Movies Like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India is a 2001 adventure, drama, history film from Ashutosh Gowariker with a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Heat and Dust and The New World.

Adventure Drama History

Heat and Dust

1983

Anne is investigating the life of her grand-aunt Olivia, whose destiny has always been shrouded with scandal. As Anne delves into the history of her grand-aunt, she is led to reconsider her own life.

6.1

MagicScore

The New World

2005

A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.

6.5

MagicScore

Sense and Sensibility

1995

The Dashwood sisters, sensible Elinor and passionate Marianne, find that their chances at marriage seem doomed by their family's sudden loss of fortune. When Henry Dashwood dies unexpectedly, his estate must pass on by law to his son from his first marriage. But these circumstances leave Mr. Dashwood's current wife and daughters without a home and with barely enough money to live on. As Elinor and Marianne struggle to find romantic fulfillment in a society obsessed with financial and social status, they must learn to mix sense with sensibility in their dealings with both money and men.

7.4

MagicScore

Far from the Madding Crowd

2015

In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a hardworking young sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.

7.0

MagicScore

83

2021

On the 25th of June 1983, the Lord’s Cricket Ground witnessed one of the biggest underdog stories in the history of sports. Fourteen inspired players - led by a man's self-belief and conviction - fought against all odds and orchestrated India’s greatest sporting triumph by beating the two-time World Champions West Indies.

7.2

MagicScore

Kesari

2019

In 1897, an army of 21 Sikhs battles 10,000 Afghans to prevent the Saragarhi Fort from being taken down.

7.1

MagicScore

Million Dollar Arm

2014

In a last-ditch effort to save his career, sports agent JB Bernstein dreams up a wild game plan to find Major League Baseball’s next great pitcher from a pool of cricket players in India. He soon discovers two young men who can throw a fastball but know nothing about the game of baseball. Or America. It’s an incredible and touching journey that will change them all — especially JB, who learns valuable lessons about teamwork, commitment and family.

6.7

MagicScore

Chariots of Fire

1981

In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest.

6.8

MagicScore

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

1956

A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

7.2

MagicScore

#10

The Titfield Thunderbolt

1953

When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line a group of local residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. Unfortunately the local bus company starts to use methods that can hardly be seen as fair competition.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Peterloo

2018

An epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reforms and protest against rising levels of poverty.

6.8

MagicScore

#12

The Hidden Blade

2004

Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his dearest friend.

7.4

MagicScore

#13

The Man Who Would Be King

1975

Tired of life as soldiers, Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot travel to the isolated land of Kafiristan, where they are ultimately embraced by the people and revered as rulers. After a series of misunderstandings, the natives come to believe that Dravot is a god, but he and Carnehan can't keep up their deception forever.

7.5

MagicScore

#14

Palestine 36

2025

Year 1936. As villages across Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe and some arriving with nefarious Zionist-colonial ambitions, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain’s 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

8.1

MagicScore

#15

Kim

1950

During the British Raj, the orphan of a British soldier poses as a Hindu and is torn between his loyalty to a Buddhist mystic and aiding the English secret service.

6.2

MagicScore

#16

The Go-Between

1971

British teenager Leo Colston spends a summer in the countryside, where he develops a crush on the beautiful young aristocrat Marian. Eager to impress her, Leo becomes the "go-between" for Marian, delivering secret romantic letters to Ted Burgess, a handsome neighboring farmer.

6.8

MagicScore

#17

Rakshadhikari Baiju (Oppu)

2017

A kind-hearted government employee in his forties, who spends most of his time with youngsters, selflessly intervenes in the problems of his near and dear ones.

7.3

MagicScore

#18

Carry On Up the Khyber

1968

Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond looks after the British outpost near the Khybar pass. Protected by the kilted Third Foot and Mouth regiment, you would think they were safe, but the Khazi of Kalabar has other ideas—he wants all the British dead. But his troops fear the 'skirted-devils, who are rumoured not to wear any underwear.

6.5

MagicScore

#19

The Last of the Mohicans

1992

In war-torn colonial America, in the midst of a bloody battle between British, the French and Native American allies, the aristocratic daughter of a British Colonel and her party are captured by a group of Huron warriors. Fortunately, a group of three Mohican trappers comes to their rescue.

7.4

MagicScore

#20

Newsies

2017

A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.

8.0

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India?

The top films similar to Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India by MovieMagicScore are Heat and Dust (6.1), The New World (6.5), Sense and Sensibility (7.4). Each shares adventure/drama/history themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India worth watching?

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10 from 605 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India?

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) is a adventure, drama, history film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starring Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley.

Where can I find more recommendations like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more adventure recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Heat and Dust Movies like The New World Movies like Sense and Sensibility Movies like Far from the Madding Crowd Movies like 83 Movies like Kesari

About movies like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

This ranked list pairs Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), a adventure and drama and history film from Ashutosh Gowariker, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Aamir Khan take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

← Back to Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India