15 Netflix movies based on true stories that will make you google the facts (2023)

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through Mary Kate McGrath, Shannon Barbour e Grace Wehniainen

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15 Netflix movies based on true stories that will make you google the facts (1)

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Many of Hollywood's most memorable films are based on real-life stories, which makes them all the more compelling. Viewers can google the actual events as they watch and see how the actors compare to real people. If that's what you're into, there are tons of true story movies on Netflix that you probably haven't seen yet that are worth checking out.

While fans may have preconceived notions about realistic films as always serious drama, Netflix's range of offerings might come as a surprise. Yes, the streaming platform features devastating dramas likeExtremely evil, outrageously evil and vile,but there are also several biographical studies such asLack e Steve Jobs.There are comedies likeThe Disaster Artist and adventure films likedrifting awayand even movies likethe more they fall that mix truth and fiction and encourage further investigation. But regardless of genre, each of these films is a compelling lesson in storytelling made all the more exciting by the fact that they arebased on true events🇧🇷 Below are 15 true story movies on Netflix to get you started.

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1

Under

Before that I was T'Challa emMarvel's Black Panther, the lateChadwick Bosemannreceived critical acclaim for his role as James Brown's Godfather of Soul inUnder.The 2014 biopic explores the complicated history of Brown and his iconic music through snapshots of his life. In conversation withThe guard,Boseman revealed he spent eight hours a day perfecting Brown's dance moves — including the mashed potatoes, of course.

2

The more they fall

If you are looking for a film with historical roots that is not ashamed of ittake creative liberties The more they fallMaybe for you. As a card at the beginning of the Netflix Original advises, "While the events of this story are fictional... These. Persons. There was.” And they did – Nat Love, Rufus Buck and Stagecoach Mary are just a few of the characters whose stories come to life in this gripping western. It may not be strictly a biopic, but it's definitely one of the best movies on Netflix.Basedin true stories and has received critical acclaim since its debut in October.

3

the dirty

Related toMötley CrüesOpen autobiography 2001The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band'Netflix' nonstop, licentious title stars Colson Baker (aka.Kelly machine gun) as drummer Tommy Lee,Daniel Weberas singer Vince Neil,Douglas Standas bassist Nikki Sixx andIwan Rheonas guitarist Mick Mars. Speaking about the themes presented in the book, Baker thought, "Wow, that's dark. What will people think about this? But there's some truth to this book — the fact that you fall in love with these people [who] then dive headlong into this dark place." The film certainly explores some of the band's darker moments, but for that matter"Based on a true storyby a group of unreliable narrators, the exact facts are slightly off.

4

My name is Dolemite

If you like true stories about artists and animators navigating the creative process (as well as the practical side of showbiz),My name is Dolemite can't miss. Eddie Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore, the real-life comedian who fights an uphill battle to make the 1975 film.Dolemitaand captivate the character for the audience. Spoiler alert, it works — to hilarious (and heartfelt) effect.

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5

Steve Jobs

The streaming platform has no shortage of movies about men in business - saluteFyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened🇧🇷 But if you are looking for a success story,Steve Jobsoffers a closer lookFounder of Apple🇧🇷 For those who know little about the man behind his iconic turtleneck and the technology so many wear today, this might be interesting.

6

Na Selva

Many readers may recognize itThe Story of Christopher McCandlessthe countless adventurers who try to imitate him in dangerous walks andThe non-fiction book by Jon Krakauerof the same title. The story documents McCandless' decision to abandon the trappings of modern life and explore the wilderness. In the movie,Emil Hirschportrays the complicated McCandless whose restless nature led him on the excursion that took his life.

7

drifting away

drifting awayoffers a nice change from thathistorical biographieson the list, which is the true story of a couple (Richard Sharp and Tami Oldham Ashcraft) stranded in the Pacific after navigating Hurricane Raymond. When Sam Claflin's character is thrown overboard, Shailene Woodley's character must overcome her hallucinations and sail the derelict yacht to Hawaii.

8

The Chicago 7 Trial

Historical films can often provide illuminating context for the current moment. by Aaron SorkinThe Chicago 7 Trial follows seven defendants indicted by the US federal government amid countercultural protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.The film dramatizes the process, which emerged amidst opposition to the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement.

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9

Suffragist

This historical drama follows the early days of the suffrage movement in the UK, including the suffrage quest. The film has a cast full of big names includingCarey Mulligan, which plays a working mother who teams up with a political activistEmmeline Pankhurst, interpreted by Meryl Streep🇧🇷 Although Mulligan's character is fictional, she represents many of the women who lived in the unjust society of the time.

