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There's nothing quite like a movie night cosied up in front of the TV. Blanket? Check! Snacks? Check! Film? Well, that's what we're here for as we've rounded up our top picks of movies inspired by true stories.
Whether you're after a cheesy rom-com or a horror to scream at the screen to, there's tonnes of great films out there based on real life. While some of them might not be the most historically accurate, we can assure you that they do make for a good evening spent on the sofa.
So, from supernatural stories to romance films that you'll need a box of tissues for, here are 15 of the best movies based on true stories. Then, when you're done, why not have a look through our picks of best action films or the best movies to watch on Prime Video? Thank us later!
The Disappointments Room (2016)
Run time: 1 hour 32 minutes
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Lucas Till, Mel Radio
This supernatural horror film sees a mother and her young son release unimaginable horrors from the attic of their rural dream home, and it's based on a true story!
The real story is that a Rhode Island woman discovered a secret room on the third floor that wasn't locked but did have a dead bolt on the outside.
Then, the new owner did some research and discovered that the judge who'd built the house in the 19th Century had a disabled daughter, whom he reportedly locked in that room. Yikes.
The Vow (2012)
Run time: 1 hour 44 minutes
Cast: Rachel McAddams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lang
In this romance film, we meet Paige and Leo, a young couple whose lives are turned upside down when she wakes up from a coma after a terrible accident and doesn't recognise her husband. So, he then tries to win her back by dating her again.
The film is based on the story of real life couple Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Just two months after their wedding, they got into a terrible accident which made Krickitt forget everything about her spouse, so Kim embarked on a journey to make Krickitt fall in love again. Aw!
Winchester (2018)
Run time: 1 hour 39 minutes
Cast: Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook
This horror fantasy film follows an eccentric firearm heiress named Sarah Winchester who believes she is being haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.
As for the real life story, the film is based on an actual haunted house in California's Santa Clara Valley. It still stands today as a four-story, 160-room, 24,000-square-foot mansion, with the story going that Sarah built the home because a medium told her that the ghosts of those killed by the Winchester rifle would forever haunt her unless she built a house with room for all of them.
Other versions of the story also say that Sarah was driven there from New Haven, Connecticut because she was being haunted in their family mansion. But, the spirits follows and the rest is the story of one of America's most famous haunted houses!
Pain Hustlers (2023)
Run time: 2 hours 3 minutes
Cast: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia
Emily leads this star-studded cast as a woman who is struggling to raise her daughter, so takes a job out of desperation. Next thing she knows, she's working at a a pharmaceutical startup that plunges her into the middle of a federal criminal conspiracy.
The story was parked by a New York Times article by Evan Hughes, which exposed the American pharmaceutical company, Isnys Therapeutics, for funneling bribes for doctors.
Society of the Snow (2023)
Run time: 2 hours 4 minutes
Cast: Numa Turcatti, Roberto Canessa, Álvaro Mangino
This critically-acclaimed and award-winning film follows the real life story of a rugby team who survive a horrific plane crash to find themselves in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other's best hope.
The movie is inspired by Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, a plane that crashed in 1972, leaving the surviving members of a sports team stranded for 72 days in the Andes Mountains.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Run time: 2 hours 7 minutes
Cast: Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe
This incredible film follows three female African-American mathematicians, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who worked at NASA and played a pivotal role in astronaut John Glenn's launch into orbit.
Plus, they were real people! The movie is based on the women's experiences of working for the space company and the racial and sexist discrimination they faced in 1960s America.
The Bling Ring (2013)
Run time: 1 hours 30 minutes
Cast: Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, Katie Chang
Directed by Sofia Coppola, The Bling Ring follows a group of high school students who break into the homes of major celebrities to rob them of millions of dollars in clothes, shoes and jewellery. While Emma's American accent is slightly questionable, this is a must watch!
In real life, the California-based crime group stole more than $3 million from the homes of Hollywood celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom and many were jailed.Watch on Prime Video
The King's Speech (2010)
Run time: 1 hours 58 minutes
Cast: Colin Firth,Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
This one is an Oscar winner for Best Picture for a reason! Follow King George VI as he tries to overcome his stammering problem with the help of speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and make himself worthy enough to lead his country through World War II.
It's based on the true story of George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, who unexpectedly became king and had a severe stammer for much of his life.
I, Tonya (2017)
Run time: 2 hours
Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Alison Janney
This Oscar-winning film follows the rise and fall of Tonya Harding, a competitive ice skater who became one the best of the best despite her personal struggles. But, her career begins to go off the rails when her ex-husband re-enters her life.
The film accurately depicts the true story of Tonya Harding, including the scandal with fellow figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan, with dominated headlines in 1994.
Scoop (2024)
Run time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Cast: Rufus Sewell, Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper
Inspired by real events, Scoop gives an insider account of how the women of BBC's Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview, in which he revealed details of his friendship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
It the story of how Newsnight booker Sam McAlister managed to convince Prince Andrew and his team of advisors to be interviewed by journalist Emily Maitlis, on the allegations surrounding his friendship.
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Run time: 2 hours 14 minutes
Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier
Directed by Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, played by John David Washington, the first Black detective in Colorado Springs. He infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and began regular conversations with KKK leader, David Duke.
It's based on a true story, with Ron's actual investigation occurring between 1978 and 1979 and based on his memoir, Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime.
tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)
Run time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film follows Jon, a young theatre composer who waits tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while trying to write the next best musical. But, he's at a crossroads as his relationship with his girlfriend breaks down and he deals with grief, the AIDS epidemic and more.
The film is based on the autobiographical musical by composer and playwright Jonathan Larson, most famous for writing the musical Rent. He sadly passed away aged 35, the day before the first Off-Broadway preview performance of Rent.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Smith
Meet Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who loses his life's earnings selling a product he invested in. When his wife leaves him and he is left with the custody of his son, he takes up an unpaid internship in a brokerage firm in hopes of a better future.
It is based on the real life Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle being homeless in San Francisco with his son. Years later, he went on to form his own multimillion-dollar brokerage firm. We love a happy ending!
Elvis (2022)
Run time: 2 hours 39 minutes
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge
Meet the King of Rock and Roll, as we follow the life American music icon Elvis Presley, from his tough childhood to marrying Priscilla Presley and becoming a rock and movie star in 1950s America.
We also see his complex relationship with his manager, colonel Tom Parker. Starring Austin Butler as the titular character, the film is based on Elvis' real life and Austin went full method for the role, even controversially speaking in the accent for the duration of filming.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Run time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Dominique Fishback
William O'Neal is a petty criminal who is offered a plea deal by the FBI: Infiltrate the Illinois Black Panther Party and gather intelligence their charismatic chairman Fred Hampton. Will he complete his task and betray Fred or not?
This critically-acclaimed film is inspired by real events from 1960s America and their movement for civil rights. No spoilers here, though!
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