The Films Set During the Age of Discovery subgenre includes film genres such as History, Action, Drama and World Cinema. This historical subgenre focuses on films set during 1500 AD – 1700 AD and that largely take place in The Americas. The Age of Discovery film subgenre is part of our larger historical film subgenre collection that also includes films set during The Renaissance Era in Europe and the Early Modern Period of Asia. This subgenre includes other subgenres such as Action Adventure Films, Romantic Dramas, War Films with Massive Battle Scenes, Survival Dramas, Epic War Films, Aquatic Thrillers, World Cinema Dramas and Period Pieces.
The Age of Discovery film subgenre features a few themes including Films About Christopher Columbus, Films About Conquistadors, Films About the Spanish Conquest, Films About Aztecs, Films About Mayans, Films About Incas, Films About Native Americans and Films About Pilgrims. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Films About the Age of Discovery started to grow in popularity with The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) and Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972). The Royal Hunt of the Sun focused on the Spanish Explorer Pizarro and Inca chief Atahualpa while Aguirre, the Wrath of God focused on a Spanish expedition in search of the lost city of El Dorado.
The 1980’s saw only one major film set during The Age of Discovery, but it was a classic of the subgenre. The Spanish film, El Dorado (1988), told the epic story of the doomed Spanish El Dorado expedition from 1560 – 1561.
In the 1990’s, Films About the Age of Discovery surged in popularity. The decade was highlighted by two competing films that were rushed to cinemas for the 500th Year anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992) and 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) were the two films released to commemorate this event. Return to Aztlan (1991), Black Robe (1991), Cabeza de Vaca (1991), Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (1994), The Scarlet Letter (1995), The Crucible (1996) and The Other Conquest (1999) were other films set in the Americas during this time period.
The 2000’s only featured a few films set during the Age of Discovery, but they all involved different themes. Salem Witch Trials (2002) focused on the infamous witch trials in Massachusetts in the late 17th century. The New World (2005) focused on English settlers in America in the early 17th century while Apocalypto (2006) featured the Mayan civilization (located in modern day Central America) during the early 16th century.
Films About the Early Modern Period in Asian dominated the 2010’s though there were still a few period films set in the Americas from 1500 AD – 1700 AD. The Hair of the Beast (2010), aka Le Poil de la Bête, was a French-Canadian film about Werewolves in 1665 New France. And Gold (2017) was a Spanish historical drama about an expedition to locate El Dorado in the 16th century. The 2020’s have only featured one film set during the Age of Discovery time period with Fear Street: 1666 (2021).
Our list of Films Set During the Age of Discovery includes over 20 films from 1969 – 2021. These films are set during the period of 1500 AD – 1700 AD and located in the Americas. For other films set during this same time period, you can check out our lists of Films Set During the Renaissance Era in Europe and Films About Early Modern Asia. For our list of Top Films About the Age of Discovery You Haven’t Seen, we had to leave the following honorable mentions off our list: Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Return to Aztlan (1991), Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992), Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (1994), The Scarlet Letter (1995), Salem Witch Trials (2002) and Gold (2017). We also wanted to mention one of the best series set during the Age of Discovery and about Cortez, Moctezuma and the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. This series is called Hernán (2019) and is one of the best filmed versions of this time period.
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Films Set During the Age of Discovery You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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