Shows Like How to Become a Tyrant

If you liked How to Become a Tyrant (2021), a documentary and war & politics series, here are 20 shows with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
WWII in Color: Road to Victory (2021)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary and war & politics
Gripping historical footage and expert commentary give detailed insights into the leading figures and decisive turning points of World War II.
2
Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States (2012)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary and war & politics
Oliver Stone's re-examination of under-reported events in American history.
3
Hitler's Circle of Evil (2018)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and war & politics
Surviving power struggles, betrayals and plots, Hitler's inner circle of Nazi leaders seizes control of Germany and designs its disastrous future.
4
World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)
★ 8/10Also documentary and war & politics
Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this docuseries brings WWII to life like never before.
5
The Vietnam War (2017)
★ 8.3/10Also documentary and war & politics
An immersive 360-degree narrative telling the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. Featuring testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and…
6
History 101 (2020)
★ 7.1/10Also documentary
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
7
World War II with Tom Hanks (2026)
★ 8.3/10Also documentary
Explores WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age, examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt, and the human cost of total war.
8
Greatest Events of World War II in Colour (2019)
★ 8.1/10Also documentary and war & politics
Using highly advanced colourisation techniques, critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, are shown in a whole new light.
9
Churchill at War (2024)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary and war & politics
This captivating docuseries examines Winston Churchill's pivotal role in World War II and the formative events that made him an ideal leader for the era.
10
Last Chance U (2016)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary
In a docuseries set at one of NCAA football's most fertile recruiting grounds, guys with red flags seek to prove their worth on the field and in class.
11
Mind Field (2017)
★ 8.2/10Also documentary
Explore the surprising things we know (and don’t know) about why people are the way they are through expert interviews, rare footage from historical experiments, and brand-new, ground-breaking demonstrations of human…
12
Drug Lords (2018)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary
Witness the stories of history's most notorious kingpins, their terrifying enforcers, and the men and women who've sworn to bring them down.
13
Visible: Out on Television (2020)
★ 6.7/10Also documentary
Explore the history of the American LGBTQ movement through the lens of TV in this five-part docuseries. Combining archival footage with new interviews, the series looks at homophobia, the evolution of LGBTQ characters…
14
Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021)
★ 7.1/10Also documentary and war & politics
Dynamic reenactments and expert commentaries bring to life the tumultuous history and power struggles of a warring 16th-century feudal Japan.
15
Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
This gripping docuseries examines Adolf Hitler and the Nazis' rise, rule and reckoning from pre-WWII to the Holocaust to the Nuremberg trials.
16
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos (2024)
★ 8.3/10Also documentary
A portrait of celebrated filmmaker David Chase: his life, his career and his groundbreaking work on the HBO original series The Sopranos.
17
MOURINHO (2026)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
This trophy-packed, insider-fuelled documentary charts José Mourinho's iconic rise as one of the world's top footballing managers of the most elite clubs.
18
Chef's Table (2015)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
Meet culinary stars around the world who are redefining gourmet food with innovative dishes and tantalizing desserts.
19
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (2021)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary and war & politics
Modern history can be divided into two time frames: before 9/11 and after 9/11. This five-part docuseries is a cohesive chronicle of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., offering illuminating perspectives and…
20
The New York Times Presents (2020)
★ 7/10Also documentary
A series of standalone documentaries powered by the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time.