Movies and TV series about real lives

The 60 best titles about real lives, ranked by the iRank Score — our composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb. Every page includes cast, where to watch and similar recommendations.

Schindler's List
iRank93
1993 · Steven Spielberg
MovieDramaHistoryWar
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
GoodFellas
iRank89
1990 · Martin Scorsese
MovieCrimeDrama
The true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighbourhood gangsters at an early age and climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under the guidance of Jimmy Conw
The Pianist
iRank88
2002 · Roman Polanski
MovieDramaWar
The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café;
Oppenheimer
iRank86
2023 · Christopher Nolan
MovieDramaHistory
The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Raging Bull
iRank86
1980 · Martin Scorsese
MovieDramaHistory
The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.
The King's Speech
iRank85
2010 · Tom Hooper
MovieDramaHistory
The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dr
Dangal
iRank84
2016 · Nitesh Tiwari
MovieComedyDramaFamily
Dangal is an extraordinary true story based on the life of Mahavir Singh and his two daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat. The film traces the inspirational journey of a father who trains his daughters
Ford v Ferrari
iRank84
2019 · James Mangold
MovieActionDramaHistory
American car designer Carroll Shelby and the British-born driver Ken Miles work together to battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary r
Catch Me If You Can
iRank84
2002 · Steven Spielberg
MovieCrimeDrama
A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. An FBI agent makes it his
Argo
iRank83
2012 · Ben Affleck
MovieDramaThriller
As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
The Elephant Man
iRank83
1980 · David Lynch
MovieDramaHistory
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity
BlacKkKlansman
iRank82
2018 · Spike Lee
MovieComedyCrimeDrama
Colorado Springs, late 1970s. Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer, and Flip Zimmerman, his Jewish colleague, run an undercover operation to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.
Dallas Buyers Club
iRank82
2013 · Jean-Marc Vallée
MovieDramaHistory
Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.
The Zone of Interest
iRank82
2023 · Jonathan Glazer
MovieDramaHistoryWar
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
The Wind Rises
iRank82
2013 · Hayao Miyazaki
MovieAnimationDramaHistory
A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
Hidden Figures
iRank82
2016 · Theodore Melfi
MovieDramaHistory
The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history
The Fighter
iRank81
2010 · David O. Russell
MovieDrama
Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly bein
The Big Short
iRank81
2015 · Adam McKay
MovieComedyDrama
The men who made millions from a global economic meltdown.
The Imitation Game
iRank81
2014 · Morten Tyldum
MovieDramaHistoryThriller
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Govern
127 Hours
iRank81
2010 · Danny Boyle
MovieAdventureDramaThriller
The true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.
Hacksaw Ridge
iRank80
2016 · Mel Gibson
MovieDramaHistoryWar
WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional
The Wolf of Wall Street
iRank80
2013 · Martin Scorsese
MovieComedyCrimeDrama
A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography.
I, Tonya
iRank79
2017 · Craig Gillespie
MovieComedyDrama
Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
Better Man
iRank79
2024 · Michael Gracey
MovieDramaMusic
Follow Robbie Williams' journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the whi
Malcolm X
iRank79
1992 · Spike Lee
MovieDramaHistory
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nati
Into the Wild
iRank79
2007 · Sean Penn
MovieAdventureDrama
After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska t
The Last Emperor
iRank79
1987 · Bernardo Bertolucci
MovieDramaHistory
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his
Lion
iRank79
2016 · Garth Davis
MovieDrama
A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets o
The Iron Claw
iRank79
2023 · Sean Durkin
MovieDramaHistory
The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of
First Man
iRank79
2018 · Damien Chazelle
MovieDramaHistory
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
The Post
iRank78
2017 · Steven Spielberg
MovieDramaHistory
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. Inspired
The Aviator
iRank78
2004 · Martin Scorsese
MovieDrama
A biopic depicting the life of filmmaker and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes from 1927 to 1947, during which time he became a successful film producer and an aviation magnate, while simultaneously grow
Erin Brockovich
iRank78
2000 · Steven Soderbergh
MovieDrama
A twice-divorced mother of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins -- with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records des
Walk the Line
iRank78
2005 · James Mangold
MovieDramaMusicRomance
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry
The Theory of Everything
iRank77
2014 · James Marsh
MovieDramaRomance
The Theory of Everything is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jan
Darkest Hour
iRank77
2017 · Joe Wright
MovieDramaHistory
In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.
