List of films based on actual events (before 1940)

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

2000s

• We Are Marshall (Story of the aftermath of the Marshall University airplane crash in 1970, 2006)
• The Greatest Game Ever Played (Adapted from a book, Directed by Bill Paxton, 2005)
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Story of Anneliese Michel, Directed by Scott Derrickson, 2005)
• The Great Raid (Story of the raid at Cabanatuan, Directed by John Dahl, 2005).
• North Country (Based on a law suit, Directed by Niki Caro, 2005)
• The Perfect Man (Directed by Mark Rosman, 2005)
• The Amityville Horror (2005)
• The Aviator (Story of Howard Hughes, Directed by Martin Scorsese, 2004)
• Friday Night Lights (Directed by Peter Berg, 2004)
• The Assassination of Richard Nixon (Story of failed assassin Samuel Byck, Directed by Niels Mueller, 2004)
• Hotel Rwanda (Story of the Paul Rusesabagina's experiences during the Rwandan Genocide, Directed by Terry George, 2004)
• Hidalgo (Story of horse rider Frank Hopkins, Directed by Joe Johnston, 2004)
• Monster (Story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Directed by Patty Jenkins, 2003)
• Touching the Void (Adapted from the book by Joe Simpson, Directed by Kevin MacDonald, 2003)
• Catch Me If You Can (Story of con-artist Frank Abagnale Jr., Directed by Steven Spielberg, 2002)
• Chicago (Adapted from the stage musical by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb, Directed by Rob Marshall, 2002)
• City of God (Adapted from a book by Paulo Lins, Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, 2002)
• Kandahar (Story of Afghan refugee Nelofer Pazira's return to Afghanistan, Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 2002)
• The Laramie Project (Adapted from the play The Laramie Project, both by Moisés Kaufman) (2002)
• Ted Bundy (2002)
• We Were Soldiers (Directed by Randall Wallace, 2002)
• Rabbit-Proof Fence (Based on the book Follow The Rabbit Proof Fence, Directed by Phillip Noyce, 2002)
• A Beautiful Mind (Story of John Nash, Directed by Ron Howard, 2001)
• Behind Enemy Lines (Directed by John Moore, 2001)
• Black Hawk Down (Story of Battle of Mogadishu, Directed by Ridley Scott, 2001)
• The Perfect Storm (Adapted from the book The Perfect Storm, Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, 2000)
• Erin Brockovich (Story of Erin Brockovich, Directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2000)
• The Patriot (Directed by Roland Emmerich, 2000)^{[dubious – discuss]}
• Shadow of the Vampire (Story of the making of Nosferatu, Directed by E. Elias Merhige, 2000)

1990s

• Girl, Interrupted (Directed by James Mangold, 1999)
• Anna and the King (Story of Anna Leonowens, Directed by Andy Tennant, 1999)
• The Insider (Adapted from a magazine article by Marie Brenner, Directed by Michael Mann, 1999)
• October Sky (Adapted from a book by Homer Hickam, Directed by Joe Johnston, 1999)
• RKO 281 (Story of the making of Citizen Kane, Directed by Benjamin Ross, 1999)
• Boys Don't Cry (film) (Story of transgender man Brandon Teena, Directed by Kimberly Peirce, 1999)
• Patch Adams (Story of Patch Adams, Directed by Tom Shadyac, 1998)
• Apollo 13 (Story of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, Directed by Ron Howard, 1995)
• Saving Private Ryan (Story of the Niland Brothers during World War II, Directed by Steven Spielberg, 1998)
• Anasatsia (Story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, 1997)
• Four Days in September (Adapted from the book by Fernando Gabeira, Directed by Bruno Barreto, 1997)
• Michael Collins (film) 1996-Film of IRA Leader Michael Collins
• Fly Away Home (Adapted from the book by Bill Lishman, Directed by Carroll Ballard, 1996)
• Heavenly Creatures (1994)
• Quiz Show (Adapted from the novel by Richard Goodwin, Directed by Robert Redford, 1994)
• Schindler's List (Adapted from the book by Thomas Keneally, Directed by Steven Spielberg, 1993)
• Alive (Story of Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, Directed by Frank Marshall, 1993)
• And the Band Played On (Adapted from the book by Randy Shilts, Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, 1993)
• Awakenings (Adapted from a book, Directed by Penny Marshall, 1990)
• Not Without My Daughter (Story of Betty Mahmoody, Directed by Brian Gilbert, 1990)

1980s

• Glory (Based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the American Civil War, Directed by Edward Zwick, 1989)
• The Accused (1988) (Based on the 1982 rape of Kelly McGillis, who stars in the film as a lawyer)
• Coal Miner's Daughter (Adapted from the book by Loretta Lynn and George Vecsey, Directed by Michael Apted, 1980)
• The Elephant Man (Story of Joseph Merrick, Directed by David Lynch, 1980)
• The Delta Force (Story of the hijacking of TWA flight 847 in 1985. Directed by Menahem Golan.)
• Marie based on Marie Ragghianti's exposure of the 1970s Tennessee parole board scandals; adapted from the book Marie: A True Story by Peter Maas.

1960s

• The Miracle Worker (Story of Helen Keller, 1962)

External links

• Internet Movie Database List
• Films Based on Historical Events and People