Real Lives, Real Emotions: 24 Dramas Based on True Stories.

When reality is more creative than fiction. 

When we watch movies, we are often grateful to fate that events are just fiction. But in fact, many are based on true events. The coming weekend is the best time to immerse yourself in the world of true stories. Read my article further, and you will find great dramas based on true stories.

I made sure to highlight some lesser-known tapes and avoid the typical picks.

Dramas based on true stories.

Only the Brave, 2017.

The plot is based on a true story about the terrible fire that swept through Arizona in 2013. All forces, including the Granite Mountain detachment, are involved in the fight against the elements.

Sure, the movie might be straightforward. Sometimes painfully familiar clichés slip through, such as “the bad guy becomes the best friend,” “he went downhill—he changed,” and some pathos. But in general, Only the Brave is a movie that was created with a deeper context than just an entertaining film. Expect fires being doused, tough guys hashing out their problems, family talks, and a sprinkle of drama. Everything’s mixed perfectly, so you won’t have a chance to feel bored.

The Vow, 2012.

Paige loved Leo. He loved to tickle her and feed her filled candies. Then they got into an accident. Paige flew head-first through the windshield, and when she woke up in the hospital, she forgot everything connected with Leo. Leo gathered all his patience and bravery, clenched his fist, and began to woo his sweetheart again.

The advantages of the film are unconditional love and the beauty of relationships—friendly, family, and romantic. In fact, you watch such a movie and understand that this is how you need to communicate: don’t quarrel over nonsense, don’t yell, and take care of each other.

Domino, 2005.

In the 1960s, Domino, the daughter of the famous actor Laurence Harvey, was tired of luxury and a boring life. She attended classes for “headhunters.” There, she met two thugs—Ed and Choco—who fell madly in love with Domino. By teaming up with them, she became the most famous woman in hunting down criminals for a reward.

It is the most controversial film in today’s collection, but surely someone will like it. From the first frame, the film gains such momentum that stopping the armored train named “Domino” rushing at full speed will be impossible. There is so much action in the film that you can choke. Thanks to the highly memorable cinematography and editing, almost every scene turned into a mini-action film from a mixture of a commercial and an MTV clip with great music. 

Penguin Bloom, 2020.

While on vacation in Thailand, Sam fell from a balcony, injured her spine and was almost completely paralyzed. While the family tried to cope with the ordeal, they made an unexpected friend – an injured magpie chick whom the Blooms named Penguin.

It is an excellent drama with picturesque visuals and an interesting plot. I have already written a detailed review of this film.

Adrift, 2018.

It is a love story set against the backdrop of a terrible disaster in the Pacific Ocean. A young and carefree guy and girl set off on a journey across the ocean on a luxurious and seemingly reliable yacht. But their beautiful, melodramatic story is interrupted by the elements—the couple finds themselves amid one of the most powerful hurricanes in the planet’s history. Their lives are held hostage by unpredictable elements. The film was actually shot in the open ocean, and the angles are impressive.

Practical people will rightly call the main characters of Adrift goofballs, but at the same time, they will envy them. You know, it seems like the clueless folks are way happier. While the more sensible ones are busy chasing after a comfy lifestyle, these carefree souls are just living it up. Like Tami and Richard, they find themselves in the most stunning spots on Earth, soaking in the sun, mountains, flowers, the ocean, fresh seafood, and love. It’s amazing.

Out of Africa, 1985.

At the turn of the century, Karen Blixen goes to Kenya, where her entrepreneur husband grows coffee. Here, in the very heart of Africa, by the will of fate, Karen is destined to meet her true and only love.

Many people might find this film tedious and way too long. Personally, I see it as a brilliant work of art by Sydney Pollack from the ’80s and ’90s. We are slowly but surely being sucked into the cycle of an era that stood on the threshold of significant changes. Make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy leisurely.

Loving, 2016.

In 1958, in Virginia, interracial marriage was not only considered immoral, it was illegal. But Richard fell in love with Mildred despite the judgmental looks and sarcastic words thrown after them. They managed to get married in Washington, but that wasn’t the end. At night, the sheriff and deputies burst into their bedroom and charged the couple. Richard and Mildred decided to fight for their love to the end and reached the Supreme Court. They had to go through hell for the right to love each other.

This film draws from real-life events, and I was ready to dive into a courtroom drama filled with all the hate and injustice. But to my surprise, I mostly watched a cheerful family’s daily life instead. Loving is a story of intense love that changed the face of America once and for all. It is a fantastic piece that can teach you a lot. There are no words—just emotions.

Danish Girl, 2015.

Artist couple Einar and Gerda Wegener live in perfect harmony in 1920s Copenhagen. One day, Gerda asks her husband to pose in stockings and a dress since she needs to finish a full-length portrait, and the model does not show up at the studio. This innocent prank awakens feelings in Einar’s soul that he tried to ignore for many years, and soon the artist begins to live a double life – as Einar and as a transvestite named Lili.

