Summary

• True stories come to life on Netflix, inspiring audiences with the incredible tales of real people and events.
• From serial killers to sports analysts, Netflix showcases a diverse range of stories that captivate and entertain viewers.
• The best Netflix movies based on true stories blend historical accuracy with artistic interpretation to bring important moments to light.

The best Netflix movies based on a true story inspire, excite, and impact viewers like no other movie. The film industry loves true stories; for that reason, many of the productions are based on the lives of people who experienced extraordinary situations. Likewise, many of these films manage to capture moments in human history that are important to highlight. Cinema transforms those true stories into more artistic and entertaining elements, choosing the details to be told in order to captivate the audience.

Netflix is the home to some of the best documentaries anywhere, and while there are plenty of true stories to entertain subscribers, there are also many based-on-true-story movies with some of the top actors in the world sharing these stories. In many cases, real events exist that are so incredible they surpass any fictional story and seem almost too fantastical to be true. It's not easy to pull off, as in the best Netflix movies based on a true story, directors have a chance to honor the truth in a way that works in a regular movie without going over the line when it comes to reality.

25 Pain Hustlers (2023)

Loosely Based On The Insys Scandal

One of the best recent movies based on a true story available on Netflix is Pain Hustlers, which arrived in 2023 as an original for the platform starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. The screenplay, written by Wells Tower, is based on the book of the same name by Evan Hughes, which itself is a (loose) adaptation of the Insys scandal in 2018.

While Pain Hustlers is a comedy, it's still a shocking look at some of the worst and darkest aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, as the true story involved a Fentanyl spray being sold as a safe pain management medication. Fentanyl is, of course, incredibly dangerous. Andy Garcia's character in Pain Hustlers, Jack Neel, is likely inspired by Dr. John Kapoor, who founded Insys Therapeutics.

The company was a prominent name in the pharmaceutical industry, but went into bankruptcy in 2019. While Pain Hustlers changes many elements of the true story, it is true that Insys bribed and coerced many medical professionals to promote their dangerous product with such tenacity and disregard for the law that Kapoor was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison.

24 Maestro (2023)

Bradley Cooper''s Leonard Bernstein Biographic

Many of the best movies on Netflix based on true stories are also biographicals that focus on a specific individual and their life story, whether due to their acclaim or infamy. One of the most recent arrived in 2023 — Maestro, the black-and-white film documenting the life and cultural influence of classical composer Leonard Bernstein directed, written by, and starring Bradley Cooper. Cooper brings Bernstein to life in the movie, which showcases why the figure was so important to classical music in America and how he gained international acclaim.

However, a key focus of Maestro isn't just Bernstein's legacy, but also his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre (played by Carey Mulligan). The pair collaborated extensively across their careers, and her influence on her husband is unquestionable. An intriguing figure in her own right, Maestro perfectly captures the true story of how the lives and legacies of Bernstein and Montealegre intertwine, making for a truly gripping drama.

23 The Good Nurse (2022)

The Chilling Tale Of Serial Killer Charles Cullen

Since the streaming platform is known for its many true-crime offerings, it's unsurprising that many of the best movies on Netflix based on a true story focus on serial killers. 2022's The Good Nurse is one of the best of the bunch in this regard, and tells the harrowing story of Charles Cullen, the convicted serial killer who used his position as a nurse to murder hundreds of patients during his 16-year career. Eddie Redmayne brings his dramatic prowess to the movie as Cullen, and his performance throughout is truly chilling.

A shocking look at just how easily administrative shortcomings in medical environments made it for Cullen to fulfill his twisted desires.

The movie is based on the book The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber, and both give a shocking look at just how easily administrative shortcomings in medical environments made it for Cullen to fulfill his twisted desires. Jessica Chastain stars alongside Redmayne in the cast of The Good Nurse as fellow nurse Amy Loughren, one of the first of Cullen's colleagues to suspect him of malpractice and, eventually, proved essential when he was brought to justice.

