Summary
- Netflix’s best movies based on true stories capture pivotal moments in history with compelling realism.
- The diverse range of true stories told on Netflix, from WWII dramas to inspirational biographies, captivate audiences.
- These films shed light on overlooked heroes, challenging situations, and impactful historical events with depth and authenticity.
The best movies based on true stories on Netflix inspire, excite, and impact viewers like no other movie. The film industry loves true stories; for that reason, many of the productions are based on the lives of people who experienced extraordinary situations. Likewise, many of these films manage to capture moments in human history that are important to highlight. Cinema transforms those true stories into more artistic and entertaining elements, choosing the details to be told in order to captivate the audience.
Netflix has some of the best documentaries anywhere, and while there are plenty of true stories to entertain subscribers, there are also many based-on-true-story movies with some of the top actors in the world sharing these stories. Often, real events exist that are so incredible they surpass any fictional story and seem almost too fantastical to be true. The best Netflix movies based on a true story give directors a chance to honor the truth in a way that works in a regular movie without going over the line when it comes to reality.
Related 20 Netflix Movies With Storylines That Highlight Mental Health
There are many mental health movies on Netflix, and the best of them highlight why emotional and mental well-being can be so difficult to maintain.
26 Mank (2020)
The Story Of The Unsung Hero Behind Citizen Kane
Mank RDramaBiography
Mank is David Fincher’s two-time Academy Award-winning film that was released on Netflix and select theaters in 2020. Starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Lily Collins, Mank tells the story of Herman J. Mankiewicz, the real-life alcoholic screenwriter responsible for penning the screenplay for the 1941 classic Citizen Kane.
Director David Fincher Release Date December 4, 2020 Cast Lily Collins , Arliss Howard , Charles Dance , Amanda Seyfried , Gary Oldman Runtime 131 minutes
Citizen Kane is often regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, and while it is only partially based on a true story, the tale behind the making of the movie is interesting enough to make for its own film. Mank sheds some light on one of the people associated with Citizen Kane who audiences might not be overly familiar with. Though Orson Welles often gets the credit for writing the classic movie, Herman J. Mankiewicz aka Mank (Gary Oldman) was the man Welles hired to write the project.
The stunning black and white movie brings Hollywood of the 1930s to life under the detailed eye of director David Fincher. The movie is a celebration of Mank’s wit as well as his demons while also exploring the turbulent time in Hollywood of the era. It is also an intriguing look behind the scenes of one of the most famous movies of all time with some information that might make audiences look at Citizen Kane a little differently.
25 Rustin (2023)
Colman Domingo Plays A Forgotten Civil Rights Hero
Rustin PG-13BiographyDrama Where to Watch
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Rustin is a biographical drama created for Netflix by director George C. Wolfe. Colman Domingo stars as Bayard Rustin, an activist who organized the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington but was forced out of the spotlight due to his sexual orientation. The film explores Rustin’s trials and tribulations as he fought for the rights of many while still battling against inequality and discrimination among people he considered peers and friends.
Director George C. Wolfe Release Date November 3, 2023 Cast Chris Rock , Glynn Turman , Aml Ameen , CCH Pounder , Michael Potts , Colman Domingo , Jeffrey Wright , Audra McDonald Runtime 106 Minutes
One of the great things about movies based on true stories is that they are able to give overlooked people in history their due. Such is the case with the biopic Rustin, which stars Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, an openly gay man in the 1960s who was an instrumental part of the Civil Rights Movement and a close ally to Martin Luther King Jr. only to find himself being pushed out of the inner circle due to homophobia and prejudice.
Following his death, Rustin has been receiving more notoriety for the work he accomplished and this movie is the latest example of that long-overdue recognition. It is a powerful look at the multiple battles Rustin was fighting on many fronts while ensuring the world was a better place through his tireless work. Domingo earned an Oscar nomination for his layered performance that is powerful, funny, and heartbreaking all at once.
