10 True Story Movies That Were NOTHING LIKE The True Story
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at true story films that were nothing like the actual true story. These are not necessarily ranked by being the least accurate, but rather the ones that ran wild with their creative license for the sake of drama.
“The Imitation Game” (2014)
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as famed mathematician Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game” tells the story of his life, in particular as a codebreaker in World War II. Despite being a huge critical and financial success, not everyone was pleased with the film. The Guardian even referred to it as slanderous. Events from Turing’s personal life, from his childhood till his death were vastly changed. His portrayal as an anti-social loner also is at odds with what we know about the real man. While persecution against his sexuality did lead to his tragic fate, the film adds a flashier backstory with Turing suspected of being a Soviet spy. That was of course pure fiction.
“The Blind Side” (2009)
Telling the inspiring true story of linebacker Michael Oher’s tumultuous upbringing, “The Blind Side” was released the same year he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The film chronicles him being taken in by his adoptive family. The Tuohys help him escape from his impoverished lifestyle, turning his grades and life around by stepping onto the football field. However, many elements of the film have been questioned as playing into unfortunate white savior tropes, with the white family coming to the rescue of a silent, docile black child. Oher himself voiced his dissatisfaction with the film’s portrayal of his intelligence, iterating that numerous elements, including his understanding of football, were dumbed down for the story.
“The Conjuring” (2013)
Heavily marketed as being based on a true story, the film follows a couple of demonologists and authors, the Warrens. Like its many sequels and spinoffs, “The Conjuring” depicts them as brave paranormal investigators. In it, Lorraine Warren possesses clairvoyant abilities that they use to save innocents from malevolent forces with support from her loving husband Ed. The real portrait of the Warrens is less rosy, as they are seen by many as being nothing more than frauds and opportunists, with Ed allegedly engaging in an extramarital affair. Many of the paranormal cases that propelled them to fame have been thoroughly debunked, with the Warrens seemingly making things up to tell a good story.
“Argo” (2012)
Telling the gripping true story of rescuing six diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis, “Argo” won near-universal acclaim, taking home three Oscars, including Best Picture. Throughout the film, the diplomats face capture and danger at every turn, culminating with a thrilling escape where they are almost caught boarding a plane to literally fly them to freedom. However, as thrilling as those elements made the film, most of them were hugely exaggerated or flat-out invented to provide drama. While the situation was dire, the imminent danger to the group was a product of dramatic license. Most notably, the heart-pounding finale where the plane is chased down the runway by armed gunmen never took place at all.
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
Based on his autobiography of the same name, “Catch Me If You Can” portrayed Frank Abagnale Jr. as a cunning con man who used his lies and tricks for massive financial gain. As portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, Abagnale uses his unique skill for deception to con his way into jobs as a doctor, lawyer, and pilot. He even worked for the FBI after they successfully caught him. As it turns out, however, the real Abagnale’s biggest con was getting people to believe any of this actually happened. Much of the book, and subsequently the film adaptation, were lies told to tell a good story. Guess we should have known.
“The Greatest Showman” (2017)
Highly fictionalized doesn't even begin to describe the way that this musical biopic depicts its subject, P.T. Barnum. Certain elements from the famous circus founder’s life are present in the film, but the Hugh Jackman character bears little resemblance to his historical counterpart. Far from the magnanimous charmer he was in the film, the real Barnum has been accused of being a cruel racist who abused animals and took advantage of people. The film’s main love story, involving characters played by Zac Efron and Zendaya, was entirely created for the film, as the characters never even existed. The real story likely would have made for a much less entertaining musical, or at the very least a much more depressing one.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018)
Musical biopics tend to follow the same formula, more or less. This film following Queen is no exception. That meant certain beats had to be hit at specific points in the film, shuffling around dates of key events and amping up the interpersonal drama between members of the band. While the finale, showing the band reuniting to play the Live Aid concert after learning of Freddie Mercury’s AIDS diagnosis, was a powerful climax, it was hardly accurate. The band weren’t last-minute replacements. Rather, they had always meant to play the benefit show. Mercury wouldn’t be diagnosed with AIDS until two years later, and wouldn’t tell his bandmates for a further two years.
“The Social Network” (2010)
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director David Fincher weren’t nearly as interested in giving an accurate depiction of Facebook’s founding as they were in telling a story about greed and male loneliness. While nearly every major person portrayed in the film has come out to decry the way they were represented, the film hits on a few more universal truths. Sorkin even admitted to having little interest in Facebook, but was drawn to the project as it was a way for him to tackle themes including “friendship, loyalty, jealousy, class and power.” Over the years, the film has only grown in renown and cultural importance.
“Marie Antoinette” (2006)
Occasionally, films are anachronistic, not for convenience's sake, or by accident, but intentionally to make a point. This is exactly what director Sofia Coppola and star Kirsten Dunst did with their depiction of the titular 18th-century monarch. In the film, Marie Antoinette seems less like a French aristocrat and more like a modern American teen. Coppola would later note how she had intentionally stylized the film and characters to make them more human and relatable. Those intentional anachronisms even carried over to other aspects of the film, including famously the modern pop song, “I Want Candy,” playing in a shot where a pair of Converse shoes were seen.
“Braveheart” (1995)
Most of what we know about the near-legendary warrior who fought for Scottish independence, Sir William Wallace, was ignored by “Braveheart” star/director Mel Gibson. The film’s interpretation of Wallace draws heavily from a less-than-accurate historical poem with plenty of 90s Hollywood action diluting the accuracy further for good measure. Of course, Wallace wasn’t the only inaccurate thing in the film, as other characters, military campaigns, and even fashion were completely off. As one historian put it, the war paint was a thousand years too late while the kilts were five hundred too early. None of that stopped the film from being a colossal box office success and taking home Best Picture, proving that maybe accuracy doesn't matter.
Which movie got the most wrong? Let us know in the comments below.
