#11: Faerie Tale Theatre (1982-1987)
Photo: eOne Entertainment
Hulu Synopsis: Faerie Tale Theatre brings to life twenty-six of the most magical fairy tales of all time. Directed by such masters of cinema as Tim Burton, Francis Ford Coppola and more, and star-powered by Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Mick Jagger, James Earl Jones, Howie Mandel, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon and more, this collection is an unparalleled treasury of the best-loved tales of enchantment, adventure, and wonder.
Why You Should Check it Out: While technically more fantasy than a period drama, I couldn’t help but include these classic and enchanting interpretations of fairy tales. If you haven’t seen these yet, make sure to make it a priority! Just don’t expect the quality and special effects of a modern day production.
#12: Great Expectations (1999)
Photo: BBC Worldwide
Hulu Synopsis: Violence and Victorian gentility meet in one of Dickens’ greatest creations. Pip’s epic journey from boy to man has at its center his relationships with the terrifying convict Magwitch, manipulative Miss Havisham, and the beautiful but heartless Estella.
Why You Should Check it Out: This is by far my personal favorite version of Great Expectations because it feels the truest to the novel. The almost always forgotten Biddy even has a huge role! Also, Ioan Gruffudd is amazing as usual in the leading role.
#13: He Knew He Was Right (2004)
Photo: BBC Worldwide
Hulu Synopsis: Louis Trevelyan’s refusal to trust his wife Emily destroys their marriage and both of their lives. Emily’s sister Nora causes uproar when she decides to marry for love rather than wealth – and the local clergyman proposes to not one woman, but three.
Why You Should Check it Out: All three love stories will suck you into this lush, gorgeously crafted, and wonderful mini-series. It’s tragic, romantic, and even funny. David Tennant plays one of his funniest roles ever in this one!
#14: The Indian Doctor (2010)
Photo: BBC Worldwide
Hulu Synopsis: This award-winning, light-hearted BBC One period drama is the “fish out of water” story of Prem Sharma, a highly educated Indian doctor, and Kamini, his beautiful upper class wife, who, attracted by the promise of opportunities in the new National Health Service and a glamorous lifestyle in London, leave India in 1963 only to find themselves sent to a small practice in a Welsh coal mining village.
Why You Should Check it Out: While I haven’t seen The Indian Doctor, it sounds like good, clean fun! I love period dramas that focus on small towns or villages. Let me know what you think about this one!
#15: The Infinite World of H.G. Wells (2001)
Photo: Sonar Entertainment
Hulu Synopsis: It begins a half-century earlier at London’s Imperial College of Science where Wells meets Jane Robbins, a scientist equally fascinated by unnatural phenomenon, and a woman who immediately captures Wells’ heart. Through midnight experiments and secret investigations into the paranormal, through the follies of chance and the miracles of fate, Wells and Robbins find themselves slipping into whirlpools of time, both past and present, they never thought possible. Since this mysterious universe can not be shared with the world, this becomes a wondrous secret that binds them forever.
Why You Should Check it Out: It’s science fiction, romance, and a period drama all rolled into one. What’s not to love?
#16: Jane Eyre (1983) – Spoilers
Hulu Synopsis: Charlotte Bronte’s enduring romance about a governess who falls for her enigmatic master, and discovers on her wedding day that he already has a wife. (Time for Hulu to change their spoilery description…)
Why You Should Check it Out: Instead of trying to convince you to watch this AMAZING adaptation of Jane Eyre, I’ll leave that to Amber who gave ten reasons why this is one period drama you don’t want to miss.
Ten Reasons to Watch the 1983 Jane Eyre Adaptation
#17: The King’s Daughter (2013)
Photo: MBC America
Hulu Synopsis: This is the story of Su Baek-hyang, born as the elder daughter of King Mu-ryeong but unable to retain her title of princess due to her ambitious younger sister, Sol-hui. Humble and hard-working, she was taught never to want or to desire beyond what she has, but the fate given to her is one that will affect not only her life and her family’s lives, but the entire nation as she struggles to find her place in life and fight for love.
