Inspired by true events movies and TV shows – page 2
Best films
New films
| Evolution (2021) | 6.3 | |
| The Possessed (2021) | 4.5 | |
| Rashash (2021) | 7.9 | |
| James the Second (2025) | 5.0 | |
| Nitram (2021) | 7.1 |
List of inspired by true events movies
Genre: Drama
Country: China
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
In 2003, Han Dong, a teenager who dropped out of high school, arrives at Beijing with a dream of becoming a journalist.
Style:
inspirational, captivating, dramatic, suspenseful, exciting ...
Plot:
newspaper, journalism, journalist, news report, investigative journalism, ethical dilemma, integrity, job, trainee, newspaper reporter, pandemic, compromise ...
Place:
beijing china, china
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Directed and created by Shane Ryan, the movie was shot shortly after the events which inspired it (15 year old Alyssa Bustamante was convicted of killing her 9 year old neighbor, Elizabeth Olten). Compared to the likes of David Lynch, Larry Clark, ...
Style:
controversial, disturbing, dark, captivating, suspenseful ...
Plot:
murder, true crime, investigation, murder mystery, juvenile delinquency, child murder, teenage life, crime investigation, murderer, murder investigation, disappearance, mysterious disappearance ...
Is relevant?
26K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
Based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who, over many years, claimed victim to over 50 people. His victims were mostly under the age of 17. In what was then a communists state, the police investigations were hampered by bureaucracy, ...
Style:
detective, tense, suspenseful, factual, psychological ...
Plot:
serial killer, corpse, communism, investigation, forensics, murder, police investigation, sexual sadism, train, bureaucracy, true crime, politics ...
Time:
year 1990, 90s, 20th century, year 1983, year 1984 ...
Place:
russia, soviet union, ussr, california
Is relevant?
354K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
An FBI undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one.
Style:
neo noir, clever, suspense, serious, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
mafia, undercover, organized crime, mobster, mentor, fbi, working undercover, italian mafia, fbi agent, undercover agent, law enforcement, friends ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 1997, 90s, year 1978
Place:
new york, new jersey, miami, florida, usa ...
Is relevant?
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171K
Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA, UK, Czech Republic
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Frederick Abberline is an opium-huffing inspector from Scotland Yard who falls for one of Jack the Ripper's prostitute targets in this Hughes brothers adaption of a graphic novel that posits the Ripper's true identity.
Style:
gothic, atmospheric, suspense, scary, suspenseful ...
Plot:
serial killer, jack the ripper, freemason, conspiracy, graphic violence, a vision, police investigation, murder of a prostitute, violent, prostitution, who done it, life is a bitch ...
Time:
victorian era, 19th century, 1880s, year 2001, 1800s ...
Place:
england, london, britain, ireland, europe ...
Is relevant?
110K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.
Style:
factual, costume drama, period piece, historical drama, visually stunning ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
queen, british history, queen elizabeth i, tudors, royalty, historical character, politics, head of state, british royal family, royal court, monarchy, throne ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, victorian era ...
Place:
england, london, britain, scotland, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
Set in the changing world of the late 1960s, Susanna Kaysen's prescribed "short rest" from a psychiatrist she had met only once becomes a strange, unknown journey into Alice's Wonderland, where she struggles with the thin line ...
Style:
psychological, crying, gothic, serious, heartbreaking ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, teens, teen drama, adult
Plot:
mental illness, suicide, coming of age, psychiatric ward, suicide attempt, mental institution, teenage girl, psychiatrist, borderline personality disorder, insanity, female protagonist, mentally unstable ...
Time:
20th century, year 1999, 90s, year 1967, 60s
Place:
usa
Is relevant?
311K
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring the simple life of a farmer. But when his son Gabriel enlists in the army to defend their new nation, ...
Style:
period piece, dramatic, sincere, rough, inspirational ...
Audience:
family friendly, kids, manly, boys' night, girls' night ...
Plot:
american revolution, war, military, revolution, battles, vengeance, lone hero, violence, freedom, rebellion, revenge, wartime ...
Time:
18th century, year 2000, y2k, georgian era, 1780s ...
Place:
boston, southern usa, america, virginia, britain ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
A twice-divorced mother of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins -- with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, feel good, uplifting, factual ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
environmental, justice, court, lawyer, contamination, small town, single mother, investigation, corporate crime, business, lawsuit, legal ...
Time:
year 1993, 90s, y2k, year 2000, 2000s ...