The Danish Girl is a powerful film—subtle, lyrical, with correctly placed accents. It is a movie about a strange man destined to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Puncture, 2011.

The stories of those fighting for justice never cease to bore me. A similar hero here is an intelligent, talented and promising lawyer. This film could be a good illustration of another freedom fighter.

But the main character is a drug addict. He snorts coke, injects a dose, swallows pills and believes that Coca-Cola destroys the esophagus. This life does not look as attractive to him as it does to others. This life is good when there is a dose. Or when there is a cause worth living for.

Puncture is the story of one lawyer on one side. And the history of the problem of AIDS, drug addiction and neglect in hospitals is on the other. It is a tape that makes you think about the problems of one person and an entire society.

The Stanford Prison Experiment, 2015.

The film is based on an experiment by American psychologist Philip Zimbardo on the Stanford University campus in 1971. He chose volunteers who played the role of guards and prisoners and built a real prison for them in one building. People quickly got used to it and began to behave unpredictably to the psychologist’s surprise. What will an experiment that gets out of control lead to?

Of all the films about the Stanford prison experiment, Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s is the most grounded in actual history. So get ready for aviator glasses and long-haired men. The frames are a little blurry to give the feeling of shooting from the 1970s, making the hit 100%.

Stockholm, 2018.

The plot centers on the events of a real bank robbery that occurred in 1973 in Stockholm. Repeat offender Lars Nystrom, serving a sentence in prison, escapes and decides to rob a bank. Everything does not go according to plan; as a result of an unfortunate combination of circumstances, the robber is forced to take four hostages and barricade himself in the building. The presence of the criminal and his victims together leads to the fact that the captured people side with the captor and strive to help him. This paradoxical event is widely known as “Stockholm syndrome.”

The film is a mixture of intense thriller, absurdist comedy and emotional melodrama. If, in ordinary heist films, the audience is primarily interested in unexpected plot twists and action, then here, the director relied on the cheerful absurdity of what was happening and the full disclosure of the main characters.

All the Money in the World, 2017.

The elder Jean Paul Getty was one of the first billionaires in history. He created a fortune from oil production and a name from unprecedented stinginess. When attackers stole his eldest grandson, named after him, the businessman flatly refused to pay the reported $17 million ransom. The young man spent almost six months in captivity and was tortured because of an unyielding relative.

Although the plot seems simple initially, Ridley Scott created a powerful and tense thriller. The film clearly shows the essence of a big businessman. His clear goal is to get rich, maintain his wealth, and increase it.

The atmosphere of that time was conveyed impeccably on the screens—costumes, hairstyles, Soviet cars in Italy, and many other small details. Italians were cast in the role of Italians, and this is great because there is no unnecessary accent; the actors speak Italian. The picture is shot in very dark colors, which is only beneficial.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?, 2018.

Writer Lee Israel suffers from drinking problems, social anxiety, lack of money and career failures. Her last book was not well received by the public. The only solution the woman came up with was the idea of forging and selling letters from celebrities.

This film about the pangs of conscience and self-compromise brought Melissa McCarthy, who became famous primarily as a comedic actress, her first Oscar nomination. I recommend watching this pure movie for those who love dramas, films based on real events, tragicomedies, stories about writers, or lovers of good acting.

Colonia, 2015.

The name of the colony means “dignity,” and this says a lot about the cynicism with which the organizers of the torture camp treated their crimes. This real-life settlement was founded by former Wehrmacht soldier Paul Schaefer, who fled from Germany. His vile talents came in handy in Chile, where Schaefer created a settlement in which people politically objectionable to the regime were kept.

This film dives into the true story of a German photojournalist caught up in Pinochet’s military coup in Chile, ending up imprisoned in the Dignidad colony. Meanwhile, his loved one goes on a mission to track him down after he disappears without a word, following leads that all circle back to the infamous Dignidad, where escape seems impossible.

This film is like an emotional carousel that will throw you from side to side, starting with vivid and strong emotions and ending with sincere anger.

Spotlight, 2015.

A group of investigative journalists from the special Spotlight department at The Boston Globe takes on a difficult topic – they begin to develop a scandal related to the Catholic Church’s hushing up of cases of child molestation by priests. It turns out that not only are the crimes not being adequately investigated, but that high-ranking officials in the city and the cardinal himself knew about them and did nothing. Journalists strive not only to expose individual criminals but also to expose the entire system.

In my opinion, this film is almost perfect in all its creative and technical components. And the final credits. I would never have thought that dry facts written in white on black on a wide screen could evoke such a range of feelings.

Dark Waters, 2019.

Corporate lawyer Robert Bilott accidentally comes across the case of a farmer from the wilderness where he grew up. Animals die on the farm, and the health of the family living there also leaves much to be desired.

Since private litigation isn’t his forte, Robert initially wants to steer clear of the situation. He’s thriving in his career and just landed a partnership at a well-respected law firm. However, as he digs deeper, Bilott comes to see that the plight of one individual is just a small glimpse of a larger issue; it’s really about the health and safety of almost everyone on Earth. After 18 years of hard work, he proved that by-products from Teflon manufacturing were dangerous to human health, leading to over $670 million in compensation for those affected.

