July 4th, 2026, marks America’s 250th anniversary. So it’s only fitting that this blog celebrate this historic milestone by sharing movies and television shows befitting our nation’s semiquincentennial, especially the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
TV Shows and Movies to Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary
Normally, we focus on programming from the 70s, with a little 80s thrown in for good measure here at Recapping the Oldies. Today, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, we’ll span the decades. Here they are, in no particular order, a list of shows to watch this year to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.
1776
Confession time: the movie version of the musical 1776 is on my annual July 4th rotation, along with The Patriot (we’ll get to that). It’s entertaining, funny, informative, and mostly factually correct. 1776 focuses on the days leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring an exasperated John Adams trying to convince his colleagues in the Continental Congress to sign.
Released in 1972, 1776 stars Williams Daniels as John Adams, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, Howard DaSilva as Benjamin Franklin, and the gorgeous Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson. Watch it once, and you’ll love it forever.
Where is 1776 Streaming?: 1776 streams for free on Tubi or YouTube, or you can rent it on Amazon Prime or watch it with your Apple TV subscription. Old schoolers can buy the DVD or take it out of the library.
The Swamp Fox
Starring a young Leslie Nielsen, The Swamp Fox was a part of the Wonderful World of Disney Sunday night lineup. This series ran from 1959 to 1961 and was based on the life of American Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. Like most Disney Sunday night series, there were only two or three episodes per year, mixed with other Disney shows and movies.
Though Nielsen is the only name I recognized among the cast, it should be noted that Dabbs Greer, who played Reverend Alden in the original Little House on the Prairie series, had an uncredited role in the first episode. I’m told that fans of old Western TV shows and movies would also recognize many of the stars in this series. Here’s a fun fact for you: Leslie Nielsen also sang the show’s theme song.
Where is The Swamp Fox streaming? Stream Swamp Fox for free on YouTube.
The Patriot
It’s hard to believe The Patriot is 26 years old, because I always think of it as a more recent film. Which, compared to what we usually share here, I guess it is. This movie has all the elements: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Chris Cooper, Joely Richardson, and (Looking good, Mr. Malfoy!) Jason Isaacs. If you’re going to celebrate a Semiquincentennial, you might as well do it with all these fine people.
The movie follows Benjamin Martin, a farmer and former member of the British army (fighting with a tomahawk, mind you), who forms a militia to fight against the British to avenge the death of his son. Despite some brutality, the movie has both funny and poignant moments. We all know how this ends, but we can’t help cheering our team on anyway. At almost three hours long, this may not be a good choice leading up to barbecue and fireworks day, but if it rains on or around the 4th, The Patriot has you covered.
Where is The Patriot streaming? As of this writing, The Patriot doesn’t seem to be available for streaming anywhere, but trust me, it’s also not hard to find. Cable TV and Pluto TV often have showings, especially as we move closer to Independence Day. You can also rent The Patriot on Amazon, purchase the DVD, or borrow it from the library if you’re old school. And we love old school here!
John Adams
I watched the John Adams HBO miniseries for the first time last summer, and I don’t know what took me so long. This award-winning miniseries came out in 2008 to rave reviews. Though the series homes in on Adams’ family and political life, it focuses mostly on America’s first 50 years as a nation.
Starring Paul Giamatti as John Adams, Laura Linney as his wife Abigail, Danny Huston as Samuel Adams, Rufus Sewell as Alexander Hamilton, and Stephen Dillane as Adams’ frenemy Thomas Jefferson, John Adams humanizes one of America’s Founding Fathers and shows us a side we didn’t see in history books.
Where is John Adams streaming? You can find John Adams on HBOMax, and the streaming services that have an HBOMax add on. You can also purchase the DVD or reserve it from the library. Enjoy!
Johnny Tremain
Though it was released before I was a gleam in my Daddy’s eye, I do remember watching the Disney movie Johnny Tremain on The Wonderful World of Disney. Based on the 1944 award-winning Esther Forbes novel of the same name, Johnny Tremain follows a young silversmith apprentice whose career is cut short after a tragic hand injury. Seeking a new purpose, he becomes a courier for the Sons of Liberty, finding himself at the center of historic events like the Boston Tea Party and the rides of Paul Revere.
Starring Harry Stalmaster as Johnny Tremain, the film is a patriotic coming-of-age story that explores the personal sacrifices made during the push for American independence.
Where is Johnny Tremain Streaming? Johnny Tremain doesn’t appear to be streaming for free at this time. You can rent it on YouTube or Amazon Prime, or watch it as part of your AppleTV subscription. You can also purchase the video or see if your local library carries it.
