Netflix Original Movies Based on True Stories

1 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.

Watch Barry on Netflix.

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2 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

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This film follows the story of a Malawian boy who builds a wind turbine to save his village.

Watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on Netflix.

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3 Brain on Fire

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This is the incredible story of a young woman who has a mysterious brain disease that's almost too hard to believe.

Watch Brain on Fire on Netflix.

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4 The Dirt

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Get the wild story of Mötley Crüe in this biopic of their years as rock stars.

Watch The Dirt on Netflix.

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5 Dolemite Is My Name

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Follow Rudy Ray Moore — aka Dolemite — on his rise to comedy fame in this film about his life.

Watch Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix.

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6 Elisa & Marcela

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This incredible Spanish film follows a woman who pretends to be a man so she can marry the woman she loves.

Watch Elisa & Marcela on Netflix.

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7 Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

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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.

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8 First They Killed My Father

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This movie follows a 5-year-old girl in Cambodia on her quest for survival.

Watch First They Killed My Father on Netflix.

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9 The 4th Company

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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.

Watch The 4th Company on Netflix.

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10 The Highwaymen

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Two men are tasked with taking down Bonnie and Clyde in this film based on the real story.

Watch The Highwaymen on Netflix.

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11 The King

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This historical film is based on real people and real events from William Shakespeare's time.

Watch The King on Netflix.

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12 The Laundromat

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Go along with Meryl Streep in this film about the Panama Papers and all the drama that surrounded the scam.

Watch The Laundromat on Netflix.

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13 Lost Girls

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This film is based on the true story of Mari Gilbert and her quest to find her missing daughter Shannan.

Watch Lost Girls on Netflix.

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14 The Ruthless

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Follow along as a young Italian grows up to become a criminal and join the mafia.

Watch The Ruthless on Netflix.

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15 The Most Hated Woman in America

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Find out just why controversial atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair was so hated in this film about her life.

Watch The Most Hated Woman in America on Netflix.

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16 On My Skin

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Find out how Stefano Cucchi spent a week in jail on drug charges, and why it changed him forever.

Watch On My Skin on Netflix.

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17 The Polka King

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This movie is a little bit of comedy, a little bit of scheming, and a whole lot of polka.

Watch The Polka King on Netflix.

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18 Roxanne Roxanne

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Find out the incredible true story of young 1980s rapper Roxanne Shanté.

Watch Roxanne Roxanne on Netflix.

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19 Two Popes

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This story of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis is based on true events of the two popes coming together.

Watch Two Popes on Netflix.

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20 22 July

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See what it's like for the survivors of a terrorist attack in Norway to find peace again.

Watch 22 July on Netflix.

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21 War Machine

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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.

Watch War Machine on Netflix.

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22 Walk. Ride. Rodeo.

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Based on the true story of equestrian Amberley, who won't let her paralysis stop her from competing again.

Watch Walk. Ride. Rodeo. on Netflix.

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23 A Futile and Stupid Gesture

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Go through the rich history of comedy with National Lampoon cofounder Doug Kenney.

Watch A Futile and Stupid Gesture on Netflix.

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24 The Irishman

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A lot of this film about Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Sheeran is based on a book — which is widely based on true events.

Watch The Irishman on Netflix.

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25 Dovlatov

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Sergei Dovlatov just wants to publish his writing under the Soviet regime in this story based on real events.

Watch Dovlatov on Netflix.

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