15 Best Netflix Movies Based On True Stories (According to IMDb)

Many good stories come from real events and inspire, excite, and impact people in a positive way. The film industry loves true stories; for that reason, many of the productions are based on the lives of some people who experienced particular circumstances. Likewise, 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. Also, real events exist that are so impressive that they surpass the fiction, and the directors must dose the stories to make them more real to the eyes of the spectators. Here is a list that you can stream on Netflix right now.

Updated on July 30th, 2020 by Gabriela Silva: Netflix always has an array of the most talked-about movies on tap. Some of these stories come from real-life experiences, current world situations, or true events.

The drama always carries a bit more “oomph” when it’s drawn from the real world rather than fiction, so it’s no wonder why people would be particularly drawn to and impacted by these films. As such, we’ve revisited this list with even more flicks based on true stories.

15 The Photographer Of Mauthausen (6.7)

A Spanish photographer imprisoned in the Mauthausen concentration camp managed to save a large number of negatives of images that were used to present them 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 at the right time.

The photographs were quite conclusive. They showed the abuses and crimes committed for years by the Nazis and revealed the faces of the officers responsible for the camp, as well as others who visited the camp. On the day of the liberation, Boix also took photographs, leaving a great memory of the events.

14 My Week with Marilyn (7.0)

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most emblematic film personalities that has ever existed. Many productions are based around her; one of the best is starring Michelle Williams, based on the books written by Colin Clark. The 2011 film production managed to use the same set as the 1956 film The King and the Chorus Girl, starring Monroe.

Michelle Williams became completely Marilyn, through looks, gestures and voice, which reflect the personality of the famous blonde known to have layers and layers between which she used to hide. Although it is not known if all the facts narrated by Colin Clark in his books are true, many of the details reflected in the film are real.

13 First They Killed My Father (7.2)

Angelina Jolie is known for being a humanitarian as well as an actress. She combined both her passions to direct the film First They Killed My Father.  The biographical historical thriller is based on the real-life events of Loung Ung’s memoir.

The film will haunt and shatter many viewers’ hearts over the reality experienced by people in third-world countries. Ung (Sreymoch Sareum) is five-years-old in 1975. She is forced to be trained as a child soldier in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, her siblings are sent away to a labor camp.

12 The King (7.3)

The historical drama relates the life of King Henry V, using the works of William Shakespeare as a reference. The plot emphasizes that, despite the desire for peace, the king must make demonstrations of force, to defeat his enemies and unite the country. The film is one of the most ambitious releases of 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 of the plot is slow and with a seriousness that weighs up the decisions that are made, framed with impeccable cinematography with an aesthetic that captures viewers who are fans of epic films.

11 Dolemite Is My Name (7.3)

Comedy and kung-Fu come together to tell the hilarious biopic of Rudy Ray Moore, who is known for his character Dolemite in stand-up comedy and in the movies. The famously named “Godfather of Rap” is played by Eddie Murphy, who achieved a triumphant transformation with this role.

Rudy Ray Moore is a person who does not seem to exist in real life. With exaggerated confidence, he becomes Dolemite and does everything possible to achieve success, on stage and in the cinema. Despite not having the resources or the knowledge, he always looks for ways to bring his content to the world and make the audience laugh.

10 Frida (7.4)

Frida Kahlo’s paintings have been seen on various walls all over the world. The Mexican painter became famous and so did her image. In 2002, a biographical drama film was crated with Salma Hayek as Frida.

The film starts with the accident that changed Frida’s life and shows how she found a way to heal through painting. Going through the detailed story of the surrealist artist, audiences see her battle unfaithful relationships, love, sexuality, and the turmoils of life. It also depicts her stance on political expression through her art and refusal to change who she is.

9 The Two Popes (7.6)

People around the world were in a frenzy when Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his post, a true first in papal history. Prior to his leave, many already knew about the story of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The film The Two Popes takes people on a deep dive into the relationship between the former Pope and the Cardinal that not many knew about.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) is a fan-favorite among the cardinals for his realistic approach to religion and reform in the Vatican. Years later, Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) is in disarray after the Vatican leak scandal. Cardinal Bergoglio no longer wishes to be cardinal, but is asked to reconsider as Pope Benedict persuades him to take the papacy despite different religious views. The film examines the grey areas of the Catholic church.