24 Unfrosted (2024)
Jerry Seinfeld’s Absurd Comedy About The Creation Of Pop-Tarts
Unfrosted (2024) PG-13BiographyComedyHistory Where to Watch
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Unfrosted is a 2024 biographical comedy directed, written, and starring Jerry Seinfeld. The film takes place in 1963 Battle Creek, Michigan, where Kellogg’s and Post are fighting to create a new world-changing breakfast pastry.
Director Jerry Seinfeld Release Date May 3, 2024 Cast Jerry Seinfeld , Melissa McCarthy , Jim Gaffigan , Hugh Grant , amy schumer , Max Greenfield , Christian Slater , Bill Burr , Daniel Levy , James Marsden , Jack McBrayer , Thomas Lennon , Bobby Moynihan , Adrian Martinez , Sarah Cooper , Fred Armisen Runtime 93 Minutes Expand
When it comes to movies based on true stories, the question is always asked how much the movie resembles the truth of the story. Unfrosted is one of the rare films that seems to have little to no interest in staying historically accurate. The absurd comedy tells the story of the creation of the toasted breakfast item, the Pop-Tart by Kellogg’s. The movie serves as a directorial debut from Jerry Seinfeld, who also stars as the Kellogg’s employee who comes up with the novel idea.
Unfrosted is a silly and irreverent imagining of this small moment in history, but it features much higher stakes than what it was in reality. The movie draws parallels from everything from the Cold War to the space race. As unserious as the movie takes itself, it is loosely based on a true story with Seinfeld’s character modeled on William Post. There are also a variety of real-life figures to fill out the zany story, from John F. Kennedy to Andy Warhol to Chef Boyardee.
23 Hit Man (2024)
Glen Powell Plays A Fake Hitman
Hit Man RActionComedy Where to Watch
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From director Richard Linklater comes Hit Man, a 2023 action comedy film based on a Texas Monthly article of the same name. Undercover and trying to catch a group of criminals, a Houston police officer poses as a hitman until he falls for a woman on assignment. Finding himself diving deeper into the world of crime, the Houston officer finds it increasingly difficult to escape his new undercover persona.
Director Richard Linklater Release Date September 5, 2023 Cast Glen Powell , Adria Arjona , Austin Amelio , Retta , Molly Bernard Runtime 113 Minutes
There are some premises that are so wild that audiences can’t believe they are based on a true story. Netflix delivered one of the most entertaining movies of the year that also fit that category as an inventive caper that started out with a real-life story. Hit Man stars Glen Powell as a mild-mannered surveillance officer working with the police who finds he has a talent for undercover work and begins working as a fake hitman to catch suspects looking for a murderer for hire.
Powell and director Richard Linklater co-wrote the script, which is based on the true story of a college professor who did take on such a role for the police in the 1970s and 1980s. Hit Man takes that thrilling idea and uses it for a sexy and funny crime story that presents to lead character as a complex and flawed character. While it goes out of its way to insist in the postscript that the basis for the story is actually a nice guy, his unique story was enough to launch the movie.
22 Pain Hustlers (2023)
Loosely Based On The Insys Scandal
Pain Hustlers (2023) R
Pain Hustlers is a crime drama film that follows the story of Liza, a high school dropout who lands a job at a corrupt pharmaceutical company. As she rises through the ranks, she finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of corruption and deceit.
Director David Yates Release Date October 20, 2023 Cast Emily Blunt , Chris Evans , Catherine O’Hara , Jay Duplass , Andy Garcia Runtime 122 Minutes
One of the best recent movies based on a true story available on Netflix is Pain Hustlers, which arrived in 2023 as an original for the platform starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. The screenplay, written by Wells Tower, is based on the book of the same name by Evan Hughes, which itself is a (loose) adaptation of the Insys scandal in 2018.
While Pain Hustlers is a comedy, it’s still a shocking look at some of the worst and darkest aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, as the true story involved a Fentanyl spray being sold as a safe pain management medication. Fentanyl is, of course, incredibly dangerous. Andy Garcia’s character in Pain Hustlers, Jack Neel, is likely inspired by Dr. John Kapoor, who founded Insys Therapeutics.
