20 Best Movies Based on True Stories

Not all feature films are fictional. Some movies derive their narratives from novels or even real-life events. In fact, true stories often become more captivating when adapted into films, as they allow for easier understanding compared to reading written form.

In this article, Showpoiler will present a list of movies based on highly popular true stories. These movies feature more than just biographies of well-known people, but also span various genres such as action, drama, and horror. Let's check it out!

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie, The Wolf of Wall Street is an intense true story film centered around Jordan Belfort. This movie portrays criminal activities and wrongdoing in an unexpectedly enticing manner.

Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a wealthy stockbroker who struggled immensely to achieve success during that era. However, Belfort slowly sinks into a downward spiral involving a life of crime, sex, drugs, corruption, and encounters with the federal government.

Through The Wolf of Wall Street, viewers are invited to witness the rise of Jordan Belfort, as well as the tragic downfall resulting from his own actions.

2. 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave is a film that portrays the enslavement of black people in the 1800s. It is based on the life story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a black man who initially enjoyed a prosperous life far removed from the horrors of slavery.

Solomon's exceptional talent as a violinist had earned him great recognition. Unfortunately, he fell victim to a kidnapping scheme that aimed to force him into slavery in New Orleans.

Solomon first fought fiercely to maintain his freedom, but the persistent threat of death weakened his will, leaving him with little choice but accept to a life of slavery.

3. The Imitation Game

In The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Alan Turing, known as the world's foremost computer scientist. Turing takes on the enormous challenge of cracking the mysterious code the Nazis used to secure their radio messages during World War II.

Tasked with solving the mysteries of Enigma, an encrypted code that has remained unbreakable to all previous attempts, Turing assembles a team and embarks on a mission to construct a groundbreaking machine capable of cracking the Enigma codes—an innovation that laid the foundation for modern computers.

In the middle of their never-ending attempt to crack the complex Enigma codes, Turing also deals with the stigma of being a homosexual, facing challenge in social interactions with others.

4. The Irishman

Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran (Robert De Niro), is a World War II veteran who now resides as a frail elderly man confined to a wheelchair in a nursing home.

Longing to relive his days as a skilled con man and hitman, Sheeran tries to go back to his past. During his prime, he was deeply involved in organized crime, collaborating with fellow experts and professionals in their respective crime fields.

Through this film, the audience is offered an appealing glimpse into the intricacies of crime, exploring Sheeran's work environment and its connection to the world of politics. Sheeran's narrative also intertwines with the unresolved mysteries surrounding the disappearance of renowned union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

5. Hidden Figures

This film is based on the true story of the unsung heroes behind NASA's remarkable achievement of sending the first man to the moon.

Titled Hidden Figures, the movie sheds light on the individuals whose contributions to this unforgettable mission often go unrecognized. While most people are familiar with Neil Armstrong as the first man to set foot on the moon, there are still many who are unaware of the crucial figures involved.

Hidden Figures narrates the story of a team of mathematicians, consisting of three remarkable women: Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae). These three women were responsible for performing the complex calculations for the spacecraft utilized in NASA's first moon landing mission.

6. Hacksaw Ridge

In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), enlisted to join the military's medical division. Despite eventually being accepted and trained, Desmond consistently refused to handle a firearm.

His refusal resulted from a deeply personal experience of almost killing his own brother, and as a passionate religious individual, Desmond strongly believed that taking a life was not aligned with his principles.

Due to his persistent viewpoint, Desmond faced numerous trials, but thankfully, the court dismissed the charges against him. Eventually, he found himself on the battlefield, still insisting on his refusal to carry a gun. Will Desmond survive the war?

Directed by Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge is a biographical film that recounts the remarkable story of Desmond Thomas Doss, a corporal in the United States Army who served as a combat medic within an infantry unit during World War II.

7. Bohemian Rhapsody

This movie must be familiar to your ears. Bohemian Rhapsody serves as a biographical portrayal of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) and his iconic band, Queen.

Directed by Bryan Singer, known for his work on The Usual Suspects, the movie focuses primarily on Freddie's career but also explores the achievements of his fellow Queen members, including John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello), Brian May (Gwilym Lee), and Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy).

While showing Freddie's professional journey, the film also portrays his personal life, including his romantic relationship with Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), which played a significant role in his life.

Additionally, the movie goes further into Freddie's exploration of same-sex relationships, particularly his connection with Jim Hutton (Aaron McCusker). These personal experiences deeply influenced Freddie, inspiring him to create the legendary and bestselling songs that have left a lasting impression on music history.

8. Ford v Ferrari

The plot of Ford v Ferrari centered around the intense rivalry between two well-known automobile companies: Ford Motor Company and its rival, Ferrari, during the 1966 Le Mans race. Ford, determined to outshine Ferrari, recruited car designer Carol Shelby (Matt Damon) to lead the way.

