We loved Season 3 of The Gilded Age. And we’re very happy the series has been renewed for Season 4. But what are we to do until then? We want more drama, romance, and sumptuous production values, but where can we find them now? Happily, the answer is: plenty of places! Among the vast history of film, there are a lot of movies that can satisfy the need for different aspects of The Gilded Age. We’re here to help with that. If you miss the HBO Max period drama like we do, these 7 films will help fill the space left by The Gilded Age.
MORE: Relive the fantastic season 3 finale of The Gilded Age by reading our review of “My Mind is Made Up.“
Downton Abbey (2019)
Let’s start with the most obvious recommendation first. The series Downton Abbey, also created and written by Julian Fellowes, was enormously popular. The chances you haven’t seen this film if you love Fellowes’ work are slim. But I want to single it out for praise anyway. The genre and style are the same as The Gilded Age. The period setting, the large cast of characters from all strata of society, and the beautiful costumes are all here. As a bonus, you also get a grande dame of acting, effortlessly spouting great lines here. It just happens to be Maggie Smith instead of Christine Baranski. There is also a sequel film to enjoy, with a third film on the way soon, so this world is available to savor for a long time to come.
Downton Abbey is streaming on Netflix.
Gosford Park (2001)
This film, directed by Robert Altman, was also written by Fellowes. Part of the appeal of The Gilded Age is the mix of the wealthy characters with their domestic staff. Gosford Park has the same dynamic. The setting is later, in the 1930s, but it still qualifies as a period drama. Gorgeous costumes included. The ensemble cast is also full of talented actors, just like The Gilded Age. Aside from Smith again, there’s Helen Mirren, Eileen Atkins, Emily Watson, Clive Owen, Jeremy Northam, Kristin Scott Thomas, Kelly Macdonald, Bob Balaban, and Ryan Phillippe all selling their characters to perfection. The premise here is fundamentally different from The Gilded Age. This is a murder mystery. But the similarities are enticing.
Gosford Park is available to rent on Prime Video.
The Age of Innocence (1993)
If you want more of The Gilded Age’s Old New York setting, look no further than this adaptation of Edith Wharton’s classic novel. The romantic life of Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a rich source of interpersonal drama. He is engaged to May (Winona Ryder) but falls in love with her cousin, Countess Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). The story isn’t the only draw, though, because Martin Scorsese himself directs this lush production. He gathered artists of high caliber behind the scenes, like production designer Dante Ferretti and legendary composer Elmer Bernstein, to do justice to the source material. The production values of The Gilded Age thrill me in much the same way they do in this film.
The Age of Innocence is streaming on Netflix.
MORE: Yeah, we think a crossover between The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey is a great idea, and we talked about how it could happen!
The Inheritance (1997)
The Larry and Marian ship is one of my favorite parts of The Gilded Age. If you can say the same, then I have another 19th-century romance you’ll want to check out. I may be cheating a bit because this was originally a television movie, but I’m recommending it anyway. It’s based on a Louisa May Alcott novella. It stars Thomas Gibson from Criminal Minds, Cari Shayne, Meredith Baxter, and Tom Conti. Besides the romance, it also has a lot of family and money drama, making for a compelling plot. It’s entertaining because it manages to tread the fine line between emotional and melodramatic. There are moments when I feel like The Gilded Age does the same balancing act.
The Inheritance is streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.
The Current War (2017)
One fun aspect of The Gilded Age we haven’t talked enough about is the inclusion of real-life figures. And I don’t mean people like Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy), who ruled society because they were rich. I mean people like John Singer Sargent and T. Thomas Fortune, who left their mark through their talent. A subplot of season one of The Gilded Age involved the spread of electricity through upper-class businesses and homes. The Current War dramatizes the history behind that innovation. The struggle between Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) to see whether direct or alternating current would dominate electricity is a fascinating story. And Tom Holland, Matthew Macfadyen, and Nicholas Hoult are also in the cast!
The Current War is available to rent through Fandango At Home.
Washington Square (1997)
An adaptation of the Henry James novel, Washington Square stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben Chaplin, Albert Finney, and Maggie Smith again. A constant theme of The Gilded Age is the influence of money on love and how various characters deal with that. That theme is exactly what Washington Square also explores. Heiress Catherine Sloper (Leigh) is a spinster until the younger Morris Townsend appears in her life. He clearly needs her money, but she must determine if he truly wants her, too. In The Gilded Age, characters like Gladys and Ada also face situations where romance and wealth conflict. The period setting is also similar. I am choosing this version of the story rather than 1949’s The Heiress because it is more accessible, but either one is a solid choice.
Washington Square is available to rent on Prime Video.
Far From the Madding Crowd (2015)
For my final recommendation, I am sticking with a period romance adaptation. This time, Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd. I chose the 2015 version starring Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts. Though this story has been filmed multiple times, this production has incredible cinematography and costumes. Mulligan’s character is faced with suitors who fall into the playboy, older simp, and genuine nice guy categories. Sound familiar, Marian and Larry fans? Our Miss Brook on The Gilded Age has a comparable romantic history. Let’s hope that season 4 has a happy ending in store, just like Hardy does here. (A rarity for his work.) Both this film and The Gilded Age grasp the most compelling elements of period drama and provide them.
Far From the Madding Crowd is available to rent on Prime Video.
While The Gilded Age is away from our screens, I hope some of these films help fill the void for you. Enjoy!
MORE: Read our review of The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 7 if you need a refresher on some of the drama of the season!
