Movies Like Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)

Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a 1940 drama, history film from John Cromwell with a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Young Mr. Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln.

Drama History

Young Mr. Lincoln

1939

In this dramatized account of his early law career in Illinois, Abraham Lincoln is born into a modest log cabin, where he is encouraged by his first love, Ann Rutledge, to pursue law. Following her tragic death, Lincoln establishes a law practice in Springfield, where he meets a young Mary Todd. Lincoln's law skills are put to the test when he takes on the difficult task of defending two brothers who have been accused of murder.

7.2

MagicScore

Abraham Lincoln

1930

A biopic dramatizing Abraham Lincoln's life through a series of vignettes depicting its defining chapters: his romance with Ann Rutledge; his early years as a country lawyer; his marriage to Mary Todd; his debates with Stephen A. Douglas; the election of 1860; his presidency during the Civil War; and his assassination in Ford’s Theater in 1865.

5.4

MagicScore

The Prisoner of Shark Island

1936

After healing the leg of the murderer John Wilkes Booth, responsible for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, perpetrated on April 14, 1865, during a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington; Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, considered part of the atrocious conspiracy, is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the sinister Shark Island Prison.

6.8

MagicScore

Lust for Life

1956

An intense and imaginative artist, revered Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh possesses undeniable talent, but he is plagued by mental problems and frustrations with failure. Supported by his brother, Theo, the tormented Van Gogh eventually leaves Holland for France, where he meets volatile fellow painter Paul Gauguin and struggles to find greater inspiration.

7.2

MagicScore

The Life of Emile Zola

1937

A fictionalized account of famous French writer Emile Zola and his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair. After struggling to establish himself, Zola wins success writing about the unsavory side of Paris and settles into a comfortable upper-class life. However, Zola's complacency is shaken when Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus is imprisoned for being a spy. Realizing that Dreyfus is an innocent victim of anti-Semitism, Zola boldly pens a newspaper article exposing the truth, is charged with libel and must defend himself in a dramatic courtroom testimony.

6.7

MagicScore

Sisi & I

2023

After an elaborate application process, Empress Elisabeth of Austria hires Countess Irma as her new lady-in-waiting and takes her to her summer residence on Corfu. As the two women become closer there, this soon leads to tensions back in Vienna.

6.2

MagicScore

The Miracle Worker

1962

The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light.

7.9

MagicScore

The Music Lovers

1971

Composer, conductor and teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexual tendencies by marrying, but unfortunately, he chooses wacky nymphomaniac Nina, whom he is unable to satisfy.

6.5

MagicScore

Vincent & Theo

1990

The tragic story of Vincent van Gogh broadened by focusing as well on his brother Theodore, who helped support Vincent. Based on the letters written between the two.

6.3

MagicScore

#10

Lincoln

2012

The revealing story of the 16th US President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

Killing Lincoln

2013

April 14, 1865. One gunshot. One assassin hell-bent on killing a tyrant, as he charged the 16th President of the United States. And in one moment, our nation was forever changed. This is the most dramatic and resonant crime in American history—the true story of the killing of Abraham Lincoln.

5.8

MagicScore

#12

The Better Angels

2014

At an isolated log cabin in the harsh wilderness of Indiana circa 1817, the rhythms of love, tragedy, and the daily hardships of life on the developing frontier shaped one of our nation’s greatest heroes: Abraham Lincoln. Abe is a thoughtful and quiet boy who spends his days at the side of his beloved mother while learning to work the land from his stern father. When illness takes his mother, Abe's new guardian angel comes in the form of his new stepmother, who sees the potential in the boy and pushes for his further education.

6.1

MagicScore

#13

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

2012

President Lincoln's mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

5.8

MagicScore

#14

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

2019

Gwalior Fort, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In a moment of despair, Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, encourages her men by telling them the heroic story of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, a brave Telugu chieftain who took up arms in 1846 to protest against the numerous arbitrariness and crimes perpetrated by the leaders and military forces of the East India Company.

6.3

MagicScore

#15

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

1957

Lawman Wyatt Earp and outlaw Doc Holliday form an unlikely alliance which culminates in their participation in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

7.0

MagicScore

#16

Wyatt Earp

1994

From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

6.8

MagicScore

#17

The First Great Train Robbery

1978

In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train.

6.7

MagicScore

#18

The Emperor of Paris

2018

Paris, France, early 19th century. The legendary convict François Vidocq lives in disguise trying to escape from a tragic past that torments him. When, after an unfortunate event, he crosses paths with the police chief, he makes a bold decision that will turn the ruthless mastermind of the Parisian underworld against him.

6.3

MagicScore

#19

Malcolm X

1992

A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.

7.5

MagicScore

#20

Patton

1970

"Patton" tells the tale of General George S. Patton, famous tank commander of World War II. The film begins with Patton's career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Germany and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and habit towards insubordination.

7.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Abe Lincoln in Illinois?

The top films similar to Abe Lincoln in Illinois by MovieMagicScore are Young Mr. Lincoln (7.2), Abraham Lincoln (5.4), The Prisoner of Shark Island (6.8). Each shares drama/history themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Abe Lincoln in Illinois worth watching?

Abe Lincoln in Illinois holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10 from 26 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Abe Lincoln in Illinois?

Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) is a drama, history film directed by John Cromwell, starring Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon.

Where can I find more recommendations like Abe Lincoln in Illinois?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like Young Mr. Lincoln Movies like Abraham Lincoln Movies like The Prisoner of Shark Island Movies like Lust for Life Movies like The Life of Emile Zola Movies like Sisi & I

About movies like Abe Lincoln in Illinois

This ranked list pairs Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), a drama and history film from John Cromwell, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Raymond Massey 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.

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