10 Craziest Stories In History That Deserve A Movie
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
WRITTEN BY: Garrett Alden
From epic battles with unlikely allies to haunting disappearances and bizarre revenge plots, history is filled with stranger-than-fiction tales! Join us as we explore the most unbelievable true stories that Hollywood has somehow overlooked. These incredible historical events have all the drama, twists, and characters worthy of the big screen! Our countdown includes The Battle of Castle Itter, Olga of Kiev's bloody revenge, Mansa Musa's economy-crashing pilgrimage, the mysterious vanishing village at Lake Anjikuni, and the bizarre naval battle between a ship and its own impersonator! Which historical event do you think most deserves the Hollywood treatment? Let us know in the comments!
10 Craziest Stories in History That Deserve a Movie
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the wildest historical events that would make great movies. To be clear, while some of these may be referenced on the silver screen or appeared in documentaries, none have received the full film treatment.
The Battle of Castle Itter
This WWII battle saw a small group of strange allies hold an Austrian castle turned POW camp against an approaching German panzer division. The defenders included troops from an American tank battalion, and French prisoners, whose number included 2 former French prime ministers, multiple French military commanders, and Charles de Gaulle's sister. Even more bizarre is that they were aided by German soldiers and an SS commander, who had defected. The group held off the Nazi attack until Jean Borotra, a tennis star, could return with reinforcements after vaulting the fortress wall. Oh, and the ex-SS guy died taking a bullet for one of the ex-French prime ministers. How is this not a movie yet?!
Olga of Kievs Revenge
Everyone loves a good revenge story, and this one has all the makings of a bloody, R-rated affair. Olgas husband Igor was murdered by the Drevlians, who then had the audacity to propose that she marry his killer, Prince Mal. To get back at them, Olga at first pretended to accept their offer. However, she actually had their messengers burned or buried alive. Olga then pretended to want to throw a wake for her late husband in the city where he died. However, she had her men massacre the drunken Drevlians at the party, before laying siege to the city, and burning it down using birds to spread the fire. Since she was later named a saint, maybe they could call it Saint of Vengeance?
Mansa Musas Pilgrimage
Often considered one of the wealthiest men to ever live, Mansa Musa ruled Mali in the 14th century. Between 1324 and 1325, Musa made a hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Musa gave generously on his way there - maybe too much. Although he reportedly built many mosques, Musa also gave away so much gold that he may have destabilized the economies of multiple countries. He also ran out of money, to the point where he had to borrow some of what he gave away on the return trip, even going into debt. Musas absurd journey would make a crazy historical road movie. Plus, we need more movies about Africa.
The Disappearing Village at Angikuni Lake
In 1930 in what is now the Nunavut Territory in Canada, fur trapper Joe Labelle discovered that an Inuit village near Lake Angikuni had apparently disappeared. The villagers were nowhere to be seen, with their food and belongings still laying where they left them, suggesting theyd left suddenly. A grave had also been unearthed and a team of sled dogs had starved to death. The incident is often connected with alien abduction theories or supernatural native legends. While many have questioned the veracity of the story, even if it is a fabrication, it would still make for a great sci-fi or horror movie.
The Cadaver Synod
Ecclesiastical gatherings and trials are all the rage these days, and yet one of historys most bizarre religious trials has yet to make it to the big screen. Pope Stephen VI is best remembered for initiating a tribunal against one of his predecessors, Pope Formosusafter Formosus was already dead. The late popes corpse was propped up on a throne, and a deacon was appointed to answer for him to refute the charges against him. Formosus was found guilty, had three of his fingers cut off, and he was buried again in a different graveonly to be dug up again and thrown in the river! Pope Stephen, meanwhile, was overthrown and killed in prison. Politics, courtroom drama, gravedigging - this has it all!
The Fake RMS Carmania
In 1914, Germany lacked warships, so they decided to arm one of their ocean liners with guns. The SMS Cap Trafalgar was retrofitted to resemble the RMS Carmania, a British luxury liner. Its mission was to use its disguised appearance to harass and sink British merchant vessels, who would be none the wiser until it was too late. It was a brilliant plan. However, after a fruitless first voyage, the Cap Trafalgar finally encountered a British ship. The only problem? It was the REAL RMS Carmania, which had also been given armaments! The Cap Trafalgar was promptly sunk after a battle against the ship it intended to imitate. The world deserves this comedic historical naval action movie!