The company was a prominent name in the pharmaceutical industry, but went into bankruptcy in 2019. While Pain Hustlers changes many elements of the true story, it is true that Insys bribed and coerced many medical professionals to promote their dangerous product with such tenacity and disregard for the law that Kapoor was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison.
Related 10 Best Movies Like Pain Hustlers To Watch After Netflix’s Drama
There are many films similar to Netflix’s latest dramatized true story of the rise and fall of Insys Therapeutics & their lasting effects on America.
21 Maestro (2023)
Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein Biographic
Maestro Where to Watch
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Maestro is a biographical drama about the famous composer Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein and also wrote and directed the film. The movie chronicles Bernstein’s life from 1946, when he met Felicia Montealegre, through his two engagements and three children. Maya Hawke, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Silverman, and Matt Bomer star alongside Cooper.
Director Bradley Cooper Release Date December 20, 2023 Cast Bradley Cooper , Carey Mulligan , Maya Hawke , Sarah Silverman , Matt Bomer Runtime 129 Minutes
Many of the best movies on Netflix based on true stories are also biographicals that focus on a specific individual and their life story, whether due to their acclaim or infamy. One of the most recent arrived in 2023 — Maestro, the black-and-white film documenting the life and cultural influence of classical composer Leonard Bernstein directed, written by, and starring Bradley Cooper. Cooper brings Bernstein to life in the movie, which showcases why the figure was so important to classical music in America and how he gained international acclaim.
However, a key focus of Maestro isn’t just Bernstein’s legacy, but also his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre (played by Carey Mulligan). The pair collaborated extensively across their careers, and her influence on her husband is unquestionable. An intriguing figure in her own right, Maestro perfectly captures the true story of how the lives and legacies of Bernstein and Montealegre intertwine, making for a truly gripping drama.
Related 15 Most Famous Musical Compositions By Maestro’s Leonard Bernstein
Larger-than-life American composer Leonard Bernstein has created many musicals, ballets, and operas, and some of them became more famous than others.
20 The Good Nurse (2022)
The Chilling Tale Of Serial Killer Charles Cullen
The Good Nurse R Where to Watch
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In The Good Nurse, Jessica Chastain stars as Amy Loughren, a caring nurse and single mother with a critical heart condition that threatens her life. Working in the intensive care unit during the night shifts, Amy is pushed to the breaking point until a new nurse named Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) starts working there. The equally compassionate Charlie builds rapport with her, and her burden is lifted- along with making a dear friend. As time passes, however, several patient deaths set off a police investigation that implicates Charlie as the culprit, with Amy now thrust in the middle of it all. Amy will have to dig deeper and determine the truth – and decide what to do if the truth is uglier than she had hoped. Based on the book by Charles Graeber and based on a true story, The Good Nurse is a true-crime story with thriller elements that will release stateside on October 26 2022.
Director Tobias Lindholm Release Date October 26, 2022 Cast Jessica Chastain , Eddie Redmayne , Nnamdi Asomugha , Kim Dickens , Noah Emmerich Runtime 121 minutes
Since the streaming platform is known for its many true-crime offerings, it’s unsurprising that many of the best Netflix movies based on a true story focus on serial killers. 2022’s The Good Nurse is one of the best of the bunch in this regard and tells the harrowing story of Charles Cullen, the convicted serial killer who used his position as a nurse to murder hundreds of patients during his 16-year career. Eddie Redmayne brings his dramatic prowess to the movie as Cullen, and his performance throughout is truly chilling.
A shocking look at just how easily administrative shortcomings in medical environments made it for Cullen to fulfill his twisted desires.
The movie is based on the book The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber, and both give a shocking look at just how easily administrative shortcomings in medical environments made it for Cullen to fulfill his twisted desires. Jessica Chastain stars alongside Redmayne in the cast of The Good Nurse as fellow nurse Amy Loughren, one of the first of Cullen’s colleagues to suspect him of malpractice and, eventually, proved essential when he was brought to justice.
