The best movies and shows based on a true story, ranked

343 titles tagged as based on a true story ranked by quality and fame, with where to stream.

1. 1Schindler's List (1993)Bleak · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA German businessman confronts the bleak realities of war, saving lives with earnest defiance and measured hope.
2. 2Chernobyl (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · TV-MAA measured, bleak drama unfolds as brave souls confront a catastrophic nuclear disaster with tense, earnest resolve.Max
3. 3GoodFellas (1990)Dark satire · gritty · full attention · brutal violence · RA Brooklyn kid's rise through the Mafia is a relentless, gritty, and darkly satirical crime epic.82
4. 4The Intouchables (2011)Wholesome humor · uplifting · date night · measured · RAn unlikely friendship blossoms between two men from different worlds, creating uplifting and wholesome comedy.Kanopy · Hoopla · YouTube (free)
5. 5The Pianist (2002)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA gifted pianist navigates the bleak, war-torn ruins of Warsaw, fighting for survival and dignity.Peacock · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
6. 6Hacksaw Ridge (2016)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · RAn earnest medic in WWII refuses to kill, facing gritty combat and earning an epic honor.
7. 7City of God (2002)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RTwo young men navigate Rio's favelas, one documenting the relentless crime, the other embracing its brutal power.Kanopy · Hoopla
8. 8The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)Dark satire · gritty · full attention · strong violence · RA relentless, darkly comic ride through a world of pulpy excess and financial corruption.Paramount+ · Starz · Kanopy86
9. 9Michael (2026)Earnest · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13An earnest, epic drama chronicles a legendary artist's extraordinary talent and relentless pursuit of creative ambition.Starz
10. 10Band of Brothers (2001) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAAn earnest, gritty, and bleak true story unfolds with measured pace through epic WWII battles.Max
11. 11Green Book (2018)Dry wit · feel good · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · PG-13A witty and earnest journey through the 1962 Deep South reveals an unlikely, heartwarming friendship.Netflix
12. 12The Imitation Game (2014)Tense · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A brilliant code-breaker races against time during wartime, facing a gritty, suspenseful, and ultimately tragic challenge.Kanopy · Tubi
13. 13Catch Me If You Can (2002)Dry wit · feel good · date night · emotionally heavy · PG-13A witty con man eludes a gritty FBI agent in a brisk, earnest, true-crime caper.Paramount+ · Peacock · Kanopy
14. 14Hidden Figures (2016)Feel good · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGBrilliant women overcome gender and race barriers to propel America's space program to historic new heights.Max
15. 15Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)Feel good · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13An intimate, epic, and uplifting musical drama traces a legendary rock band's meteoric rise to fame.
16. 16Oppenheimer (2023)Gritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA cerebral and gritty history unfolds, charting the earnest, suspenseful development of a world-changing weapon.Peacock · Fandango at Home (free)79
17. 17Ford v Ferrari (2019)Epic · date night · emotionally heavy · brisk · PG-13Two gritty gearheads battle corporate suits and the laws of physics to conquer Le Mans in an epic, high-octane race.
18. 1812 Years a Slave (2013)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA free man's harrowing abduction into slavery reveals the brutal fight for dignity and survival.
19. 19The Kardashians (2022) · seriesIntimate · comfort watch · measured · TV-14An intimate, earnest, and feel-good series reveals the truth behind the headlines of a famous family.Disney+ · Hulu
20. 20Braveheart (1995)Epic · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA Scottish warrior's personal tragedy ignites a gritty, epic war for freedom against English rule.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
21. 21A Beautiful Mind (2001)Cerebral · comfort watch · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A brilliant mathematician's mind grapples with the weight of genius and the shadows of a secret world.Apple TV+
22. 22The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)Earnest · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13An earnest father and son face homelessness while he pursues a life-changing, uplifting career.YouTube (free)
23. 23The Greatest Showman (2017)Feel good · date night · brisk · PGA brisk, epic drama follows a visionary showman building a heartwarming spectacle from humble beginnings.Max
24. 24Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)Heartwarming · family watch · emotionally devastating · measured · GA loyal dog's devotion to his owner creates a deep bond that transcends time and warms the heart.YouTube (free) · Tubi
25. 25Planet Earth (2006) · seriesEpic · family watch · measured · TV-PGWitness Earth's breathtaking scale and intricate life, a four-year journey across 64 countries.Max
26. 26Lion (2016)Heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A lost boy's journey from Calcutta to Australia becomes a man's earnest search for his first home.Netflix
27. 27Dallas Buyers Club (2013)Gritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA gritty and earnest drama intimately portrays one man's defiant fight for life against a bleak diagnosis.Netflix
28. 28Memories of Murder (2003)Gritty · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastatingIn 1980s Korea, desperate detectives pursue a sadistic killer, their conflicting methods creating a bleak, tense atmosphere.