10

Extremely evil, outrageously evil and hideous

This biographical police drama is about serial killersTed Bundy, he said from the point of view of his ex-girlfriendElisabeth Kendall, who for years refused to believe the truth about him. Based on the memoirsThe Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy,those weird movie starsZac Efronlike Bundy andLili Collinsas Kendall, which takes place predominantly during the murder trial.

11

A futile and stupid gesture

If you're a big fan of comedy history — or just enjoy learning about the people behind pop culture institutions —this comedy-drama biopic from 2018It's a great option. Will Forte and Domhnall Gleeson play Douglas Kenney and Henry Beard, respectively, the college friends who helped found itNational LaterneFranchise and boosted the careers of the comedians who would become the first cast ofSaturday night live.While the film is about very funny people, it's also super real - and you might end up crying as much as you laugh.

12

excavation

Based on the 2007 novel by John Prestonexcavation, this film shows Mulligan aspretty, a wealthy widow who employs an amateur archaeologistbrown basil(played by Ralph Fiennes) to find out what's buried beneath the bulging masses on his sprawling property. It's not long before a team of professionals try to dissuade Brown from the project, but Mulligan stays true to his skills. In the midst of the ditch, several vivid insights emerge for Lily James.Peggy piggy, who is said to have been hired only because of her small body and her ability to work on the weak structure without damaging it, but excavating significant parts of itHistoric discovery by Sutton Hoo in 1939🇧🇷 Also, Peggy becomes involved in a love triangle that comes to a head when World War II hits Britain's doorstep. Inspired by Preston's aunt, the talented Margaret "Peggy" Preston, who took part in the dig, this film is a fascinating portrait of the era.

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13

Lack

For a plot as fun as pronouncing the title crisply,LackYou have it covered. Gary Oldman starsHerman J. Mankiewicz,Mank tguides viewers through her writing about breaking forms and setting precedentsCitizen Kaneand the dispute over having him credited as a co-writer with Orson Welles (played by Tom Burke). After production delays, the Netflix original finally got oneacademic award,BAFTA, zCritics' Prizefor the best production design.

14

To run

Another film that tries to recreate the "golden age" of an industry,To runMarvel-Symbol SterneChris HemswortheDaniel Brühlas famous racing drivers and rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda respectively. This high-octane biopic depicts the excesses and dangers of Formula 1 racing, how the competitors push each other to excellence, and the luxurious lifestyle that one of the stars values ​​more than the race itself.

fifteen

The boy who harnessed the wind

When William Kamkwamba's village of Malwai faced drought (and consequent extreme poverty), the young inventor set out to find a solution - to design a prototype windmill that could fuel agriculture in the famine-stricken country. In addition to starring as William's father, Trywell, Chiwetel Ejiofor made his directorial debut with this inspirational true story.

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Additional reporting by Shannon Barbour.

This article was originally published in

FAQs

Who is the Netflix movie True Story based on? ›

Though True Story is loosely based on Kevin Hart himself, the show is largely fictitious. The Kid, like Hart, is a world-renowned stand-up comedian performing sold-out shows and being paid $25million (£19m) to star in superhero blockbusters with Chris Hemsworth.

What is the best movie based on a true story? ›

The best movies based on true stories
  1. All the President's Men (1976) Film. Drama. ...
  2. In Cold Blood (1967) Film. ...
  3. Hustlers (2019) Film. ...
  4. Argo (2012) Film. ...
  5. The Social Network (2010) Film. ...
  6. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Film. ...
  7. Dallas Buyers Club (2014) Film. ...
  8. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

What's new on Netflix true stories? ›

New Releases
  • The Swimmers.
  • The Good Nurse.
  • The Courier.
  • Ẹlẹṣin Ọba: The King's Horseman.
  • All My Life.
  • The Last Vermeer.
  • Lawrence of Arabia: Restored Version.
  • Broad Peak.

What is a movie based on a True Story called? ›

A biographical film or biopic (/ˈbaɪoʊpɪk/) is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used.

Is 13 hours Netflix a True Story? ›

Yes. In researching the 13 Hours true story, we discovered that John Krasinski's character was indeed based on a real person, a Navy SEAL whose name was changed for the book and movie to protect his identity.

Is it based on a true story? ›

Answer and Explanation: No, Stephen King's It is not based on a true story. King had the idea for It when looking at an old wooden walking bridge in 1978 near his home in Boulder, Colorado.

How many hours is True Story on Netflix? ›

It's one hour long and if you're hooked, there are six more episodes (each around half an hour long).

