George Washington, in his first inaugural address in 1789, called the United States an “experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” We’ve been engaged in that great, glorious experiment for 250 years now—an experiment that many thought would end before it began.
The story of that “Great Experiment” has been told in countless ways and from countless points of view. But here at Plugged In, we wanted to look at how that story has been told in film—appropriately, a very American form of storytelling.
So with that in mind, here are 25 movies that say a little bit about the United States’ 250 years of existence. They tell us about our successes and our failures, about who we are and who we want to be. They span our history, even touching on times before 1776.
We’re splitting this list into five distinct categories to make it a bit more manageable. And, of course, we’re passing up some strong, deserving films along the way. (So if you see your favorites missing, go ahead and share them with us in the comments below.)
And here’s another important caveat: While many of these movies are reasonably navigable for families, many others are not. Be sure to check out the Plugged In reviews, when possible, to see whether a particular movie fits your own viewing standards.
But all the movies here, I believe, tell a part of the United States’ story. And with that, let’s begin at the beginning.
A New Nation
For a country that loves making movies about itself, we see surprisingly few films predicated on the birth of that country. Still, this category offers strong history, good entertainment and some occasionally deep Christian themes.
A Great Awakening (PG-13, 2026)
Before the Founding Fathers came, America’s British colonies welcomed someone you might call a founding God-father: George Whitefield, the firebrand preacher who ignited a religious revival in the New World. Among those who heard Whitefield (played here by Jonathan Blair) speak was famed deist Benjamin Franklin (played by John Paul Sneed). And while Franklin might’ve never converted to Whitefield’s brand of Christianity, Whitefield’s message impacted Franklin powerfully. As our reviewer Kennedy Unthank wrote, “The colonists awaken—and not solely to the freedom offered by Christ, but also to the idea of liberty from England.” This powerful film gives us a better understanding of the American Revolution’s religious underpinnings—and why religious freedom was such an important part of the First Amendment.
Young Washington (PG-13, 2026)
Before he became the “father of his country,” George Washington (played by William Franklyn-Miller) was just an ambitious young man trying to make his mark in society—and what better way to do that than in the military? The British military, that is. This well-crafted film sticks pretty close to history and gives us a Washington as-yet unmarbled and liable to make some pretty bad mistakes. Washington learns from those mistakes, though. And through this film, we see the seeds of Revolution quietly sown.
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (NR, 2005)
As the colonies prepare for war, young Felicity Merriman prepares to ride a horse—a supposedly unrideable beast owned by a cruel master. This film doesn’t deal with the looming Revolution much but rather whisks readers into Colonial America as seen through the eyes of a child. Part of the American Girl franchise, Felicity offers a surprising amount of history. While Plugged In hasn’t reviewed the film, it has reviewed the originating book. And I have it on good authority that the film itself is more navigable than many on this list.
The Crossing (NR, 2000)
When the rebellious American colonies decided to cross swords with England, they were faced with an incredible challenge: Britain boasted one of the world’s greatest military machines, and that required George Washington (played by Jeff Daniels)—now the seasoned commander of an outmatched Continental Army—to take some big chances. His famous crossing of the Delaware River was among them, and that bit of the Revolutionary War is what’s dramatized in this made-for-TV film. While it contains some errors, The Crossing gets relatively high marks from historians for its accuracy. And while it’s unrated, it would likely slide in with a PG-13 rating, based on the bloody battles depicted.
Hamilton (PG-13, 2020)
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s production of Hamilton absolutely took Broadway by storm in 2016. This rapid-fire musical, based on Ron Chernow’s excellent book Alexander Hamilton, features more real, solid history than you might expect (though it’s unlikely the nation’s founding fathers did much rapping). The play was introduced to Disney+ back in 2020 and it contains all of the stage production’s vitality—and all of its content concerns, too. But if you can navigate those, this is a fine introduction to one of the United States’ most brilliant, and most flawed, founders.
Change and Growth
Breaking away from Britain was great and all. But the United States was still a global backwater. And it might’ve stayed that way had it not been for the country’s boundless ingenuity, some character-creating challenges and, well, all the space it claimed and settled. These five films help illustrate elements of how our country morphed and spread and became a powerful and idealistic force in the world.