Changeling, 2008.

Set in 1920s Los Angeles, the story follows a mother who reports her missing child to the police. When they return a boy who looks just like him, she insists he’s not her son. Rather than receiving the help she requires, she finds herself admitted to a mental health facility.

I still remember Jolie and her red lipstick (as a symbol of passion, strength, love) and black-lined eyes (symbol of sorrow, grief, and enormous human tragedy), with tears constantly standing in them. It is a high-quality drama that makes you clench your fists, hate negative characters, and wholeheartedly empathize with the mother who has maintained her faith for many years.

Powerful film. Thanks to Clint Eastwood.

Hacksaw Ridge, 2016.

Desmond Doss, a US Army medic during World War II, made a name for himself in the Battle of Okinawa by refusing to take lives. He became the first person in American history to earn the Medal of Honor as an ideological conscientious objector. Mel Gibson’s film demonstrates a point of view on war unusual for mainstream cinema: it is about humanism, non-violence, and the highest human values, which can remain true even in the crucible of an irreconcilable military conflict.

From a technical point of view, the film is impeccable. A sound that allows you to fully enjoy every shot, every explosion. The excellent camera work, especially during combat, is beautiful and dignified.

The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, 1993.

Wanda once dreamed of becoming a cheerleader, but her hopes were unrealized. Years later, she pursues these plans through her young daughter Shanna. She begins to study under the supervision of her mother and her peer Amber, Wanda’s best friend’s daughter. But Shanna is not doing very well, but her new friend is making progress. Then, Wanda hires a hitman to eliminate her rival and her mother.

This story proves that people sometimes do much more terrible things in real life than in fictional horror and thrillers.

Fortunately, the potential killer turned out to be a more adequate person and simply handed the customer over to the police. As a result, Wanda ended up behind bars.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, 2018.

Ted is an irresistible, handsome man. Charming Liz couldn’t resist. A one-night stand became a long, wonderful relationship that most girls only dream of. Suddenly, Ted was arrested and charged with monstrous charges. But how can one believe that this gentle, intelligent, elegant man could rape, kill and dismember unfortunate women?! Her dear Ted. Ted Bundy.

At first, I wasn’t convinced Zac Efron was the best choice for Bundy, but I’ve come around. He’s known for his work in musicals and comedies, and now he’s stepping into the shoes of a maniac. It might not be as iconic as De Niro’s performance in “Cape Fear,” but it’s definitely solid.

The Mule, 2018.

Earl Stone is a lonely old man. His private business is on the verge of ruin, his relationship with his wife is not going well, and his children seem to have long forgotten about his existence. Suddenly, he is offered a quiet but profitable job—driving a car. Stone agrees and soon discovers that he has become a drug courier for the Mexican cartel.

Oscar-winner Clint Eastwood’s crime drama is based on the true story of the oldest drug courier in American history. It is a beautiful story that entertains and makes you think seriously about important things and life values. It has a lot of good humor, a charming main character, and interesting secondary characters.

Hotel Mumbai, 2018.

It is an action thriller based on actual events in India. In 2008, terrorists seized the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel with all the guests who never expected that in such a place, they could expect not only comfort and luxury but also a struggle for survival.

Hotel Mumbai is devoid of crude clichés. There will be no Lone Ranger challenging evil and no Bruce Willis hiding in the ventilation. There will only be scared-to-death tourists and hotel employees, who, despite the reigning horror, are trying to save not only their lives but also as many of the guests’ lives as possible. The film turned out to be exceptionally cruel, but it is close to reality, which is not at all fair and logical.

Sound plays a significant role in the film. For example, the gunshots here are not at all promising action rattles. They hit the ears, break the trembling silence and end random lives forever.

Lion, 2016.

Saroo, a boy from the slums, was lost at five. The story is about the fantastic twists of his fate and the search for his family.

The script, stunning in its simplicity, will move you. And thanks to excellent editing, the flashbacks forced us to live in two worlds simultaneously. Wonderful acting gave us a true story about family and the deepest motives of oneself. Check out the Lion movie summary if you are interested in this film.

The King’s Speech, 2010.

Once his brother steps down from the throne, the Duke of York hesitantly takes on royal duties. Plagued by a terrible nervous stutter and doubts about his ability to lead the country, Georg seeks help from an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue.

It’s simply impossible not to admire the magical work of Colin Firth! How alive, vulnerable, but also strong-willed and noble his Georg came out! What are HIS eyes worth? It is impossible to tell without exclamation!

Surprisingly, all the film’s heroes are truly living, noble people who are close to everyone. It’s a heartfelt movie!

Final words.

These stories prove that life is the best script for a good movie. Large-scale events, from wars to disasters, biographies of both great and ordinary people – no fiction can be more fascinating than the reality that became the basis for these films.

What’s your favorite movie based on a true story?

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