Shelby, a former racing champion at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, was forced to retire from racing due to a heart condition. Transitioning into a car designer, Shelby realized that he needed help and decided to bring on board racing driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale).

Collaborating with the rest of the Ford team, Shelby and Miles worked tirelessly to craft a top-notch race car capable of competing in the challenging Le Mans event. Their relentless dedication led to the development of the remarkable Ford GT40 MK II race car, with their ultimate goal being to achieve victory.

9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is a determined mother seeking justice for her daughter. Tragically, Mildred's daughter was subjected to a brutal assault, resulting in her rape, murder, and abandonment alongside a road.

Frustrated by the lack of progress in the case and the inadequate response from the local police, Mildred takes matters into her own hands.

While driving her aged car, Mildred comes across three vacant billboards. Recognizing their potential as a platform for her purpose, she immediately visits the advertising office to rent them.

These billboards become a powerful medium for Mildred to express her dissatisfaction and publicly criticize the police's handling of her daughter's case. The messages on the billboards catch the attention of passersby, ensuring widespread visibility for her demands.

Mildred's actions provoke a strong reaction from the police, who feel personally attacked. They make efforts to take down the billboards, but Mildred, unfazed and standing alone, fearlessly defends her right to display them.

10. Lion

A young boy named Saroo (Sunny Pawar) works alongside his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) to earn money. They engage in various activities, such as assisting with luggage at the train station and selling stolen coal on trains, all in an effort to support their mother, who works as a stonecutter.

One fateful day, Saroo and Guddu become separated at the station. Saroo finds himself unable to find his way back home until he is discovered by an Australian couple named John (David Wenham) and Sue (Nicole Kidman). The compassionate couple adopts Saroo and brings him to live with them in Australia.

Twenty-five years later, Saroo, now an adult (Dev Patel), sets out on a difficult mission to find his birth mother. His search turns out to be challenging and filled with obstacles. Will Saroo succeed in finding his mother once more? Discover the poignant journey of Saroo by watching this film.

11. Moneyball

Many movies based on true stories are often centered around the biographies of notable individuals, and Moneyball is no exception. This film dives into the life of Billy Beane, a former professional baseball player who undertakes the challenge of building a baseball club named the Oakland A's.

Moneyball intensely explores the victories and difficulties faced by Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), as he attempts to construct a successful baseball team. The narrative takes root from Billy's frustration at losing three key players from the Oakland A's due to budget constraints and insufficient salaries.

Driven to find a solution, Billy eventually hired Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young economics graduate from Yale, to assist him in the recruitment process. Together, they embrace a revolutionary approach to player selection, opting for undervalued individuals who possess a strong ability to score and get on base, even if they lack widespread popularity.

Will Billy's unconventional methods lead him to create the ideal team and reclaim his team's former glory?

12. The Two Popes

Following the passing of Pope John II in 2005, the cardinals representing various countries were summoned to elect a new Supreme Pontiff. Despite their initial support for Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), from Argentina to become Pope Benedict XVI, it was Joseph Ratzinger (Anthony Hopkins) from Germany who was chosen to lead Catholics worldwide.

But in 2012, a scandal struck the Vatican, leading to a crisis of faith among Catholics globally. Pope Benedict XVI found himself in a challenging position, while Cardinal Bergoglio contemplated submitting his resignation letter in service to the Catholic Church.

However, fate intervened, bringing these two individuals with differing perspectives together once more. They joined forces to address the scandal, working to restore the trust and faith of the people. Little did they know that God would set up their partnership in resolving the crisis and reaffirming the bond between the Church and its followers.

13. The Conjuring

The Conjuring stands as one of the most chilling horror films. The movie draws its inspiration from one of the real-life cases investigated by well-known psychic investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The narrative begins when Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga), are asked to help a family who have been terrorized by an evil force within their isolated residence. As they investigate the case further, they come face to face with a sinister spirit.

Ed and Lorraine, experienced in their experiences with the paranormal, quickly understand that this particular case is the most horrifying and daunting they have ever encountered. The couple must summon every ounce of their expertise and courage to confront this ruthless supernatural force.

14. Darkest Hour

Set during World War II, Darkest Hour narrates the challenging journey of Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), the Prime Minister of Britain, as he struggles with a very important choice. Churchill finds himself at a crossroads: whether to pursue peace negotiations or to persist in the war against Germany under Adolf Hitler's leadership.

The story unfolds when Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) resigns as the British Prime Minister following Germany's invasion of Europe. Churchill is then recommended as his successor.

Despite being in the early days of his presidency, Churchill faces immense pressure to initiate peace talks with Hitler. However, he must also confront the strong Nazi forces, even in the face of seemingly impossible challenges, regardless of the potential personal and national consequences.

