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- 25 Netflix Original Movies You May Not Have Realized Were True Stories
25 Netflix Original Movies You May Not Have Realized Were True Stories
Everett Collection / Courtesy Everett Collection
Netflix has an awesome selection of original movies. While some are based on books and some aren’t based on anything at all, there are actually quite a few that are based on real life. Whether they follow a totally true story or are just based on real-life events, these films all either feature real people or real events. Some of them you may not have even realized were true. Scroll through to see all the incredible stories, from two Spanish women in love to the story of Jimmy Hoffa’s murder. There’s a little something for everyone to keep you busy, especially if you’re staying inside!
Related: 13 Underappreciated Netflix Originals That Deserve a Spot on Your Watch List Tonight
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Barry
This film tells the story of young Barack Obama while he was a student in New York, long before he was the leader of the United States.
Everett Collection / Ilze Kitshoff / Netflix
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
This film follows the story of a Malawian boy who builds a wind turbine to save his village.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Brain on Fire
This is the incredible story of a young woman who has a mysterious brain disease that’s almost too hard to believe.
Everett Collection / Jake Giles Netter
The Dirt
Get the wild story of Mötley Crüe in this biopic of their years as rock stars.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Dolemite Is My Name
Follow Rudy Ray Moore – aka Dolemite – on his rise to comedy fame in this film about his life.
Everett Collection / QUIM VIVES
Elisa & Marcela
This incredible Spanish film follows a woman who pretends to be a man so she can marry the woman she loves.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile
Zac Efron plays Ted Bundy in this fascinatingly horrible movie about the serial killer’s life.
Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile on Netflix.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
First They Killed My Father
This movie follows a 5-year-old girl in Cambodia on her quest for survival.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
The 4th Company
In this Mexican film, you meet a young man in prison who ends up on a football team that might not be exactly what you’d think.
Everett Collection / Merrick Morton
The Highwaymen
Two men are tasked with taking down Bonnie and Clyde in this film based on the real story.
Everett Collection
The King
This historical film is based on real people and real events from William Shakespeare’s time.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Laundromat
Go along with Meryl Streep in this film about the Panama Papers and all the drama that surrounded the scam.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lost Girls
This film is based on the true story of Mari Gilbert and her quest to find her missing daughter Shannan.
Everett Collection / Courtesy of Netflix
The Ruthless
Follow along as a young Italian grows up to become a criminal and join the mafia.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Most Hated Woman in America
Find out just why controversial atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair was so hated in this film about her life.
Everett Collection / Angelo Turetta/Netflix
On My Skin
Find out how Stefano Cucchi spent a week in jail on drug charges, and why it changed him forever.
Everett Collection / Courtesy Everett Collection
The Polka King
This movie is a little bit of comedy, a little bit of scheming, and a whole lot of polka.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Roxanne Roxanne
Find out the incredible true story of young 1980s rapper Roxanne Shanté.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Two Popes
This story of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis is based on true events of the two popes coming together.
Everett Collection / Erik Aavatsmark
22 July
See what it’s like for the survivors of a terrorist attack in Norway to find peace again.
Everett Collection / Francois Duhamel / Netflix
War Machine
Brad Pitt plays a military general tasked with winning a war that’s been going on for eight years, in this film based on real-life events.
Everett Collection / Greg Peters
Walk. Ride. Rodeo.
Based on the true story of equestrian Amberley, who won’t let her paralysis stop her from competing again.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
Go through the rich history of comedy with National Lampoon cofounder Doug Kenney.
Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Irishman
A lot of this film about Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Sheeran is based on a book – which is widely based on true events.
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Dovlatov
Sergei Dovlatov just wants to publish his writing under the Soviet regime in this story based on real events.