How close are movies to history?

I use movies as a reference point when thinking about the past. Movies can be the best history teacher in the world, as long as use them as a general reference and not as a historical fact.

It's easy to pick out movies that have a historical significance and which ones don't. Films that are believed to be entirely fiction can still make an accurate or truthful portrayal of their time-frame.

If the movie gives a good approximation of what the life and culture was probably like during that era; then it is good for study.

Take the movie Gladiator for example: Gladiator is set in the year 150 a.d., and takes place in Rome & Spain. Filmed in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott. Russel Crowe plays Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, a native of Spain, who leads the Roman Army to victory in the war against the Germanic barbarians in the year A.D. 180, and earning the esteem of elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius. As the battle ends, the son and daughter of the Emperor arrive from Rome, Commodus and Lucilla.

While all the events portrayed in Gladiator, might not be entirely accurate, the characters in the movie are actual historical figures. Little is known about why Maximus really opposed Commodus. The movie says that it was because of Commudus murdered his father. Recorded history doesn't give any details about this event, so the writers of Gladiator, just made up a story to fill-in the gaps. It's unlikely that the Events in Gladiator ever really happend exactly like the movie portrayed, and noone can know for sure, but I think it's likely that something similar to this has probably happend sometime in Rome's history.

Maybe you'll look at historical movies different now. I now have an excellent grasp of historical time periods and such, and I swear it's because of movies more than any other influence.