‘Bridgerton’ type Shows & Movies to Watch on Netflix
Often you just can't help but binge your way through it when a great new show drops on Netflix: particularly when there's not much else to do (gee thanks COVID-19).
If you have already completed Bridgerton, the first original Netflix produced by the production company Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland, nobody's judging. We're here to help, in fact.
If you liked Bridgerton, here are our ideas on what to hold on to next.
Note: You can stream the following shows and movies on Netflix US. There might be differences in availability across other countries, but most Netflix Originals are globally available.
1) Pride & Prejudice (2005)
If you liked Bridgeton, the next best thing (though some might say better) is an adaptation of Jane Austen.
During the early 19th century, Jane Austen was an English writer who wrote romances. Not only are the novels by Jane Austen set in the same time frame as Bridgerton, but they also occupy the same world of high society. Everyone is interested in the private lives of others: who marries whom, and how much money do they have?
Perhaps the most popular of all the works by Austen is Pride & Prejudice. Kiera Knightly as the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Frost / Nixon) are featured in this version as the dashing Mr Darcy.
The 1995 Pride & Prejudice series (usually considered the stronger adaptation), as well as an adaptation of Austen's Sense & Sensibility, featuring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and the late, great Alan Rickman, can be enjoyed by viewers in the UK.
2) The Princess Switch (2018)
While this one isn't a historical drama, there's nothing like a little holiday romance to get you in a festive mood. Especially when it involves all the glamor of princes, princesses and Christmas parties in the castles.
Vaness Hudgens plays both Stacy DeNovo and Lady Margaret Delacourt: a talented baker, and a betrothed duchess who looks almost identical. The pair agrees to swap their lives for a few days, just to see what it's like. Of course, it doesn't take a long time for love to blossom.
If you really enjoy it, The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again is also available on Netflix.
3) Outlander (2014 - 2017, 3 Seasons)
If you're looking for a romantic historical drama with a little twist, we recommend Outlander.
The drama begins in Scotland, just after the Second World War. However, inadvertently, the protagonist, nurse Claire Randall, travels back to the 18th century. There, she becomes entangled in a dramatic romance with the Highlander rebel Jamie. Adventure soon comes to call, as did Claire's previous life.
This Starz series features Caitriona Balfe (Now You See Me), Sam Heughan (Christmas Princess) and Tobias Menzies (The Crown).
4) Lady J (2018)
This period piece is set a little earlier than Bridgerton, in France in the 18th century. However, both dramas are deeply concerned about the ins and outs of high-society relationships.
In Lady J, a woman spurned by her Marquis lover devises an elaborate plot to exact vengeance. It is similar to the 1988 classic, Dangerous Liaisons, according to the reviews.
5) Anna Karenina (2012)
If you want to see a period drama that's as lavish in its style, look no further than Anna Karenina.
Based on Leo Tolstoy's iconic Russian novel, Anna Karenina is a vast tale of romance, infidelity and fame. Our heroine, played by Kiera Knightly, experienced firsthand the double standards faced by women in the 19th-century society.
In this film, Kiera Knightly is supported by an all-star cast, including June Law, Alicia Vikander, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Domhnall Gleeson.