5 epic movies like Troy that bring ancient battles and legends to life

Troy is a film inspired by Homer's epic poem The Iliad, centered on the legendary Trojan War. Directed by German filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff, the 2004 historical action epic received mixed reviews, largely due to its departures from the source material. Nevertheless, it proved a commercial success, grossing nearly $500 million at the global box office.

Fans who have enjoyed Troy might be looking for similar films that explore ancient battles as well as legends. Here is a list of five such films in the same zone. These include titles like 300 and Gladiator, among others.

5 epic movies similar to Troy

1) Gladiator (2000)

This Ridley Scott-directed film walked so that Troy and other similar titles could run. Released in 2000, the epic historical drama film was partly inspired by Daniel P. Mannix's book Those About to Die. The film was a critical and commercial success and even bagged five Oscars. It features several epic battles that became a staple for this genre. The film is also credited with reviving the historical period genre in Hollywood. It is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

2) 300 (2006)

300 is a film that retells the Battle of Thermopylae from the Greek-Persian War. Taking its inspiration from a namesake comic book series, the film has stylized action, slow-motion shots, and several memorable dialogues. If you love historical epics, grand battle sequences, and films like Troy, this is a must-watch. You can stream the movie on Netflix.

3) The Northman (2022)

Robert Eggers continued his spree of historical period films with The Northman. Unlike his previous films, this one had more action and fight sequences than horror scenes. The storyline is inspired by the Amleth's legend from the Viking Age. Released in 2022, the film received positive reviews and is a must-watch for people who like epic action and Viking stories. The Northman is available to watch on Peacock.

4) The Last Samurai (2003)

The Last Samurai was one of the first period epics that Tom Cruise did in his career. This Edward Zwick-directed film takes its inspiration from the real-life Sino-Japanese War that took place in 1877 and was led by Saigō Takamori. This swashbuckling epic ticks all the boxes of the genre and provides a compelling narrative that should not be missed. The film is available to watch on Prime Video.

5) Ben-Hur (1959)

No epic historical film list will ever be complete without mentioning Ben-Hur. This film blends a religious storyline with epic battle sequences. Based on the namesake novel, the film was released in 1959, and even after so many years, its long chariot race sequence has been etched in cinephiles' memories. At the time of its release, Ben-Hur became the second-highest-grossing film in history. It further received nine Oscars, which was a record in itself.

The film is available to watch on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Which one of these is your favorite?