29. 29The Theory of Everything (2014)Intimate · comfort watch · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A brilliant mind grapples with a debilitating illness, finding profound love and scientific breakthroughs.
30. 30Into the Wild (2007)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RAn earnest young man abandons everything to find himself in the Alaskan wilderness, embracing a melancholy, intimate journey.Kanopy · Hoopla · YouTube (free)
31. 31Spotlight (2015)Gritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RJournalists meticulously uncover a devastating scandal, revealing a gritty truth with suspenseful, intimate determination.Kanopy · YouTube (free) · Plex
32. 32Amadeus (1984)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · PGA disciplined composer's envy curdles into obsession as a hedonistic prodigy's genius soars and burns.
33. 33The Revenant (2015)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · RA frontiersman's brutal fight for survival against man and nature becomes an epic quest for vengeance.Max
34. 34Narcos (2015) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MARelentless and gritty, this drama plunges into the true story of Colombia's infamous drug cartels.Netflix
35. 35Veneno (2020) · seriesGritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · TV-MAA true story unfolds with intimate melancholy, revealing a charismatic icon's life and enduring enigma.Max
36. 36The Crown (2016) · seriesIntimate · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA melancholy, intimate drama unfolds across decades, revealing the measured intrigues of British power.Netflix
37. 37Dunkirk (2017)Tense · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13Relentless action and gritty tension define this epic, atmospheric true story of wartime survival.Paramount+
38. 38The Elephant Man (1980)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · PGA Victorian surgeon discovers a man of intelligence and sensitivity behind a monstrous facade, revealing an intimate, bleak history.
39. 39The King's Speech (2010)Dry wit · earnest · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · RA reluctant king battles a debilitating stutter with an unconventional therapist, forging an intimate and heartwarming friendship.Paramount+
40. 40Raging Bull (1980)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA boxer's inner demons and explosive rage destroy his life as he fights his way to the top.Prime Video · MGM+ · Hoopla
41. 41El Señor de los Cielos (2013) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-14A relentless, gritty crime drama chronicles a drug trafficker's high-octane rise to power in the 1990s.Hulu · Peacock · The Roku Channel
42. 42Society of the Snow (2023)Gritty · full attention · graphic gore · emotionally devastating · RSurvivors of a horrific plane crash in the Andes endure unimaginable bleakness with earnest, gritty determination.Netflix
43. 43The Last Dance (2020) · seriesEpic · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MARare footage and candid interviews reveal the gritty, uplifting, and epic story of a basketball dynasty.Netflix
44. 44Lawrence of Arabia (1962)Epic · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PGAn English officer unites warring Arab tribes, battling an empire across a vast, gritty, and epic desert.Netflix
45. 45Rush (2013)Gritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · relentless · RA relentless 1970s rivalry between two Formula 1 drivers becomes an earnest, gritty, and epic battle for survival.
46. 46Downfall (2004)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA measured, gritty portrayal of history's bleakest moments unfolds with suspenseful, tragic melancholy.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
47. 47Togo (2019)Uplifting · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA man and his lead sled dog brave the treacherous Alaskan tundra in an uplifting, true-life adventure.
48. 48The Conjuring (2013)Terrifying · light gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RParanormal investigators confront a powerful, chilling entity terrorizing a family in their atmospheric farmhouse.Max
49. 49Spartacus (2010) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · TV-MAA relentless, pulpy drama unfolds as a true legend fights for survival in the brutal gladiatorial arena.Starz
50. 50The Blind Side (2009)Feel good · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A compassionate family offers a homeless teenager a second chance, changing his life and theirs forever.