Toronto Circus Riot
A fireman and a clown walking into a brothel sounds like a good setup for a joke, and wed argue, for a movie. In July 1855, a group of circus clowns and a group of volunteer firefighters got into a fight at a bordello in Toronto, Canada. The clowns won the day, but that wasnt the end. The firefighters came to the circus the next day, and burned some of the circuss wagons. More firefighters arrived, but instead of doing their jobs, they helped their comrades in their mayhem. The mayor had to call in a militia to stop the violence. Oh, and because the police failed to prosecute, most of the police force was fired. The real circus was Toronto all along
The Wolves of Paris
While the exact year is somewhat debated, several accounts agree that during the early 15th century, Paris was attacked by a marauding pack of man eating wolves during a harsh winter. The packs leader was nicknamed Courtaud, or Bobtail, and they killed several dozen people throughout that winter, leaving many in fear of leaving their homes. According to the stories, a group of Parisians banded together to ambush the wolves, driving them into Notre Dame and killing them all with rocks and weapons. This has all the makings of a great horror or thriller film, with the ravenous beasts and winter setting giving it plenty of scare potential.
The Man Who Rode the Thunder
Survival stories have proven to be successful movies in the past, and this is a contender for the most incredible. William Rankin was a Marine pilot. While flying a jet over a cumulonimbus cloud, his engine failed, and he was forced to eject. Rankins parachute opened early and he spent 40 minutes after ejection being pelted by hailstones and thrown about by the storm. He suffered frostbite, extreme decompression, and bruising - he even nearly drowned in mid-air! But he still made it safely to the ground! Rankin wrote a book about his experience, but a movie could take his incredible story to amazing heights with the right director and effects.
1904s Disastrous Olympic Marathon
The Olympic games are usually a spectacle, but the mens marathon at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis was a cavalcade of insane events. Firstly, the organizer James Edward Sullivan set up only 1 water station along the dusty, hot roads the competitors were runningon purpose. This led to only 14 out of 32 of them finishing. The initial first place winner was disqualified after the discovery hed hitchhiked part of the way. The actual winner had taken performance enhancing drugs, which were basically rat poison. The fourth to arrive took a nap after eating rotten fruitthat he stole. And thats just scratching the surface! Give this story to somebody like the Coen brothers, and let them bring this comedy of errors to life again!
Is there a bizarre historical story were nuts for forgetting? Tell us your favorites in the comments!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the wildest historical events that would make great movies. To be clear, while some of these may be referenced on the silver screen or appeared in documentaries, none have received the full film treatment.
The Battle of Castle Itter
This WWII battle saw a small group of strange allies hold an Austrian castle turned POW camp against an approaching German panzer division. The defenders included troops from an American tank battalion, and French prisoners, whose number included 2 former French prime ministers, multiple French military commanders, and Charles de Gaulle's sister. Even more bizarre is that they were aided by German soldiers and an SS commander, who had defected. The group held off the Nazi attack until Jean Borotra, a tennis star, could return with reinforcements after vaulting the fortress wall. Oh, and the ex-SS guy died taking a bullet for one of the ex-French prime ministers. How is this not a movie yet?!
Olga of Kievs Revenge
Everyone loves a good revenge story, and this one has all the makings of a bloody, R-rated affair. Olgas husband Igor was murdered by the Drevlians, who then had the audacity to propose that she marry his killer, Prince Mal. To get back at them, Olga at first pretended to accept their offer. However, she actually had their messengers burned or buried alive. Olga then pretended to want to throw a wake for her late husband in the city where he died. However, she had her men massacre the drunken Drevlians at the party, before laying siege to the city, and burning it down using birds to spread the fire. Since she was later named a saint, maybe they could call it Saint of Vengeance?
Mansa Musas Pilgrimage
Often considered one of the wealthiest men to ever live, Mansa Musa ruled Mali in the 14th century. Between 1324 and 1325, Musa made a hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Musa gave generously on his way there - maybe too much. Although he reportedly built many mosques, Musa also gave away so much gold that he may have destabilized the economies of multiple countries. He also ran out of money, to the point where he had to borrow some of what he gave away on the return trip, even going into debt. Musas absurd journey would make a crazy historical road movie. Plus, we need more movies about Africa.
