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The Ten Commandments poster

Movies that feel likeThe Ten Commandments (1956)

Escaping death, a Hebrew infant is raised in a royal household to become a prince. Upon discovery of his true heritage, Moses embarks on a personal quest to reclaim his destiny as the leader and liberator of the Hebrew people.

If you loved The Ten Commandments, the closest films we have are Ben-Hur (1959), Throne of Blood (1957) and Pather Panchali (1955). All three share The Ten Commandments' contemplative and epic feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is Mutiny on the Bounty (1935).

πŸ… 82% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.9 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Cecil B. DeMillecontemplativeepic
9 of 12 streaming nowHBO Max Β· Criterion Channel Β· Night Flight Plus

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If The Ten Commandments hit the spot, these will too

Looking for the series itself? Also in this series: The Ten Commandments: The Movie (2016)

Ben-Hur poster
Ben-Hur
1959 Β· dir. William Wyler
πŸ… 87%β˜… 8.1history Β· drama Β· adventure

Common ground in both: christianity and miracle

The difference: Sits closer to adventure than The Ten Commandments does

In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander β€” setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.

Throne of Blood poster
Throne of Blood
1957 Β· dir. Akira Kurosawa
πŸ… 96%β˜… 8drama Β· historyMax

Contemplative and epic in the same breath

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Pather Panchali poster
Pather Panchali
1955 Β· dir. Satyajit Ray
πŸ… 98%β˜… 8.2drama Β· historyMax

Contemplative drama, and it commits to that

Impoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. Alone, his wife, Sarbojaya, looks after her rebellious daughter, Durga, and her young son, Apu, as well as Harihar's elderly aunt Indir. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life, while their parents suffer the daily indignities heaped upon them.

Spartacus poster
Spartacus
1960 Β· dir. Stanley Kubrick
πŸ… 93%β˜… 7.9history Β· drama Β· adventure

One thread runs through both: slavery

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.

Judgment at Nuremberg poster
Judgment at Nuremberg
1961 Β· dir. Stanley Kramer
πŸ… 93%β˜… 8.3drama Β· history

History with a pulse of scale, in both cases

In 1947, four German judges who served on the bench during the Nazi regime face a military tribunal to answer charges of crimes against humanity. Chief Justice Haywood hears evidence and testimony not only from lead defendant Ernst Janning and his defense attorney Hans Rolfe, but also from the widow of a Nazi general, an idealistic U.S. Army captain and reluctant witness Irene Wallner.

Night and Fog poster
Night and Fog
1956 Β· dir. Alain Resnais
β˜… 8.6documentary Β· historyMax

Contemplative history in both cases

Filmmaker Alain Resnais documents the atrocities behind the walls of Hitler's concentration camps.

Aguirre, the Wrath of God poster
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
1972 Β· dir. Werner Herzog
πŸ… 96%β˜… 7.8history Β· adventure Β· drama

Both lean on scale more than on drama

A few decades after the destruction of the Inca Empire, a Spanish expedition led by the infamous Aguirre leaves the mountains of Peru and goes down the Amazon River in search of the lost city of El Dorado. When great difficulties arise, Aguirre’s men start to wonder whether their quest will lead them to prosperity or certain death.

The Passion of Joan of Arc poster
The Passion of Joan of Arc
1928 Β· dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer
πŸ… 98%β˜… 8.1drama Β· historyMax

Both keep coming back to the same thing: religion

The difference: Made in the 1920s, in a different era of the craft

A classic of the silent age, this film tells the story of the doomed but ultimately canonized 15th-century teenage warrior. On trial for claiming she'd spoken to God, Jeanne d'Arc is subjected to inhumane treatment and scare tactics at the hands of church court officials. Initially bullied into changing her story, Jeanne eventually opts for what she sees as the truth. Her punishment, a famously brutal execution, earns her perpetual martyrdom.

Mutiny on the Bounty poster
Mutiny on the Bounty
1935 Β· dir. Frank Lloyd
πŸ… 96%β˜… 7.6adventure Β· drama Β· history

Both working the same drama territory

Fletcher Christian successfully leads a revolt against the ruthless Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty. However, Bligh returns one year later, hell bent on revenge.

Barry Lyndon poster
Barry Lyndon
1975 Β· dir. Stanley Kubrick
πŸ… 78%β˜… 8.1drama Β· history

History approached the same way

An Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.

Gandhi poster
Gandhi
1982 Β· dir. Richard Attenborough
πŸ… 89%β˜… 8drama Β· history

Cut from the same drama cloth

In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of 'passive resistance', endeavouring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed.

Easy Rider poster
Easy Rider
1969 Β· dir. Dennis Hopper
πŸ… 84%β˜… 7.2adventure Β· drama

Drama of the same temperament

Wyatt and Billy, two Harley-riding hippies, complete a drug deal in Southern California and decide to travel cross-country in search of spiritual truth.

In the mood for more contemplative?

all contemplative movies β†’

The best-reviewed films that share The Ten Commandments’ defining feeling.