Best movies based on true stories

273 items • 3999 views • 17 votes • updated Nov 8, 2026
Best movies based on true stories

Discover the best movies based on true stories, ranked from best to worst.

Based on 17 votes, the movie A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, came in first as the best movie inspired by real cases, followed by A Bronx Tale and GoodFellas from 1990. Scroll down for the top 10 movies based on true stories, recommended by movie fans in 2026.

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Recommend the best movies inspired by true stories

1
34.23719528896193%
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A Beautiful Mind 1
A Beautiful Mind
2001 - Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Paul Bettany, Christopher Plummer, Josh...
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2
0
At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a meaningful contribution that will serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He makes a breakthrough discovery that will •••
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2
34.23719528896193%
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A Bronx Tale 2
A Bronx Tale
1993 - Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Francis Capra, Taral Hicks
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2
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Set in the Bronx during the tumultuous 1960s, an adolescent boy is torn between his honest, working-class father and a violent yet charismatic crime boss. Complicating matters is the •••
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3
34.23719528896193%
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GoodFellas 3
GoodFellas
1990 - Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino
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2
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Inspired by a real case, the film centers on Henry, a mobster who watches his friends climb the criminal hierarchy. It is a classic gangster story about childhood friends who must grow up •••
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4
34.23719528896193%
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Hacksaw Ridge 4
Hacksaw Ridge
2016 - Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, Hugo...
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2
0
The film follows Desmond Doss, a combat medic who refused to carry a weapon. At Okinawa in 1945, he rescued wounded comrades under enemy fire, actions for which he received the Medal of •••
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5
20.654329147389294%
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12 Years a Slave 5
12 Years a Slave
2013 - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano
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1
0
The film 12 Years a Slave is inspired by the true story of a man fighting for survival and freedom in a time when skin color determines a person's worth. Before the outbreak of the •••
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6
20.654329147389294%
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American Gangster 6
American Gangster
2007 - Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Ted...
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1
0
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by •••
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Best TV shows based on true storiesBest TV shows based on true storiesBest biographical moviesBest biographical moviesBest Drama MoviesBest Drama MoviesBest TV shows based on booksBest TV shows based on books
7
20.654329147389294%
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Donnie Brasco 7
Donnie Brasco
1997 - Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, Anne Heche, Zeljko...
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1
0
An undercover FBI agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one.
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8
20.654329147389294%
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Hidden Figures 8
Hidden Figures
2016 - Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim...
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1
0
The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest •••
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9
20.654329147389294%
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The Good Nurse 9
The Good Nurse
2022 - Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kim Dickens, Malik Yoba, Alix West...
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1
0
An overworked nurse enlists the help of her new colleague both at work and at home. But a patient's unexpected death raises her suspicions. Convinced that her new colleague (Oscar-winning •••
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10
20.654329147389294%
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The Six Triple Eight 10
The Six Triple Eight
2024 - Kerry Washington, Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon, Dean Norris, Oprah Winfrey, Ebony...
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1
0
During World War II, an American battalion of black women is tasked with clearing a backlog of military mail. Under the leadership of Charity Adams, the team must sort through millions of •••
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How do the rankings work?

If you liked the list Best movies based on true stories, discover more below:

 
Best Historical Movies Best Historical Movies
Best Crime Movies Best Crime Movies
Best Thriller Movies Best Thriller Movies
Best movies based on books Best movies based on books
Best War Movies Best War Movies
Best movies of all time Best movies of all time
Best action movies Best action movies
Best Comedy Movies Best Comedy Movies
Best movies of 2025 Best movies of 2025
Best movies of 2023 Best movies of 2023
Best Sports Movies Best Sports Movies
Best drama movies of 2025 Best drama movies of 2025
Best Romantic Movies Best Romantic Movies
Best movies with Mafia, gangsters and mobsters Best movies with Mafia, gangsters and mobsters
Best Picture Oscar winners Best Picture Oscar winners
Best movies of 2026 Best movies of 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which movie is in first place?

A Beautiful Mind is currently ranked first on TopFaves, with 2 votes for and 0 votes against in this list.

What are the top three spots?

The top three spots are held, in order, by A Beautiful Mind, A Bronx Tale, GoodFellas. The ranking can change as votes are added.

What are the most recent movies in this list?

Among the titles with a known release year, the most recent are: By Any Means (2026), Dead Man's Wire (2026), Elize: Shadows of a Woman (2026).

Which movies from 2010–2019 are included?

Titles released in this period include Bad Education (2019), Fighting with My Family (2019), Ip Man 4 (2019).

How many votes have been recorded?

In total, 17 votes have been recorded. The total refers to the whole list and is not the number of different people who voted.

How do I vote and how is the ranking decided?

Press the up arrow if you recommend an option or the down arrow if you do not. You can use the search box in the list to quickly find a name and vote directly. The order takes into account both positive and negative votes and how many there are, and positions can change as votes are added.