Related 10 Best Quotes In The Good Nurse
Netflix’s new film The Good Nurse, starring, Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, boasts a fascinating script filled with meaningful dialogue.
19 Harriet (2019)
The Awe-Inspiring Story Of Harriet Tubman
Harriet PG-13 Where to Watch
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Harriet is a 2019 biographical film about the life of former slave and abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who personally helped more than 70 slaves escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad. The movie was directed by Kasi Lemmons, who also wrote the screenplay along with Gregory Allen Howard. Harriet stars Cynthia Erivo in the title role, with Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monáe in supporting roles.
Director Kasi Lemmons Release Date November 1, 2019 Cast Joe Alwyn , Tory Kittles , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Cynthia Erivo , Vanessa Bell Calloway , Antonio J. Bell , Deborah Ayorinde , Leslie Odom Jr. , Jennifer Nettles , Tim Guinee , Zackary Momoh , Janelle Monae , Omar Dorsey , Clarke Peters , Henry Hunter Hall Runtime 125 minutes Expand
The Slave Trade was a stain on the history of the United States. However, from these incredibly dark and dangerous times came some stories of true heroism, and one of the best movies on Netflix based on a true story focuses on one such case — that of Harriet Tubman, the former slave turned abolitionist who risked her life to rescue scores of slaves from plantations across the Confederate south. 2019’s Harriet brings Tubman’s incredible life story to screens with The Color Purple star Cynthia Erivo in the lead role as the titular character.
Erivo was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman, and Harriet was critically acclaimed. It has an invigorating pace, managing to feature far more action than most historical biographic movies. Just how easily her true story became a riveting movie shows how incredible the life she led was, and Harriet is sure to satisfy any Netflix subscribers who want to learn more about an undersung American hero while being thoroughly entertained at the same time.
Related Harriet Cast & Real-Life Character Comparison Guide
Harriet’s talented ensemble cast brings to life both real-life figures and composite characters for a dramatization of Harriet Tubman’s story.
18 Lost Girls (2020)
A Shocking Mystery About An Infamous Unidentified Serial Killer
Lost Girls (2020) R
Lost Girls is a drama film based on the true-crime book of the same name by Robert Kolker. The 2020 film follows Mari Gilbert, a determined mother, as she searches for her missing daughter Shannan, who disappeared in 2010. The investigation leads to the discovery of the bodies of several women who were murdered by the Long Island Serial Killer.
Director Liz Garbus Release Date January 28, 2020 Cast Amy Ryan , Thomasin McKenzie , Lola Kirke , Gabriel Byrne , Oona Laurence Runtime 95 Minutes
The Long Island serial killer is one of the most infamous uncaught serial killers in the US. They operated between 1996 and 2011, with their activity only discovered when the remains of 11 women and girls (the youngest of whom was a toddler) were discovered on Gilgo Beach. Director Liz Garbus’s film Lost Girls doesn’t focus on the killer themselves but on the true story of activist Mari Gilbert (played by Amy Ryan), the mother of one of the missing girls whose search for her child unearths key details about the unsolved murders.
Unlike many of the other true-crime movies on Netflix focusing on serial killers,
Lost Girls
spends its time focusing on the impact that these heinous crimes have on the families of the victims
Like many of the Netflix movies based on a true story, Lost Girls was adapted from a nonfiction book — Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. It’s an incredibly gripping drama, and unlike many of the other true-crime movies on Netflix focusing on serial killers, Lost Girls spends its time focusing on the impact that these heinous crimes have on the families of the victims, rather than glorifying the killer.
Related Netflix: 10 Best Quotes From Lost Girls, Ranked
Netflix’s Lost Girls is a recent addition to the streaming giant’s increasingly notable True Crime genre. Here are the 10 best quotes, ranked.
