Life may imitate art, but sometimes art imitates life exactly as it is.
True stories have served as fodder for media for decades, from television to movies to even podcasts. Not only important moments in history, but also heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking stories of everyday life have been translated to the silver screen.
Whether you want to relive history or experience the human experience, here’s a list of some of the best movies based on true stories.
“Moneyball” (2011)
“Moneyball” brought Michael Lewis’ 2003 book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning Unfair Games” to the silver screen in 2011. The film starred Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, a tax-motivated manager who uses a small budget and unconventional approach to bring down his team. Wealthier team. Bean teams up with Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a fictional character loosely modeled after the book’s character, Paul DePodesta. Rather than selecting players the old-fashioned way, he selects players who have statistical potential but have been passed over by scouts.
“Moneyball” is available to stream for free with ads. YouTube.
“Social Network” (2010)
“The Social Network” is based on “The Accidental Billionaires,” a 2009 book about the founding of Facebook. Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg, who worked on the concept that eventually became his Facebook in 2003. In the years that followed, he became the youngest billionaire in history, but was sued in two cases, including one filed against his former friend and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). There will also be related litigation, and you will face complex legal and personal issues.
“The Social Network” is available to stream below Netflix.
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
“Hidden Figures” tells the true story of three black mathematicians at NASA. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Vaughn (Octavia Spencer), and Jackson (Janelle Monáe) were responsible for the behind-the-scenes work of launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
“Hidden Figures” can be streamed below Disney Plus.
“Spotlight” (2015)
Back in 2001, the editors of the Boston Globe assigned a team of journalists to investigate allegations against a priest accused of sexually abusing more than 80 boys. The team interviewed victims and attempted to unseal confidential documents that could help the investigation find evidence of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the church.
“Spotlight” can be streamed below Max.
“I, Tonya” (2017)
Margot Robbie played former figure skater Tonya Harding in 2017’s I, Tonya. The film depicts Harding’s life and career, including her turbulent childhood, her rise in the figure skating world, and her infamous relationship with the 1994 assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan. There is.
“I, Tonya” is available to stream below. Max.
“The Bling Ring” (2013)
“The Bling Ring” was published in Vanity Fair magazine in 2010, detailing robberies committed by a group of teenagers against a wide range of celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Orlando Bloom. The inspiration came from the article “Suspect was wearing Louboutins”. Rachel Bilson too. By leveraging the internet to learn the whereabouts of celebrities, the teens used technology to their advantage and robbed celebrities’ homes across Los Angeles.
“The Bling Ring” is available to stream below Netflix.
“King Richard” (2021)
“King Richard” tells the origin story of Serena and Venus Williams as today’s iconic tennis stars, with Will Smith playing their father, Richard Williams. As a father, Richard Williams is on a mission to help his daughters make history, training them with unwavering dedication on the public tennis courts in Compton, California. There is.
“King Richard” is available to stream below Max.
“Elvis” (2022)
The life of Elvis Presley was made into a biographical drama in 2022’s Elvis, starring Austin Butler in the title role. The film depicts 20 years of the life of a musician who died under the care of Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. The film follows Presley’s life through his rise to fame and superstardom, capturing his complex relationships, including his romance with his wife Priscilla Presley and his tumultuous relationship with Parker. It is recorded.
“Elvis” can be streamed below Max.
“Goodfellas” (1990)
“Goodfellas” is based on the book “Wise Guy” by Nicholas Pileggi, which tells the story of Henry Hill, a mafia associate who eventually becomes an informant. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film depicts Hill’s rise and fall through the ranks of the Mafia over several decades, and all that follows.
“Goodfellas” is available to stream below Tubi.
“The Pursuit of Happiness” (2006)
The Pursuit of Happyness brings to life the story of Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, a single father who faces many challenges. Gardner was evicted from his apartment and was left homeless with his young son Christopher Gardner Jr., played by Smith’s son Jaden Smith. Gardner became an intern at a securities firm, but the position was unpaid and he and his son continued to face financial hardship. Despite this, Gardner persists in trying to make life better for his family.
The Pursuit of Happiness is available for purchase or rental below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“Julie & Julia” (2009)
Julie Powell, played by Amy Adams, is a New Yorker who works in a call center for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. When frustrated with her job, she turns to her cooking and vows to make all the recipes in Julia Childs’ cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. All the while, the film stitches together moments in which Meryl Streep’s Julia Child masters the art of French cooking.
“Julie & Julia” can be purchased or rented below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“Wild” (2014)
Based on the novel of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, Wild follows Reese Witherspoon’s character Strayed after she experiences the death of her mother and the end of her marriage. Along her self-destructive path, Strayed is determined to make a difference and rebuild her life. To that end, despite her lack of outdoor experience, she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone.
“Wild” can be purchased or rented below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
Frank Abagnale Jr. is skilled at deceit and forgery. Abagnale, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, held numerous jobs before he turned 18, including first officer, doctor, and lawyer. He became the most successful bank robber in US history when he was just 17 years old. The mission of his FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks, is to capture Abagnale, who always seems to be one step ahead of him.
“Catch Me If You Can” is available to stream below Netflix.
“Just Mercy” (2019)
In his 2014 memoir, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, the lawyer recalls his time defending underprivileged clients. The film follows Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), who, after graduating from Harvard University, moves to Alabama to defend the wrongfully convicted and those who cannot afford to defend themselves. Masu. Among his clients is Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a man sentenced to death for the murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite evidence of his innocence.
“Just Mercy” can be purchased or rented below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“Walk the Line” (2005)
Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, which depicts the tumultuous life of Johnny Cash from his childhood to his rise to fame as a country music star. After growing up on a farm and moving to Memphis with his first wife Vivian, Cash enters the music scene and eventually goes on tour, where he meets June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). Cash’s life has been full of ups and downs, as he struggled with drug addiction, fame, and love.
“Walk the Line” is available to stream below Max.
“Erin Brockovich” (2000)
After getting into a car accident, Erin Brockovich, played by Julia Roberts, gets a job at a law firm and asks a lawyer to hire her. Brockovich discovers her medical records in her estate file at her company. After some persuasion, Brockovich begins investigating this discovery and she stumbles upon a cover-up of contaminated water in the local community that has caused a series of illnesses among the residents.
“Erin Brockovich” can be purchased or rented below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“The Theory of Everything” (2014)
The 2014 film depicts the life of Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, before he falls in love with his first wife Jane, played by Felicity Jones. At the age of 21, Hawking learned that he had motor neuron disease. Despite his diagnosis, the couple is still able to take new steps in the field of medicine and science.
The Theory of Everything is available for purchase or rental below. Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
“Lion” (2016)
Based on Saroo Brierley’s non-fiction novel “A Long Way Home,” “Lion” tells the story of Saroo, played by Dev Patel. Saroo gets lost on a train and ends up crossing India, thousands of miles from his home. he is 5 years old. He first learns to survive on his own in Kolkata, then is adopted by an Australian couple. Over 20 years later, he is trying to use his memories and his Google Earth to find his family and return to his home.
“Lion” is available to stream below Tubi.
“Nomadland” (2021)
The Oscar-winning film follows Fern (Frances McDormand), a woman in her 60s who loses everything in the Great Recession of the late 2000s. As Fern travels through the western United States, she finds herself living her nomadic life in a van.
“Nomadland” can be streamed below Hulu.
“Selma” (2014)
The 2014 film “Selma” is based on the famous 1965 Alabama March from Selma to Montgomery.
These protest marches were led by civil rights leader James Bevell and led by Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Hosea Williams in advocating for the right to vote.
“Selma” is available to stream below paramount+.
This article originally appeared on TODAY.com
