Movies based on a true story have a magical touch because they remind us that unbelievable events don’t have to be just fiction. They are very real and can often inspire you and be immensely moving.
Here’s an incredible list of movies based on true stories for when you need some inspiration.
8 the untouchables
the untouchables is based on the true story of Frenchman Philippe Borgo and his French-Algerian caretaker Abdel Sellou. Phillipe is an intellectual who loved life, but he had experienced a paragliding accident that left him paralyzed. Aside from that, the loss of his wife killed something in him. Now he has to move on through a life that feels tasteless, but when Driss, a man who doesn’t care about the position of caretaker, enters his life, both individuals form a friendship full of honesty and tasteful moments.
the untouchables is an inspiring story about connection, opening yourself up again to the world and friendship. It shows us how two people who come from completely different worlds can come to understand each other on a profound level and be what the other needs. You dive into a sensitive film about rich and poor, about humor and sadness and surrender. It is also accompanied by a beautiful score that brings out the humanity of the story.
7 Lion
Lion is a delicate film based on the story A long way home written by Saroo Brierley, who has been on an incredible journey. When Saroo was only five years old, he waited for his brother in a train station in India so that they would return home together, but when his brother never returns, he gets on a train, which takes him somewhere further from home. Away from home, confused and facing adversity, Saroo is eventually adopted by an Australian couple who take very good care of him. But as time passed, his past haunted him and he couldn’t stop thinking about his family. Determined, Saroo set out on a journey to discover his origins and reunited with his family.
The film is a captivating journey that will hypnotize you from start to finish. It is layered with an array of emotions, decisions, places and people that are bound to make you feel something. Plus, it’s so well intertwined, from the acting to the cinematography, to the direction and soundtrack, Lion is a film that leaves its mark.
6 Seven years in Tibet
Seven years in Tibet is based on the epic true story of Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer who, along with 11 other climbers, wants to climb Nanga Parbat to honor his country. However, his journey is thrown off course when World War II breaks out and his team is arrested by British officials.
Still, undefeated and determined to flee, Heinrich and Peter Aufschnaiter manage to run away after several failed attempts, eventually reaching Tibet, a country forbidden to foreigners, in disguise. They are given a surprising welcome and provided with food and shelter. The Dalai Lama befriends Heinrich, and they form a budding and inspiring friendship in which Heinrich teaches the young leader about the world, in terms of geography, science, and math. patience and kindness.
Seven years in Tibet is a journey of expansion, wonder, adventure and personal development. It is a dazzling, layered film about different cultures, complex characters and redemption. Together with its captivating concept, it is fueled by breathtaking images.
5 Chasing Mavericks
Chasing Mavericks is based on the compelling story of surfer Jay Moriarity. When he discovers that one of the largest waves on Earth exists miles from his home in Santa Cruz, he vows to learn how to survive it and enjoy riding it. To do that, he enlists the help of local master surfer Frosty Hesson who helps train him for his purpose. As they move towards this shared goal, they discover so much about themselves, about what matters to them in life, and they go for it wholeheartedly.
It is a story of love, fear, loss and freedom that really makes you feel alive. Aside from the mesmerizing and mesmerizing cinematography of the big beautiful blue waves, Gerard Butler and Jonny Weston had a commendable chemistry that made the story all the more real. The movie was especially inspiring to surfers, with many claiming it accurately portrayed Santa Cruz’s surfing scene and excitement.
4 Sole survivor
Sole survivor is a biographical war film based on a book written by Marc Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. The film is set during the war in Afghanistan where a Navy SEAL team is sent to capture Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. However, when their mission proved unsuccessful as they were tracked by Taliban fighters, the seals began to be captured one after the other, all but one. The Navy SEALs face grueling combat that reflects the harsh realities of soldiers who must fight.
It is a show of courage and the strong will to survive despite all the obstacles and suffering. There are intense battles, making this action-packed movie packed with great sequences. The cinematography and sound mixing are also delivered in an impressive manner. Wylie Statement was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing, while Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow were nominated for Best Sound Mixing. These nominations say a lot about the powerful effect the film’s sound had on audiences. Likewise, Mark Wahlberg was especially praised for his role in the film as Marcus Luttrell.
3 Path man
Path man is the underappreciated story of Indian activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who wants to make sanitary towels for rural women who use leaves and unhygienic rags during their menstrual cycle. When Akshay, who is madly in love with his wife Gayatri, finds out in the first months of their marriage how inconvenient it is not to have sanitary napkins and how expensive it is to pay for one, he decides to defy all odds to buy sanitary napkins for making women by a cheap sanitary napkin machine when the only one known at the time was worth millions.
Despite his dream seeming seemingly impossible, he finds himself rather challenged and all the more inspired to come up with a solution that will benefit the women he is eager to protect. The film highlights the stigma found in some places around menstrual hygiene and the lack of education on the subject. The film’s bold subject matter, especially for Indian households, makes it an important film with a prominent message.
2 The Swimmers
The Swimmers tells the story of the Mardini sisters, who risk their lives to save a sinking, overcrowded dinghy with 18 refugees on it. They try to escape the Syrian war in the hopes of reaching Germany to compete in the Rio Olympics as swimmers. They have to make a very dangerous journey. The Mardini sisters flew to Turkey and took the Dinghy from there hoping to reach Greece, and then the terrifying incident happened.
Yusra, the younger sister, jumps into the open water when it all gets too real, and her sister, Sarah, joins in, and they continue to push through what seems like forever. Fortunately, all the refugees survive, but the journey does not end there, as they have to keep fighting to reach Berlin, which seems like an impossible task.
The Swimmers is an open letter to humanity and a dazzling look at the refugee crisis and the sad truth that individuals must endure in order to survive and be accepted for something they never cooperated in but pay a high price for. It is a powerful dream about how easy it is for dreams to be buried when someone’s safety, shelter and community are taken away from them. Yet the film also delightfully depicts the ways in which the Mardinis stand up for each other and themselves as they discover and rewrite a new life for themselves.
1 The Orca Lighthouse
The Orca Lighthouse tells the fascinating true story of an autistic child, Tristan, who only seems to be soothed by killer whales. When a mother, Lola, sees her son react violently to the killer whales he sees on television, she makes it her mission to take him to Patagonia so he can see and interact with them in real life. She enlists the help of Beto, a park ranger and man who speaks fluently with killer whales and has a unique bond with them. Initially reluctant to help for fear of endangering Tristan, he succumbs to the idea and, little by little, becomes wholeheartedly invested in it.
The Orca Lighthouse is a unique and artistic film that gracefully encapsulates autism, parental love and fear, as well as animal healing, which makes this film truly moving.