10 Biopics That Left The Really Horrific Part Out

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the biographical films that conveniently left out the ugly parts. Which inaccurate biopic infuriated you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

#10: “My Left Foot” (1989)

This film is a deeply moving portrayal of Christy Brown, an Irish artist who overcame cerebral palsy to find success. However, the film omits the tragic aspects of Brown's later life, marked by neglect and abuse. After his rise to fame, Brown married Mary Carr. According to some reports, Carr subjected Brown to severe physical and emotional abuse. Friends and family members noticed his declining health, but their concerns were often dismissed. The neglect worsened, with Brown becoming increasingly isolated and dependent on alcohol. This dark chapter ended tragically with his premature death at 49. The movie's focus on his triumphs glosses over the heartbreak of his final years, offering an incomplete picture of his life.

#9: “Finding Neverland” (2004)

This charming dramedy tells the story of the creation of Peter Pan. It captures the relationship between creator J.M. Barrie and the Davies family – the inspiration for Barrie's characters. The film does have a sad ending – the boys' mother dies at a young age. We don't learn, however, the boys' real ending. After their mother's death, Barrie became their guardian. Several of them would go on to meet dire fates. George, the eldest, was killed in World War I. Michael drowned at the age of 20. Peter struggled with the burden of his association with the fictional boy who never grew up. After his brother John died from lung disease at age 64, Peter took his own life when he was 63.

#8: "A Beautiful Mind” (2001)

This movie is the extraordinary story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician. Despite a lifelong battle with schizophrenia, Nash's brilliance ultimately earned him a Nobel Prize. While depicting his mental illness, the film leaves out significantly darker aspects of Nash's life. His condition was far more severe and enduring than the movie shows. In reality, he suffered prolonged periods of delusion. He also had a complicated personal life, filled with estranged relationships. He had a son out of wedlock whom he abandoned, and he has another son who also suffers from schizophrenia. Fourteen years after the film's release, Nash and his wife Alicia were tragically killed in a fatal car crash on their way home from an awards ceremony.

#7: “The Blind Side” (2009)

One of the most egregiously whitewashed biopics out there is 2009's "The Blind Side." The heartwarming family film shows Michael Oher's rise from poverty to NFL stardom, thanks to the support of the Tuohy family. Since its release, Oher has criticized the film for its inaccuracies and oversimplifications. The movie downplays his own determination and gifts, instead showing him as a passive and shy young man in need of a savior. Oher also felt like the film grossly exaggerated the Tuohys' role in his life. The film's version of reality strained his real-life relationships. In 2023, Oher sued the Tuohys, demanding that they end their exploitative conservatorship over him. After twenty years, he wants to own his own likeness and determine his own fate.

#6: “The Theory of Everything” (2014)

Stephen Hawking spent decades in the zeitgeist as the smartest man on earth. "The Theory of Everything" was the award-winning film depicting both his scientific achievements and his relationship with his first wife, Jane. However, the film glosses over some of the darker truths about Hawking's life. His illness took a horrible emotional toll on his family. As his health deteriorated, so too did his marriage. Hawking’s relationship with his nurse, Elaine Mason, would later bloom into a romance. But reports surfaced of alleged abuse and neglect, casting a pall over Hawking's later years. Friends and caregivers reported seeing unexplained injuries on the scientist. Despite multiple investigations, Hawking denied the allegations, and no formal charges were ever filed.

#5: “Remember the Titans” (2000)

This 2000 hit is arguably one of the best sports movies ever made. It stars Denzel Washington as Coach Herman Boone, a tough-but-fair hero who unites his team and his town during the integration of T.C. Williams High School. The truth, though, isn't so rosy. The team's winning season didn't magically make racial tensions disappear overnight. Worse, critics claim that Boone's coaching methods were much harsher and more brutal than the movie let on. Students, colleagues, and parents have accused Boone of excessive cruelty. By 1979, students and assistant coaches were complaining to the school administrators about Boone's physical and verbal abuse. He was summarily fired and never coached again.

#4: “Schindler’s List” (1993)

Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama "Schindler's List" cleaned up at the Oscars and it's easy to understand why. Oskar Schindler risked his life to save over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust. He is presented as a man with obvious faults but deep convictions. In truth, that wasn’t always so. Before his transformation, Schindler was an eager war profiteer and a member of the Nazi Party. His personal life was also troubled, marked by infidelity and heavy drinking. He spent his whole fortune to save those he could. After the war, Schindler's life deteriorated. He went bankrupt and had to survive on financial support from the Jewish survivors he once saved. He died destitute in 1974 and was buried in Israel.

#3: “The Aviator” (2004)

The Howard Hughes we saw in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" was fascinating. A brilliant eccentric, this version of Hughes was a visionary plane designer and filmmaker. While true, Scorsese left out the worst parts of Hughes' eccentricities. As Hughes aged, his mental health deteriorated significantly. He developed a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a litany of phobias hindered his daily functioning. He became a recluse, living in near-total isolation in a darkened hotel room. His personal hygiene suffered and his physical health declined. He suffered daily from chronic pain, and Hughes eventually died alone in 1976. In life, Hughes was as much a cautionary tale about untreated mental illness as he was an iconic celebrity.

#2: “Unbroken” (2014)

The craziest thing about 2014's "Unbroken" is that it took Hollywood so long to make a movie about Louis Zamperini. A former Olympic athlete, Zamperini endured incredible suffering in a Japanese P.O.W. camp during WWII. His story truly is inspiring, though it didn't end after he went free. Upon his return home, Zamperini struggled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. He suffered intense bouts of anger, depression, and horrific nightmares. He also treated his condition with alcohol. Though the film touches on faith as the cornerstone of his redemption, the extent of his internal fight after the war is all but glossed over.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Kundun” (1997)

Before the Chinese Invasion & Annexation, Tibet Was Rife with Torture & Slavery

“12 Years a Slave” (2014)

Solomon Northup’s Daughter Didn’t Even Recognize Him When He Returned Home

“The Sound of Music” (1965)

The von Trapp House Became the Summer Home of Heinrich Himmler

“American Sniper” (2014)

Chris Kyle Was a Bloodthirsty Killer & Much of His Story Is Uncorroborated

“The King’s Speech” (2010)

Edward Was a Nazi Sympathizer Sent to the Bahamas So He Couldn’t Make a Deal with Hitler

#1: “Erin Brockovich” (2000)

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company contaminated the water of Hinkley, California for years. "Erin Brockovich" tells the story of the lawsuit against them from the perspective of the hard-scrabble paralegal who was the tip of the spear. But victory in the suit didn't solve Hinkley's problems. Despite the settlement, many residents continue to suffer from health issues related to the contamination, and the long-term environmental damage remains unresolved. The cleanup efforts were criticized as inadequate, and some residents have struggled to obtain necessary medical care. The town’s economic and social fabric collapsed thanks to the contamination, and now it’s slowly disappearing.