1. Ben Hur, 1925; 1959
The movie chronicles the adventure and bravery of Prince Judah Ben Hur as he fights for his freedom and his right against the abusive and despotic emperor Messala.
2. Spartacus, 1960
The epic movie is about a slave named Spartacus and his struggle to gain freedom from the clutches of the Roman Empire. Their ambitious rebellion ended with tragedy and the total defeat they suffered from the hands of the more superior military of the Roman Empire.
3. Ivan The Terrible (I and II), 1944; 1958
The epic movie is about the significant events surrounding the life of the archduke of Moscow who crowned himself supreme Tsar of Russia. The movie chronicles defining moments in Russian history.
4. The Ten Commandments, 1956
This epic movie is easily one of the most enduring and extensively watched film among all epic productions included in this list. It is based on the events chronicled in The Bible about one of the most defining moments in the history of Christianity.
5. Gandhi, 1982
This epic movie is all about this iconic figure and is a showcase of non-violent struggle and fight for freedom of a nation against a powerful might which led to the defeat of the powerful entity without shedding a drop of blood.
6. Das Boot, 1981
The epic movie is set in 1942 and story plot is all about a submarine fleet of Germany that is engaged in a tight engagement in the Battle of the Atlantic. The movie chronicles the dogged human spirit and professionalism of the crew of a U-boat in their effort to accomplish an impossible mission.
7. The Last Emperor, 1987
This epic movie chronicles the defining moments leading to the decline and abject fate of the last emperor of China, Pu Yi. The erstwhile object of worship of a Chinese nation ended as just a member of the working peasants in the People’s Republic of China.
8. Schindler’s List, 1993
The movie is about the story of a greedy and vain businessman of German descent who became the unlikely guardian of hundreds of Jews and saving them from imminent death under the barbaric reign of the Nazis.
9. Der Untergang, 2004
The movie is a close look of the dramatic events during the last days of the Fuhrer leading to the downfall of the Nazi regime in April of 1945. The climax of the movie shows how Hitler and Eva Braun spent their last moments inside the Bunker.
10. The Great Escape, 1963
The epic movie tells the story of heroism and bravery of Allied forces as they attempt to escape from a German POW facility during WWII.
Source: http://top-10-list.org/2009/06/07/top-10-most-successful-epic-movies/