Why You Should Check it Out: This has the potential to be a great choice for those of us who love a good old-fashioned princess tale.
#18: Lark Rise to Candleford (2008)
Photo: BBC
Hulu Synopsis: Lark Rise, a small hamlet holding on to the past, and Candleford, a small market town bustling into the future, have a complicated relationship which is seen through the eyes of Laura, a young girl who visits both communities.
Why You Should Check it Out: I often get asked by friends and family members about what period drama TV series they should check out next. Lark Rise to Candleford is always at the top of my list! With a wonderful cast, excellent scripts (from the same writer as The Paradise), and characterization about as real as you can get, this is one uplifting romantic period drama that the whole family can enjoy.
#19: Little Dorrit (2008)
Photo: BBC Worldwide
Hulu Synopsis: When Arthur Clennam returns to England, his curiosity is piqued by the presence of a young seamstress, Amy Dorrit, in his mother’s house. Arthur then…more must untangle the mystery of Amy, her father, and Arthur’s mother in this classic Dickens story.
Why You Should Check it Out: With Matthew MacFadyen as the leading man (Mr. Darcy), what could go wrong? Seriously, though, I just adore this Charles Dickens adaptation. Little Dorrit is definitely one of the best period dramas out there.
RELATED | Little Dorrit Review (2008)
#20: Little Women (1978)
Photo: eOne Entertainment
Hulu Synopsis: Based on the classic 1868 novel about love, family and the female spirit, Louisa May Alcott tells the domestic saga of the March family.
Why You Should Check it Out: I don’t know about everyone else, but as someone who has never seen this version of the beloved classic novel, I’m curious to see how this mini-series interprets Alcott’s work.
This is a great selection of well known and lesser known movies. I loved Fairy Tale Theatre when I was younger. I feel like I’d still enjoy it now. Had a huge crush on Sean Patrick Flannery of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles when that show first came out. Even when I sometimes found the episodes a bit dull, I watched them for him. This version of Sense and Sensibility is one of my favourite Austen films. I loved Elinor in this. I’ve heard so much about this version of Oliver Twist. I need to see it sometime. I’d add The Scarlet Pimpernel movies to this list. The one with Leslie Howard and the one with Jane Seymour.
I had a huge crush on Sean Patrick Flannery too! And this version of S&S really is great. I completely agree with you about Elinor.
I didn’t include Leslie Howard’s Pimpernel movie because this list only focused on TV (TV movies, miniseries, and TV shows), but is the Jane Seymour version on Hulu? I don’t see it! I’ve been meaning to watch that one.
Oops. I forgot about the TV angle. I don’t have Hulu, so not sure about that Pimpernel movie being there. It’s really good. A great period mini series is Around The World In 80 Days starring Pierce Brosnan. I loved it when it first aired years ago.
I was unable to find most of these on Hulu.
Many of these are still on hulu. But some have also left. New deals change what’s on. This was put up last year so much has changed. And with the new deal BBC made with Amazon, unfortunately losing some of these great period dramas were inevitable!
what deal did they make with amazon ?
Different streaming services make deals with different companies/networks. For a while, many British shows were available on Amazon Prime. There are less so now because of Britbox, but a lot of period dramas are still there.
I totally recommend “The Time in Between”. I read the book when it first came out in 2009 and was pleasantly surprised by this adaptation: it’s even better than the book! The story is a mix of romance, historical (a true one, since the author is a historian) and espionage.
If you speak Spanish, try and watch the original version. There are many foreign characters (the story is set between Spain and Morocco, but the characters are Spanish, Moroccan, Portuguese, German, English…), so the conversations, the accents and the subtle nuances of dialogue are somewhat lost in the English dubbing.
If you’re not convinced yet, the costumes should be inducement enough: the female protagonist is a seamstress, and she makes stunning clothes, a real treat for any period drama lover!
Hulu sucks.
you guys can’t count that’s 10 not 50. your NEXT button goes to a different list.
You’re clicking on the Next button for next article. But if you click on page 2, then it will take you to more of the list. There are 50 choices.