Highly Recommended Movies To Watch Based on True Events
Challenging your world views while entertaining you, the list recommends best movies from Tollywood to Hollywood.
Reality hardly comes to the big screen. But when it does, these stories unfold contradictions of life, with sharp edges that narrate the sheer grit and unpredictability of life, making it the most fascinating genres to watch. You can't deny the thrill of watching films that are based on real life events. It somehow hits closure to home.
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Whether its a scandal like the Watergate scandal that was dramatised in the movie All the President's Men or the gruesome 2008 Noida double murder case that inspired the 2015 film starring Irrfan Khan Talvar, some films are a reminder that reality often exists outside scripts-around us. From gritty underbelly sagas to Vatican's power dynamics, we list some of the finest movies that are rooted in real events. Also, keep an eye for some special mentions along the way!
Top Movies Based On A True Story
Some say true story films are paradoxical. They are histories and at once become fictional on the screen. In fact, many films are notorious for smoothing out the rough edges to give the story the right sharpness. Nevertheless they are a constant reminder that the past lingers close to us than we expect, in places, people, and patterns we often misinterpret. The best true stories as screenplays don't just recount events, they reveal human nature- who we are, what we can do, and what we tell ourselves.
In a way, watching these films often exposes the human psychology, but more importantly humanising the event beyond the headlines. Be it a love story, a showmanship of a politician's power, survival in the most unsuitable places, or a story of a regular joe, the very aspect of it existing in reality says something about the stories we choose to believe. It is between myth and memory.
Hollywood Movies Based On A True Story
Into The Wild (2007)
A biographical adventure drama based on the true story of Christopher McVCandless, who abandoned his city life to go live his youth in the Alaskan wilderness. Based on the non-fictional book by Jon Krakeuer starring Emile Hirsche, the Sean Penn directed film depicts the cost of absolute freedom and the nature of human connection.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Trials Of Chicago 7 (2020)
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Mark Rylance, The Trial Of Chicago 7 is a historical legal drama based on the events that caused the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, the movie depicts a group of anti-Vietnam war protesters who were accused of conspiring and inciting the riots. The film is a critique of political oppression, the fight for civil rights and corrupt justice system.
Where to Watch: You can catch the film on Netflix India.
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The Mauritanian (2021)
Based on the true story of a man held in Guantanamo Bay for 14 years, The Mauritanian narrates the story of Mohmedou Ould Slahi and his memoir Guantanamo Diary. His charges ? He is the cousin of a wanted terrorist by the USA and is detained over speculations. The film directed by Kevin Macdonald stars Beneditch Cumberbatch, Jodie Foster, and Tahar Rahim.
The U.S military installation located in the cost of Cuba, the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base was a detention camp, Gitmo, established in 2002 to hold suspects and terrorists after 9/11 attacks. Although known for controversial practices including psychological abuse, sleep deprivation and human rights violations, the camp is still running despite former president Barack Obama's signed executive order to close down the facilities in 2009.
Where to Watch: You can catch the conspiracy thriller on Netflix India.
Bollywood Movies Based On A True Story
Faraaz (2023)
Inspired by the true story of a terrorist attack at a cafe in the city of Dhaka, the Hansal Mehta directed film starring Jatin Sarin, Kashayp Kapoor, and Raghav Raj Kakker narrates the story of a boy named Faraaz who stood up against the terrorist at Holey Artisan Bakery. The film reflects on the cost of extremism, radicalisation of youth and power of moral conviction.
Where to Watch: Netflix India
Sector 36 (2024)
A must watch if you can sit through a gory film. This true story brought to the big screen by Aditya Nambalkar is loosely based on the 2006 Noida serial murders, also known as the Nithari killings. With Vikram Massey and Deepak Dobriyal in the lead as Prem Singh and Inspector Ram Charan Pandey, the film explore the dark side of human psychology, systemic corruption and dirty secrets of a city.
Where to Watch: Watch the film on Netflix India
Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)
This Imtiaz Ali film does not need any introduction. Inspired by the life of Amar Singh Chamkila, a Punjabi-folklore singer starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, the story revolves around the couple who rose to fame by singing provocative lyrics around love, sexual desire, and social issues with raw energy.
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The film captures the taboo subjects like extra marital affairs, and the struggles of the working class though his lyrics that led to both appreciation and serious criticism from the religious heads in Sikhism. Ultimately his songs that were heavy on lust led to Chamkila and his wife assassination in 1988.
Where to Watch: Netflix India
Movies From Down South Based On A True Story
Manjummel Boys (2024)
A group of childhood friends decide to go on trip to a Guna Caves (the place where Kamala Hassan's film Gunaa was shot). This real-life inspired story narrates the tale of survival, sheer resilience, and true friendship when in a chilling instance one of the boys, Subhash falls into a hole that is over 900 feet deep. Their carefree vacation soon turns into a life and death situation as the group tries to rescue their friend from the abyss.
Where to Watch: Zee5
Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017)
A Tamil movie about a police officer on a mission to investigate gang-related crimes across states finds himself in a high-intensity chase. Based on the Operation Bawaria led by DGP S.R Jangid. The film depicts complexities that a cop is surrounded by as he tried to gun down dacoits in the face of justice.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Vikruthi (2019)
Directed by Emcy Joseph, this Malayalam movie is based on true events that took place on the Kochi Metro train. When a passenger takes a photograph of a man (who hasn't slept for the past 2 nights) assuming he drunk, and wrongly accuses of misbehaving in public. Soubhin Shahir who played the speech and hearing impaired man portrays the impact of virality on the man's personal life as well as professional.
Where to Watch: Netflix India
Special Mentions
As promised, here are a few recommendations based on the best performances that deserve a shoutout!
Aligarh (2015)
A gut-wrenching life depicting the life of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University (Manoj Bajpayee). The Hansal Mehta film captures the professors loneliness and dignity which gets persecuted because of his sexual orientation. A critique of the Indian society, the film focuses on his legal battle before his tragic death in 2010. Watch on Zee5 and also on Amazon Prime Video.
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12Th Fail (2024)
The Vikram Massey starrer film directed by Vinod Vindu Chopra on the life of IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma. It depicts his trajectory from rural Bihar to the top. Watch on Disney+Hotstar,
No One Killed Jessica (2011)
Starring Rani Mukherji and Vidya Balan, the story based on the real-life case of Jessica Lal who was shot dead in 1999. Her death led to a nationwide candle march that put pressure on the legal system to over turn verdict. The story is, in the truest sense, a symbol of unified fight against corruption. Watch on Disney+Hotstar.
Shahid (2012)
A Hansal Mehta film on human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi who was shot dead in his office at the age of 32. An honest portrayal of Azmi's life and his struggles due to his identity that led the lead actor Rajkumar Rao to win a National Award. Watch on Netflix India.