Top 20 True Story Movies That Actually Showed The Craziest Part

#20: “All the President’s Men” (1976)

Following the Watergate burglary, The Washington Post cracked the story of a lifetime that implicated the White House in wrongdoing. “All the President’s Men” follows the investigative reporting with one particular detail that feels too good to be fake. In order to check his facts, Bob Woodward actually met with a well-informed source that preferred absolute secrecy. The reporter employs many tactics fit for a spy movie, including reading hidden messages and a covert meeting place. Showing the extensive efforts Woodward makes in order to meet with the so-called “Deep Throat,” this film has all the edge of a brilliant thriller.

#19: “Straight Outta Compton” (2015)

Matching the raw intensity of N.W.A.’s records, “Straight Outta Compton” captures the rise of the group that changed hip hop forever. This also includes moments where members like Ice Cube fought for their own careers. In a scene that’s not fictional, the rapper takes a baseball bat to the Priority Records offices. This sequence stems from an actual disagreement that led to the artist partially destroying the premises of his label. Along with showing this iconic outburst, the movie goes on to further explain the performer’s worries over being rightfully paid for his music.

#18: “Sully” (2016)

Starring Tom Hanks as the titular pilot, “Sully” is an entertaining recreation of the Miracle on the Hudson. The pivotal moment in the film concerns Sully Sullenberger’s actions after his plane encounters a bird strike. Embracing the tension of a dramatic flight, the exciting scenes follow the extraordinary crash-landing and recovery effort. The reason you’ll be even more engaged by these key sequences will be their basis in fact. Considering that most plane crash movies come with mass casualties, this real-life story ends without anyone dying. Sullenberger’s quick-thinking saved lives and this Clint Eastwood project helps to remind people of the hero’s legacy.

#17: “Zodiac” (2007)

David Fincher’s “Zodiac” chronicles the murders attributed to the notorious killer and the subsequent investigation, with no holds barred. The filmmaker goes to painstaking lengths to depict the infamous crimes as true to life as possible. Responsible for five known deaths, the Zodiac Killer mostly targeted couples, two of which were shown being attacked in this movie. The individual either used a firearm or a knife in executing the especially gruesome crimes. Fincher doesn’t shy away from these encounters or the aftermath, which also includes one harrowing cab ride that ends badly for the driver. The true terror of it all comes when you realize that the identity of the person responsible remains unknown.

#16: “Cool Runnings” (1993)

For a tropical nation competing in a cold weather sport, the Jamaican bobsled team was an unlikely presence at the 1988 Winter Olympics. However, they managed to defy the world’s expectations with their sheer determination. They also inspired the film “Cool Runnings” which told the story of their training and subsequent qualification for the Olympic Games. The movie includes their groundbreaking run that involves them crashing and eventually carrying their sled to the finish line. It might seem like some kind of metaphor invented by the screenwriter, but the scene harkens back to the real event. The team’s inspirational tale contains this detail to show the athletes in their finest moment as competitors.

#15: “Capote” (2005)

Covering the author’s quest to write his masterpiece, “Capote” takes its time in establishing the infamous case of murder in Kansas. Truman Capote heads to the Midwest to interview people for his book and stumbles into a much more complex story. His attention moves towards the two perpetrators, both of whom are cagey about the details of the night in question. A pivotal flashback finally reveals the morbid deaths of the Clutter family. Including visceral sounds and explicit violence, the filmmaker chooses to depict the actual crime without any censorship. It ultimately presents non-fiction in a way that will certainly shock you even if you know what’s coming.

#14: “Schindler’s List” (1993)

Set during one of the worst chapters in modern history, “Schindler’s List” shows the true evil at the center of the Holocaust. Oskar Schindler goes from greedy businessman to savior as he comes up against the villainous Amon Göth. The latter has a demonic streak that involves executing prisoners for no rhyme or reason. Unfortunately, Göth’s crimes were as far-reaching and unthinkable as the filmmaker Steven Spielberg depicted. The real-life commandant even fired at people from his villa balcony, as was shown in a deeply unsettling scene. Never shying away from the movie’s subject matter, the director creates an important document that lays bare the horrifying reality of the Nazis.

