5 Best Movies & TV Series About Civil War to Watch After 'The Gray House'
There are classics, modern reimaginings, and stories that depict the war through the lives of ordinary people rather than battle scenes.
The Gray House is a historical drama about a network of women spies who passed secret information to the Union during the American Civil War.
The series has divided viewers: some criticize its slow pace, while others appreciate its attention to detail and rare insight into the war from a female perspective.
If you've finished watching and want to learn more about the conflict that shaped America's fate, this list is for you.
1. 'Glory', 1989
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
Union Captain Robert Gould Shaw returns home wounded. He is soon promoted to colonel and assumes command of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which consists of black volunteers.
Meanwhile, reports surface that the Confederates are executing all captured prisoners of color, along with their white officers. However, their ranks are not thinning.
Shaw and his subordinates face unfair treatment, even among the Federals. The regiment is sent on punitive raids against civilians, and black soldiers are paid less. Yet it is they who will be the first to attack in one of the most brutal battles.
2. 'North & South', 1985-1994
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
North & South is a trilogy of miniseries released in 1985, 1986, and 1994. Each season is based on one of John Jakes' books. The first season covers events before the Civil War, the second season depicts events during the conflict, and the third season shows events in its aftermath.
George Hazard of Pennsylvania and Orry Main of South Carolina meet at a military academy and become close friends despite their differences in background and views.
Hazard helps develop industrial business in the North, while Main manages a plantation in the South. When the Civil War begins, Hazard and Main find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield.
3. 'Lincoln', 2012
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
In early 1865, President Abraham Lincoln hoped for a swift Confederate surrender. He urgently needed to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery because the Emancipation Proclamation, issued two years earlier, could be overturned.
Lincoln turned to Francis Preston Blair, founder of the Republican Party, for help. Blair, in turn, insisted on beginning peace negotiations with the Southerners because he feared for the safety of his children.
The president's own son wanted to join the army as well. Lincoln faced an almost impossible task: securing the passage of the amendment to end slavery while simultaneously ending the war.
4. 'The Civil War', 1990
IMDb Score: 9.0/10
Ken Burns' documentary series is the most accurate and comprehensive account of the Civil War. In nine episodes, the filmmakers cover all the major stages of the conflict. The final episode depicts the surrender of the South and the war's aftermath.
Off-screen, various actors read authentic letters and diaries from participants, as well as commentary from historians and experts.
5. 'Gettysburg', 1993
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
In the summer of 1863, the Confederate army advanced north across the Potomac River. General Longstreet was informed that the enemy was approaching.
The command decided to take up positions near Gettysburg in order to force the Union forces to attack, which would put them at a disadvantage. Union Brigadier General John Buford tried to stop them.
On July 1, the Battle of Gettysburg began, one of the largest battles in the history of the Civil War. The battle lasted three days, and both sides suffered heavy losses.
