Costume drama movies continue to appeal to contemporary audiences

1. Drama movies plays offer a comfort. Perhaps it's because we see a time in which we don't live and are offered escapism, or an aesthetic unfamiliar to us ourselves -- or because the lavish productions that often accompany the work of a period offer endless dreams and distractions. Whatever the reason for their appeal, costume drama movies continue to appeal to contemporary audiences, as evidenced by the popularity of Bridgerton, played by Shonda Rhimes. The show just returned for a second season. Here, we've rounded up 12 of the most popular TV shows and drama movies set in a bygone era.As one of the most popular period drama movies of all time, Downton Abbey has been a huge success in both The UK and the US. The series, first released in 2010, follows the aristocratic life of the Crawley family from 1912 to 1926. It is the most-watched television show on ITV and PBS to date, and went on to become the most successful British period drama movies since 1981's TV series Brideshead Revisited. In 2020, the show's creator, Julian Fellowes, followed up its sixth season with a feature-length film starring many of the original cast. "The Crown" has won fans from critics of period dramas as well as the staunchest anti- royalists. The series focuses on Queen Elizabeth II and tells the inner dynamics and workings of the British royal family, chronicling her life from her youth to recent years. It has been widely acclaimed for its acting, cinematography and gripping story. "Poldark" made Sunday sexy again. Yes, Downton Abbey and Indian Summer may keep the country here to stay, but the arrival of Poldark on our screens in 2015 sent shivers through female critics and audiences alike. The show, starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Aidan Turner, became an almost instant hit. The public became obsessed with the relationship between aesthetically gifted Ross Poldark and his mish-haired wife Demelza.