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The 6 Best Films Based On True Stories
A good story has to be bold, inspirational, and riveting. We believe the movies on this list have all of these qualities and more! Here’s all the info you need to know about these films, as well as where you can watch them!
6. Zodiac
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.
Release Date: 2007
Director: David Fincher
Box Office: $USD84.8 million
Synopsis: A series of grisly murders confounds police in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1960s and 70s. A mysterious message finds its way to the San Francisco Chronicle, claiming to be the killer named “Zodiac”.
The Zodiac Killings are still an unsolved case with a death-toll of up to 37. The movie is mostly centred around the journalists at the San Francisco Chronicle, the newspaper that the Zodiac killer sent messages to in real life!
Why it made the list: As far as true crime movies are concerned, Zodiac is among the best. It truly captures the fear and mystery of the murders themselves, and the directing prowess of David Fincher shines through with his trademark atmospheric realism.
Where it can be watched: It’s available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
5. Spotlight
Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Release Date: 2015
Director: Tom McCarthy
Box Office: $USD93.8 million
Synopsis: Members of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team work tirelessly to unravel the reports of pedophilia committed by Catholic priests, as well as dealing with the church’s cover-up of those incidents.
In 2002, the Boston Globe Spotlight team uncovered a huge amount of child abuse committed by Catholic priests. The subsequent cover-up protected more than 200 priests from accountability and affected over 1,000 victims in the Boston area. The explosion of the Globe’s story led not only to the exposure of the church’s abuses in Boston, but all over the world.
Why it made the list: The first Best Picture winner on our list, Spotlight captures a momentous story in our recent history. Instead of giving it the Hollywood treatment, Spotlight focuses on the grind of investigative journalism minus the flair of violence or car chases. What gets to shine is the amazing story, and the stellar work done by the Spotlight team. It is one of the highest-rated true story movies on Rotten Tomatoes, and we think it deserves it!
Where it can be watched: It is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
4. Apollo 13
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ed Harris
Release Date: 1995
Director: Ron Howard
Box Office: $USD355.2 million
Synopsis: A mission to the moon goes terribly wrong when a malfunction turns a careful expedition into a fight for survival.
Based on the real life events of the aborted Apollo 13 moon mission, an explosion prevented its astronauts from safely landing on the moon. Left with no other option, the crew was forced to circle the moon and return to Earth immediately, improvising tools and machines inside the ship to survive the rest of the trip. The entire ordeal was major news on Earth, with over a billion people watching to see if the three-man crew would survive.
Why it made the list: A very popular film upon release, Apollo 13 covers a once-in-a-lifetime story almost too incredible to believe in. With space travel being so rarely undertaken, the story of the real life mission is daring and thrilling, and translates very well to film. No wonder it made top billing at the box office!
Where it can be watched: It is available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
3. The Exorcist
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb
Release Date: 1973
Director: William Friedkin
Box Office: $USD441.3 million
Synopsis: This film follows the demonic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s attempt to save her through the intercession of two priests.
While the book the film is based on is mainly fictional, it draws elements and inspiration from the 1949 exorcism of a boy called Roland Doe by a Jesuit priest. The director William Friedkin did his best to compile as many firsthand accounts of the exorcism as he could, from the diaries of the priests to eyewitness descriptions.
Why it made the list: The Exorcist retains a special place among horror movies based on true events. It is well-remembered as a terrifying film, and set the stage for the explosion of horror movies revolving around demonic possessions. Most “inspired by a true story” horror movies can trace their lineage back to The Exorcist.
Where it can be watched: It is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
2. The King’s Speech
Cast: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush
Release Date: 2010
Director: Tom Hooper
Box Office: $USD414.2 million
Synopsis: The eventual King George VI contends with a stammer, and is helped by Lionel Logue, an Austalian Speech Therapist who goes on to become his closest friend.
While parts of the film were touched up for dramatic effect, King George VI did have a close relationship with Lionel Logue. The two spent plenty of time working on important speeches, and both the King and Elizabeth, The Queen Mother publicly acknowledged all the help he had given him.
Why it made the list: As far as real life movies about royalty go, The King’s Speech is a touching reenactment of a strange and powerful friendship. There are few true story films that really tug at the heartstrings much like this one.
Where it can be watched: It is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
1. Schindler’s List
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
Release Date: 1993
Director: Steven Spielberg
Box Office: $USD322.1 million
Synopsis: A businessman and member of the Nazi Party undertakes a plan to save as many Jews as he can from the horrors of the Holocaust.
Oskar Schindler saved roughly 1,200 Jews from capture and execution. By employing them in his enamelware factory and keeping them on his list of “necessary workers”, Schindler was able to protect them from arrest by the SS.
Why it made the list: Schindler’s List is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. It is rather successful both critically and financially, and is well-regarded as one of the best true to life movies to cover the Holocaust. It remains the highest rated true story film on IMDB. A monumental film by any account, and one of the greatest true stories ever told!.
Where it can be watched: It is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
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