22 Harriet (2019)

The Awe-Inspiring Story Of Harriet Tubman

The Slave Trade was a stain on the history of the United States. However, from these incredibly dark and dangerous times came some stories of true heroism, and one of the best movies on Netflix based on a true story focuses on one such case — that of Harriet Tubman, the former slave turned abolitionist who risked her life to rescue scores of slaves from plantations across the Confederate south. 2019's Harriet brings Tubman's incredible life story to screens with The Color Purple star Cynthia Erivo in the lead role as the titular character.

Erivo was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman, and Harriet was critically acclaimed. It has an invigorating pace, managing to feature far more action than most historical biographic movies. Just how easily her true story became a riveting movie shows how incredible the life she lead was, and Harriet is sure to satisfy any Netflix subscribers who want to learn more about an undersung American hero while being thoroughly entertained at the same time.

21 Lost Girls (2020)

A Shocking Mystery About An Infamous Unidentified Serial Killer

The Long Island serial killer is one of the most infamous uncaught serial killers in the US. They operated between 1996 and 2011, with their activity only discovered when the remains of 11 women and girls (the youngest of whom was a toddler) were discovered on Gilgo Beach. Director Liz Garbus's film Lost Girls doesn't focus on the killer themselves, but on the true story of activist Mari Gilbert (played by Amy Ryan), the mother of one of the missing girls whose search for her child unearths key details about the unsolved murders.

Unlike many of the other true-crime movies on Netflix focusing on serial killers, Lost Girls spends its time focusing on the impact that these heinous crimes have on the families of the victims

Like many of the Netflix movies based on a true story, Lost Girls was adapted from a nonfiction book — Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. It's an incredibly gripping drama, and unlike many of the other true-crime movies on Netflix focusing on serial killers, Lost Girls spends its time focusing on the impact that these heinous crimes have on the families of the victims, rather than glorifying the killer themselves.

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20 Moneyball (2011)

A Star-Studded Study Of An Influential Sports Analyst

Director Bennett Miller's 2011 sports drama Moneyball focuses on one of the most intriguing stories in the history of baseball — and, even more intriguingly, isn't focused on an athlete. The movie — based on the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis — focuses on the story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) and Paul DePodesta (based on analyst Peter Brand and played by Jonah Hill).

Beane and DePodestea/Brand came up with a radical new approach to the game based on statistical analysis that proved game-changing, completely turning the world of baseball on its head. Pitt and Hill are joined in the Moneyball cast by the likes of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, Robin Wright, and more.

While it didn't win any, it was nominated for multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Pitt for his portrayal of Beane, and Jonah Hill for Best Supporting Actor thanks to his performance as Paul Depodesta.

19 Nyad (2023)

A Sports Drama About Unparalleled Determination

2023's Nyad is another Netflix movie based on a true story that brings one of the most interesting narratives in the history of sports and athletics to the screen. It tells the story of Diana Nyad, based on her own book Find a Way, and her repeated attempts to swim the Straits of Florida. The Straits would require an incredible 110 miles of uninterrupted swimming, taking Nyad from Cube to Florida. Nyad had attempted the journey decades prior, and decided at age 60 that she wouldn't be able to rest unless she tried once again, this time successfully.

Nyad accomplished her goal, successfully making the swim on her fifth attempt in 2013. The movie adaptation of her story on Netflix stars Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Annette Bening as Diana Nyad. She is joined in the Nyad cast by the likes of Jodie Foster as Nyad's fellow athlete, Bonnie Stoll, as well as Rhys Ifans as John Bartlett, the navigator Nyad hires to assist her in her journey.

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18 Scoop (2024)

The Dramatization Of One Of The Most Shocking Interviews In Television History

Philip Martin's 2024 drama Scoop was made exclusively for Netflix, and to say it was one of the streaming platforms' more controversial releases is an understatement. Among the many individuals potentially implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein case was Prince Andrew of the UK's Royal Family.

