List of films based on actual events (before 1940)

This is a list of films that are based on actual events.

2000s

Living Proof (2008) — Based on the true life story of Denny Slamon, who helped develop a breast cancer drug called Herceptin 2.
Forever the Moment (2008) — Based on the achievements of the South Korean women's national handball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) - Based on the last year of Jesse James' life, leading up to his assassination by Robert Ford.
An American Crime (2007) - Based on the torture on Sylvia Marie Likens.
Zodiac (film) (2007) - Based on Bay Area Serial Killer (Zodiac Killer)
Primeval (film) (2007) — based on tales of a real man-eating crocodile still living in Burundi named Gustave
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) — Based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan.
Into the Wild (2007) — Based on the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer about the adventures of Christopher McCandless.
Alpha Dog (2007) — Based on the kidnap and murder of Nicholas Markowitz organized mainly by Jesse James Hollywood, with names changed.
Freedom Writers (2007) — Based on the book, The Freedom Writers Diary, by teacher Erin Gruwell.
Pride (2007) — Based loosely on the true story of Jim Ellis and his African American swim team in 1974 Philadelphia.
Take the Lead (2006) - Based on the story of Pierre Dulaine, as he teaches potential high school drop-outs how to ballroom dance during detention, in an attempt to raise their self-respect and confidence.
Traces of Love (2006) — Based on the Sampoong Department Store collapse of 1995.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006) — Based on the book Flags of Our Fathers written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the Battle of Iwo Jima and Raising the flag on Iwo Jima.
Glory Road (2006) — Based on the story of the 1965-66 Texas Western basketball team and its march to the national championship, although with some liberties taken.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) — Based on the true story of Christopher Gardner, with liberties taken.
We Are Marshall (2006) — Story of the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team. Directed by McG.
The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) — Based on the life of golfer, Francis Ouimet. Directed by Bill Paxton.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) — Story of Anneliese Michel. Directed by Scott Derrickson.
The Great Raid (2005) — Story of the raid at Cabanatuan. Directed by John Dahl.
Lords of Dogtown (2005) - Based on the documentary Dogtown and Z-boys. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
North Country (2005) — Based on a law suit. Directed by Niki Caro.
The Perfect Man (2005) — Based on the life stories of screenwriter Heather Robinson and her mother, Janet Robinson. Directed by Mark Rosman.
Only the Brave (2005) — Story of the rescue of the Lost Battalion by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Directed by Lane Nishikawa.
The Amityville Horror (2005) — Ostensibly based on the real life murders by Ronald DeFeo, Jr. of his six family members from November, 1974 in Long Island, New York.
The Aviator (2004) — Story of Howard Hughes, Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Friday Night Lights (2004) — Adapted from Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger, about the 1988 football season of Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. Directed by Peter Berg.
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) — Story of failed assassin Samuel Byck. Directed by Niels Mueller.
Hotel Rwanda (2004) — Story of the Paul Rusesabagina's experiences during the Rwandan Genocide. Directed by Terry George.
Miracle (2004) — Story of Herb Brooks and the U.S. Olympic hockey team leading up to, and during the 1980 Olympic Games. Directed by Gavin O'Connor.
Hidalgo (2004) — Story of horse rider Frank Hopkins. Directed by Joe Johnston.
Open Water (film) (2003) — Based on story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who were left behind on their scuba diving trip in the South Pacific. Directed by Chris Kentis.
Monster (2003) — Story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Directed by Patty Jenkins.
Radio (2003) — Based on the real-life story of South Carolina high school football coach Harold Jones and his mentally-challenged assistant, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, adapted from a 1996 Sports Illustrated article by Gary Smith entitled "Someone to Lean On".
Touching the Void (2003) — Adapted from the book by Joe Simpson. Directed by Kevin MacDonald.
Catch Me if You Can (2002) — Story of con artist Frank Abagnale. Directed by Steven Spielberg
Chicago (2002) — Adapted from the stage musical by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb. Directed by Rob Marshall.
City of God (2002) — Adapted from a book by Paulo Lins. Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund.
Kandahar (2002) — Story of Afghan refugee Nelofer Pazira's return to Afghanistan. Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
The Laramie Project (2002) — Adapted from the play The Laramie Project, both by Moisés Kaufman.
Ted Bundy (2002) — Story of serial killer Ted Bundy.
We Were Soldiers (2002) — Based on the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement of American troops in the Vietnam War. Directed by Randall Wallace.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) — Based on the book Follow The Rabbit Proof Fence. Directed by Phillip Noyce.
A Beautiful Mind (2001) — Adapted from Sylvia Nasar's A Beautiful Mind, an unauthorized biography of John Nash. Directed by Ron Howard.
Behind Enemy Lines (2001) — Loosely based on the Mrkonjić Grad incident. Directed by John Moore.
Black Hawk Down (2001) — Adapted from Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern Warfare, a book by Mark Bowden which was in turn adapted from articles he wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer on the Battle of Mogadishu. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Erin Brockovich (2000) — Story of Erin Brockovich. Directed by Steven Soderbergh.
The Perfect Storm (2000) — Adapted from the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger about the 1991 Halloween Nor'easter. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
Remember the Titans (2000) — Based on the 1971 football season of the newly integrated T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
Shadow of the Vampire (2000) — Story of the making of Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens. Directed by E. Elias Merhige.