Lincoln (PG-13, 2013)
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning drama takes us to the year 1865, the final year of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) has already issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but given the war, that proclamation was, for all practical purposes, just words. Now he’s angling to put some real teeth into that proclamation in the form of the 13th Amendment. But his secretary of state warns him that if he pushes for the amendment, peace may be a long way off. This excellent drama can be violent and harsh. But it reminds us that the Civil War was a critical turning point in the nation’s history—and as traumatic as that war was, it cleared the way for a better future.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (PG-13, 1962)
You can’t talk about America’s growth without talking about its push westward, the grand expanses that we bought and claimed and took and tamed. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a look at that process of taming—how lands ruled by the six-shooter slowly became places of law and order. Starring two titanic film stars in John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, this fictional story illustrates a real-world dynamic about what was gained in the process of going West and what was lost.
Train Dreams (PG-13, 2025)
This is as much a visual poem as it is a movie—an epic poem of America’s change and growth in that once-wild west. It’s told through the eyes of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a laborer who cuts down trees, builds railroad tracks and does his best to preserve a bit of wild America in the midst of its rapid, sometimes bewildering changes. Again, this is a fictional story, and it comes with a whiff of myth to it. But it’s a lyrical salute to people unsung: those who did the hard work of physically building the nation.
Casablanca (PG, 1942)
America survived its Civil War. It gutted through the Great Depression. It was a global player by World War II, but it wasn’t so sure if it wanted to take much of an active role. That dynamic is played out on screen in Casablanca, one of Hollywood’s greatest classic films. Cynical Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) owns a cantina in the coastal African city of Casablanca. And even as Nazis march into his joint, he’s determined not to take sides. Not, that is, until an old flame (played by Ingrid Bergman) walks into his place with a harried freedom fighter. Rick decides to set aside his guarded neutrality to fight—in his own way—for what’s right. There’s very little actual history in here, but it does metaphorically point to the United States’ own decision to abandon isolationism and take its place as a leader on the global stage. And the movie’s so good you just might want to play it again, Sam.
Flash of Genius (PG-13, 2008)
The United States helped shape the world not just through its military might, but through its inventions. Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford and countless others shaped the world through their innovations and, in many cases, their capitalistic drive. Hollywood, perhaps predictably, doesn’t make a lot of movies about inventors. But it did zero in on one in 2008: Set in the early 1960s, Flash of Genius focuses on Bob Kearns, the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper. Now, while that may not seem fundamental to our nation’s history, this story about a small-time inventor (played by Greg Kinnear) taking on America’s corporate big boys is more gripping than you’d imagine. And it reminds us that individual innovation is one of the secrets of the country’s success.
America at its Best
The United States is an imperfect nation. No matter the rhetoric, we know it. We see it—on our streets, in our parks, in our country’s capital. We make mistakes. We lose sight of our high ideals. We fail. But even in that failure, we know who we should be and what our nation should stand for. The following five films remind us of some of the integral character traits we feel are perhaps uniquely American—and give us something to aspire to.
High Noon (NR, 1952)
Perhaps the greatest Western of all time, High Noon tells the story of retiring U.S. Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper), ready to ride into the sunset with his beautiful wife, Amy. But there’s a catch: Frank Miller, a man Kane sent to prison, is out now—and he’s out for blood. The marshal could leave the dusty town of Hadleyville as he planned. To stay means certain death, especially since no one cares to stand up to Miller and his gang. But Kane stays. Why? Because that’s what he should do. Americans have always seen themselves as strong, brave souls willing to protect the innocent and stand up to the villains of our world. Few embody that courage better than Kane.
Sergeant York (NR, 1941)
Clearly, Gary Cooper knows something about aspirational America. He’s making his second appearance not only on this list, but in this section—this time playing the conflicted sharpshooter Alvin York. A recent Christian convert and a strong pacifist, York initially tries to avoid fighting in World War I as a conscientious objector. But the government won’t allow that, and he ultimately makes peace with joining the Army after reading, “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” York (based on a real person) went on to become a bona fide war hero, and Cooper claimed an Oscar for his performance. This is a study in duty, conviction, bravery and faith.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (NR, 1939)
We move to the halls of government to meet our next aspirational hero: Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart), the leader of a troop of Boy Rangers who unexpectedly becomes a U.S. Senator. He’s chosen for the job because some Washington cronies think he’ll be a docile, pliable sort, eager to help them in their backroom schemes or too dumb to stop them. But Mr. Smith—the innocent, altruistic freshman senator who still believes that America should stand for something better—is no such easy mark. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, made nearly 90 years ago by now, is a good reminder that we’ve long mistrusted the goings-on in Washington, D.C., and we’ve long had reason to. But underneath the imperfections of the bureaucracy and the corruption of its politicians, this “Great Experiment” remains a beautiful, powerful thing—one that, with the help of the everyman, can always find its footing again.
