7 Most Accurate 'Based on a True Story' Films, According to Reddit
Fact often comes second to fiction, but not with these movies.
Schindler's List (1993)
Steven Spielberg 's Schindler's List, based on the novel Schindler's Ark, follows the remarkable story of Ozark Schindler, a German businessman who saved 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factory during the Holocaust.
From revealing the horrific living conditions of the Jews during WW2, to the inclusion of real Holocaust survivors as supporting characters, Schindler's List is grim and authentic.
Besides extensive research into the historical events, the casting and costumes were almost too accurate. As one Redditor recalls, a Schindler Jew, and consultant for the film, went into a panic attack after seeing Ralph Fiennes in character as camp commandant Amon Goeth.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
The horrific story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man, kidnapped from New York and sold into slavery in Louisiana. 12 Years a Slave is based on his 1853 memoir and narrative, which he declared to: 'present a full and truthful statement of all the principal events in the history of my life, and…portray the institution of slavery as I have seen and known it.'
The movie closely follows the events detailed in the book, depicting the experience from the view of the slave. From the physical and psychological violence from the slave masters, including naked beatings and sexual terror, to the characters depicted and their interactions with Northup, most of the movie is drawn directly from Northup's narrative.
Apollo 13 (1995)
Apollo 13 brings to life the historic and ill-fated NASA mission that shocked the world in 1970. The film is also where the iconic 'Houston, we have a problem' line comes from.
The film was a gripping, dramatic and incredible cinematic experience, winning Academy Awards for Best Editing and Best Sound, but it was also factually correct. From its depiction of the extreme technical difficulties faced on the mission, to the efforts of the astronauts and ground crew.
Dave Scott, a retired test pilot and NASA astronaut, and the seventh person to walk on the moon, served as an advisor to the film's director, Ron Howard. Howard also studied video footage and transcripts in his effort to remain faithful to the true story.
Zulu (1964)
This gritty fact-based war film takes audiences back to the Battle of Rorke's Drift, recounting the attempts of the 150-some British soldiers to defend their station against an army of over 4,000 Zulu warriors.
Some critics have raised the issue of the lack of attention for the Zulu's side of the story, and the bigger picture of the battle. However, the film has been praised by Redditors for its accurate telling of the events, capturing the spirit of the battle, and Michael Caine's performance.
Spotlight (2015)
According to The Wall Street Journal, Spotlight is 'a rarity among countless dramatizations that claim to be based on actual events. In this one the events ring consistently — and dramatically — true.'
The film follows a group of journalists from the Botson Globe who make it their mission to expose the sexual abuse of children taking place within the Roman Catholic Church, and the details that lead up to a scandal that shook the world.
From the exhaustive battle to unseal documents, the emotional interviews with priests, victims and judges, the film sticks closely to the real team's efforts and discoveries. The release of the film would shock audiences, but also compel victims to come forward with their stories.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
This thrilling war-epic is considered accurate by both the US and Japanese governments, as it carefully details the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, down to the unforgettable quote from the Japanese Admiral:
'I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.'
There is no shortage of drama and tension as the two countries head down a war path, but the film is just as educational as it is entertaining. Although there were some minor inaccuracies with the ship and aircraft models depicted, these would only be picked up by experts.
The Big Short (2015)
The Big Short is a faithful recollection of the events that led up to the financial crisis of the late 2000s, and the individuals who made millions from the impending financial downfall, by shorting the mortgage bond market. The film is based on Michael Lewis's 'The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine' an objective nonfiction account of the crisis.
The names of the characters were changed for personal reasons, and the film dramatized certain events for the sake of entertainment and comedy, but Christian Bale 's character, hedge fund manager, Michael Burry, was true to real life.
The film concludes with a somber, and very real message, warning audiences that little has been learned from the crisis.
Source: Metacritic.