Place:
california, los angeles, usa, new jersey
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Country: Ireland, UK, France, Germany, USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
Enemy at the Gates is a war film from Jean-Jacques Annaud from 2001 that takes place during the battle of Stalingard in World War II between the Russians and the Germans.
Style:
sexy, epic, realistic, serious, breathtaking ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
war, world war two, sniper, military, stalingrad, world war, courage, friendship, nazi, wartime, hide and seek, winter ...
Time:
20th century, year 2001, 1940s, year 1940, year 1944 ...
Place:
germany, soviet union, iraq, persia, russia ...
Is relevant?
110K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 157 min.
Story:
In 1964, a brash, new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes onto the scene: Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self-confidence and his ...
Style:
sincere, thought provoking, uplifting, touching, motivational ...
Plot:
boxing, muslim, african american, racism, civil rights, biopic, friendship, black history, roman empire, boxer, politics, islam ...
Time:
70s, year 2001, 60s, year 1964, year 1974 ...
Place:
africa, nigeria, usa, louisville kentucky
Is relevant?
1.0M
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, War
Country: France, Poland, Germany, UK, USA
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
The true story of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he ...
Style:
emotional, sad, harsh, reflective, bleak ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, survival, genocide, nazi, classical music, wartime, war, nazism, anti semitism, hunger, nazi occupation ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, year 1939, 1930s, year 2002 ...
Place:
poland, germany, europe, eastern europe, central europe ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany, Canada
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said.
Style:
dark comedy, semi serious, suspenseful, stylized, non-linear ...
Plot:
secret agent, cia, hitman, double agent, double life, undercover, marriage proposal, kgb, spy, intrigue, profanity, love and romance ...
Time:
year 2002, 1940s, 2000s, y2k, 70s ...
Place:
california, los angeles, mexico, new york, latin america ...
Is relevant?
164K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 152 min.
Story:
Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern ...
Style:
touching, sincere, emotional, inspirational, dramatic ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
jazz, addiction, musician, musician's life, music, african american, blindness, biopic, blind character, heroin, blind boy, disability ...
Time:
year 2004, 20th century, 1930s, 50s, 2000s ...
Place:
georgia, new york, california, indianapolis indiana, usa ...
Is relevant?
531K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
Viktor Navorski is a man without a country; his plane took off just as a coup d'etat exploded in his homeland, leaving it in shambles, and now he's stranded at Kennedy Airport, where he's holding a passport that nobody recognizes. ...
Style:
touching, sincere, sentimental, sweet, emotional ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, date night, family friendly
Plot:
airport, stranded, loneliness, culture clash, nothing goes right, happy ending, destiny, fish out of water, aviation, passenger, life philosophy, fictional country ...
Time:
year 2004, 1900s, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
new york, usa, america, canada, romania ...
Is relevant?
283K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, India
Duration: 150 min.
Story:
A revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish ...
Style:
political, period piece, thought provoking, costume drama, factual ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
president, politics, civil war, american civil war, american history, idealism, historical character, slavery, politician, racism, head of state, abraham lincoln ...
Time:
19th century, 1860s, ancient times, 1800s, victorian era ...
Place:
washington d.c., usa, america, california
Is relevant?
665K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 157 min.
Story:
The true story of the investigation of the "Zodiac Killer", a serial killer who terrified the San Francisco Bay Area, taunting police with his ciphers and letters. The case becomes an obsession for four men as their lives and careers are ...
Style:
atmospheric, tense, suspense, neo noir, stylized ...
Audience:
chick flick, adult
Plot:
serial killer, investigation, murder, journalism, maniac, murder mystery, mind game, journalist, true crime, paranoia, killer, uncover truth ...
Time:
70s, year 2007, year 1971, year 1969, year 1979 ...
Place:
san francisco, california, bay area, usa, oakland california ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Style:
inspirational, emotional, sentimental, uplifting, motivational ...
Audience:
family outing, chick flick, teens, family friendly
Plot:
homeless, life, human spirit, rags to riches, life philosophy, success, single father, poverty, rise to the top, family drama, life is a bitch, biopic ...
Time:
80s, year 2006, 2010s, 20th century
Place:
usa, california, bay area, san francisco, america
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
692K
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 148 min.
Story:
The true story of top student and athlete, Christopher McCandless, who after graduating from Emory University in 1992, abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
Style:
road movie, philosophical, melancholic, inspirational, reflective ...
Audience:
teens, date night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
wilderness, self discovery, survival, road trip, freedom, isolation, solitude, journey, life philosophy, lifestyle change, beautiful scenery, nature ...
Time:
2000s, year 2007, 20th century, year 1990, year 1992 ...