#13: “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975)

One of Al Pacino's finest movies, "Dog Day Afternoon" tells the true story of friends Sal Naturile and John Wojtowicz, who was renamed Sonny Wortzik for the movie. These inexperienced crooks decide to rob a bank so that Sonny can pay for his partner's gender affirmation surgery. The story culminates with the crooks attempting an elaborate airplane getaway, but Sal is shot and killed and Sonny is arrested. It seems like a dramatized Hollywood ending, but no, it actually happened. While a jet was getting ready on the tarmac of JFK, Naturile was shot in the chest by the limo driver, who was actually an undercover FBI agent. Wojtowicz immediately surrendered and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, serving five.

#12: “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)

When it comes to "The Wolf of Wall Street," there is one image that everyone remembers - Jordan Belfort, high on quaaludes, attempting to enter his car. While Jordan thinks he made it home okay, he actually hit numerous objects on the way and totaled his beautiful Lamborghini. The only false thing about this story is the Lambo. In real life, it was a Mercedes. Otherwise, the scene is 100% accurate. Belfort repeatedly crashed his Mercedes but didn't remember doing so. In fact, the story is even worse in real life, as Belfort sent a woman to the hospital after colliding with her car. Belfort even taught Leonardo DiCaprio how to accurately writhe on the ground, having personally been in that situation before.

#11: “The Impossible” (2012)

This disaster film stars Naomi Watts as Maria Bennett. She and her family are vacationing in Thailand when their resort is slammed by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Maria is seriously injured in the disaster and the family is separated. Following lots of tension and worry, Maria, her husband, and their three children are all reunited at a local hospital. It seems like a kitschy and unrealistic happy ending slapped onto a disaster film, but it actually happened to the Belón family. María Belón nearly died in the tsunami, but she survived and was miraculously reunited with her family in the hospital - a near-impossible feat that gave the movie its title. The hospital scenes were even filmed in the real hospital.

#10: “BlacKkKlansman” (2018)

Spike Lee's greatest film in years, "BlacKkKlansman" tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, a police officer who infiltrates the KKK. Much of the movie's story is fictional, including the bomb plot against the student union. But what is true is that Stallworth actually talked to, and eventually met, David Duke. Duke was once the Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, serving between 1974 and 1980. Stallworth's investigation took place between '78 and '79. Stallworth's conversations with Duke may seem fabricated for the movie, but he did indeed speak to the Grand Wizard about his membership, and at one point even took a photo with him.

#9: “The Imitation Game” (2014)

One never knows how much historical accuracy they will receive in a biopic. While "The Imitation Game" certainly contains its fabrications, its ending is devastatingly real. Alan Turing was indeed convicted of gross indecency and underwent both chemical castration and hormone therapy. His body became physically weaker, he was rendered impotent, and he eventually developed breasts. His friends reported that the changes upset Turing, but he continued working in mathematical biology. Shortly after his castration, Turing was found dead. His death remains shrouded in mystery and ambiguity, but the leading theory is that Turing took his own life.

#8: “I, Tonya” (2017)

The story of Tonya Harding is one of the most fascinating in all of sports. To help Harding's chances at the upcoming Winter Olympics, Harding’s ex-husband planned to sabotage the career of rival Nancy Kerrigan. He hired a man named Shane Stant to attack Kerrigan, and on January 6, 1994, Stant smacked Kerrigan's thigh with a baton. Luckily, Kerrigan was not seriously hurt, and she went on to compete at the Olympics. This fascinating incident is played out in "I, Tonya," even though it's told through a warped and seemingly misleading lens. The movie garnered some criticism for its sympathetic portrayal of Harding - a portrayal that various historians and biographers don't believe was warranted.