15. Molly’s Game

Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) had a different upbringing compared to other teenage girls her age. Molly developed cynicism, ignorance, and struggled with trusting others.

Nevertheless, Molly displayed remarkable proficiency in snow skiing, even participating in the Olympic Games. Sadly, an accident put an end to her plans to become a professional snow skier.

Upon graduating from school, Molly moved to Los Angeles with hopes of a better life. While working as a discotheque waitress, one of her colleagues offered her a position as an office secretary. However, Molly's responsibilities extended beyond secretarial duties; she was also expected to serve as a poker guide.

Despite her initial lack of knowledge about poker, Molly quickly familiarized herself with the ins and outs of the gambling game.

As her expertise in the poker world grew, Molly made the daring decision to establish her own poker game business. Her clients included wealthy businesspeople, Hollywood celebrities, athletes, and Russian mafia figures.

One day, Molly found herself arrested by 17 armed FBI agents. She had to navigate the legal process in a court of law alongside her lawyer, Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba). Jaffey was sure that Molly has good traits and argued against the negative media stories surrounding her

16. The Post

The conflict between the media and government is widespread in many countries, including in a global superpower nation like the United States. The Post is a movie that highlights this issue, as it tells a true story about the suppression of the press in the US during the 1970s.

The film centered around the determined efforts of Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), and a team of journalists from The Washington Post who aimed to disclose the Pentagon Papers to the public.

For those unfamiliar, the Pentagon Papers are confidential documents from the US Department of Defense that expose the concealed involvement of the US government in the Vietnam War.

Several newspapers attempted to inform the public about the government's role in the Vietnam War by using the information in the Pentagon Papers. However, the White House didn't merely watch in silence and instead tried to intimidate several media that were involved in leaking the contents of the documents.

17. Hotel Mumbai

In 2008, the city of Mumbai, India, was struck by a devastating terrorist attack that targeted multiple locations, including the prestigious Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Inspired by these events, director Anthony Maras created a movie titled Hotel Mumbai based on the incident.

The story revolves around the character Arjun (Dev Patel), a waiter employed at a restaurant inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. While attending to guests during dinner service, the tranquility is shattered by the sound of gunfire echoing throughout the hotel.

Arjun, sensing that something is terribly wrong, quickly takes action and instructs all the restaurant guests to remain in place. His goal is to safeguard their lives, as well as his own. Will Arjun and the others manage to escape the perilous situation alive, trapped within the confines of the hotel?

18. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Born into a poor African family, William (Maxwell Simba) depended on his ingenuity to make money. Even at a young age, William displayed outstanding resourcefulness by fixing his neighbor's broken radio using electronic parts he found in discarded objects.

William's fascination with electrical engineering and energy drove him to pursue his passion with great enthusiasm. Despite facing financial limitations, he convinced his science teacher to let him attend classes.

In the year 2000, the village experienced crop failures and riots, resulting in the destruction of the grain store William had established. Many residents also left the area, leaving behind an empty countryside.

Determined to save his family's fortunes, William embarked on a mission. He began constructing a windmill using scavenged components to power an electric water pump.

What started as a windmill to meet his family's basic electricity needs evolved into a larger project, providing power to the entire village.

William's groundbreaking invention gained international recognition, propelling him to global fame. Despite facing obstacles, he successfully pursued his studies and obtained an engineering degree, solidifying his remarkable journey.

19. Tetris

Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), the CEO of Bullet-Proof Software, was busy selling electronic games at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when he came across a strange game from Russia called Tetris.

Rogers was captivated by the game and learned that Nintendo was interested in licensing Tetris for their Gameboy. However, the process proved to be challenging.

Initially, the game was globally licensed by Robert Stein (Toby Jones) of Andromeda Software who later handed it over to Mirrorsoft, led by Howard Maxwell (Roger Allam). But Stein didn't receive any royalties from Maxwell, and the Russian authorities were uncooperative regarding distribution rights.

In a state of confusion, Rogers, Stein, and Kevin, Maxwell's son (Anthony Boyle), begin a secret journey to Russia to negotiate with ELORG, the Russian Ministry responsible for electronic exports. Their determination was to secure the licensing rights for Tetris themselves.

20. Oppenheimer

This 2023 movie is based on the true story adapted from the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

The film dive into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist known as the "Father of the Atomic Bomb." It explores how Oppenheimer played an important role in the invention of the first atomic bomb, which was ultimately used in World War II and dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

While causing significant loss of life in Japan, the deployment of the atomic bomb marked a turning point towards peace following the end of World War II.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie features a star-studded cast including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, and Cillian Murphy, who portrays the character of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

That is a compilation of the most popular movies based on true stories. If you have any other movie titles you'd like to add, please feel free to share the title of your favorite true story-based film in the comments section below.