10 Shows and Movies as Royally Satisfying as The Crown

If you love the 1950s setting of The Crown's earlier seasons but are more interested in what the nonroyals are doing, you might like Call the Midwife. Centered on a group of midwives and their professional and personal lives, it's got all the complex women of The Crown, plus surprisingly relevant and nuanced discussions of serious social issues.

Where to watch: Netflix

As viewers of The Crown know well, the shadow of World War II still hung heavily over the early years of Elizabeth's reign. While My Mother and Other Strangers largely flew under the radar in its single season, fans of The Crown will appreciate the period setting — and the slow-burn, deliciously repressed romance between Rose Coyne, the English wife of an Irish pub owner, and Captain Ronald Dreyfuss, an American officer stationed in their small town.

Where to watch: Amazon

Think Queen Elizabeth had to fight hard for her throne? She's got nothing on the Plantagenets. The White Queen, based on the Philippa Gregory novel of the same name, tells the story of another Queen Elizabeth: Elizabeth Woodville, the York queen near the end of the Wars of the Roses. If you're not familiar with this bit of British history, think Game of Thrones but substitute House of York and House of Lancaster for Stark and Lannister — oh, and make them cousins, too.

Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes

Elizabeth was never supposed to be queen. As the daughter of a second son, she was born with the expectation that she'd marry some nobleman and live a quiet life — that is, until her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson. The Crown has dealt with Edward VIII and George VI, both of whom are significant characters in the series, but if you're interested in a deeper dive into their era, check out The King's Speech. The 2010 Oscar winner for best picture looks at the struggle of "Bertie," the prince who became George VI, to take on the mantle of king, much like The Crown follows his daughter's early struggles with the same task.

Where to watch: iTunes, Amazon, Netflix

One of the best parts about the first two seasons of The Crown is the deeply fabulous '50s glamour. If you love that aesthetic, then you'll love The Hour. The drama centers on a BBC news program where producer Bel Rowley and reporter Freddie Lyon want to make a difference and expose important stories, but the upper brass — and their new anchor Hector Madden — have other ideas. It's as sophisticated and morally complex as The Crown. Plus, fans of that series will recognize several of the stories that the "Hour" crew cover, including the Suez Canal crisis.

Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes

The Crown covers Queen Elizabeth's early reign, but what about her life before the throne? It can be hard to remember that she was once just a girl with a wry and rebellious streak. A Royal Night Out is exactly what it sounds like: the movie follows then-Princess Elizabeth over the course of a single night where she attempts to blend in and just enjoy an evening like a normal girl.

Where to watch: iTunes

Just as Philip and Elizabeth are the iconic royal couple of our time, her ancestors Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were the same for their era. And just like The Crown shows us the royal couple in their early, romantic (if still conflict-laden) years, the movie The Young Victoria covers the meeting, courtship, and early marriage of Victoria and Albert.

Where to watch: Amazon

The British royal family: bastions of elegance, refinement, dignity, and propriety, right? Maybe in The Crown, but definitely not in the era depicted in The Tudors, the mid-2000s Showtime drama about the chaotic reign of Henry VIII. The only member of The Crown cast who might be at home in this sexy, messy depiction of a sexy, messy era would probably be Princess Margaret (and probably Antony as well) — the rest would be horrified at British royals behaving so badly!

Where to watch: Netflix

If fictional royalty is more your speed, look no further than The Royals. The series creates a fictional British royal family, the Henstridges, instead of the real-life Windsors, and follows their soapy exploits. It's all the royal inheritance drama of The Crown, but with a modern, scandal-filled twist.

Where to watch: Amazon

The Crown is scheduled to eventually cover all the years of Elizabeth's reign, but it'll be a few seasons before we catch up to the modern day. In the meantime, if you're interested in an equally nuanced story but set in her later reign, try The Queen. Helen Mirren portrays Her Majesty during the controversy and PR disasters that erupted in the days and months following the death of Princess Diana.

Where to watch: Amazon