Hollywood has been finding inspiration in true stories since movies began, and it has proven to be a fruitful enterprise. In 2018 alone, audiences couldn't stop talking about Beautiful Boy or anticipating the rock and roll story of Freddie Mercury's life in Bohemian Rhapsody [1]. It's still early days, but it looks like 2019 will be another year full of movies based on true stories [2] that need to be on your must-watch list. From a tale of two car companies locked in a battle to prove whose automobiles are best to the Elton John biopic that the world's been waiting for, 2019's crop of movies based on true stories [3] are bound to keep you enthralled, and marveling at how often the truth is stranger than fiction.
Fighting With My Family
WWE fans, this one is for you. Dwayne Johnson is producing Fighting With My Family, an ode to wrestling which is based on the 2012 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting With My Family. The film will tell the true story of WWE star Paige, who comes from a family of wrestlers. Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn [4], and Lena Headey all star. Johnson will also appear in the film as himself, presumably reviving his time as "The Rock."
Release date: Mar. 1
The Best of Enemies
Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell star in The Best of Enemies, a film about the unlikely alliance that formed between black activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan member Claiborne Paul Ellis when they were both placed on a committee to oversee the desegregation of schools in Durham, NC in the 1960s. When the two were forced to work together, they discovered that they actually shared some of the same values, at least when it came to their children.
Release date: Apr. 5
Breakthrough
Based on the Joyce Smith book The Impossible, Breakthrough is a faith-based film starring This Is Us [5] favourite Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace [6]. The movie tells the true story of Smith's son, who fell through some ice and was declared legally dead. One hour later, the basketball-loving teen was revived after his mother prayed over him.
Release date: Apr. 12
Rocketman
Directed by Dexter Fletcher, Rocketman is an Elton John biopic that will mix fantasy-music sequences with the true story of the legendary singer. The film stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Richard Madden. The first trailer for Rocketman [7] teases, "There are moments in a rock star's life that define who he is. Where there was darkness there is no you, and it's going to be a wild ride."
Release date: May 31
Ford vs. Ferrari
Ford vs. Ferrari is set to dramatize one of the most exciting and ambitious automobile races in history. Henry Ford II contracted a team of engineers led by Carroll Shelby to build a totally new car capable of beating the Ferrari in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. The story is one of ingenuity and daring that's sure to feature plenty of action. The film stars Matt Damon [8], Christian Bale [9], and Caitriona Balfe.
Release date: June 28
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
As is often the case with Quentin Tarantino [10] films, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be a marriage of fact and fiction. The details of the film are largely being kept secret, but the logline reveals that a western star and his stunt double will struggle to find their place in '60s-era Hollywood. It seems that, along the way, they'll be meeting real-life figures, including Sharon Tate, Steve McQueen, and Charles Manson. The star-studded cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio [11], Brad Pitt [12], Margot Robbie, and Al Pacino [13].
Release date: July 26
You Are My Friend
Based on the Esquire article by Tom Junod, You Are My Friend tells the story of Mr. Rogers and how he changed the cynical Lloyd Vogel's mind simply by being his kind self. Tom Hanks [14] is set to play Mr. Rogers, while Matthew Rhys will play Vogel, the journalist based on Junod.
Release date: Oct. 18