The cliché ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ becomes genuine with this Netflix lineup, pushing boundaries by mixing fictional elements with real stories worth featuring on the big screen.
These narratives bring impactful tales of success, struggle, and resilience to life, drawing viewers into a journey of moving events with deeper cinematic insights. Funnier and better than reading the news, you’ll immerse yourself in them like never before.
My Best Friend Anne Frank (2021)
Exploring the enduring friendship between Anne Frank and her best friend, Hanneli Goslar, this film takes viewers into the heart of World War II, revealing the strength of two young girls facing unimaginable challenges. As they handle the dangers and deprivations of their hidden life, the story reveals lesser-known details of their daily existence and the unbreakable bond that sustains them through their darkest days.
Heaven Is for Real (2014)
During an emergency surgery, after being between life and death, young Colton Burpo claims to have visited heaven and returned. The film portrays his extraordinary experience, also the subject of a New York Times bestseller book.
The movie examines this claim’s profound impact on his family, challenging their beliefs and inviting people to explore the transformative effects of his alleged celestial journey.
The Impossible (2012)
In the intense drama The Impossible, a family struggles to reunite after being caught in the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The film chronicles their separation and extraordinary efforts to find each other amid overwhelming chaos. It offers a touching look at human tenacity and the power of familial bonds in the face of natural disasters.
Tyson’s Run (2022)
Tyson’s Run is a heartwarming film inspired by the true story of a young boy with autism. The movie narrates his determination to face challenges and pursue his dreams. As Tyson sets out to complete a marathon, his journey inspires those around him, emphasizing the strength and potential of people on the autism spectrum. His story encourages conversations about inclusion and celebrates achievements in the face of adversity.
Forgotten Love (2023)
A renowned Polish surgeon reaches the pinnacle of his career only to have his life unravel dramatically. After being brutally assaulted, he lost his memory. Mistaken for dead, he survives as a homeless man. Despite his amnesia, the man continues to help the sick instinctively until a chance encounter reconnects him with his past. The plot inspiration came from a real doctor who lost his memory in a car accident.
NYAD (2023)
This film adapts Diana Nyad’s life story from her autobiographical book Find a Way. It chronicles the remarkable feat of the American journalist and swimmer who, at sixty years old, swam the daunting stretch of open water from Cuba to Florida. The movie boasts a distinguished cast featuring Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, and Rhys Ifans.
Maestro (2023)
Maestro is a biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein, directed, written, and starred by Bradley Cooper. The film centers on Bernstein’s passionate and tumultuous relationship with his wife, actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). The couple raised three children and stayed together until Montealegre’s passing. Despite Bernstein’s attraction to men and his various affairs, their marriage remained intact, held together by a deep, unwavering love that transcended physical bonds.
Society of the Snow (2023)
This thrilling movie, directed by Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona, shares the incredible survival tale of a 1972 airplane crash in the Andes Mountains. The passengers, mainly an amateur rugby team and their loved ones, faced harsh conditions like the extreme cold, avalanches, and lack of food. After being stranded for 72 days, only 16 out of the 32 survivors returned home. The film shows their remarkable story of endurance and survival.
Pain Hustlers (2023)
Pain Hustlers pulls inspiration from a harrowing true story detailed in a 2018 New York Times article and expanded in Evan Hughes’s 2022 book, The Hard Sell.
The film unpacks the corrupt practices of Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics. The pharmaceutical company aggressively pushed Subsys, a powerful synthetic opioid intended for severe cancer pain, for broader use through unethical means, including bribing doctors and manipulating insurance approvals, leading to devastating consequences.
Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
In this film, directed by Ron Howard, a young man guides his path from Appalachia to Yale Law School, exposing his working-class upbringing.
Based on J.D. Vance’s memoir, the movie explores his struggles with family relationships and personal ambitions. It provides an insightful look at his pursuit of the American Dream, proving the complexities of family loyalty and the challenges of socioeconomic hardship in rural America.
Two Distant Strangers (2020)
The Academy Award-winning short film pictures the relentless cycle of racial injustice through the experiences of a Black man caught in a time loop. Each cycle ends tragically with an encounter with a police officer, echoing the real-life instances of police violence across the United States. The innovative use of the time loop genre emphasizes racial injustice’s repetitive and systemic nature in the US.
The Good Nurse (2022)
In this thriller, a compassionate nurse uncovers her trusted colleague’s involvement in a series of mysterious patient deaths.
The Good Nurse features Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne exploring the dark side of the medical profession. Based on actual events, the movie defines the complexities of trust and ethics in healthcare, representing the nurse’s bravery as she confronts deadly secrets in a high-stakes environment.
The Dig (2021)
Set just before World War II, The Dig explores the remarkable true story of the Sutton Hoo excavation in England. A wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to investigate mysterious burial mounds on her property, leading to one of the most significant discoveries in British archaeological history.
The film, starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes, beautifully shows the rush of uncovering hidden treasures and the ephemeral nature of human life and history.
Read Next: The 13 Best Military Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Discover the best military movies currently available on Netflix, from intense war dramas to inspiring tales of bravery and sacrifice.
Read Next: The 13 Best Military Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Read Next: 13 Historical Movies That Were Wildly Inaccurate
While historical movies can be a great way to learn about important events and figures from the past, not all of them are completely accurate. In this list, we explore 13 historical movies that took creative liberties with the truth for entertainment purposes.
Read Now: 13 Historical Movies That Were Wildly Inaccurate
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.