Liberty’s Kids
If you’re looking to get kids interested in America’s 250th Anniversary without the dry history lectures, Liberty’s Kids is the ultimate animated time machine.
Liberty’s Kids was a cartoon series from 2002. Though it only lasted for a season, the series produced about 40 episodes. Looking at the American Revolution through the eyes of three teenagers, the show follows them as they cover events for Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper.
As a cartoon, it has plenty of starpower. Walter Cronkite, Billy Crystal, Dustin Hoffman, and Annette Bening are just a few of the notable names lending their voices. Liberty’s Kids made 18th-century politics feel like breaking news. Packed with fun and intriguing storylines, plus a catchy theme song, Liberty’s Kids remains one of the most engaging ways to see the Revolution through young eyes.
Where is Liberty’s Kids Streaming? Liberty’s Kids is available to subscribers of Amazon Prime, and streams for free on RokuTV and YouTube. You can also find the DVD online or see if it’s available in your local library.
Turn: Washington’s Spies
Turn: Washington’s Spies is the most current show on our list, airing from 2014 to 2017. Does that constitute an “oldie?” For our purposes today, it does. Turn is an excellent series and deserves inclusion on any list of television shows about the American Revolution.
Turn: Washington’s Spies is an AMC period drama that moves away from the battlefield to focus on the shadowy world of the Culper Ring, America’s first spy network. The story follows Abe Woodhull, played by Jamie Bell, a modest cabbage farmer on British-occupied Long Island who finds himself leading a double life to provide intelligence for George Washington.
Turn: Washington’s Spies is a tense blend of historical fact and political thriller, highlighting the high-stakes risks taken by ordinary citizens who operated in the margins of history. If you enjoy the grit of a spy procedural but want the authentic atmosphere of the 1770s, it’s a compelling look at the “hidden” history of the nation’s founding.
Where is Turn: Washington’s Spies streaming? You can easily find this series online and offline. For subscription services, Turn is streaming on Netflix, AMC+, and Amazon Prime. You can also find it for free on the Roku Channel and Sling. Of course, for those wishing to watch more than once, there’s always the DVDs.
George Washington/George Washington the Forging of a Nation
George Washington is a sweeping CBS miniseries from 1984 that chronicles George Washington’s life over four decades, from his early days as an 11-year-old surveyor to his victory in the American Revolution at age 51.
Starring Barry Bostwick as George Washington and Patty Duke as his wife Martha, the series is based on James Thomas Flexner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. It’s particularly remembered for focusing as much on Washington’s personal life and flaws, like his volcanic temper and his complex relationships with women, as it does on his military achievements.
Serving as the direct sequel to the 1984 miniseries, George Washington: The Forging of a Nation (1986) picks up right where the original left off. While the first series focused on the soldier, this two-part follow-up focuses on the statesman, covering Washington’s life from the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 through his two terms as the first President of the United States.
Where is George Washington streaming? This one isn’t so easy to find. You might be able to stream for free on YouTube and Daily Motion, and there’s an outrageously priced DVD on Amazon, but other than that, I don’t see it available on any of the usual suspects.
Son’s of Liberty
I recently discovered this series from 2015 on Amazon Prime. Unlike many of the shows on today’s list, Sons of Liberty trades powdered wigs and formal speeches for a fast-paced take on the years leading up to the Revolution. The storyline focuses on a group of young, defiant radicals in Boston as they transform from a ragtag group of smugglers into the leaders of a movement.
Sons of Liberty portrays the Founders as young, rough rebels. Ben Barnes plays Sam Adams as a street smart but charasmatic instigator, while Rafe Spall gives us a John Hancock who comes off as a wealthy socialite caught in the middle of a street war. The show leans heavily into a gritty aesthetic, featuring tavern brawls, rooftop chases, and a version of the Boston Tea Party that feels more like a heist than a protest.
The cast is filled with recognizable faces, including Henry Thomas as John Adams, Dean Norris as Ben Franklin, and Jason O’Mara as George Washington. The series definitely takes significant creative liberties, but it may be that it’s designed to capture the energy and rebellion of the era rather than acting as a “by the book” historical narrative.
Where is Sons of Liberty streaming? Sons of Liberty streams on the aforementioned Amazon Prime. You can also find the DVD on Amazon.
Honorable Mention: No Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary Would Be Complete Without…
Drumroll please:
Schoolhouse Rock: The Preamble to the Constitution
Admit it, you can only recite the Preamble to the Constitution because of Schoolhouse Rock. And when you do recite it, you actually sing it. I get it, the Constitution was written after the American Revolution. But this author feels it deserves a place on this list. Plus, you’re welcome for the earworm.
Did I miss your favorite old TV shows or movies about the American Revolution? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook page.