Is True Story on Netflix good? ›

"True Story" misses its mark at points, but the two leads are excellent, and there are interesting views of fans, social media and the high cost of fame. December 3, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review… Leans too much on plot conveniences and a predictability that mutes suspense.

Is Stranger things based on a true story? ›

Stranger Things is inspired by a 'true' story.

The show was originally called 'Montauk' and took inspiration from an alleged US Military programme named The Montauk Project which, legend has it, included experiments on children involving mind reading, mind control and time travel.

Is Chucky Based on a true story? ›

While creator Don Mancini took inspiration from his childhood and horror stories that came before, the character of Charles Lee Ray, aka Chucky, is completely fictional.

Is Netflix fiction a True Story? ›

Despite the title itself suggesting that the series is based on real events, True Story is a work of fiction, but there are some elements of the story that are accurate to Kevin Hart's real life.

Why are movies based on true stories good? ›

The psychology behind it is simple: Audience members prefer something that could be true to a plot that they've seen before, and the idea that a film is in some way based on or inspired by a real event adds a dramatic weight to what normally would be fictionalized.

Is high a True Story? ›

This is indeed an incredible, true story. The book is wonderfully written by Michael Sokolove.

What should I watch on Netflix this week? ›

Most Popular on Netflix: A Look at Today's Top 10
  • Wednesday. Year: 2022. Creator: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar. ...
  • 1899. Year: 2022. ...
  • Dead to Me. Year: 2022. ...
  • The Crown. Years: 2016-2022. ...
  • The Unbroken Voice. Year: 2022. ...
  • The Noel Diary. Year: 2022. ...
  • Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich. Year: 2022. ...
  • The Swimmers. Year: 2022.

What is a true crime story? ›

True crime is a nonfiction literary, podcast, and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people associated with and affected by criminal events. The crimes most commonly include murder; about 40 percent focus on tales of serial killers.

Is 127 hours a True Story? ›

Aron Ralston has often praised the film version of his true story, Danny Boyle's 2010 movie 127 Hours, as brutally realistic. However, the arm-cutting scene did need to be shortened to a few minutes — because it lasted about an hour in real life.

How do I find a movie I can't remember? ›

You can look up an actor's Wikipedia or IMDb page to check their filmography, and you should find the movie you're looking for there. This also works even if you don't remember the name of the actor – as long as you know another movie they were in.

Was hours a True Story? ›

Hours isn't based on a true story, but it makes a considerable effort to convince us that it could have been. Writer-director Eric Heisserer's Hours isn't based on a true story, but it makes a considerable effort to convince us that it could have been.

Is there a movie called 13 Hours? ›

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (also known simply as 13 Hours) is a 2016 American biographical action thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan, based on Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book of the same name.

What is the story of 13 Hours? ›

Is IT a True Story ending? ›

'It Ends With Us' is not a true story, but it is based on the relationship between Colleen Hoover's mother and father, specifically inspired by her mother's journey. Hoover has said before that this book was "the hardest book I've ever written" in an interview with New York Daily News.

Is Friday the 13th based on a true story? ›

Yes, the classic 1980 film Friday the 13 is based on the real life murders of three teenagers at Lake Bodom, Finland.

How old is Pennywise? ›

The concept of clowns has been traced back to the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, but the modern circus clown developed in the 19th century, so by the time King's novel is set (the first part of it), Pennywise was around 200 years old.

What year is True Story set in? ›

Plot. In 2001, Christian Longo, an Oregon man whose wife and three children have been discovered murdered, is arrested by police in Mexico, where he had been identifying himself as a reporter for The New York Times named Michael Finkel.

How long is a True Story episode? ›

How many episodes are in True Story? True Story has seven episodes in total to fill out its season 1 run. Each episode lasts approximately 30-35 minutes long, and all seven episodes dropped on the same day, November 24, 2021, for viewers to binge-watch the series.

Is Stranger Things appropriate for a 10 year old? ›

Seasons 1-3 of Stranger Things are pretty evenly violent and scary and are rated TV-14. However, Stranger Things 4 is a whole different level and has a TV-MA rating. Well it was rated TV-MA and then recently changed to TV-14, however, it deserves that TV-MA rating. Stranger Things 4 is not for kids.

Is Stranger Things for kids? ›

Despite the scary, disturbing and otherwise crass content present in the Netflix original series, “Stranger Things,” the show still holds a TV-14 rating.

Is Stranger Things 5 Cancelled? ›

The Duffer brothers confirmed in a letter to fans that the show would bow out with a fifth and final season. "Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things," they wrote.