17 Nyad (2023)
A Sports Drama About Unparalleled Determination
Nyad 
2.0 PG-13
Based on the true story of athletic swimmer Diana Nyad, Nyad is a biographical sports drama by directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Decades after shifting careers to a prolific sports journalist, Diana partners up with her best friend to coach her to tackle the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida that she always wanted to tackle, now at the age of sixty.
Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi , Jimmy Chin Release Date September 1, 2023 Cast Annette Bening , Jodie Foster , Rhys Ifans Runtime 121 Minutes
2023’s Nyad is another Netflix movie based on a true story that brings one of the most interesting narratives in the history of sports and athletics to the screen. It tells the story of Diana Nyad, based on her own book Find a Way, and her repeated attempts to swim the Straits of Florida. The Straits would require an incredible 110 miles of uninterrupted swimming, taking Nyad from Cube to Florida. Nyad had attempted the journey decades prior and decided at age 60 that she wouldn’t be able to rest unless she tried once again, this time successfully.
Nyad accomplished her goal, successfully making the swim on her fifth attempt in 2013. The movie adaptation of her story on Netflix stars Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Annette Bening as Diana Nyad. She is joined in the Nyad cast by the likes of Jodie Foster as Nyad’s fellow athlete, Bonnie Stoll, as well as Rhys Ifans as John Bartlett, the navigator Nyad hires to assist her in her journey.
Related What Happened To Diana Nyad After She Completed Her 2013 Swim
The Netflix biographical film Nyad tells the true story of Diana Nyad, a long-distance swimmer, but what happened to her after her impressive swim?
16 Scoop (2024)
The Dramatization Of One Of The Most Shocking Interviews In Television History
Scoop 3.0 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Inspired by real events, Scoop is the inside account of the tenacious journalism that landed an earthshattering interview – Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight appearance. From the tension of producer Sam McAlister’s high stakes negotiations with Buckingham Palace, all the way to Emily Maitlis’ jaw dropping, forensic showdown with the Prince, Scoop takes us inside the story, with the women who would stop at nothing to get it. To get an interview this big, you have to be bold.
Release Date April 5, 2024 Cast Gillian Anderson , Rufus Sewell , Keeley Hawes , Romola Garai , Billie Piper Runtime 102 Minutes
Philip Martin’s 2024 drama Scoop was made exclusively for Netflix, and to say it was one of the streaming platforms’ more controversial releases is an understatement. Among the many individuals potentially implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein case was Prince Andrew of the UK’s Royal Family.
The brother of the UK’s King Charles III and second son of Queen Elizabeth II, Andrew was famously implicated in the scandal due to his friendship with Epstein and photographs of him with a young girl, Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that Andrew had engaged in underaged sexual activity with her, which was facilitated by Epstein.
Scoop is a dramatization of a shocking interview between Prince Andrew and BBC presenter Emily Matiss, one that backfired spectacularly for Prince Andrew and, in the eyes of many of the public, seemed to show his guilt rather than convince them of his innocence. The cast includes many prominent names, including Gillian Anderson as Emily Matiss, Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, and Billie Piper as TV producer Sam McAlister.
Related Scoop Cast & Real Life Character Guide
Scoop’s talented cast explores the lead-up to Prince Andrew’s notorious 2019 interview, with each taking on the role of a real-life public figure.
15 Society Of The Snow (2023)
A Shocking Yet True Survival Drama
Society of the Snow 15 Where to Watch
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2023 survival movie Society of the Snow tells a stunning story of adversity and human endurance. Directed by J. A. Bayona and based on Pablo Vierci’s 2009 book of the same name, it tells the true story of a plane crash in 1972, which stranded a Uruguayan rugby team high in the Andes mountains. Faced with the grave reality of their situation and on the verge of death, the youngsters turn to cannibalism to survive.
