The world of Hollywood is full of incredible stories. But movies based on true stories are extra special, and you wouldn’t believe some of the blockbusters that have real-life DNA.
Did you know that The Sound of Music was based on a memoir? Or that Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie star in an important #MeToo story, Bombshell? From J-Lo’s Hustlers to Dallas Buyers Club, there are so many real-life inspired movies to choose from.
We don’t blame Hollywood for turning to the world’s population for their real tales of determination, survival, romance, crime and much more. Knowing that some of our favourite movies are centred on the lives of real people leaves us with an array of emotions at the end of a film. Sometimes that is one of inspiration, sometimes of pure disgust. Other times it’s simply a heartwarming story that mirrors small elements from our lives, making our time on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn an insight into our self-discovery.
It’s incredible to think that some of these stories, which once may have seemed minuscule and forgotten while being lived, have been brought to the big screen and given the award-season touch. Examples include Lion, one man’s journey to find his biological family in India years after they were separated. Honestly, we wept at this movie which reinforced the message that family is everything. We also loved the empowering self-discovery of Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon) in Wild as she hiked America’s famous long-distance hiking trail, the Pacific Crest Trail. All the feels.
There was also the Julia Roberts starring film Erin Brockovich that inspired us to do good and have the best interest of everyone around us in the face of large corporations. It was also interesting to follow the journey of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie, as well as the lives of the real-life teen burglars who robbed A-listers in the movie The Bling Ring. Health battles are also central to films such as The Big Sick and Brain on Fire. These movies definitely make us cling to our nearest and dearest…
So, if you’re looking for some real-life inspiration, why not pick a movie based on true stories from the following list, as chosen by Glamour?