#7: “Snowden” (2016)

The climax of Oliver Stone's "Snowden" plays out much like an espionage thriller. Snowden is left intensely paranoid about his leaks and is smuggled out of Hong Kong with the help of journalists and a documentary filmmaker. The American government then revokes his passport, leaving Snowden stranded in Moscow. This excitement seems fabricated for a Hollywood ending, but it is 100% rooted in reality. Snowden's dramatic escape from Hong Kong can be watched in the documentary "Citizenfour," which was directed by Laura Poitras. Poitras is portrayed by Melissa Leo in the film. The real Snowden was stranded in Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, and he was eventually granted permanent residence in Russia.

#6: “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)

Delving into the remarkable life of Chris Gardner, “The Pursuit of Happyness” takes a hard look at one man’s tremendous struggle to find success in America. Faced with near insurmountable obstacles, the main character tries to juggle his professional pursuits along with fatherhood. The 2006 movie doesn’t hesitate to show the hardship the family faced, at one point revealing the fact that Gardner and his son slept in a public bathroom. Will Smith and his real-life child Jaden play the respective parts in an authentic depiction of homelessness. While the man eventually gets back on his feet, it’s also important for this plot to show his problems in precise and tangible details.

#5: “Rocketman” (2019)

Telling the story of Elton John, “Rocketman” explores the highs and lows of the musician’s legendary career. This includes his battles with drugs that often conflicted with his live performances in troubling ways. The most egregious case came when John overdosed not long before his iconic Dodger stadium show. While some audience members might think this is a case of artistic license, the reality is much closer to the film. The rockstar actually had his stomach pumped after trying to take his own life. This event happens in a dreamlike sequence during the movie, alluding to the crisis that occurred days before he took the stage. “Rocketman” seamlessly blends the brutal truth of the artist’s life and his imaginative music.

#4: “Apollo 13” (1995)

Based on the eponymous NASA mission, “Apollo 13” follows the near-tragedy in painstaking detail. Director Ron Howard charts the space flight through every major point including the initial problem. Delving into mission control’s plan to bring the astronauts back home, the real story ends up being too absurd to be anything short of reality. The brilliant technicians in the American space program discover a way to use ordinary items like duct tape to create a life-saving device. After having the Apollo astronauts replicate the invention in the lunar module, they’re able to prolong their voyage by filtering out carbon dioxide. The movie does an impressive job of both explaining the method of this ingenious idea and its importance in bringing the men back to earth.

#3: “The Revenant” (2015)

The story of Hugh Glass is a tricky one. Glass himself never corroborated his famous story, and it began as a piece in a literary magazine. If it is real, then it is likely exaggerated and blown into legend. Either way, it's fascinating. While fur trapping in South Dakota with General William Ashley, Glass was attacked by a grizzly bear. Like the movie, Glass was horrifically injured in the attack but somehow managed to survive. The grievously injured Glass was eventually abandoned by his fellow trappers and left for dead. He then traveled more than 200 miles while suffering from life-threatening injuries and successfully arrived at Fort Kiowa, having survived entirely on roots and wild berries.

#2: “127 Hours” (2010)

Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" plays out like many fictional survival stories. A boastful man gets himself trapped, almost dies, and is forced to take some drastic measures in order to save himself. In this case, the extravagant story is completely real. Outdoorsman Aron Ralston got himself trapped in Utah's Bluejohn Canyon and spent five days starving, dehydrating, and slowly losing both his mind and body. He was eventually forced to extricate himself with a dull Swiss army knife, and this process is shown in excruciating detail in Boyle’s film. After painfully operating on his arm, Ralston rappelled down a 65-foot canyon wall and walked six miles before receiving help from a hiking family.

#1: “Alive” (1993)

If there's one movie that proves the tenacity of the human spirit, it's "Alive." Named after Piers Paul Read's nonfiction book of the same name, "Alive" details the tribulations of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. The plane crashes into the Andes mountains, and the survivors spend the next 72 days stranded on the freezing mountainside. Realizing that they will perish on the barren mountain, the survivors decide to eat the frozen flesh of those who have already died. It’s a harrowing sequence in the film, and it’s made even more horrifying owing to the fact that it actually happened. In the end, 16 of the 45 people on board were rescued.