The Disappearing Village at Angikuni Lake
In 1930 in what is now the Nunavut Territory in Canada, fur trapper Joe Labelle discovered that an Inuit village near Lake Angikuni had apparently disappeared. The villagers were nowhere to be seen, with their food and belongings still laying where they left them, suggesting theyd left suddenly. A grave had also been unearthed and a team of sled dogs had starved to death. The incident is often connected with alien abduction theories or supernatural native legends. While many have questioned the veracity of the story, even if it is a fabrication, it would still make for a great sci-fi or horror movie.
The Cadaver Synod
Ecclesiastical gatherings and trials are all the rage these days, and yet one of historys most bizarre religious trials has yet to make it to the big screen. Pope Stephen VI is best remembered for initiating a tribunal against one of his predecessors, Pope Formosusafter Formosus was already dead. The late popes corpse was propped up on a throne, and a deacon was appointed to answer for him to refute the charges against him. Formosus was found guilty, had three of his fingers cut off, and he was buried again in a different graveonly to be dug up again and thrown in the river! Pope Stephen, meanwhile, was overthrown and killed in prison. Politics, courtroom drama, gravedigging - this has it all!
The Fake RMS Carmania
In 1914, Germany lacked warships, so they decided to arm one of their ocean liners with guns. The SMS Cap Trafalgar was retrofitted to resemble the RMS Carmania, a British luxury liner. Its mission was to use its disguised appearance to harass and sink British merchant vessels, who would be none the wiser until it was too late. It was a brilliant plan. However, after a fruitless first voyage, the Cap Trafalgar finally encountered a British ship. The only problem? It was the REAL RMS Carmania, which had also been given armaments! The Cap Trafalgar was promptly sunk after a battle against the ship it intended to imitate. The world deserves this comedic historical naval action movie!
Toronto Circus Riot
A fireman and a clown walking into a brothel sounds like a good setup for a joke, and wed argue, for a movie. In July 1855, a group of circus clowns and a group of volunteer firefighters got into a fight at a bordello in Toronto, Canada. The clowns won the day, but that wasnt the end. The firefighters came to the circus the next day, and burned some of the circuss wagons. More firefighters arrived, but instead of doing their jobs, they helped their comrades in their mayhem. The mayor had to call in a militia to stop the violence. Oh, and because the police failed to prosecute, most of the police force was fired. The real circus was Toronto all along
The Wolves of Paris
While the exact year is somewhat debated, several accounts agree that during the early 15th century, Paris was attacked by a marauding pack of man eating wolves during a harsh winter. The packs leader was nicknamed Courtaud, or Bobtail, and they killed several dozen people throughout that winter, leaving many in fear of leaving their homes. According to the stories, a group of Parisians banded together to ambush the wolves, driving them into Notre Dame and killing them all with rocks and weapons. This has all the makings of a great horror or thriller film, with the ravenous beasts and winter setting giving it plenty of scare potential.
The Man Who Rode the Thunder
Survival stories have proven to be successful movies in the past, and this is a contender for the most incredible. William Rankin was a Marine pilot. While flying a jet over a cumulonimbus cloud, his engine failed, and he was forced to eject. Rankins parachute opened early and he spent 40 minutes after ejection being pelted by hailstones and thrown about by the storm. He suffered frostbite, extreme decompression, and bruising - he even nearly drowned in mid-air! But he still made it safely to the ground! Rankin wrote a book about his experience, but a movie could take his incredible story to amazing heights with the right director and effects.
1904s Disastrous Olympic Marathon
The Olympic games are usually a spectacle, but the mens marathon at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis was a cavalcade of insane events. Firstly, the organizer James Edward Sullivan set up only 1 water station along the dusty, hot roads the competitors were runningon purpose. This led to only 14 out of 32 of them finishing. The initial first place winner was disqualified after the discovery hed hitchhiked part of the way. The actual winner had taken performance enhancing drugs, which were basically rat poison. The fourth to arrive took a nap after eating rotten fruitthat he stole. And thats just scratching the surface! Give this story to somebody like the Coen brothers, and let them bring this comedy of errors to life again!
Is there a bizarre historical story were nuts for forgetting? Tell us your favorites in the comments!