Director J.A. Bayona Release Date December 15, 2023 Cast Matías Recalt , Agustin Pardella , Felipe González Otaño , Luciano Chatton , Valentino Alonso , Francisco Romero , Agustín Berruti , Andy Pruss Runtime 144 Minutes
The 1972 plane crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes mountains led to a harrowing experience for the rugby team of Uruguay, who were on a flight to Chile for a match between the two countries. 45 passengers were on board, though only 33 survived the initial crash. However, for many of the survivors, the crash was only the beginning of their harrowing experience. Over 72 days, the remaining passengers were stranded in the Andes mountains, an experience that many didn’t survive, and those who did had to shockingly resort to cannibalism to stay alive.
It was incredibly well received by viewers, especially for its unflinching dedication to realism.
Society of the Snow is a dramatization of this shocking true story from Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona. It was incredibly well received by viewers, especially for its unflinching dedication to realism. Society of the Snow was nominated for multiple awards and also received the approval of director Frank Marshall. This is an important point since Marshall directed 1993’s Alive, which focused on the same events and is widely regarded as one of the most solid survival dramas put to screen.
Related What Happened To Every Real-Life Survivor After Society Of The Snow
All 16 survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash depicted in Society of the Snow went on to have fulfilling lives. Many wrote books and became speakers.
14 Jesus Revolution (2023)
A Preacher Reconnects With The Youth
Jesus Revolution PG-13 Where to Watch
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Jesus Revolution is a movie that takes place in the 1970s and follows Greg Laurie and a group of young people as they come to Southern California. Laurie meets Lonnie Frisbee, a hippie-street preacher, in this move, and together they open a church. The church becomes the center of a counterculture movement that is said to lead to the greatest spiritual awakening in American History. You can rent Jesus Revolution for just $3 for Prime Day.
Director Jon Erwin , Brent McCorkle Release Date February 24, 2023 Writers Jon Erwin , Jon Gunn , Greg Laurie , Ellen Vaughn Cast Kimberly Williams-Paisley , Kelsey Grammer , Jonathan Roumie , Julia Campbell , Ally Ioannides
Not every Netflix movie based on a true story is a tale of grizzly serial killers, uncompromising athletes, or harrowing tales of survival. Released in 2023, Jesus Revolution is a Christian drama movie that arrived in theaters to a minor success, with a $53 million worldwide box office on only a $15 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). The movie stars Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Smith, a pastor who, in 1968, realizes his church is dying because he struggles to connect with the younger generation.
When a young hippie preacher named Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie) shows up, he is able to revitalize the church with his message of love and acceptance. The movement earned the cover story of Time magazine in 1971. The movie received mixed reviews, with most of the positive reviews coming from fans of Christian films.
13 The Dirt (2019)
The True-Yet-Unbelievable Rise And Fall Of Motley Crue
The Dirt TV-MA Where to Watch
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The Dirt is a 2019 biographical drama release from director Jeff Tremaine that outlines the band Motley Crue and their rise to stardom in the 1980s. Although the film covers a lot of the hit releases from the band’s tenure, the real core of the movie speaks to the troubling situations faced by each member as they formed the iconic group.
Director Jeff Tremaine Release Date March 22, 2019 Cast Douglas Booth , Daniel Webber , Kathryn Morris , Iwan Rheon , Matthew Underwood , Machine Gun Kelly , Alyssa Marie Stilwell , Vince Mattis Runtime 108 minutes
The Dirt arrived as a Netflix original in 2019 and stands out among the best Netflix movies based on a true story due to its uncompromising dedication to depicting the rock n’ roll lifestyle of its focus — the band Motley Crue. Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the story of Motley Crue and focuses on some of their more lurid and debaucherous moments in their early career. These include receiving advice from Ozzy Osbourne (played by Tony Cavalero) who is shown snorting ants up his nose.
The cast included some big names, including Pete Davidson as a record executive and Machine Gun Kelly as Crue drummer Tommy Lee. The movie picked up mixed reviews, but in this case, the film was a cult favorite for fans of the band and the 80s metal scene in general. There are some emotional moments too, such as when lead vocalist Vince Neil (played by Daniel Webber) learns that his wife and daughter have left him.