Apollo 13 (PG-13, 1995)
It’s great when things go according to plan. But what happens when your plans fly out the window and into the vacuum of space? That’s when character is built—and when Americans imagine themselves at their best. Such is what happens when the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission experiences a catastrophic failure, risking the lives of the three astronauts on board. What follows is a gripping illustration in problem-solving, both onboard the Apollo capsule and down at Houston’s Mission Control. And while the mission was technically a failure (the astronauts didn’t set their feet on the moon) it felt like one of the early space program’s most triumphant victories. We don’t have a full review up of this one, so be warned: The film does contain some drinking, smoking and a hint of pre-marital sex. You’ll hear some foul language and, of course, Apollo 13 can be quite intense. But it’s a great illustration of courage and creativity under duress—something that Americans pride themselves on.
Miracle (PG, 2004)
The rest of the films in this section feel like incredibly high-stakes affairs. In Miracle, only a gold medal hangs in the balance. And yet, for Americans watching the 1980 Olympics, the U.S. hockey team’s defeat of the mighty Soviet Union (and, later, their podium-topping performance in the gold medal game) might’ve been one of their proudest, most patriotic moments. It’s funny: For all the nation’s wealth and power, Americans like to think of themselves as the scrappy underdogs, and in this case, the U.S. absolutely was.
Freedom for All
The United States was founded on a difficult paradox: Even as our hallowed documents so eloquently told the world about value and the sanctity of freedom, we withheld that freedom from so many. It’s one of many red marks on the United States’ ledger, and one that we continue to grapple with to this day. But as these following films tell us, we’ve also made remarkable progress—even as many would say there is more progress to be made.
12 Years a Slave (R, 2014)
This list contains some difficult films to navigate, but none more so than 12 Years a Slave. Indeed, if I had to list the most traumatic movies I’ve had to review in my time at Plugged In, this would be near the top. It has problems in every single content section we list, so be sure to check our review and consider carefully before watching. But while this is a hard movie, it’s an important one. Through Solomon Northup’s tragic story—a free Black man who’s drugged, kidnapped and forced into slavery—we see the horrors of that too-long institution firsthand.
Glory (R, 1989)
Another harsh but important film, Glory dramatizes the exploits of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the earliest African American regiments allowed to fight in the Civil War. Led by the white Captain Robert Gould Shaw, this regiment risked everything for the Union cause and, by extension, their freedom—some carrying deep faith into battle with them. “Let me fight with the rifle in one hand, and the Good Book in the other,” one soldier prays, “so that [if I] die on water or on land, I may know that you, blessed Jesus Almighty, are with me, and I have no fear.” This R-rated film comes with some bloody fight sequences, intense language and a perilous, grim storyline. But Abraham Lincoln later credited the exploits of the real 54th with turning the tide of the war.
To Kill a Mockingbird (NR, 1963)
The end of the Civil War meant the end of slavery—technically. And yet, freedom often still felt far away. The classic film To Kill A Mockingbird takes us to Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. Tom Robinson, an African American man (played by Brock Peters), has been accused of assaulting a white woman—and that accusation might as well have been a guilty verdict in that time and place. But attorney Atticus Finch (played by Gregory Peck, who won an Oscar for his performance) insists that Robinson deserves a fair trial and a robust defense. And Finch will do his best to give it to him.
Hidden Figures (PG, 2017)
It’s 1961, and the U.S. is launching its Mercury space program, its first step to setting foot on the moon. And that program is filled with the best minds in America. Well, as long as they’re white men, that is. Three women of color—Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Katherine G. Johnson—aim to change that. While Langley Air Force Base still has segregated restrooms and the scientists keep asking the more-than-capable Katherine to get them coffee, these women stand up to the system with grace and determination, eventually becoming key players in the drive to space.