8 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (7.6)

The biographical drama is an inspiring film about a child who faced a severe social situation and food crisis experienced by his neighbors and family in Malawi. After having to leave school due to 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 the turbine that would pump water from a local well. With this idea, the boy saved his community from starvation, as they could irrigate the crops on which they depended. The story 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.

7 The Social Network (7.7)

Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, is practically a household name of the modern era. Much Like Steve Jobs, The Social Network took audiences into the mind of Zuckerberg as well as the resulting lawsuits. The film was a global hit, having received eight Oscar nominations.

A 19-year-old student drops out of Harvard unaware of where his life is really headed, but this event lays the foundation for the start of a revolutionary website. Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) started on a Harvard social network site for dating that then transformed into Facebook. But those who worked with him claimed he stole their ideas and filed lawsuits. It makes for a dramatic and intriguing peek into the origin of a website that has become a significant part of many people’s day-to-day lives.

6 Zodiac (7.7)

True crimes about serial killers have made for good films that have captured audiences’ attention. The U.S. is home to some of the most famous and profound serial killers in history. Some are caught and others managed to get away. The Zodiac Killer was one of them.

The film, Zodiac is based on the real-life case files of the Zodiac Killer in the late 1960s to 1970’s. It’s also based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Robert Graysmith. Robert GRaysmith is played by Jake Gyllenhaal. The film follows the rise of the serial killer in San Francisco and the police’s inability to discover his identity. It also delves into Graysmith’s growing fascination with the case and his research for his novel.

5 The Theory of Everything (7.7)

Based on the memoirs of Jane Hawking (Stephen Hawking’s ex-wife), the film tells the life of this couple facing the diagnosis that the theoretical physicist confronted from a very early age. A story of love and determination, and of everything these forces achieve when situations are not in their favor.

Jane’s memoirs cover two decades against the disease and bring the audience closer to the life of one of the most brilliant minds of recent times. Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne assume complicated roles, but they gain international recognition for their impeccable, emotional, hopeful, and fascinating work.

4 Dallas Buyers Club (8.0)

The moving drama is based on the life of Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey), a rodeo enthusiast who is diagnosed with HIV in 1985. Despite the prognosis of 30 days to live, Woodroof looks for options to deal with the disease and eventually finds a treatment in Mexico that he begins to sell to patients in the United States.

To write the script for the film, Craig Borten met with Woodroof in 1992, shortly before his death, and recorded some 20 hours of their conversations, but it took 20 years for the story to be shown in theaters. Because the excellent script was portrayed in a very human way, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto get involved in the film. Both had to make incredible physical transformations by losing a lot of weight.

3 King’s Speech (8.0)

The story about the life of George VI, shows an honest description of friendship and overcoming personal demons. The film is starred by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in masterful performances that earned them well-deserved recognition.

King’s Speech focuses on the stuttering of George VI, and on the anxiety and insecurity of people facing communication disorders, especially when they are public figures who must speak to large audiences. During the plot, it is observed how the monarch managed to overcome the problem through the help of a therapist who becomes his friend and helps him at every step.

2 The Pursuit Of Happyness (8.0)

Chris Gardner’s story is shown in this emotional film as an example of self-improvement. Will Smith plays Gardner, who loses all his savings after an unfortunate investment, drives him to deal with a homeless situation with his son.

It is one of the most inspiring films you can find with a deep and well-told story involving Chris going from living on the streets and eating in charity food centers to directing a multi-million-dollar company.  All the sacrifices he made on behalf of his son are ultimately worth it, and for that reason, he is known today for his motivational talks and for his help to the underprivileged.

1 The Pianist (8.5)

The Pianist is a touching film that highlights the tenacity of a musician during the Second World War. It is based on the memoirs of Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who, as a result of the reality of the war, paused a bright future in music.

The Pianist is one of the cruelest and hardest portraits of the time, but it also projects a great quantity of light and hope. Szpilman continued to create music amidst the sound of bombs and planes to lift the spirits of his peers. Reality made him continue adapting on different occasions until he arrived at a concentration camp, where survival, resistance, and escape became his daily life.

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