1990s

Anna and the King (1999) — Story of Anna Leonowens. Directed by Andy Tennant.
Boys Don't Cry (film) (1999) — Story of transgender man Brandon Teena. Directed by Kimberly Peirce.
Girl, Interrupted (1999) — Directed by James Mangold.
The Insider (1999) — Adapted from a magazine article by Marie Brenner. Directed by Michael Mann.
October Sky (1999) — Adapted from the memoir Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. Directed by Joe Johnston.
RKO 281 (1999) — Story of the making of Citizen Kane. Directed by Benjamin Ross.
Patch Adams (1998) — Story of Patch Adams. Directed by Tom Shadyac.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) — Story of the Niland Brothers during World War II. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Anastasia (1997) — Story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, with considerable liberties taken. Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman.
Four Days in September (1997) — Adapted from the book by Fernando Gabeira. Directed by Bruno Barreto.
Fly Away Home (1996) — Adapted from the book by Bill Lishman. Directed by Carroll Ballard.
Michael Collins (1996) — Based on the life of IRA leader Michael Collins.
Apollo 13 (1995) — Story of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, based on the book Lost Moon by Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. Directed by Ron Howard.
Heavenly Creatures (1994) — Based on the true story of Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker.
Quiz Show (1994) — Adapted from the novel by Richard N. Goodwin about the real-life American quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Directed by Robert Redford.
Alive (1993) — Based on the Piers Paul Read book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, which tells the story of the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in 1972. Directed by Frank Marshall.
And the Band Played On (1993) — Adapted from the book of the same title by Randy Shilts. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
Rudy (1993) — Based on the story of Notre Dame football walk-on Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger. Directed by David Anspaugh.
Schindler's List (1993) — Adapted from the book Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally about Oskar Schindler and his actions to save over 1,000 Jews from the Holocaust. Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Awakenings (1990) — Adapted from Oliver Sacks' memoir of the same title. Directed by Penny Marshall.
Not Without My Daughter (1990) — Story of Betty Mahmoody. Directed by Brian Gilbert.

1980s

Glory (1989) — Based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War. Directed by Edward Zwick.
The Accused (1988) — Based on the 1983 rape of Cheryl Araujo at Big Dan's Tavern in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The Delta Force (1986) — Based heavily on the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 in 1985. Directed by Menahem Golan.
Hoosiers (1986) — Based loosely on the story of the 1953-54 Milan High School basketball team, winners of that year's Indiana state high school basketball championship despite representing a school of about 160 students.
Marie (1985) — Based on Marie Ragghianti's exposure of the 1970s Tennessee parole board scandals; adapted from the book Marie: A True Story by Peter Maas.
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) — Adapted from the book by Loretta Lynn and George Vecsey. Directed by Michael Apted.
The Elephant Man (1980) — Story of Joseph Merrick. Directed by David Lynch.

1970s

The Amityville Horror (1979)
Patton (1970) — Story of U.S. General George S. Patton.

1960s

The Miracle Worker (1962) — Story of Helen Keller.

1940s

Sergeant York (1941) — Story of Sergeant Alvin York, the most decorated American soldier of World War I.

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