Movies You Didn't Realize Were Based On Real Events
You know that moment in a movie when you lean back and think, “No way this ever happened in real life”? Whether it’s a comedy so absurd it feels impossible or a gripping drama that seems too wild to be true, some stories really did leap straight from reality onto the screen.
These are the films that sound like pure fiction—until you realize every outrageous twist is rooted in actual events.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
This 2020 film starring Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman powerfully depicted the life of Ma Rainey—an influential Southern blues musician of the early 20th century in the United States. Dealing with themes of racism, segregation, and one woman's quest to perform, Boseman and Davis' acting pays a fitting tribute to Ma Rainey, who passed on in 1939.
Escape Artists, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
I, Tonya
You may have heard of American figure skater Tonya Harding. Still, the movie based on her life leaves no stone unturned, including the infamous assault of Nancy Kerrigan, Harding's rival for the US figure skating title in 1994. Harding's husband and manager had contracted a man named Shane Stant to carry out the assault, intending to break Kerrigan's right knee. This is included in the film, brutally depicting the lengths Tonya Harding went to for success.
Clubhouse Films, I, Tonya (2017)
The Rider
This 2017 American Western film depicts the true story of a man named Brady Jandreau, who director Chloe Zhao met while filming for another movie in the Midwest. The Rider tells the tale of Jandreau's near-fatal riding accident which left him with a traumatic brain injury and prone to seizures. Will Jandreau ever return to his beloved rodeo riding? Or are the stakes simply too high? The Rider is an emotional tale of love, loss, and reinvention after a tragedy.
On The Basis Of Sex
On The Basis of Sex (2018) is a powerful biopic about the life of Ruth-Bader Ginsburg, the trailblazing Supreme Court Justice who passed on in 2020. A stunning depiction of what life might have been like for RBG coming up through the ranks of a male-dominated justice system, Felicity Jones does a masterful job portraying RBG in this family-friendly flick.
Alibaba Pictures Group, On the Basis of Sex (2018)
Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts lights up the screen in this drama-comedy about Erin Brockovich, the fiery legal assistant who went head-to-head with Pacific Gas & Electric after the company contaminated California’s groundwater in 1993. Roberts brings Brockovich’s sharp wit, unfiltered humor, and bulldog determination to life in a performance that’s equal parts hilarious and intimidating. The result? A modern classic about one woman’s fight to take down corporate giants who thought they were untouchable.
Universal, Erin Brockovich (2000)
Frida
Frida Kahlo may not be a name you're familiar with, but you may know her husband, Diego Rivera. Kahlo's life was told in the 2018 biopic Frida, starring Salma Hayek. Hayek gained an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role, and those who watched Frida gained a whole new appreciation for the famous Mexican painter. If you love art, Frida is a must-watch.
Handprint Entertainment, Frida (2002)
American History X
American History X (1998) is one of Edward Norton's best movies, mostly for its ultra-realistic, brutal depiction of a descent into violent white nationalism by Norton's character, Danny Vinyard. Vinyard's character is based on David McKenna, a man who wrote the script for American History X about his own experiences in San Diego. At times, American History X can be shocking, but the hard-hitting dose of reality sometimes makes it hard to believe that it's more fact than fiction.
New Line Cinema, American History X (1998)
Hacksaw Ridge
It's hard to believe that anyone would sign up to fight in WWII and then refuse to carry a weapon on religious grounds. Well, Mel Gibson's masterpiece Hacksaw Ridge (2016) tells the story of Desmond Doss, a real-life WWII veteran who refused to carry a weapon during the conflict on religious grounds.
He then went on to serve in the Medical Corps and save countless lives during the Battle of Okinawa. Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service—becoming the first conscientious objector to be awarded the medal.
Summit Entertainment, Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
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12 Years A Slave
Steven McQueen's 12 Years A Slave (2013) tells the story of the life of Solomon Northrup, an enslaved man who wrote a memoir in 1853 entitled Twelve Years A Slave. The retelling of Northrup's life as a slave, including some explicit depictions of what he went through and/or witnessed make this a harrowing, but important watch as you reflect on the history of slavery in the Americas.
New Regency, 12 Years A Slave (2013)
Hidden Figures
This 2016 historical drama shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the U.S. space race—three brilliant African-American women whose math quite literally launched rockets. Janelle Monáe, Octavia Spencer, and Taraji P. Henson portray Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson, the trailblazing minds at NASA whose calculations helped send John Glenn into orbit. It’s a powerful reminder that behind every giant leap are the quiet geniuses who make it possible.
Fox 2000 Pictures, Hidden Figures (2016)
The Pursuit Of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness (2016) may be one of Will Smith's most recognizable movies. The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the life of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who became a stockbroker on Wall Street in a classic rags-to-riches tale beautifully portrayed by Will Smith and his son, Jaden. The Pursuit of Happyness is widely thought of as being one of Smith's best-ever movies, but you could be forgiven for not knowing its touching origin.
