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20 Best Movies About Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte is a name that many people receive with mixed feelings because of his achievements as well as letdowns during his time. He was a French military general and political leader who became an icon in Europe during the French Revolution. His rise to power, leadership, and military prowess have been used by the modern world in the entertainment industry to create films around Bonaparte’s life. Bonaparte rose to power quickly, becoming one of the most admired and feared men in Europe. His time as an emperor of France was marked by an enormous expansion of the empire over a short period. His life story has become a rich tapestry of films that have deeply analyzed and shown the world who Napoleon Bonaparte was.

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A brief look at the best movies about the French military leader opens an avenue for us to understand his leadership skills, military prowess, and personal struggles with social issues. His rich history presented movie directors in Hollywood with a hard time choosing the best men and women to tell Bonaparte’s story in the best way possible. Several films, from drama, comedy, action, military, and romance have been used to tell the whole story of one man who changed the course of European history. The movies also show us how filmmakers interpreted the life of a man who permanently printed his name in history.

The following are the twenty best movies about Napoleon Bonaparte:

1. War & Peace (1956)

When King Vidor assembled some of the best actors and actresses including Audrey Hepburn and Oscar Homolka, everyone knew that the movie would be a success. The 1956 movie War and Peace stands out as the best movie to feature the French military leader and politician, Napoleon Bonaparte. The film revolves around his desire to conquer Russia after taking over and destroying a bigger part of Europe. While the Russians had opted for peace, the French leader was not ready for negotiations as he was determined to have his way. Unfortunately, the Russians were more prepared than the French leading to a retreat of the French troops after a long period of war. Bonaparte ends up not achieving his ultimate goal. The film became a global sensation after its release and has gone on to win five different Golden Globe nominations.

2. Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story (1987)

While Napoleon Bonaparte was known for his military prowess, he also had a romantic life that many people did not know until the 1987 miniseries was aired on television. After its release, the film received more criticism than praise as many people did not find it impressive. The movie was focused on the largely assumed side of the great leader’s love life with his wife Josephine. However, it is almost impossible to separate men like Napoleon Bonaparte from war. As much as the film focuses on love, we can see the correlation between his love life and the military organization. His relationship with Josephine directly affected France and the whole of Europe. Despite the negative feedback, the film achieved a level that many films were unable to reach.

3. Waterloo (1970)

There were several wars in Europe when Napoleon Bonaparte was in the military but the Battle of Waterloo was one of the deadliest in history. The French leader fought in the Waterloo region in Belgium in 1815 after his exile. This was the battle that saw the French troops lose to the British army leading to the end of the napoleon wars in Europe. The 1970 film was the first and best to tell the story of the Waterloo battle despite receiving several negative feedback. However, viewers who love watching battles appreciate the film.

4. Napoleon (1927)

A century after his death, a film was released to show people the life of the French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. This five-hour film was created to show a completely different approach to the life of the man that many people feared. The movie had six parts, with the first part showing his early life including his first years in the military. However, the director did not complete the remaining five parts due to lack of funds. Despite being incomplete, the film achieved legendary status as one of the best ways to see his life from a different point of view.

5. The Emperor’s New Clothes (2001)

The Emperor’s New Clothes is a movie that briefly explains the life of Napoleon Bonaparte’s journey as he escapes from exile. Played by Ian Holm, Bonaparte manages to escape from the island of Saint Helena where he had been kept for a few months. The film shows his desire to return to France and the people’s desire to accept him and make him a leader as they believed in his philosophies. The name of the film is depicted in the way the emperor wears imaginary clothes showing his audacious return to his homeland. Alan Taylor, the director, explores the themes of leadership, power, ambition, and the way the public perceives leaders.

6. Napoleon TV Series (2002)

The movie producers in the twenty-first century have explored deeply the life of a leader who made Europe what it is today, his name is Napoleon Bonaparte. In the 2002 television series, we get to know him better than we have ever done in several other movies created in the past. Christian Clavier plays the role in one of the best ways that show the skills that the French leader possessed. Here we get to know that Napoleon was not only a good soldier and commander, but also an amazing legislator, emperor, father, and husband. The series focuses on his personal life which gives us a bigger picture of his personality.

7. Monsieur N. (2003)

Torrent Philippe must have been the man who changed many people’s perspective of Napoleon Bonaparte in the film Monsieur N. As a skilled actor, he used two opposing personalities to bring out the best of the man. In some instances, Bonaparte is seen as a fierce, merciless, and ruthless killer who does not let anything or anyone stand in the way of his goals, while other scenes show a compassionate and kind Bonaparte. The film makes us understand that the French leader was also human and was bound to make mistakes like the rest of us.

8. Napoleon and Love (1974)

A man known solely for his imperfections through wars and killings also had a personal love life that people needed to know to relate with him. The 1974 film Napoleon and Love was another film delving into his personal life and relationship with his first wife Josephine. Unlike other films showing his love life, this movie shows the political dynamics and challenges that married couples go through while trying to balance politics and family. The miniseries explores the human side of the French leader.

9. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the War (2003)

The year 2003 gave us several films about Napoleon Bonaparte and one film was unique from the rest, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the War. The movie explores the naval wars between the French and British Royal Navy. Captain Jack Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe with his crew encounters one of the toughest wars in the water during the Napoleonic wars. The film shows the challenges that soldiers on the battleground go through when fighting against formidable enemies in maritime wars. Even though Napoleon Bonaparte was not the center of focus in the film, his influence to start the Napoleonic wars led to the wars in water.

10. The Duelists (1977)

Even though the film The Duelists does not directly involve the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, the scenes are set in France during the Napoleonic era. The movie follows two soldiers in the French army who constantly cross each other’s paths in their line of duty. The two men have a minor disagreement in the beginning which escalates to constant fights whenever they meet. All this happens amidst the tough times as wars are at their peak in Europe.

