge the murder of his father and remarriage of his mother leads to an intricate tapestry of intrigue, introspection.
Starring Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
Ironclad (2011): Set in 13th century England.
An action packed medieval tale torn from the pages of history about a group of hardened warriors in 13th century England (early 1200s), who fight insurmountable odds to try and defend their country from a megalomaniacal, bloodthirsty king. A Medieval Magnificent Seven, Ironclad is a violent action thriller that tells the true story of a motley crew of tough, battle hardened warriors.
Starring Paul Giamatti, James Purefoy, Brian Cox, Kate Mara.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
King Arthur (2004): Set around 450 AD in England.
Arthur, a Russian knight with a tenuous allegiance to Rome and his loyal band of knights, joins the Britons to defeat a blood thirsty Saxon conqueror.
Starring Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Stellan Skarsg-rd, Stephen Dillane.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
Marco Polo (2014): Set in the 13th century in the Far East.
In a world of greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue, and rivalry, “Marco Polo” is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court. Re-creating the legendary explorer’s 13th century exploits in the Far East, this historical drama chronicles the intrigues, duplicity and greed running rampant in the court of the Mongolian ruler Khan.
Starring Benedict Wong, Olivia Cheng, Joan Chen, Zhu Zhu.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes (2015): Set in the 13th century in the Far East.
Before he lost his sight. Before he pledged his service to Kublai Khan. Hundred Eyessaw what made him into the deadly assassin who trains Marco Polo. This is a 30 -minute NETFLIX Original short.
Starring Tom Wu, Lorenzo Richelmy, Olivia Cheng.
Streaming on NETFLIX.
Merlin (2012) BBC: Set around the 5th century in England.
This family-oriented retelling of the popular King Arthur legend finds Merlin arriving in Camelot, where magic is banned. In this action-packed fantasy-drama, we revisit the saga of King Arthur and his wizard, Merlin, by focusing on the two characters when they were ambitious young men struggling to understand their destinies. In this telling, Prince Arthur is known to be the heir to the throne (no sword from the stone here). And he is acquainted with all those who will one day form the legend of Camelot, including Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgana. Merlin is also forced to deal with King Uther’s Great Purge, which bans all use of magic.
Starring John Hurt, Bradley James, Colin Morgan.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
Robin Hood (2006) BBC: Set around the 14th century in England.
The popular retelling of the Robin Hood legend is back with a hot young cast, and breathtaking archery, incredible swordplay, energy, humor, brute force, and the raw determination to right wrongs. Robin of Locksley returns from serving King Richard in the Crusades to find his home under the oppression of the sadistic Sheriff of Nottingham, and the Sheriff’s right hand man Guy of Gisborne has his eye on Robin’s childhood sweetheart Marian. Will Robin be able to save his people? Or will in justice overcome everything he stands for?
Starring Jonas Armstrong, Richard Armitage, Lucy Griffiths, Keith Allen, Sam Troughton.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
A courtroom thriller with a passionate edge, it’s the story of a dynamic young lawyer (Firth) whose quest for the simple life leads him to a law position in a small rural town. What he finds instead is a disturbing case of murder, seduction, and corruption — a case that reveals the mystery beneath the village’s quiet facade. Yet as he searches for answers, he finds himself drawn into a web of intrigue and betrayal. Don’t miss this sexy thriller — a dark story about the many sides of truth, and passion’s deadly price!
Starring Colin Firth, Amina Annabi, Jim Carter, Donald Pleasence, Ian Holm.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Available on DVD.
The Physician (2013): Set in 11th century England and Persia.
Based on the best selling novel by Noah Gordon, THE PHYSICIAN tells the story of Rob Cole, a boy who is left a penniless orphan in an 11th-century English mining town when his mother dies of a mysterious illness. The young man discovers his gift of foretelling death, and while growing up with a barber (Skarsgaard) who suppressed his talent, as an adult he travels to Persia to find the doctor of doctors in the city of Isfahan, who can help him develop his special powers. As word of his talent spreads throughout the city during times of a looming war, the young apprentice becomes a target of persecution, in this sweeping epic of biblical proportions portraying battles of good and evil, faith and superstition.
Starring Ben Kingsley, Stellan Skarsgaard, Olivier Martinez, Emma Rigby, Tom Payne.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
World Without End (2012): Set in 14th century England.
England is on the brink of a devastating war with France that will last over a hundred years. A terrible plague which will wipe out a third of Europe’s population before it is done is spreading. Caris, a visionary young woman, struggles to rise above the suffering and oppression in order to lead her people out of the Dark Ages. With her lover Merthin, she builds a community in Kingsbridge that stands up to the church and the crown. Together, they unearth a dangerous secret and must fight to save their town from ruin, ultimately ushering in a new era of freedom, innovation and enlightenment. Ken Follett’s worldwide bestseller, World Without End, comes to life as a monumental eight-hour event series.
Starring Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth.
Streaming on NETFLIX. Streaming on AMAZON. Available on DVD.
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll want to wander over to the Period Films List for the best costume dramas, heritage films, documentaries, period dramas, romances, historical reality series and period inspired movies, all sorted by era and theme.