The brother of the UK's King Charles III and second son of Queen Elizabeth II, Andrew was famously implicated in the scandal due to his friendship with Epstein and photographs of him with a young girl, Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that Andrew had engaged in underaged sexual activity with her, which was facilitated by Epstein.

Scoop is a dramatization of a shocking interview between Prince Andrew and BBC presenter Emily Matiss, one that backfired spectacularly for Prince Andrew and, in the eyes of many of the public, seemed to show his guilt rather than convince them of his innocence. The cast includes many prominent names, including Gillian Anderson as Emily Matiss, Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, and Billie Piper as TV producer Sam McAlister.

17 Society Of The Snow (2023)

A Shocking Yet True Survival Drama

The 1972 plane crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes mountains led to a harrowing experience for the rugby team of Uruguay, who were on a flight to Chile for a match between the two countries. 45 passengers were on board, though only 33 survived the initial crash. However, for many of the survivors, the crash was only the beginning of their harrowing experience. Over the course of 72 days, the remaining passengers were stranded on the Andes mountains, an experience that many didn't survive, and those who did had to shockingly resort to cannibalism to stay alive.

It was incredibly well received by viewers, especially for its unflinching dedication to realism.

Society of the Snow is a dramatization of this shocking true story from Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona. It was incredibly well received by viewers, especially for its unflinching dedication to realism. Society of the Snow was nominated for multiple awards, and also received the approval of director Frank Marshall. This is an important point since Marshall directed 1993's Alive, which focused on the same events and is widely regarded as one of the most solid survival dramas put to screen.

16 Jesus Revolution (2023)

A Preacher Reconnects With The Youth

Not every Netflix movie based on a true story is a tale of grizzly serial killers, uncompromising athletes, or harrowing tales of survival. Released in 2023, Jesus Revolution is a Christian drama movie that arrived in theaters to a minor success, with a $53 million worldwide box office on only a $15 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). The movie stars Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Smith, a pastor who, in 1968, realizes his church is dying because he struggles to connect with the younger generation.

When a young hippie preacher named Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie) shows up, he is able to revitalize the church with his message of love and acceptance. The movement earned the cover story of Time magazine in 1971. The movie received mixed reviews, with most of the positive reviews coming from fans of Christian films.

15 The Dirt (2019)

The True-Yet-Unbelieable Rise And Fall Of Motley Crue

The Dirt arrived as a Netflix original in 2019, and stands out among the best Netflix movies based on a true story due to its uncompromising dedication to depicting the rock n' roll lifestyle of its focus — the band Motley Crue. Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the story of Motley Crue and focuses on some of their more lurid and debaucherous moments in their early career. These include receiving advice from Ozzy Osbourne (played by Tony Cavalero) who is shown snorting ants up his nose.

The cast included some big names, including Pete Davidson as a record executive and Machine Gun Kelly as Crue drummer Tommy Lee. The movie picked up mixed reviews, but in this case, the film was a cult favorite for fans of the band and the 80s metal scene in general. There are some emotional moments too, such as when lead vocalist Vince Neil (played by Daniel Webber) learns that his wife and daughter have left him.

14 Unbroken (2014)

A Tale Of An Unbreakable Spirit In One Of The Worst Locations In WW2

Unbroken is a war film released in 2014, and easily one of the best Netflix movies based on a true story that dives into the many shocking events of WW2. Angelina Jolie directed the project, based on the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Unbroken is the first of two movies to chronicle the wartime experiences of its central character, the second being 2018's Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

Jack O'Connell (Eden Lake) stars as a former American Olympian named Capt. Louis "Louie" Zamperini. Zamperini survived on a raft for 47 days after his bomber crashed into the ocean before the Japanese captured him and sent him to a POW camp until the end of the Second World War. Unbroken was a box office success and picked up three Oscar nominations, all for technical achievements.

13 The Highwaymen (2019)

The True Story Of The Hunt For Bonnie And Clyde