11. The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)

The 1942 film was yet another chance to show the life and history of Napoleon Bonaparte through another character’s point of view. The film revolves around the life of a young man called William Pitt, played by Robert Donat whose leadership skills make him rise to the ranks at a young age during the Napoleon era. Becoming the prime minister of the United Kingdom at a young age came with a lot of challenges for the young leader, including facing the French military leader during the French Revolution. The film received significant praise for showing the challenges that leaders faced in the whole of Europe during the Napoleonic era.

12. The Life of Napoleon (1955)

As the name suggests, this was the film that captured the life history of the French military commander. Directed by Sacha Guitry, the film revolves around the early life of Napoleon Bonaparte, rising to power, being exiled, and coming back to France to become a leader once again. The film also delves into the personal life of the man showing his relationship with his wives as well as the interaction with other leaders in the region. The film showcases his ambitions, strategic brilliance, and the balance between politics and personal life. The film shows the remarkable journey of the man whose name will remain in the history of France forever.

13. Napoleon’s Great Escape (2015)

The film Napoleon’s Great Escape is a 2015 animated movie that depicts the journey of Napoleon Bonaparte’s escape from the island of Elba and his attempts to become an undisputable leader in France again. Voiced by Paul Mercuric, the film shows Napoleon’s daring move to go back to the place where he was exiled in the first place. As if going back to France was not crazy enough, he tried to become the leader amidst the high temperatures in a war-torn region. The film combines history, storytelling skills, and humor to tell the story of a man who made history in Europe.

14. Napoleon and Samantha (1972)

The 1972 film Napoleon and Samantha revolves around a young man called Napoleon whose love for animals is unbelievable. He creates a special bond with a lion called Major while he is still living with his grandfather. When his guardian dies, Napoleon goes to live with his grandfather’s friend Samantha. The relationship between Napoleon shows the life of a brave boy who was named after the French military commander.

15. Napoleon and the Empire of Fashion (2018)

Although Napoleon Bonaparte was a man associated with war and politics, his era changed several sectors of the economy including fashion. His story and influence on the world of fashion are depicted in the 2018 documentary Napoleon and the Empire of Fashion. Many would wonder how his life and dealings would affect the world of fashion. Here is a refresher; the Napoleonic era as an empire immensely affected the world of fashion because clothing was associated with social status. People in the highest social status had different fashion from the rest of the world thus directly influencing fashion in France and Europe. The film shows how Napoleonic rule left a lifelong impact on the world of fashion.

16. The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short (1966)

The film directed by the Belgian-French director André delvaux is about the life of a school teacher who falls in love with a young student who resembles Napoleon Bonaparte. Although the film does not directly tell the story of the French leader, his reference serves as a symbol of history in the French region. The film explores the themes of obsession and desire which the primary were driving personalities shown by Napoleon Bonaparte during his time as a leader in France.

17. Napoleon and Me (2006)

Napoleon and Me is a film that shows the good side of the French military commander and his interaction with ordinary people. The film revolves around a French school teacher who finds himself a friend of the fearless military commander. Martino, played by Daniel Auteuil became Napoleon’s French teacher when the latter was in exile. While we know Napoleon as a man who is hungry for human blood, this film shows us his human side as he becomes friends with his French teacher. The film also combines comedy and light moments of the French leader.

18. Clone High (2002-2003)

Napoleon Bonaparte was a man whom several personalities and filmmakers have tried their best to show us the whole picture of the former French leader including his childhood. The series Clone High is an animation that shows figures of historical people, including Napoleon Bonaparte. He is portrayed by a young short man who shows the character shown by Napoleon when he was a teenager. The film shows the teenagers as they deal with teenage problems including relationships and adolescence and the way young Napoleon would have dealt with these issues. The series uses satire and humor to make every scene interesting making it one of the movies about Napoleon Bonaparte that we can watch with a smile.

19. Passion in the Desert (1997)

The 1997 film revolves around the experience of a French soldier Augustine (played by Ben Daniels) during his time in the Egyptian desert. The soldier gets stranded in the desert during the Napoleon Bonaparte adventure in Egypt. While the film does not entirely focus on Napoleon Bonaparte, the events happen during his era. The soldier has to survive in the wild as he forms a bond with the leopard he met in the desert. The film explores the themes of survival and war.

20. The Story of the Count of Monte (1961)

After his return from exile on the island of Elba, Napoleon was on a mission to re-establish relationships and create a team of trustees. The film The Story of the Count of Monte tells the story of the French leader’s influence on the political and social turmoil after his return to the country. The protagonist Edmond Dantes is on a journey to revenge against his enemies including Napoleon Bonaparte. His mission is set to fail because he faces a man who has specialized in killing. The film also explores vengeance, betrayal, and political justice.

Despite Napoleon Bonaparte having been a world leader more than two centuries ago, his legacy still lives on as a testament to the enduring man who was on the course to conquer the world. His fascinating history as a leader and a man has been captured in writing as well as acting in different films. The movies about Napoleon Bonaparte show us the whole life of the man who was both a fighter, strategist, and political leader. The films have deeply explored his life in all aspects including personal life, relationships, and leadership qualities which put him on the list as one of the most fearless men in Europe. Being exiled from his community after a decade in leadership, and coming back to leadership for just a hundred days have all been captured in the best movies that tell his story. The best movies about Napoleon Bonaparte are some of the favorites of history lovers and cinephiles who seek to know the truth about world leaders in the past. The new generation of viewers has another chance to look back on history and appreciate the leaders who made history.