Selma (PG-13, 2014)
We return to Alabama about 30 years after the events of To Kill a Mockingbird, where, a century after the Civil War, many African Americans still can’t vote. Enter the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference. They’re determined to take a stand at Selma. A walk, actually, all the way to Montgomery. Selma was nominated for Best Picture the year it came out, and in my humble opinion, I think it should’ve won. This is perhaps cinema’s best movie about the Civil Rights era, one that reminds us that faith was a central component of its work.
An American Art Form
The moving picture got its technological start in the United States (thanks to Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope). Our movies are perhaps our most popular export. And while plenty of other countries worldwide have made, and continue to make, outstanding films, a few cinematic genres feel as American as apple pie. Here’s a look at some of the best—or, at least, most illustrative—examples from those genres.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (G, 1937)
Walt Disney was one of the movie industry’s real innovators. While he’d already made plenty of money with his short animated films in the 1920s and ‘30s, he bet his success (and mortgaged his house) to create Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated feature in history. It was a smashing success and had an incalculable impact on American entertainment. Animated movies make literally billions of dollars each and every year, and Disney has become perhaps the world’s biggest entertainment heavyweight. And Snow White? Well, the American Film Institute named it the greatest American animated film of all time in 2008, that’s all.
The Maltese Falcon (NR, 1941)
From Snow White’s technicolor brightness, we head to the shadowy world of film noir—which, despite its French name, got its real start in the States. The grizzled, trenchcoat-wearing private eye has become a cliché now, and that archetypal character is no better embodied than in Humphrey Bogart’s Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon. This twisty tale launches Spade into a titanic mystery centered on the Maltese Falcon, an object said to be of immeasurable value. But the real value of the film may be in its cautionary tale. Our reviewer Bob Hoose wrote, “The Maltese Falcon dramatically illustrates how greed controls and corrupts mankind.” (This Golden Age gem still comes with a few problems, so be sure to check out our full review.)
Singin’ in the Rain (G, 1952)
Nothing feels more American than a classic Hollywood musical. And in my opinion, this is the best—and most classically American—of them all. The story focuses on an earlier age in Hollywood, when silent movies were being set aside for “talkies” and plenty of film stars saw their careers hit the rocks. Lina Lamont (played by Jean Hagen) has, let’s be honest, a voice made for silent movies. So her frequent co-star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) hatches a plan to have Lina’s voice dubbed by a young ingenue named Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). This film is a nearly problem-free delight filled with some of Hollywood’s most memorable tunes. Just writing this paragraph makes me want to start singing.
Shane (NR, 1953)
The Western is, practically by definition, a quintessentially American movie genre (never mind that some of the most famous ones were made in Italy). And while we’ve already offered a couple of all-time classics, let’s add another: Shane. Our hero (Alan Ladd) is a lone drifter who discovers a hint of meaning when he’s hired as a farmhand by a family of homesteaders. The catch? Those homesteaders are threatened by a greedy cattle baron determined to push the family off his land. Good thing Shane isn’t just some aimless drifter: He’s a gunfighter with a mysterious past and, as such, a true American archetype. The film is as Western as Westerns come, and it comes with a reminder of the costs involved in killing.
Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13, 2011)
Superheroes are another classic American creation. The world’s very first superhero, Superman, even talked about fighting for “truth, justice and the American way.” But all due respect to Kal-El, I’ve elected Captain America for the honors here. As presented in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cap best embodies almost every characteristic we’ve listed here: the scrappy underdog, the principled do-gooder, the reluctant warrior, the modest leader of men. This isn’t the best superhero movie out there. I don’t even think it’s the best Captain America movie. (That’d be Captain America: The Winter Soldier, if you’re curious.) But in a list celebrating America’s 250th birthday, how could I pick anything else?
Honestly, this list could’ve gone on. (In a perfect world, my editor would have let it.) There are so many elements of American history, culture and character that we’ve skipped over entirely. We could focus on American heroics in World War II or the country’s horrifically tragic relations with Native Americans. We could concentrate on great American cities or zoom in on the great American heartland. But this’ll have to do for now. Enjoy the 250th birthday of the United States. Celebrate our country’s merits, note its flaws and salute its heroes.
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