51. 51DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAA chilling, measured drama explores the systemic failures that enabled a notorious serial killer for years.Netflix
52. 52Zodiac (2007)Suspenseful · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RJournalists and an amateur cartoonist obsess over an elusive serial killer, even as the public forgets.Paramount+ · MGM+ · YouTube (free)87
53. 53Dog Day Afternoon (1975)Gritty · strong violence · emotionally devastating · relentless · RA desperate bank robbery becomes a media spectacle as a man's true motives are slowly revealed.Hoopla
54. 54American Sniper (2014)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA Navy SEAL's pinpoint accuracy saves lives in gritty combat, but the cost of war takes a tragic toll.Netflix · YouTube (free)
55. 55The Social Network (2010)Gritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · brisk · PG-13A cerebral and intimate drama unfolds as a tech visionary's ambition leads to both triumph and betrayal.Criterion · MGM+ · Fandango at Home (free)78
56. 56Straight Outta Compton (2015)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RFive young men transform their frustration and anger into powerful music, sparking an epic cultural rebellion.Netflix · Starz
57. 57Ip Man (2008)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA brisk, gritty, and epic true story unfolds as a martial arts master defends his people during wartime.Hulu · Peacock · Kanopy
58. 58The Great Escape (1963)Suspenseful · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · NRAllied prisoners plan an ambitious, gritty escape from a high-security Nazi camp in this epic, suspenseful true story.Prime Video · YouTube (free)
59. 59Sound of Freedom (2023)Gritty · family watch · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A former agent races against time, rescuing children from traffickers in this gritty, uplifting true story.Prime Video
60. 60American Gangster (2007)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RA ruthless kingpin builds an empire on heroin, while a determined detective hunts him through a gritty, atmospheric city.Apple TV+ · MGM+ · Starz
61. 61BlacKkKlansman (2018)Dry wit · gritty · full attention · strong violence · RAn undercover Black detective infiltrates the KKK in a darkly comedic and briskly paced true story.
62. 62When They See Us (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAFive Harlem teens endure a bleak, suspenseful nightmare after a wrongful accusation, their earnest fight for justice measured.Netflix
63. 63On My Skin (2018)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastatingA family fights for truth after a minor arrest becomes a mysterious death in custody.Netflix · Kanopy
64. 64Freedom Writers (2007)Earnest · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13An earnest teacher inspires at-risk students to overcome gritty realities and embrace a brighter future.Kanopy · Hoopla · YouTube (free)
65. 65Captain Phillips (2013)Tense · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A container ship captain faces down ruthless Somali pirates in a relentless, gritty, and suspenseful true story.
66. 66The Big Short (2015)Dry wit · satirical · full attention · emotionally heavy · RWitty outsiders expose the gritty truth of a financial crisis, leaving a bittersweet, satirical sting.Kanopy · Hoopla · Pluto TV
67. 67Persepolis (2007)Melancholy · full attention · strong violence · mildly scary · PG-13A young girl's earnest dreams of revolution curdle into melancholy as a nation's hope darkens.YouTube (free)
68. 68Awakenings (1990)Heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A shy doctor finds his own rebirth by awakening catatonic patients with an experimental, yet controversial, drug.Tubi
69. 69The Act (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAA daughter's desperate grasp for freedom from her mother's control leads to a bleak and intimate crime.Hulu
70. 70The Sound of Music (1965)Feel good · family watch · measured · GA free-spirited governess brings music and joy to a stoic family in pre-war Austria.Disney+
71. 71Pablo Escobar: The Drug Lord (2012) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA relentless, gritty crime drama chronicles a drug lord's epic and suspenseful rise to power.Netflix
72. 72In the Name of the Father (1993)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA wrongly accused man fights for justice, enduring bleak prison years while proving his innocence.
73. 73Gran Turismo (2023)Feel good · family watch · emotionally heavy · brisk · PG-13A teenager's gaming obsession leads to an epic, true-life journey toward professional racecar glory.Hulu · Max
74. 74Project Blue Book (2019) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · measured · TV-14Two earnest investigators uncover gritty, suspenseful truths about UFO phenomena in 1950s America.
