5 Historical Drama Shows Like Death by Lightning to Watch Next
Netflix’s newest show to hit the streaming platform is the historical drama miniseries Death by Lightning that tells the true story of James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau, the man who would eventually assassinate him.
The series is led by Michael Shannon (Nuremberg, The Shape of Water) as President James Garfield, Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Death at a Funeral) as Charles Giteau, Nick Offerman (Devs, Parks and Recreation) as Chester Arthur, Bradley Whitford (The Diplomat, The Handmaid’s Tale) as James Blaine, Shea Whigham (American Primeval, Perry Mason), as Roscoe Conkling, and Betty Gilpin (American Primeval, GLOW) as Crete Garfield.
If you’ve binged the 4-episode series and are looking for similar content, here are 5 historical drama shows like Death by Lightning to watch next.
Franklin (2024 miniseries)
Cast: Michael Douglas, Noah Jupe, Daniel Mays, Ludivine Sagnier, Thibault de Montalembert, Assaad Bouab, Tom Hughes, Eddie Marsan, Jeanne Balibar
Synopsis: “Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” Franklin explores the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when — as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance — he embarks on a secret mission to France.”
Where to watch: Apple TV
Gunpowder (2017 miniseries)
Cast: Kit Harington, Peter Mullan, Mark Gatiss, Liv Tyler, Shaun Dooley, Tom Cullen, Robert Emms, Derek Riddell
Synopsis: “Robert Catesby leads Guy Fawkes a group of English Catholic traitors plan to blow up the Palace Of Westminster and kill King James I in the infamous Gunpowder Plot.”
Where to watch: HBO Max
The Kennedys (2011 miniseries)
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes, Tom Wilkinson, Diana Hardcastle, Kristin Booth, Chris Diamantopoulos, Charlotte Sullivan, Gabriel Hogan, Enrico Colantoni, Serge Houde, Don Allison
Synopsis: “The triumphs and tragedies of the most popular political family in American history.”
Where to watch: Prime Video, The Roku Channel
Manhunt (2024 miniseries)
Cast: Tobias Menzies, Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone, Brandon Flynn, Will Harrison, Patton Oswalt, Damian O’Hare, Matt Walsh, Hamish Linklater, Lili Taylor, Josh Stewart
Synopsis: “A conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history: the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This is the astonishing story of the high-stakes hunt for John Wilkes Booth.”
Where to watch: Apple TV
Turn: Washington’s Spies (2014-2017)
Cast: Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich, Daniel Henshall, Meegan Warner, Burn Gorman, Kevin McNally, Samuel Roukin, Ian Kahn, Owain Yeoman, Angus Macfadyen, JJ Feild, Nick Westrate, Aldis Hodge
Synopsis: “A Long Island farmer bands together a group of childhood friends to form an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence.”
Where to watch: AMC+
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