Best True Story

David Maysles' 'Man on Wire' recounts Philippe Petits daring, illegal tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. The film is a thrilling blend of archival footage, interviews, and recreations, capturing the meticulous planning and audacious execution of this incredible...

The 'Paradise Lost' trilogy (and subsequent updates) is a seminal work in true crime documentary filmmaking. It initially followed the prosecution of three teenagers for the murders of three young children in West Memphis, Arkansas. The series strength lies in its ability to expose flaws in the inve...

The series When They See Us recounts the true story of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongly accused and convicted of a brutal assault in Central Park in 1989. Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries explores systemic racism within the legal system and police investigation. It is significant for sheddin...

The Straight Story recounts the 1994 journey of Alvin Straight, who traveled across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower to visit his ailing brother. Directed by David Lynch and produced by Mary Sweeney, the film is based on a true story and was presented as a family-friendly feature with an MPAA G ra...

The television series Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord chronicles the rise and fall of Colombian narcotraficante Pablo Escobar, known as “El Patrón del Mal.” It presents a biographical account of his life and operations within Colombia’s drug trade, exploring themes of terrorism and organized crime. Thi...

Visaranai is a 2015 Tamil-language Indian film directed by Vetrimaaran, depicting police brutality and coerced confessions, and was India's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017.

Unbelievable is a six-part drama series detailing a complex investigation into multiple sexual assaults in Winder, Georgia. The story centers on Karen Buckley’s false arrest and subsequent investigation that ultimately revealed a pattern of violence perpetrated by Brandon Mitchell. Based on true rep...

United 93 portrays the events surrounding United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11th attacks. The film focuses on the passengers' efforts to thwart a hijacking, resulting in the plane’s crash, and depicts the responses of government personnel and air traffic control. It highlights the final...

The Nickel Boys is a historical fiction novel rooted in the true story of Dozier School for Boys, a reform institution in Florida during the mid-20th century. The book explores the devastating impact of racial injustice and systemic abuse on young Black men. Whitehead’s narrative exposes profound tr...

“The Sixth Commandment” is a BBC miniseries based on a chilling true story. It recounts the abduction and murder of Ann Moore-Martin in 2008 by Peter Farquhar, a local man with a history of violence. The series explores the investigation, the community's response, and the disturbing nature of the cr...

Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a 1989 drama film exploring the complexities of interpersonal relationships. The narrative centers around a man’s creation of sexually explicit videos and the subsequent disruption it causes within a marriage and family dynamic. The film examines themes of intimacy, commu...

Black Bird details the true story of James Keene, a journalist who orchestrated an unlikely exchange to gain information from Luke Sawtell, a convicted car thief serving time in Leavenworth Penitentiary. Sawtell’s deceptive behavior and apparent lack of remorse proved crucial to uncovering a series...

Papillon recounts the true story of Henri Charrière, a French man wrongly convicted of murder who spends years imprisoned on Devil’s Island. The film, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, highlights his relentless attempts to escape and regain freedom. It is notable for its depiction of harsh...

Deepwater Horizon chronicles the events surrounding the 2010 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The film details the disaster’s origins and immediate aftermath, drawing on a New York Times article published in 2010. Mark Wahlberg leads a cast portraying the crew in...

This FX miniseries, *The Assassination of Gianni Versace*, recounts the shocking 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Based on a true story and the subsequent investigation, it explores the motivations and actions of serial killer Andrew Cunanan during his spree of violence. The series ga...

Baby Reindeer is a dramatic miniseries exploring themes of stalking, trauma, and psychological distress. Adapted from Richard Gadd’s personal experiences, it depicts a man's obsessive relationship with a performer. The series garnered attention for its unflinching portrayal of abuse and its basis in...

The Act is a limited series depicting the true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. The narrative centers on fabricated claims of abuse made by Dee Dee, culminating in the death of her daughter. Joey King and Patricia Arquette lead the cast in this eight-part Hulu product...

I, Tonya is a 2017 biographical film depicting the life of figure skater Tonya Harding and her involvement with the 1994 Nancy Kerrigan assault. The narrative utilizes interviews with Tonya Harding and Jeff Gillooly, presenting potentially unreliable accounts. The film incorporates darkly comedic, c...

The Forgiveness Project is a UK-based organization dedicated to sharing stories of forgiveness from victims of violence around the world. Through powerful narratives, they highlight the transformative power of forgiveness and inspire others to find healing and reconciliation in the face of adversity...

Reversal of Fortune recounts the 1978 case involving Lydia van Bülow, a wealthy socialite accused of causing the death of her husband, Edwin Van Bülow. The film adapts Dershowitz’s account of the legal proceedings and investigations surrounding the controversial trial. It explores the complexities o...

Food, Inc. investigates the practices of American agribusiness, revealing concerns about its impact on human health, the environment, and labor conditions within the industry. The film highlights the production methods employed by large-scale farming operations and their associated consequences. A s...

The Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora recounts the dramatic 2015 escape of inmates Richard Matt, Guido Bertolucci, and Hillary Lane from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Directed by Ben Stiller, it explores the events leading up to, during, and after the audacious prison...

The HBO miniseries We Own This City explores systemic corruption within the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force. Based on a true story detailed in Wesley Lowery’s reporting, it investigates abuses of power and excessive force perpetrated by officers. The series sheds light on the prof...

Lion is a 2016 biographical drama based on Saroo Brierley’s memoir. The film recounts the story of a man who, twenty-five years after being orphaned in India, undertook a journey to locate his family. It was produced collaboratively between Australia and the United Kingdom, featuring Dev Patel and S...

The HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero recounts the 2010s battle over integrating affordable housing in Yonkers, New York. Based on a true story, it explores the complex political and social tensions surrounding urban development and racial equity. The series examines how local government decisions impac...

My Dad Wrote a Porno remains a consistently hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming podcast. The premise Jamie Morton asks his father to write an erotic novel and then reads it aloud is inherently absurd, but the podcast's success lies in the genuine chemistry between the hosts and the sheer ridic...

Foxcatcher chronicles the relationship between John du Pont, a wealthy recluse, and Olympic wrestling champions Mark and Dave Schultz. The film details du Pont’s attempt to establish a training program before culminating in his fatal shooting of Dave Schultz in 1996. It is based on a true story invo...

This ITV miniseries explores the public scrutiny and subsequent wrongful accusation surrounding Christopher Jefferies, a private detective investigated in connection to the murder of Lord Stevens. The story highlights the damaging impact of media sensationalism and police investigation tactics on an...

The Spy Gone North details the true story of Park Chae-seo, a South Korean intelligence officer who infiltrated North Korea in the 2010s. Her undercover operation, undertaken to rescue her kidnapped brother, highlights the significant challenges and risks involved in covert operations within the hea...