12 Unbroken (2014)
A Tale Of An Unbreakable Spirit In One Of The Worst Locations In WW2
Unbroken PG-13 Where to Watch
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Based on the nonfiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken tells the World War II story of Louie Zamperini, an American officer who survived on a raft for 47 days before being captured and sent to a series of Japanese prisoner of war camps.
Director Angelina Jolie Release Date December 25, 2014 Cast Jack O’Connell , Domhnall Gleeson , Miyavi , Garrett Hedlund , Finn Wittrock Runtime 138 minutes
Unbroken is a war film released in 2014, and easily one of the best Netflix movies based on a true story that dives into the many shocking events of WW2. Angelina Jolie directed the project, based on the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Unbroken is the first of two movies to chronicle the wartime experiences of its central character, the second being 2018’s Unbroken: Path to Redemption.
Jack O’Connell (Eden Lake) stars as a former American Olympian named Capt. Louis “Louie” Zamperini.Zamperini survived on a raft for 47 days after his bomber crashed into the ocean before the Japanese captured him and sent him to a POW camp until the end of the Second World War. Unbroken was a box office success and picked up three Oscar nominations, all for technical achievements.
11 The Highwaymen (2019)
The True Story Of The Hunt For Bonnie And Clyde
The Highwaymen R Where to Watch
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Former Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault end their respective retirements to join forces to try and take down notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Stuck in development hell for years, this Netflix original stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the real life lawmen.
Director John Lee Hancock Release Date March 29, 2019 Cast W. Earl Brown , Emily Brobst , Kim Dickens , Jesse C. Boyd , Kathy Bates , Sheenan Cole , Woody Harrelson , John Carroll Lynch , Kaley Wheless , Billy Slaughter , Jane McNeill , Kevin Costner , Thomas Mann , David Furr Runtime 132 minutes
Few criminals in US history are as infamous as Bonnie and Clyde, and 2019’s The Highwaymen is among the best Netflix movies based on a true story for how well it captures the thrilling chase to hunt them down and bring them to justice. Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson took on the real-life roles of former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer and his former partner, Benjamin Maney Gault.
Unlike other stories about Bonnie and Clyde,
The Highwaymen
mostly ignored the infamous criminals and focused on the two lawmen as they followed the leads to find and take the two out.
This story saw Ma Ferguson (the first female governor of Texas) hire both men to track down the criminals, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, and kill the two thieves. Unlike other stories about Bonnie and Clyde, The Highwaymen mostly ignored the infamous criminals and focused on the two lawmen as they followed the leads to find and take the two out. The Highwaymen received mixed reviews but picked up a Satellite Award nomination for Best Miniseries in 2020.
Related The Highwaymen True Story: What Really Happened With Bonnie & Clyde
Netflix’s The Highwaymen stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the men who hunted down Bonnie and Clyde – but how close is it to the true story?
10 The Photographer Of Mauthausen (2018)
The Story Of A Spanish Photographer In A Concentration Camp
The Photographer Of Mauthausen (2018) R
The Photographer of Mauthausen is a 2018 Spanish drama film that tells the true story of Francisco Boix, a Spanish republican who becomes a photographer in the Mauthausen concentration camp during World War II.
Director Mar Targarona Release Date October 26, 2018 Cast Mario Casas , Richard van Weyden , Alain Hernández , Adrià Salazar , Eduard Buch Runtime 111 Minutes
The Holocaust was one of the darkest points in human history, and there have been many movies based on true stories that attempt to capture many different aspects of this prolonged period of human suffering, including 2018’s The Photographer of Mauthausen. A Spanish photographer imprisoned in the Mauthausen concentration camp managed to save numerous negatives of images that were used in the trials against the Nazis.
The film chronicles the life of the prisoners and the work of Francisco Boix, a photographer in the camp laboratory. This access gave him the confidence to conceal the evidence to ensure it couldn’t be destroyed and the perpetrators would one day be brought to justice. The photographs were quite conclusive and showed the abuses and crimes committed for years by the Nazis and revealed the faces of the officers responsible for various atrocities, as well as others who visited the camp. On the day of the liberation, Boix took photographs, leaving a great memory of the events.
