Historical drama

The biographical film is a type of historical drama which generally focuses on a single individual or well-defined group.

In different eras different subgenres have risen to popularity, such as the westerns and sword and sandal films that dominated North American cinema in the 1950s.

Early critics defined them as films focusing on romance and relationships in sumptuous surroundings, contrasting them with other historical dramas believed to have more serious themes.

Other critics have defended costume dramas, and argued that they are disparaged because they are a genre directed towards women.

Works that focus on accurately portraying specific historical events or persons are instead known as docudrama, such as The Report.