60 Best Movies Based On Real Events To Watch In 2021

There's something powerful about watching a movie based on a true story. Reality can be more mind-boggling, serendipitous, inspiring, or infuriating than anything you can think up in your head—and movies based on true stories prove it. After all, the only thing that makes a crazy plot point or character even more unbelievable (but yet also believable?) is knowing you could actually meet them in your everyday life. I mean, it would be kinda cool to cross paths with the real-life version of J.Lo's Ramona character from Hustlers, Samantha Barbash, on the streets of New York City, right? Or...you could just *think* about how cool it would be to pal around with one of these people from the comfort of your couch–that works, too.

Some stories get even better once you know they’re true. For example, my mom couldn’t stand to watch The Wolf of Wall Street until she knew it was a real story–and then she was just absolutely shocked. When you know a movie was inspired by true events, it becomes even more relevant and compelling.

Grab your popcorn, because from movies that restore your faith in humanity, like A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, to "Uhh, what did I just watch?" films like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, movies based on real events often give you a good history lesson and can even impact how you view (and tell) your own stories. Just remember to buckle up, because the truth gets wild—and, as they say, it's often stranger than fiction.

Check out these 60 best movies based on true stories that will make you laugh, cry, and even go WTF: