Maybe it’s because the fresh new year brings a new outlook on love, life and ambition, maybe because Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights (in theaters Feb 14th) is nearing, or maybe I’m falling into my annual historical drama binge. Either way, period piece season has arrived for me, and what better way to explore some of the most memorable films in this category than a What to Watch list? If you’re just getting into period dramas, or if you’re a seasoned pro, step into a world of elegance, intrigue, and complete timeless romance with this week’s What to Watch! A curated selection of period dramas that are impossible to resist.
From the bustling streets of Regency England in Emma and Pride & Prejudice, to the passage of time in Little Women, to even post-war community bonds in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, each film in this watchlist captures the passions, constraints, and delights of love in bygone eras. Secret romances, societal pressures, gender role expectations, and personal awakenings drive these stories and are as emotionally rich as they are visually stunning.
Featuring stellar performances from some of today’s brightest actors, lush cinematography, and sweeping scores, tender moments, and lasting impressions, these films invite viewers to get lost in history while feeling every flutter of the heart. It’s a watchlist perfect for a cozy night in by yourself, with your girlfriends, or carrying over into a weekend marathon. Romantic period pieces remind us that love absolutely transcends time.
Pride & Prejudice
Based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, in a Georgian-era England, sharp-witted Elizabeth Bennet navigates family pressures, social expectations, and matters of the heart when she happens to cross paths with the wealthy, but reserved, Mr. Darcy. What starts off as a mutual misunderstanding slowly gives way to admiration as both individuals are forced to confront their own pride and prejudices.
Director: Joe Wright / Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike
Shakespeare in Love
A young William Shakespeare struggles with his creativity block when he finds unexpected inspiration falling for Viola de Lesseps, a noblewoman with a passion for the stage in Elizabethan London. When their secret romance unfolds, it fuels the writing of Romeo and Juliet, ultimately blurring the line between life and art.
Director: John Madden/ Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Constance Chatterley is trapped in a passionless marriage and begins a clandestine affair with Oliver Mellors, the gamekeeper on her husband’s estate. Their connection grows from physical attraction into a deep emotional bond that defies class boundaries and societal expectations. It’s sensual, tender, and a reframing of the classic novel written by D. H. Lawrence.
Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre / Starring: Emma Corrin, Jack O’Connell
Persuasion
Also a Jane Austen adaptation of her 1817 novel, Anne Elliot is a quiet introspective woman living on the fringes of her own family. She’s forced to confront past choices when her former love reenters her life as years earlier, she was persuaded to reject him. Now wealth, regret, and unresolved feelings complicate their reunion.
Director: Carrie Cracknell /Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Henry Golding
The Other Boleyn Girl
Set in the infamous court of King Henry VIII, the film follows sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn as they are pushed into a dangerous rivalry for the king’s affection. Though it starts as a calculated bid for power, it quickly spirals into betrayal, ambition, and emotional ruin.
Director: Justin Chadwick / Starring: Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson
Emma
Adapted from Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, the charming but incredibly meddlesome Emma takes it upon herself to orchestrate the romantic lives of those around her mostly ending with chaotic results. As she navigates her own feelings (and missteps) Emma learns to stop controlling love, and instead understand and embrace the feeling.
Director: Autumn de Wilde / Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
In the aftermath of World War II, a writer travels to the island of Guernsey to learn more about a book club formed during the German occupation. As she uncovers the lives, secrets, and romances of the islanders, she finds herself drawn into a heartfelt community and even a love story.
Director: Mike Newell / Starring: Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Glen Powell
Little Women
The 7th adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, Little Women follows the four March sisters as they navigate love and ambition while pursuing their dreams in a society with strict expectations for women. Jo, a fiercely independent writer, struggles to balance her artistic aspirations with matters of the heart, while her sisters each discover their own paths to love and fulfillment. Gerwig’s adaptation is highly emotional and beautifully crafted, blending familial bonds, romance, and the pursuit of identity into a timeless coming-of-age story.
Director: Greta Gerwig / Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet
Much Ado About Nothing
Adapted from the Shakespeare Play, Much Ado About Nothing is set in a lively Italian town following a group of young adults as they navigate love. The sharp-tongued Beatrice and the proud, but charming Benedick engage in a battle of words and pride until love unexpectedly takes hold of them. Amid mistaken identities, deceptions, and matchmaking schemes, the film blends comedy, tension, and romance in a timeless Shakespearean tale.
Director: Kenneth Branagh / Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves
Emily
Emily imaginatively re‑creates the life of Emily Brontë, the fiercely independent and enigmatic Victorian writer whose experiences and relationships helped shape her masterpiece Wuthering Heights. The film blends biographical drama with a speculative romantic arc as Emily navigates artistic ambition, family tensions, and a captivating connection with an unexpected beau.
Director: Frances O’Connor / Starring: Emma Mackey, Fionn Whitehead, Oliver Jackson‑Cohen