75. 75I, Tonya (2017)Dark satire · gritty · full attention · strong violence · RA darkly-comic and gritty true story about a champion skater’s career derailed by pulpy antics.Kanopy · Tubi
76. 76Changeling (2008)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA mother's desperate search for her missing son unearths a bleak, corrupt world in 1920s Los Angeles.
77. 77Apollo 13 (1995)Tense · family watch · emotionally heavy · relentless · PGA true story of technical failures turns into a relentless, gritty fight for survival in space.MGM+
78. 78The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)Gritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · brisk · RA historic trial unfolds with brisk urgency as political activists face gritty injustice and earnest legal battles.Netflix
79. 79The Pacific (2010) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAGritty, intimate stories of three Marines unfold across the vast, bleak Pacific theater of World War II.Max
80. 80Black Bird (2022) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAA convicted drug dealer enters a maximum-security prison to elicit a confession from a suspected serial killer.Apple TV+
81. 81The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)Earnest · family watch · emotionally heavy · measuredA determined Malawian boy builds a wind turbine to save his village from famine, against all odds.Netflix
82. 82Just Mercy (2019)Earnest · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13An earnest lawyer fights a corrupt system to free an innocent man from death row, sparking measured hope.
83. 83Hotel Rwanda (2004)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A hotel manager risks everything, offering refuge and hope amidst the bleak, unfolding horror of genocide.Hoopla · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
84. 84Girl, Interrupted (1999)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA young woman's "short rest" in a 1960s institution becomes a gritty, earnest journey into self-discovery.Tubi
85. 85Remember the Titans (2000)Feel good · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGTwo football coaches overcome their differences, forging a gritty, uplifting team of champions in a true story.Disney+
86. 86The Passion of the Christ (2004)Bleak · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · RWitness a bleak and gritty portrayal of the final twelve hours in one man's earnest, measured life.
87. 87The Conjuring 2 (2016)Terrifying · light gore · emotionally heavy · measured · RParanormal investigators confront malicious spirits tormenting a single mother and her four children in 1970s London.Max
88. 88Argo (2012)Tense · emotionally heavy · brisk · RA CIA specialist races against time to free six Americans trapped in a gritty, suspenseful international crisis.Paramount+
89. 89Prehistoric Planet (2022) · seriesEpic · family watch · measured · TV-PGSixty-six million years ago, majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roam the lands, seas, and skies.Apple TV+
90. 90Papillon (1973)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PGA man plots a desperate escape from a brutal island prison, forging an unlikely bond in a bleak world.Kanopy · Plex · Tubi
91. 91The Impossible (2012)Tense · light gore · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A family's idyllic holiday shatters into a harrowing fight for survival against nature's terrifying wrath.Netflix
92. 92The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019)Gritty · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavyA crime boss and a relentless detective form an uneasy alliance, hunting a sadistic serial killer with high-octane grit.Prime Video · Peacock · Kanopy
93. 93Donnie Brasco (1997)Gritty · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RAn FBI agent's undercover life with the mob slowly erodes his identity, leading to a melancholy, gritty immersion.Netflix
94. 94A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)Heartwarming · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A stray ginger cat brings hope and transforms the life of a struggling street musician.Kanopy · Fandango at Home (free) · YouTube (free)
95. 95Black Hawk Down (2001)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RAmerican soldiers face relentless urban combat when a mission to capture a warlord's lieutenants goes awry.Apple TV+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
96. 96Free Solo (2018)Properly scary · no gore · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13An earnest climber attempts an epic, gritty ascent without ropes, creating suspense with every measured move.Disney+ · Hulu
97. 97Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · relentless · TV-MAWitness the cutthroat world of Formula 1, where high-octane races and gritty rivalries unfold at a relentless pace.Netflix · Apple TV+
98. 98Tetris (2023)Tense · brisk · RA brisk, gritty thriller unfolds as a salesman navigates Cold War corruption to share a revolutionary game.Apple TV+
99. 99Narcos: Mexico (2018) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA measured, gritty drama follows a DEA agent's tense pursuit of narcos in 1980s Mexico.Netflix
100. 100Coach Carter (2005)Earnest · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A true story of a coach who benches his undefeated team to teach them about life beyond the court.MGM+ · Starz · YouTube (free)

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