19 Movies Based on True Stories That You've Gotta See in 2022
You know what they say: Truth is stranger than fiction.
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As much as I love a good fantasy flick or sci-fi thriller, there's nothing quite as exciting as knowing the movie you're watching is based on real events—unless, ofc, we're talking about horror movies inspired by real stories, because NOPE. Movies based on true stories let you learn a lil bit more about a historical event or influential figure than you did before, and while we got pleeeeenty of great based-on-a-true-story movies in 2021, the best true story movies of 2022 look even more promising, if that's possible. Thx, Hollywood!!
K, so you might think it's lazy to base a movie off of a real-life event (especially since Hollywood is already full of reboots, remakes, sequels, and movies based on books). However! I personally L-I-V-E for a well-made biopic, and you might change your mind when you see what's comin' your way in 2022. This year, you can look forward to seeing the highly-anticipated biopics for Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Whitney Houston, just to name a few, as well as a wild WWII saga, a Western drama, and a completely bonkers and totally unauthorized Celine Dion movie that you gotta see to believe. Ahead, all the new and upcoming true story movies you need to have on your radar for 2022.
Ted K
Released in February, Ted K recounts the life of Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber), from his upbringing in Montana all the way to his 1996 arrest following the largest manhunt in FBI history.
Against the Ice
Also released in February, this survival drama tells the story of Danish polar explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his perilous 1909 expedition to disprove the United States' claim to North-Eastern Greenland.
Aline
This unauthorized Celine Dion biopic (which revolves around the fictitious Aline Dieu because, ya know, they couldn't get the life rights) tells the story of a Canadian singer who rises to international superstardom, and it looks truly WILD.
Father Stu
Mark Wahlberg stars in this one as the titular Father Stuart Long, a troublemaking boxer from Montana who decided to turn his life around and become a priest after suffering from inclusion body myositis.
Operation Mincemeat
Based on a real-life British operation that took place during WWII, this war drama stars Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen as two crafty intelligence officers who use false papers and a corpse to outwit the Nazis.
Elvis
This hiiiighly-anticipated Baz Luhrmann-directed biopic stars Austin Butler as notorious rock-and-roll star Elvis Presley, following his career from a child star to a full-fledged legend. Cue all the excitement.
Release date: June 24 in theaters, September 2 on HBO Max
Breaking
A desperate Marine veteran is in serious need of money, so he holds multiple people hostage in a bank, and an intense police standoff follows.
Release date: August 26 in theaters
The Woman King
With a cast that includes Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, John Boyega, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, among others, this epic flick recounts the rise of the Kingdom of Dahomey, which was one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Release date: September 16 in theaters
Blonde
This Marilyn Monroe biopic starring Ana de Armas has been teased for what feels like FOR-EV-ER, but it seems like we're finally going to see it sometime in 2022.
Release date: September 28 on Netflix
Till
Danielle Deadwyler stars in this drama as Mamie Till-Mobley, the educator and activist who relentlessly fought for justice after her son, Emmett Till, was murdered in Mississippi in 1955 at only 14 years old.
Release date: October 7 in theaters
Call Jane
Elizabeth Banks plays a housewife named Joy who joins the Jane Collective, an organization that helped women find safe abortions before Roe v. Wade. This movie couldn't be more timely.
Release date: October 28 in theaters
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
You know him as the guy who changed the lyrics to a bunch of really popular songs. But who is Al Yankovic really? This movie aims to show you.
Release date: November 4 on the Roku Channel
She Said
In 2017, New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey broke the story of the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and now their story is coming to life, with Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan starring.
Release date: November 18 in theaters
The Inspection
Jeremy Pope plays Ellis French, who enlists in the Marine Corps and then quickly finds out how hard it is to hide his sexual orientation from others. The film is based on writer and director Elegance Bratton's real life story.
Release date: November 18 in theaters
Thirteen Lives
This Ron Howard-directed survival drama is based on the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, with Colin Farrell starring as John Volanthen, a diver who helped save a junior football team and their coach from the cave where they'd been trapped for 18 days.
Release date: November 18 in theaters
Devotion
How is it that Glen Powell has two pilot movies in one calendar year? Great question! He and Jonathan Majors play two Korean war pilots who find an unlikely friendship in the midst of extreme circumstances.
Release date: November 23 in theaters
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
You can expect to see Naomi Ackie from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker star in this Whitney Houston biopic, which takes a look at the life and career of the legendary singer.
Release date: December 21 in theaters
Babylon
While not technically based on a true story, Damien Chazelle's star-studded 1920s period drama does feature characters based on real people, with Margot Robbie playing Clara Bow and Li Jun Li playing Anna May Wong, among others.
Release date: December 23 in theaters
Rustin
While there isn't a premiere date for this one yet, Rustin—which stars Euphoria's Colman Domingo and centers on late civil rights and gay rights activist Baynard Rustin—sounds VERY promising.
Release date: TBD on Netflix
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