8 Best Period Dramas Available on Netflix in October 2023

Netflix is renowned for its narratives that transport you into the whirlwind of past events — period dramas. The platform's powerhouses, Bridgerton and its spin-off Queen Charlotte, in particular, have demonstrated this through their exquisite costumes and drama in London's high society.

Uncertain about what to watch after these two series? Here are some equally engaging period dramas available on Netflix as of October 2023. For those with a particular interest in specific historical periods, we've listed them in chronological order.

8. Outlander (2014, 7 seasons)

The show follows WWII nurse Claire Randall, who is mysteriously transported to 1743. Thus begins her timeless love story with Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser, with whom she experiences both sorrows and joys throughout the Jacobite Rising, the American Revolution, and beyond.

7. Pride & Prejudice (2005, 127 minutes)

Among the many adaptations, the 2005 film adaptation featuring the talented Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen perfectly captures the novel's essence and is available on Netflix.

6. The Empress (2022, 1 season)

This German historical drama follows the Bavarian Duchess Elisabeth of Wittelsbach, affectionately known as Sisi, who married Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and King of Hungary in 1854.

5. Anne with an E (2017, 3 seasons)

The show traces the life of a young girl adopted by an older brother and sister and brought to live on Prince Edward Island, Canada. The series skillfully addresses social issues and the timeless challenges children face.

4. Peaky Blinders (2013, 6 seasons)

Set from the end of the First World War to the 1930s, this cult crime drama narrates the story of one of the most ruthless street gangs of its time, Birmingham's Peaky Blinders, who sewed blades into their stylish flat caps. The magnetic role of gang leader Tommy Shelby marked a major milestone in Cillian Murphy's career.

3. Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022, 127 minutes)

Based on the novel by D. H. Lawrence, the film explores body autonomy and classism through the love story between the wife of a wealthy, paralyzed baronet and a gamekeeper.

2. The Queen's Gambit (2020, 1 season)

Set in the 1950s and 1960s, the series follows the life of a brilliant chess player as she transitions from being a child prodigy to a chess grandmaster, all the while grappling with her spiraling addictions and mental health issues.

1. The Crown (2016, 5 seasons)

The Crown is a witty and candid dramatization of the life of Elizabeth II and her family, from her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 to the events of the early 21st century.