Romance, drama, intrigue, dance — these are the hallmarks of a classic period piece. Netflix’s Bridgerton is no exception, with its second season showcasing the lives of the Bridgerton, Featherington, and Sharma families to much audience enjoyment.

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With Season 2 now a few weeks gone, and the third season not due for release any time soon, there is much speculation on what is coming next. Luckily, while fans have to wait for Bridgerton’s return, there are plenty more period films and series to tide audiences over.

'Pride and Prejudice' (2005)

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice

The story follows the Bennett family and daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) as she butts heads and subsequently falls in love with Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden). Her sisters Jane (Rosamund Pike), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydia (Jena Malone) have their own adventures along the way, but the story is mainly remembered for Elizabeth and Darcy’s iconic enemies-to-lovers romance.

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic classic, with director Joe Wright’s adaptation considered among the very best. Knightley and Macfayden’s dynamic as Elizabeth and Darcy is unmatched, leading to many dripping-in-romance moments in the film that fans still remember fondly today (that hand flex is iconic).

'Little Women' (2019)

The March Sisters in Little Women

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of this classic Louisa May Alcott novel follows the March sisters in their journey through life. Headstrong Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is determined to remain unmarried, with no interest in keeping a house and aspirations to be a writer. The story is told through the lens of a novel written by Jo depicting the lives of herself and her sisters, with all the love and tragedy that fills it.

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Little Women is a lot less melodramatic and romance-centric, but the love that is present burns fiercely. The main theme in the story is the empowerment of women taking control of their lives – whether that means wishing to marry or be independent — which is a strong focus in Bridgerton and continues to be a defining factor of the genre.

'Ever After' (1998)

Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott in Ever After
Image via 20th Century Fox

This 90s classic is one of many adaptations of the Cinderella story. The film follows Danielle (Drew Barrymore), our Ella stand-in, in her conflict with her stepmother (brilliantly played by Angelica Huston) and her secret romance with the Prince (Dougray Scott). She’s also friends with Leonardo da Vinci (because it’s the Renaissance, so why not?)

Ever After, despite the Renaissance setting, is a modern take on the classic tale. Danielle is a strong protagonist who, though she lies about her name, forms a genuine bond with her love interest Prince before meeting him at the ball, and each of the supporting characters is given a three-dimensional story arc. It’s funny, it’s emotional, and it’s a beautiful film for anyone looking to be immersed in a fairy tale.

'Lost in Austen' (2008)

Amanda and Mr Darcy in Lost in Austen

Another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the miniseries Lost in Austen isn't as well known but is just as entertaining. This version of the story plays out much more like fanfiction, which ups the trash TV vibe while also creating a compelling series that stands well on its own.

The four episodes follow Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper), a modern-day Jane Austen superfan who uses the story as an escapist paradise while enduring her own uninteresting life — until one day, she finds Elizabeth Bennett (Gemma Arterton) in her bathroom, and trades places with her to enter her favorite book. Amanda tries desperately to keep the story on track but finds herself unable to compensate for Elizabeth’s disappearance and her own very unusual out-of-time quirks. This series flips the story completely on its head, has strong comedic elements, is intriguing from the very beginning, and is well worth the time of any fan looking for a Bridgerton replacement.

'Much Ado About Nothing' (1993)

Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing

An adaptation of the Shakespeare play of the same name, Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing is worth the watch for the star-studded cast itself. Between Branagh himself and Emma Thompson as the leads, the film also boasts Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton as the unexpected main players.

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The story of Much Ado is truly the original period romance, with a complex plot where all the characters essentially prank the main couple into falling in love with each other. In true Shakespeare form, it takes a swift left turn into vows of murder and revenge, but all within the romantic context. What more could you ask for!

'Reign' (2013-2017)

Adelaide Kane as Mary in Reign

Based initially on historical fact, this series very quickly transcended into historical fiction thanks to its many inaccuracies and created its own story from real figures. The series follows Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), and her arranged marriage to Prince Francis II of France (Toby Regbo), as well as the lives of her ladies in waiting who themselves get involved in political intrigue and affairs of the heart.

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As stated, the series is very loosely based on history and tends to take the side of drama over accurate representation of events. As a result, the entire show is filled to the brim with romantic plots, love triangles, scandal, betrayal, and any melodramatic storylines it can muster. It may not be the most critically successful series but could be perfect for any Bridgerton fans looking for something just as over the top.

'Emma' (2020)

Anya Taylor Joy and Johnny Flynn in Emma

Emma is a comedy-forward film adapted from yet another Jane Austen novel, this time centering around a young woman who fancies herself a matchmaker and manipulates the relationships of all of those around her but doesn’t think of finding a match for herself. This book was most famously adapted into the 1995 movie Clueless.

This movie is beautifully directed and at times hilarious, falling into all the trappings that a period piece should. The main romance is a slow-burn between two sparring frenemies amongst the drama of the relationships that Emma (played by Anya Taylor-Joy amid her rise to fame) makes her business, before finally realizing she has found a true love of her own.

'Downton Abbey' (2010-2022)

Dan Stevens and Michelle Dockery in Downton Abbey

This period drama is seemingly never-ending, which makes it the perfect series to fill that Bridgerton void. Spanning from 1912 to 1927 (so far), there were initially six seasons of the television show, followed by a movie in 2019, and now a second movie due for release by the end of April 2022.

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With such a vast timeline, the series showcases multiple romances, deaths, mysteries, character dynamics, and more. The drama is always juicy and intriguing, and though the characters may come and go, the iconic core cast has remained to continue their stories over 15 fictional years, as well as a multitude of real historical events. Do they look the age they’re now supposed to be? No. Does it matter? Absolutely not.

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