Is Chucky a boy or a girl? ›

Child of evil murder doll Chucky confirmed as canonically genderfluid in new series. Chucky confirms he's “cool” with his genderfluid child in a new TV series and horror fans are thrilled. The infamous, murder-loving doll is back on screens for more bloody mayhem in the USA and SyFy TV series Chucky.

Is child's Play scary? ›

Child's Play (1988) is one of the best scary slasher movies in the history of horror genre. Watch Child's Play (1988) if you dare, cause once you start being friends with one doll, Chucky will come for you and will give you nightmares.

How did Chucky come alive? ›

Chucky made his first appearance in the 1988 film Child's Play. In the film, a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray, aka Chucky (Brad Dourif) uses a voodoo ritual inside a toy store to transfer his soul into a Good Guy doll to escape from Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon).

What Netflix shows are based off of books? ›

From page to screen, these shows adapted from books have something for fans of all genres, including action, drama, comedy, romance and riveting real-life stories.
...
Watch In One WeekendExplore more
  • Girlboss.
  • How to Change Your Mind.
  • The Lincoln Lawyer.
  • The Innocent.
  • The Stranger.
  • When Heroes Fly.
  • Behind Her Eyes.
  • Trinkets.

What is the movie on Netflix where girl gets kidnapped? ›

In this true crime documentary, a family falls prey to the manipulative charms of a neighbor, who abducts their adolescent daughter.

Are there true crime stories on Netflix? ›

The 26 Best True-Crime Documentaries on Netflix, from 'Amanda Knox' to 'Night Stalker' From bone-chilling podcasts to creepy-as-hell books, there's no shortage of outlets for our true-crime obsession—and we know we're not the only ones.

What is Netflixs biggest original series? ›

Netflix's most watched TV series, ranked
  • Squid Game (season 1), a Korean survival thriller -- 1.65 billion hours.
  • Stranger Things (season 4), a retro sci-fi series -- 1.35 billion hours.
  • Dahmer, a true-crime serial killer series -- 856.2 million hours.
3 days ago

What is Netflix best original series ever? ›

The 20 best Netflix original series
  • 1 of 20. 'BoJack Horseman' Netflix. ...
  • 2 of 20. 'The Crown' Netflix. ...
  • 3 of 20. 'Daredevil' Netflix. ...
  • 4 of 20. 'Disenchantment' Netflix. ...
  • 5 of 20. 'GLOW' Netflix. ...
  • 6 of 20. 'Grace and Frankie' Netflix. ...
  • 7 of 20. 'The Haunting' Netflix. ...
  • 8 of 20. 'Lady Dynamite' Netflix.
6 days ago

What Netflix movies have books? ›

Movies Based on Books
  • The Bad Guys.
  • Where the Crawdads Sing.
  • The Noel Diary.
  • An Elf's Story: The Elf on the Shelf.
  • Home.
  • A Boy Called Christmas.
  • The Gray Man.
  • Goosebumps.

Where can I find hidden movies on Netflix? ›

To explore these collections — ordering off the secret menu, if you will — all you need to do is fire up your web browser, type in “netflix.com/browse/genre/” and then add your ID code of choice to the end of the URL.

What is the Netflix jail? ›

“Netflix Jail” is a term that's commonly used within the anime fandom to describe a show that should be simulcast in English-speaking countries at the same time it airs in Japan, but gets delayed in those territories so that it can be released under the service's binge model, either in scheduled batches or in its ...

How do I find secret movies on Netflix? ›

Here are the secret Netflix codes that unlock tons of hidden movies and shows
  1. Asian Action Movies (77232)
  2. Classic Action & Adventure (46576)
  3. Action Comedies (43040)
  4. Action Thrillers (43048)
  5. Adventures (7442)
  6. Comic Book and Superhero Movies (10118)
  7. Westerns (7700)
  8. Spy Action & Adventure (10702)

What is a good true crime story to watch? ›

30 True Crime Documentaries You Really Shouldn't Miss
  • Abducted in Plain Sight. ...
  • Amanda Knox. ...
  • Atlanta Monster. ...
  • Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. ...
  • Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist. ...
  • Exit Scam. ...
  • Heaven's Gate. ...
  • Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.
6 May 2022

What is the best true crime? ›

So don't waste one more minute, and instantly stream the best true crime documentaries below on Netflix, HBO, and more.
  • The Tinder Swindler. ...
  • American Murder: The Family Next Door. ...
  • Murder on Middle Beach. ...
  • Strong Island. ...
  • I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. ...
  • Mommy Dead and Dearest.
22 Sept 2022

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