Columbia, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
50 First Dates
This charming rom-com takes on a whole new meaning once you understand it's about a real person. Michelle Philpotts' struggle with severe amnesia following back-to-back motorcycle accidents in 1996 and 2000 was the inspiration behind 50 First Dates (2004).
Columbia, 50 First Dates (2004)
Cocaine Bear
No, seriously—the first five minutes of this movie are the true story of an American black bear who fatally overdosed on coke dropped from a plane in 1985. That plane was carrying a former law enforcement officer-turned-drug smuggler, an accomplice, and copious amounts of coke.
The bear was later discovered by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to have ingested up to 75 pounds of illicit substances. After the first five minutes, the movie is a dramatization of what might have happened had the bear lived.
Universal, Cocaine Bear (2023)
Almost Famous
This fantastic coming-of-age film about an aspiring music journalist trying to make it big is based on the teenage years of the writer/director, Cameron Crowe. The lead groupie in the movie, Penny Lane, is based on the real-life Pennie Lane Trumbull, who formed the 1970s group The Flying Garter Girls, a fan supergroup who traveled around the country, following famous rock bands.
DreamWorks, Almost Famous (2000)
Cheaper By The Dozen
Raising kids may be pricey today, but Cheaper by the Dozen—whether you know it from the 1950 original, the 2003 Steve Martin reboot, or the 2022 reimagining—comes from a real-life story. The film is based on the bestselling autobiography written by siblings Frank and Ernestine Gilbreth, who chronicled their chaotic, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming childhood as two of twelve kids in one extraordinary family.
Twentieth Century, Cheaper By The Dozen (2003)
It Could Happen To You
This might as well have been an advert for the lottery, but It Could Happen To You (1994) is one of Nicolas Cage's lesser-known films. In the movie, his character, NYPD officer Charlie Lang, agrees to split a lottery ticket winning (of $4 million) with a waitress after he realizes he has no money to pay her a tip. In reality, NYPD officer Robert Cunningham married Phyllis Penzo after splitting a $6 million lottery prize.
TriStar, It Could Happen To You (1994)
Goodfellas
Based on the non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, Goodfellas (1990) tells the day-to-day operations of the Italian-American mafia, filled with details that only a former mafioso would know. The protagonist, Henry Hill, became an FBI informant who was associated with the infamous Lucchese family from the 1950s, while Jimmy Conway (played by DeNiro) is based on an associate of the family, and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) is based on Air France robber Tommy DeSimone.
Goodfellas, 1990, Warner Bros.
Girl, Interrupted
The 1999 thriller Girl, Interrupted is based on the 1960s memoir of Susanna Kaysen. Winona Ryder's character, Susanna, spends more than a year in a psychiatric institution following a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.
Columbia, Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Spotlight
Spotlight (2015) is a truly gripping tale of the heroic investigative journalism by the Boston Globe into abuse by the Roman Catholic Church. Spotlight won major awards and huge praise from nearly every domestic and international movie critic out there. It's based on the true story of the Boston Globe's investigation of John Geoghan, a defrocked priest in Boston who was accused of assaulting more than 80 boys.
Wolf Of Wall Street
The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) is about a man named Jordan Belfort, a former stockbroker and convicted financial felon. Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie star in this profanity-laden tale of how one man made more than Croesus, got greedy, committed fraud, and lost it all. It's based on a memoir written by Belfort.
Paramount, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Footloose
“Kick off your Sunday shoes” takes on a whole new meaning when you learn Footloose (1984) was inspired by a real town that outlawed dancing. In Elmore City, Oklahoma, public dancing was banned for nearly 80 years over fears it would spark “unholy” teenage behavior. That is, until a group of high school students pushed back—successfully winning the right to hold their prom in 1980, with plenty of dancing. Dean Pitchford took their rebellion and spun it into one of the most iconic teen movies ever made.
Eight Below
Starring Paul Walker, Eight Below (2006) is an action/adventure film based on the 1983 film Antarctica, which tells the story of a 1958 Japanese expedition to Antarctica who were forced to abandon their sled dogs to escape an impending storm. Upon their return, only two of the 15 dogs survived. Disney gave Eight Below a slightly more uplifting ending, thankfully.
Walt Disney, Eight Below (2006)
Newsies
This one is based on the 1899 newsboys strike in New York City. The strike was designed to force better wages, compensation, and workplace treatment of the city's newspaper giants' "newsboys", young boys that used to run around and distribute the newspaper. Newsies (1982) was originally released in the 1980s but was re-told as a musical on Broadway in 2012.
A Few Good Men
The Aaron Sorkin classic A Few Good Men (1992) has delivered us lines such as "You can't handle the truth!", but it was first delivered to Aaron Sorkin via his lawyer sister, who was a lawyer for the accused at Gitmo, in the real case. A Few Good Men is loosely based on the true tale, told second-hand by Sorkin's sister.
