Shows Like Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

If you liked Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (2006), a documentary 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
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.
2
Meet the Romans with Mary Beard (2012)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
Professor Mary Beard looks beyond the stories of emperors, armies, guts and gore to meet the everyday people at the heart of Ancient Rome's vast empire.
3
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.
4
The Walking Dead: Origins (2021)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
The Walking Dead: Origins is a series of specials exploring the journeys of the series' most celebrated characters. Each episode charts the story of the zombie apocalypse from the point of view of a single character…
5
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.
6
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.
7
TYSON (2026)
★ 8.5/10Also documentary
Explore the explosive life of Mike Tyson — one of the most feared and fascinating figures in sports history.
8
Eli Roth's History of Horror (2018)
★ 6.4/10Also documentary
An in-depth look at the history and pop cultural significance of horror films.
9
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (2025)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
Featuring rare footage and interviews with CIA insiders, this edge-of-your-seat documentary series traces the epic hunt for Osama bin Laden.
10
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…
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
How to Become a Tyrant (2021)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary
The documentary series explores different political figures throughout history.
13
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.
14
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.
15
The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022)
★ 6.7/10Also documentary
After he's shot in 1968, Andy Warhol begins documenting his life and feelings. Those diaries, and this series, reveal the secrets behind his persona.
16
Trust Me: The False Prophet (2026)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
In this true-crime documentary, a cult expert and filmmaker infiltrate a polygamist sect to expose a self-proclaimed prophet and bring him to justice.
17
The Real History of Science Fiction (2014)
★ 6.8/10Also documentary
The series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television history of science fiction, told through its impact on cinema, television and literature, with the help of filmmakers…
18
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (2021)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
In a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Stars reached new heights, fresh talent exploded onto the scene, and boundaries expanded…
19
Greatest Events of World War II in Colour (2019)
★ 8.1/10Also documentary
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.
20
The Vietnam War (2017)
★ 8.3/10Also documentary
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…