Wild
iRank76
2014 · Jean-Marc Vallée
MovieDrama
A woman with a tragic past decides to start her new life by hiking for one thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Molly's Game
iRank75
2017 · Aaron Sorkin
MovieCrimeDrama
Molly Bloom, a young skier and former Olympic hopeful becomes a successful entrepreneur (and a target of an FBI investigation) when she establishes a high-stakes, international poker game.
A Complete Unknown
iRank75
2024 · James Mangold
MovieDramaMusic
New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutio
Fearless
iRank74
2006 · Ronny Yu
MovieActionDrama
After going through a series of tragic events in his life, martial arts master Huo Yuanjia returns to Tianjin and must fight four international soldiers, in order to safeguard his nation's pride.
The Lost City of Z
iRank74
2017 · James Gray
MovieAdventureDramaHistory
A true-life drama in the 1920s, centering on British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett, who discovered evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization in the Amazon and disappeared whilst searching
The Pursuit of Happyness
iRank73
2006 · Gabriele Muccino
MovieDrama
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Priscilla
iRank73
2023 · Sofia Coppola
MovieDramaRomance
When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an
The Founder
iRank73
2016 · John Lee Hancock
MovieDramaHistory
The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system
American Sniper
iRank73
2014 · Clint Eastwood
MovieActionWar
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle takes his sole mission—protect his comrades—to heart and becomes one of the most lethal snipers in American history. His pinpoint accuracy not only saves countless lives but
Elvis
iRank73
2022 · Baz Luhrmann
MovieDramaHistoryMusic
The life story of Elvis Presley as seen through the complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Freedom Writers
iRank72
2007 · Richard LaGravenese
MovieCrimeDrama
A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
Lone Survivor
iRank72
2013 · Peter Berg
MovieActionDramaWar
Four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative must make an impossible moral decision in the mountains of Afghanistan that leads them into an enemy ambush. As they co
Rocketman
iRank72
2019 · Dexter Fletcher
MovieDramaMusic
The story of Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
The Grandmaster
iRank71
2013 · Wong Kar-Wai
MovieActionDramaHistory
Ip Man's peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family's honor. Af
The King
iRank70
2019 · David Michôd
MovieDramaHistoryWar
England, 15th century. Hal, a capricious prince who lives among the populace far from court, is forced by circumstances to reluctantly accept the throne and become Henry V.
Changeling
iRank70
2008 · Clint Eastwood
MovieCrimeDramaMystery
Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son. But when Christine suspects that the bo
Public Enemies
iRank69
2009 · Michael Mann
MovieCrimeDramaHistory
Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate
Ferrari
iRank68
2023 · Michael Mann
MovieDramaHistory
Set during the summer of 1957. Ex-racecar driver, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage str
Bohemian Rhapsody
iRank68
2018 · Bryan Singer
MovieDramaMusic
Singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen in 1970. Hit songs become ins
Vice
iRank67
2018 · Adam McKay
MovieComedyDrama
George W. Bush picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints a
Snowden
iRank67
2016 · Oliver Stone
MovieCrimeDramaHistory
CIA employee Edward Snowden leaks thousands of classified documents to the press.
The Smashing Machine
iRank66
2025 · Benny Safdie
MovieActionDramaHistory
In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with
The Greatest Showman
iRank65
2017 · Michael Gracey
MovieDrama
The story of American showman P.T. Barnum, founder of the circus that became the famous traveling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Unbroken
iRank65
2014 · Angelina Jolie
MovieDramaWar
A chronicle of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.