Paramount, A Few Good Men (1992)
Heat
Arguably one of the greatest movies ever made was based on the real life of Neil McCauley, a career crook who spent much of his life on the run. Much like Robert De Niro's character, McCauley was ruthlessly pursued by Detective Chuck Adamson (played by Al Pacino), who eventually ended up slaying him.
The Terminal
Sure, Tom Hanks’ The Terminal (2004) feels like pure Hollywood invention—but it was actually grounded in reality. The film was inspired by the astonishing story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee who spent years stranded inside Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport after being caught in a bureaucratic nightmare. What seemed like an absurd premise on screen was, for Nasseri, everyday life.
DreamWorks, The Terminal (2004)
The Woman King
The Woman King (2022) may have flown under the radar for 2022 filmography, but the movie starring Viola Davis is based on the true story of the Agojie, an all-female warrior force that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to the early 20th century. The country is now known as Benin.
TriStar, The Woman King (2022)
The Notebook
That's right, everyone's favorite romantic movie starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling was based on Nicholas Sparks' relatives, more specifically, his ex-wife's parents.
New Line Cinema, The Notebook (2004)
Jaws
While Steven Spielberg certainly added his fair share of blood, guts, and gore, Jaws (1975) is loosely based on a series of real-life shark attacks in New Jersey in 1916. The attacks claimed the lives of four people.
Good Will Hunting
Okay, so it's only one scene, but it may be one of the most famous scenes in the movie. Good Will Hunting (1997) depicts the life of a struggling mathematical genius at MIT. Well, that "mathematical genius" was Matt Damon's brother, Kyle—during a trip to MIT to visit a professor, he started jumbling some random numbers and equations down on a blackboard in the Infinite Corridor. The "equations" remained untouched for months.
The Shining
Stephen King’s chilling 1980 classic The Shining was born from a stay at the famously eerie Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. King and his wife checked into Room 217, where he was plagued by unsettling dreams and strange, unexplained noises echoing through the halls. The experience haunted him enough to inspire one of the most terrifying horror stories ever told—though thankfully, no Jack Nicholson with an axe came knocking.
Warner Bros., The Shining (1980)
Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch is based on Nick Hornby's autobiographical essay entitled Fever Pitch: A Fan's Life. The movie, starring Jimmy Fallon as Ben Wrightman, depicts a baseball super fan whose love of the game trumps almost everything in his life. In real life, Hornby's love is for football, rather than baseball.
Fox 2000 Pictures, Fever Pitch (2005)
Chicago
Catherine Zeta-Jones's role in the 2002 drama Chicago takes inspiration from the 1926 play about Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, dancers who were tried for murder in the 1920s in Chicago.
The Vow
In another heartbreaking, difficult-to-watch display of love and devotion, The Vow (2012) tells the story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who were involved in a horrific car accident in 1993 that left Kim with severe memory loss, unable to remember their wedding day or their entire relationship and friendship. The Vow sees Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams star in this romantic comedy that puts a light-hearted touch on a tough subject.
Psycho
This 1960 drama was inspired by killer Ed Gein, otherwise known as The Butcher of Plainfield. Gein was known to have a creepy stare and an obsession with strange things. Apart from Psycho (1960), Gein was also the inspiration behind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions, Psycho (1960)
BlackKklansman
Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018) tells the almost-unbelievable true story of Ron Stallworth, the first Black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department. In the 1970s, Stallworth pulled off an audacious undercover operation—posing as a white supremacist to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Starring John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace, the film is based on Stallworth’s own memoir, proving that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.
Focus Features, BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Milk
Milk (2013) tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, detailing the events that led up to Milk's campaign, the appalling homophobia throughout the campaign, and his eventual victory. Harvey Milk was assassinated on November 27, 1978 by his fellow council member, Dan White. Sean Penn's spellbinding performance as Harvey Milk earned him an Oscar for Best Actor.
Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin (2010) is a biographical film starring Claire Danes as Mary Temple Grandin, an American academic and ethologist. Alongside being a staunch animal rights and ethics activist, Grandin was one of the first people to document her experiences as an autistic person and that became the basis for Temple Grandin. It won 15 Daytime Emmy Awards and Danes won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Series Television Movie.
Julie And Julia
This biographical comedy follows Julie Powell and Julia Childs in the title roles, as food journalist Julie Powell cooks 524 of Julia Childs' recipes in 365 days while having a midlife crisis. The hilarious flick stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.
Columbia, Julie and Julia (2009)
River's Edge
This 1986 film told a tale as gripping as one can imagine—the slaying of a 14-year-old by a 16-year-old boy, who casually told his friends about the grisly act, even showing them her body. They failed to report the incident to authorities for days. A young Keanu Reeves even starred in a supporting role.
You may not have realized that some of the aforementioned movies were based on real events or people. If none of the above, what movie did you watch, then realize afterward was based on a true story? Which one hit you the hardest as a result of that revelation? Let us know in the comments!