Place:
alaska, los angeles, north america, northern california, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
Oversized African-American, Michael Oher, the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL.
Style:
touching, inspirational, sentimental, emotional, motivational ...
Audience:
chick flick, family outing, teens, kids, family friendly ...
Plot:
american football, adoption, life, african american, football, christian, interracial relations, human spirit, family drama, rising to stardom, interracial adoption, strong female character ...
Time:
year 2009, 20th century, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
usa, boston, tennessee, america, mississippi ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Style:
inspirational, intense, stylized, talky, sincere ...
Plot:
music, musician's life, blues, rock and roll, jazz, biopic, african american, singer, pop music, success, chess, music business ...
Time:
20th century, 60s, 1950s, year 2008, 1940s ...
Place:
chicago, usa, indiana, london, mississippi ...
Is relevant?
154K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
The greatest Olympic Wrestling Champion brother team joins Team Foxcatcher led by multimillionaire sponsor John E. du Pont as they train for the 1988 games in Seoul - a union that leads to unlikely circumstances.
Style:
tense, sexy, psychological, disturbing, stylized ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
mental illness, murder, homoeroticism, wrestling, olympics, eccentricity, domination, biopic, character study, contests and competitions, athlete and trainer, destructive relationship ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 2014, 2010s, year 1987 ...
Place:
usa, pennsylvania, seoul, phoenix arizona, california
Is relevant?
106K
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA, Hungary, Italy
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican. While he’s in Rome, Michael meets an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who introduces him to the darker side of his faith, ...
Style:
scary, atmospheric, satanic, disturbing, demonic ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
supernatural, exorcism, supernatural horror, church, clergy, curses spells and rituals, demonic possession, supernatural ability, teachers and students, good versus evil, vatican, macabre ...
Time:
year 2011, year 2000, 21st century
Place:
italy, europe, xian, rome italy, latin america
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Action, Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, UK, Malta
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
Style:
tense, suspense, realistic, captivating, factual ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
hostage, ship, survival, terrorism, rescue, kidnapping, escapades, ship captain, ocean, hostage situation, piracy, pirate ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 2000s, year 2009, 21st century
Place:
somalia, africa, middle east, america, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In ...
Style:
heartbreaking, harsh, atmospheric, inspirational, motivational ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, african american, black history, torture, slave trade, american history, freedom, racial discrimination, rape ...
Time:
19th century, 1850s, year 2013, victorian era, 2010s ...
Place:
louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, southern usa ...
Is relevant?
186K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter.
Style:
cerebral, realistic, factual, talky, melancholic ...
Audience:
teens, date night
Plot:
entrepreneur, business, entrepreneurship, marketing, computer, biopic, prodigy, internet, father daughter relationship, computers and web, technology, inventions and discoveries ...
Time:
20th century, year 2015, 2010s, 90s, year 1998 ...
Place:
san francisco, north america, usa, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller, War
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley ...
Style:
inspirational, clever, intellectual, serious, captivating ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, family friendly, adult
Plot:
world war two, mathematics, genius, inventor, inventions and discoveries, code, prodigy, code breaking, invention, mathematician, gay interest, computer ...
Time:
1940s, year 2014, 20th century, 1950s, year 1939 ...
Place:
england, london, britain, idaho, los angeles ...
Is relevant?
246K
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Iceland, USA, Italy
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding a treacherous attempt to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain, "Everest" documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one ...
Style:
realistic, scenic, dramatic, breathtaking, suspenseful ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
survival, mountain climbing, mountain, mountaineer, natural disaster, disaster, snow, stranded, forces of nature, frostbite, tragedy, wilderness ...
Time:
year 1996, year 2015, 2010s, 90s, 20th century
Place:
mount everest, himalaya, nepal, asia, texas
Is relevant?
104K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: UK, Australia, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought ...
Style:
inspirational, emotional, captivating, compassionate, serious ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
american football, doctor, professional sports, autopsy, football, sports injury, research, nfl, brain damage, uncover truth, investigation, biopic ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
pittsburgh, washington d.c., usa, pennsylvania, california ...
Is relevant?
44K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Canada, Germany, France, UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf ...
Style:
factual, political, feel good, exciting, captivating ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
racism, track and field, olympics, african american, nazi, racial discrimination, athlete, racial segregation, nazi germany, politics, biopic, world war two ...
Time:
year 1936, 1930s, year 1933, 20th century
Place:
berlin germany, germany, ohio, usa, cleveland ohio
Is relevant?
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