Oppenheimer was a movie for the ages. It’s made $953.8 million from just a $100 million budget, not to mention that it’s packed full of stars. With a prestigious director and a gripping narrative, it’s safe to say that it’s started a trend. It’s the first of a run of epics that are going to change the world of cinema as we know it.
Ridley Scott also has a biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte, which stars Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix. With Gladiator 2 also in the works with Pedro Pascal, it’s evident that historical epics are making a huge comeback.

Bringing History into the Present
Although it’s plain to see that historical epics are making a comeback, in some ways, they never really left. Over the years, ancient blockbusters have been continually hitting cinemas across the world. Games are also coming out all the time that touch on numerous historical themes, from conquering ancient Rome to ruling as a defiant leader over a forgotten civilisation.
There are even bingo games you can play online, that include Age of the Gods bingo. In games like this, you can be granted passage to the Arena of the Gods, with God and Goddess icons throughout the game. When you take into account classic games and themes like this, it’s clear to see that our love for history never really left, so it makes sense that historical epics and period dramas are taking the forefront in modern-day cinema.

Delving into The Allure of Historical Epics
Historical epics are usually driven by an intense story. The Gladiator movie might be fictional, but it does reflect the changing tides of history. Watching Maximus Decimus Meridius take his stand in the arena is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece. With that being said, when it comes to historical epics, sometimes it’s more about the size of the idea, rather than the accuracy of the story, or even the theme. Movies like Oppenheimer are influential because they showcase how possible it is for humanity to destroy itself.
You also have movies such as The Last Samurai, which was released in 2003. This movie made the Global Top 10 and for a very good reason. It helped to showcase a world that’s very different from our own, with skilled directing that sparked a chain reaction in the world of cinema. It also helped to spur people’s love for the past and set a bar that modern-day filmmakers are continually trying to surpass.
As more and more historical epics are released, it becomes evident that there’s an intense amount of competition between screenwriters. People are continually trying to top the previous release by coming up with a bigger and bolder story, but with that being said, nothing quite compares with simply telling the truth. There have been major events that have happened throughout history, including the story of Oppenheimer, which touches on several true moments that happened.
In short, historical epics are making a comeback, and they’re bigger than ever. With that being said, it’s the underlying truth that makes them successful as movies.