So many films have been inspired by true stories, and even though screenwriters at times change details to make some stories more interesting for the screen, it’s still almost hard to believe some stories have an element of truth. Here are 18 movies that were surprisingly based on true stories.
The Sound of Music (1965)
This was one film I adored as a child, and even today, I still play the music album now and again. It is a passionate and moving tale based on the true story of the von Trapp singing family who had to escape Austria after the Nazis invaded.
Argo (2012)
Ben Affleck’s acting and directing in this film were incredible. The film tells how the CIA, through an exfiltration specialist pretending to be a Hollywood producer, orchestrated the rescue of six Americans who were being held hostage in Tehran after anti-American protesters invaded the U.S. embassy.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
After Ron Woodroof finds out he has AIDS, he attempts to get into a trial treatment for AZT but is turned down. Determined to survive, he started the Dallas Buyers Club for people like him who couldn’t access AZT or had adverse reactions to it.
Into the Wild (2007)
After graduating from university, Christopher decides to give up all his possessions to wander and live in the wild. Even though the hero dies after 100 days, the film inspired many to take control of their lives and reject the capitalist lifestyle dependent on the accumulation of material possessions.
The Social Network (2010)
Even though most of the people the film is based on have criticized it as being an inaccurate depiction made primarily to entertain, the adapted-for-screen version remains a decent story, in my opinion. The film went on to win three Academy Awards and four Golden Globes.
American Sniper (2014)
Based on the memoir of Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, and Jim DeFelice, the story was adapted for screen but follows Kyle, a Navy Seal sniper who did four tours in Iraq and racked up 255 kills, with 160 of those officially confirmed.
Spotlight (2015)
Based on the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese in 2002. I think Spotlight is a truly moving drama with stunning performances from most of its ensemble cast.
Moneyball (2011)
The Oakland Athletics find themselves having to compete against bigger teams with bigger budgets to go for more talented players. The general manager, Billy Beane, then introduces an unconventional method of using sabermetrics to select players, leading to clashes between him and the coaching staff.
American Gangster (2007)
A crime film based on the true story of Frank Lucas, a heroin dealer in Harlem during the 1970s. Lucas smuggled heroin into the United States in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. Denzel Washington brilliantly portrays Lucas, capturing his rise and fall in the criminal underworld.
Goodfellas (1990)
Only halfway through Goodfellas did I realize the movie could be based on a true story, but even after realizing it was, I still found myself thinking, “There’s no way that was based on real events.” I believe this is one of the most brilliant films ever made.
The Fighter (2010)
Based on the life of professional boxer Micky Ward and his older half-brother Dicky Eklund, it not only focuses on their experiences in the world of boxing but also how their family puts aside personal differences to rally around Micky. Micky then goes on to win the welterweight title.
The Irishman (2019)
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? This film tells a convincing version of events no one (apart from the people who were involved) knows the absolute truth about. Many have criticized it and called it a Scorcese vanity project, but I enjoyed it.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
The plot itself is fictional, but it contains a significant portion of real events and actual people like Sharon Tate and the Manson cult. Even though Tarantino tweaks the film to give it a happier ending, it still forms a key historical backdrop to the main plot.
The Impossible (2012)
A family’s luxury getaway turns into a nightmare in this movie when an earthquake and tsunami hit the beach resort where they vacationed in Thailand. Based on the true story of the Belón family, Naomi Watts delivers a moving performance as the mother who narrowly escapes death.
Captain Phillips (2013)
Based on the 2009 hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates. The film depicts the tension and danger Phillips and his crew faced during the hijacking and its life-or-death implications while negotiations went on between the U.S. Navy and the pirates.
The Shining (1980)
It’s no news that The Shining was based on Stephen King’s book. And while that was not entirely based on real events, the setting was certainly inspired by a real place. Stephen King spent a night there after learning of the creepy nature of the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
This film was based on a memoir by Susanna Kaysen, who checked herself into the McLean Hospital, hoping to get a ‘rest,’ but ended up spending two years at the mental institution after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
The Terminal (2004)
It was inspired by the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee who lived in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for 18 years. Nasseri was stuck in political and legal limbo, unable to leave the airport or enter France. Its transformation into a romcom here made me love it even more.
