Top 10 Historically Accurate Crime Movies
#10: “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
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Helmed by Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street” delves into the life and times of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. The chaotic events might seem too crazy to be true, but they’re much closer to reality than you might expect. Most of Belfort’s financial schemes at Stratton Oakmont were based in fact. Even after changing names and making composite characters, the screenplay provides many details about the corrupt business and its infamous pump and dump scams. There’s also the excessive drug use and partying that stems from factual accounts. This includes crashing a car after getting high on quaaludes, in a scene that exemplifies Belfort’s worst impulses.
#9: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (2007)
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Famous for its length and slow pace, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” has developed something of a cult following. Director Andrew Dominik and cinematographer Roger Deakins create an immersive film that’s well-researched from period photographs and other materials. The writer of the book was also present on set, essentially giving the project his blessing and playing a small part in the movie. The titular event is depicted as it apparently happened, followed by Robert Ford’s attempts to profit from the killing. It might not be a typical piece of Hollywood entertainment, but it’s an engaging interpretation of the James gang’s rise and fall.
#8: “Serpico” (1973)
In this classic 1970s drama, NYPD detective Frank Serpico’s journey to expose corruption receives the proper treatment. His testimony to the Knapp Commission was considered stepping over the line for his coworkers. As shown in the film, the cop is on a drug bust when he’s neglected by his colleagues and shot by an assailant. The movie also showcases Serpico’s growing paranoia and uncertainty as he becomes singled out by his department. Pulling no punches, the gritty tale explores the protagonist’s real crusade against the crooked cops around him. This also includes Serpico’s surviving and speaking the truth about his experience.
#7: “Spotlight” (2015)
Winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, “Spotlight” is an acclaimed drama about the Boston Globe’s investigation into the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Director Tom McCarthy and his co-writer approached the story as journalists, diving into copious amounts of research and interviewing the real-life participants. The Globe reporters even had a chance to fact-check the script. Further analysis of the movie finds that a majority of the plot is true, with limited changes being made in order to condense the experience into a feature film. Many of the events, characters, and even sets were factually recreated. After a powerful ending, the credits also reveal the larger context of the crimes discovered by the Spotlight team.
#6: “The French Connection” (1971)
Top 10 Historically Accurate Movies
Director William Friedkin came from a history of documentary filmmaking, making him a perfect candidate to direct this grounded cop story. “The French Connection” might not get every detail of the investigation perfect, but it does capture the spirit of police work during the period. Friedkin followed investigators on drug busts in order to figure out how they really moved and spoke to suspects. This influenced several moments in the film that feel almost too real in their ability to explore controversial police practices. Members of the actual case were also even given roles in the cast, including the inspiration for Popeye Doyle playing Captain Simonson.
#5: “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (2019)
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“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” explores the case of serial killer Ted Bundy. The general facts of his crimes are given adequate attention, even if they aren’t all explored with excruciating detail. Many people commended Zac Efron for his portrayal of Bundy. While it might seem too charismatic, it does seem to accurately capture the real Bundy’s appeal. Other events surrounding his capture, trial, and crimes follow a clear timeline that doesn’t play around too much with history. It might not show much of his brutality up close and personal, but it does largely avoid exploiting the victims’ deaths for entertainment.
#4: “In Cold Blood” (1967)
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Based on the Truman Capote book of the same name, “In Cold Blood” takes a detailed look at an infamous 1959 crime. Director Richard Brooks achieved authenticity through the stark black and white cinematography. Creating a documentary feel, the filmmaker consulted real case information and photographs to achieve the right look for the movie. The production also filmed in Kansas, using the Clutter family home where the victims were murdered. Closely following the events, the movie is a chilling examination of the family’s killers. Both actors that play the murderers also provide authenticity in their performances, receiving praise from Capote himself.
#3: “All the President’s Men” (1976)
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While most people know the ending, “All the President’s Men” still plays like an exciting thriller. This comes about partly because it’s so true. Journalists such as the reporter Carl Bernstein were involved with the production along with having co-written the book that inspired the movie. Washington Post involvement didn’t stop there, as editor Ben Bradlee ended up trying to help filmmakers capture the authenticity of the story. This includes an accurate portrait of the newsroom and the subsequent investigation by Post reporters. Woodward’s contact with an unknown source known as “Deep Throat” might feel like a spy movie, but it’s inspired by meetings that actually occurred in order to verify information.
#2: “Zodiac” (2007)
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In perhaps the most underrated crime drama of its day, “Zodiac” is a painstaking account of the strange and intriguing events surrounding the Zodiac Killer. Filmmaker David Fincher and his collaborators did copious amounts of research, including interviews with the real people involved and studying case files. Costumes were created based on information from official documents, while actual locations were utilized in certain sequences. Crime scenes were recreated with expert precision using eyewitness testimony of the attacks. Author Robert Graysmith commended the director on his adaptation of the source material, which adhered closely to the facts of the case.
#1: “Goodfellas” (1990)
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Any Martin Scorsese film is going to be directed with a keen eye for detail. In the case of “Goodfellas,” the filmmaker outdoes himself in terms of authenticity. He perfectly adapts Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguy” into a gritty story of Henry Hill’s absorption into the mafia. Much of the narration is based on actual accounts from the former mobster, providing context for mostly real events and characters. Scorsese also grew up around Italian mobsters in his youth, using his own experiences to paint a rich and complicated canvas of Italian America in New York. If there’s any question as to the overall accuracy of the movie, Robert De Niro even asked Hill how his real-life counterpart would’ve used a ketchup bottle.
Is there an accurate crime film that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
