The truth can be stranger than fiction…
True life stories have inspired some incredible films and it’s very likely that some of your favourite big screen moments have actually happened in real life.
No, we’re talking about Harry Potter and his amazing adventures… although that would be wonderful.
While we’re all familiar with a litany of great films that are based on events that happened throughout history, there are always a few gems which can slip under your radar.
The Hangover isn’t one of them (although some of you might have experienced something similar with your own Wolf Pack), but we’re delighted to say that director Todd Phillips is back with a brand new movie, War Dogs.
War Dogs tells the incredible story of David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America’s allies in Afghanistan.
Inspired by that new release, here are some other fantastic films that were actually inspired by real events.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Get real: Leonardo DiCaprio (who actually enjoys scaring War Dogs star, Jonah Hill) is an incredibly talented actor and put in an excellent performance as Frank Abagnale, Jr. in this super Steven Spielberg film from 2002.
Before his 19th birthday, Frank Abagnale, Jr. successfully conned millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor.
His primary crime was cheque fraud; he became so experienced that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other cheque forgers.
Nice work if you can get (away with) it.
Clip via Paramount Movies
The Exorcist (1973)
Get real: William Friedkin’s Oscar-nominated classic is actually based on a 1971 novel that took inspiration from a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism, an event the writer William Blatty heard about while he was a student at Georgetown University in the ’50s.
Terrifying.
Clip via ACTION FIGURES AND TOYS
Almost Famous (2000)
Get real: Director Cameron Crowe was a journalist for Rolling Stone and actually travelled with Led Zeppelin for three weeks during 1973.
He then used his early experiences to helm one of the greatest big screen tales of a simply brilliant band.
Remember this magical moment? We dare you to try and watch it without getting goosebumps…
Clip via subtitler
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Get real: Sidney Lumet’s classic piece of social commentary was inspired by P. F. Kluge’s article, “The Boys in the Bank”, which tells a story of a similar robbery of a Brooklyn bank on August 22, 1972.
If you haven’t seen it then get on it, as this film features a powerhouse of a performance from Mr Pacino.
Clip via cifilmman
The Conjuring (2013)
Get real: Ed and Lorraine Warren are genuine paranormal investigators who have tried to uncover the paranormal mysteries of Amityville, Enfield and the haunting in Connecticut.
This 2013 box office smash hit, starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the creepy-obsessed couple, also inspired a sequel featuring two wonderful Irish actors, Simon Delaney and Maria Doyle-Kennedy.
Watch this with the lights on…
Clip via Warner Bros. Pictures
The Revenant (2015)
Get real: He’s back again.
That man DiCaprio finally picked up the Oscar for Best Actor in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s brutal survivalist western, but did you know the film was actually inspired by The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, a 2002 novel by American author Michael Punke.
Clip via 20th Century Fox
The Insider (1999)
Get real: Michael Mann’s superb exposé of the tobacco industry was inspired by Marie Brenner’s Vanity Fair article, ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’.
Did you know that the film, starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino, was nominated for seven Academy Awards and failed to win one? A pity, as this is definitely worth your time…
Clip via George Lewis
American Hustle (2013)
Get real: The film opens with the caption, “Some of this actually happened”, and David O.Russell is a man of his word.
The FBI did enlisted a con artist help them bring down a mayor, six congressman and a senator for taking bribes and even went as far as using a fake sheikh to trick the politicians they were after.
Clip via Sony Pictures Entertainment
Captain Phillips (2013)
Get real: Very few directors are as good as Paul Greengrass when it comes to adapting real life stories and his take on the Maersk Alabama hijacking was superb.
In case you haven’t seen the film, it revolves around four pirates in the Indian Ocean who seize the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama, 240 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia.
Starring Tom Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi, this was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the American flag since the early 19th century.
Clip via Sony Pictures Entertainment
Wolf Creek (2005)
Get real: It’s very likely that nobody wanted to backpack across Australia after hearing about this film.
Wolf Creek took elements of the real life murders of tourists by Ivan Milat in the ’90s, and Bradley Murdoch in ’01.
Throw another shrimp human body part on the barbie!
Clip via Movieclips Trailer Vault
127 Hours (2010)
Get real: You’ll never look at a Swiss Army knife in the same way after seeing Danny Boyle’s take on the story of canyoneer Aron Ralston, excellently portrayed by James Franco, and his remarkable will to survive.
Clip via FoxSearchlight
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Get real: Tobe Hooper’s grizzly cult-favourite was inspired by the crimes of real-life murderer Ed Gein, as was Alfred Hitchcock’s genre defining classic Psycho.
We’re off to hide behind the sofa…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs3981DoINw
Clip via horrornymphs
Cool Runnings (1993)
Get real: We’re not sure if the Jamaica national bobsleigh team that took part in the 1988 Winter Olympics adored eggs quite as much as Sanka did, but elements of their story made it into this much-loved film from the 1990s.
Altogether now; I see pride, I see power, I see a badass mother, who won’t take no crap off of nobody!
Clip via Only Previews
Argo (2012)
Get real: Ben Affleck’s excellent Oscar-winner was inspired by the CIA’s decision to create a fake sci-fi film with the intention of rescuing six US diplomats from Tehran, Iran.
Incredible. Ben’s glorious hair, that is… but also the film.
Clip via Movieclips Coming Soon
So there you have it, 14 fantastic films based on some unbelievable true stories.
And speaking of unbelievable true stories, don’t forget that War Dogs is released in Irish cinemas on 26 August. Here’s the trailer to get you in the mood, enjoy!
Clip via Warner Bros. UK
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