9 First They Killed My Father (2017)
The Terrifying Experiences Of A Cambodian Child Soldier
First They Killed My Father TV-MA Director Angelina Jolie Release Date September 15, 2017 Cast Sveng Socheata , Phoeung Kompheak , Sareum Srey Moch , Tharoth Sam Runtime 136 Minutes
Angelina Jolie is known for being a humanitarian as well as an actress. She combined both her passions to direct the 2017 film First They Killed My Father, which documents many of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge during the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Civil War that followed. The biographical historical thriller is based on the real-life events of Loung Ung’s memoir.
First They Killed My Father
is an incredibly difficult watch, though it’s this powerful ability to evoke emotion that makes it among the best Netflix movies based on a true story.
First They Killed My Father is an incredibly difficult watch, though it’s this powerful ability to evoke emotion that makes it among the best Netflix movies based on a true story. The film will haunt and shatter many viewers’ hearts over the reality experienced by people in third-world countries. Ung (Sreymoch Sareum) was five years old in 1975 and was forced to be trained as a child soldier in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, her siblings are sent away to a labor camp.
8 The King (2019)
The Life And Times Of King Henry V
The King R Where to Watch
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After Hal (Timothée Chalamet) is named King Henry V when his father dies, he is thrust into a world with strained politics and a deadly war that was escalated by his father’s tyrannical methods. The Netflix film premiered in 2019 and offered a stacked cast, including Sean Harris, Ivan Kaye, Ben Mendelsohn, and Joel Edgerton.
Director David Michôd Release Date November 1, 2019 Cast Nick Wittman , Ivan Kaye , Ben Mendelsohn , Tom Glynn-Carney , Andrew Havill , Lily-Rose Depp , Joel Edgerton , Timothée Chalamet , Dean-Charles Chapman , Jack Bandeira , Thomasin McKenzie , Steven Elder , Sean Harris , Robert Pattinson , Edward Ashley Runtime 140 minutes Expand
Several of the best movies on Netflix based on a true story delve deep into the annals of history, and such is the case for 2019’s The King. The historical drama follows the life of King Henry V, using the works of William Shakespeare as a reference. Despite the desire for peace, the king must make demonstrations of force to defeat his enemies and unite the country.
The King was one of the most ambitious releases on the Netflix platform in 2019 and stars Timothée Chalamet, Robert Pattinson, and Joel Edgerton. The life of the monarch is presented through moral reflection and intrigue in a game of war and power. The pace is slow with a seriousness that weighs up the decisions made, framed with impeccable cinematography with an aesthetic that captures viewers who are fans of epic films.
7 The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (2019)
A Boy Figures Out An Ingenious Way To Save His Village From Starvation
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A boy in Malawi helps his village by building a wind turbine after reading about them in a library book. This film is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.
Director Chiwetel Ejiofor Release Date March 1, 2019 Cast Felix Lemburo , Rophium Banda , Lily Banda , Raymond Ofula , Maxwell Simba , Hestingzi Phiri , Fiskan Makawa , Samson Kambalu , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Fredrick Lukhere , Lemogang Tsipa , Robert Agengo , Philbert Falakeza , Aïssa Maïga , Noma Dumezweni Runtime 113 minutes Expand
The 2019 biographical drama The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is an inspiring film about a child during a food crisis experienced by his neighbors and family in Malawi. After having to leave school due to a lack of resources, William Kamkwamba built a windmill, inspired by a science book he read in the library. Using recycled materials, he managed to make a turbine that pumps water from a local well.
Thanks to his ingenuity, Kamkwamba saved his community from starvation, as they irrigated the crops on which they depended. The story of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind isn’t just about Kamkwamba saving his village, however, as it also serves as a critique of the corrupt government, which tried to hide the crisis. It is also an opportunity for inspiration, to those who need encouragement, to use their ingenuity for betterment.