20 Intense and Heartbreaking Movies Based on True Stories

Unfortunately, misfortune is no stranger to history, and movies about real-life tragedies are actually pretty popular in the drama genre. Because there have been countless devastating events throughout the years, it is only natural that the film industry brings those poignant moments to light while simultaneously paying homage to those involved. Whether it be a tragic true tale of hope, courage, and bravery like 2017’s Stronger or a cinematic depiction of a hero soldier in a warzone in 2016’s six-time Academy Award-nominated Hacksaw Ridge, heartbreaking true-story movies can range in a wide variety.

From survival stories and epic war dramas to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, movies have, for decades now, held the power to bring audiences to nothing more than a sobbing mess with gut-wrenching portrayals of heroism to disastrous occurrences. These are some of the most impactful and poignant movies based on real-life disasters.

20 ‘Only the Brave’ (2017)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Featuring an ensemble cast, including JoshBrolin, JamesBadgeDale, JeffBridges, MilesTeller, AlexRussell, TaylorKitsch, and BenHardy among others, Joseph Kosinski‘s Only the Brave, based on the GQ article “No Exit” by SeanFlynn, focuses on the true story of a group of elite firefighters, known as Granite Mountain Hotshots, who risk everything to protect a town from a life-changing wildfire.

Despite being a commercial flop and grossing just $26.3 million worldwide against a $38 million budget, Only the Brave was met with generally positive reviews. Its narrative is gripping and touching, managing to tell a difficult tale of fatherhood, duty, and bravery quite well. It’s not a groundbreaking movie. However, the fact that it is based on a true story makes it all the more meaningful.

19 ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ (1999)

Directed by Kimberly Peirce

Starring Hilary Swank in an Oscar-winning role, Boys Don’t Cry dramatizes the real-life story of a young man named BrandonTeena as he navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska, ending up falling victim to a brutal hate crime perpetrated by two male ex-convicts. ChloëSevigny also stars as Brandon’s girlfriend, LanaTisdel.

Boys Don’t Cry is a controversial movie in this niche subcategory for the way it handles the sensitive topics it tackles, including trans identities. Although divisive, it is impossible to deny how utterly heartbreaking and difficult to watch Kimberly Peirce’s film is, making it one of the saddest films based on real-life stories. While many elements make Boys Don’t Cry an impactful feature (including the film’s devastating ending), Swank’s amazing performance is definitely a major highlight.

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18 ‘Alpha Dog’ (2006)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

Written and directed by John Cassavete’s son Nick, Alpha Dog is based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz in 2000. Johnny (EmileHirsch) and his pals kidnap Jake’s 15-year-old brother Zach (AntonYelchin) and assign his buddy Frankie to be Zach’s minder. While they develop a brotherly friendship and Zach parties with his captors, things begin to spin out of control.

Part of why Alpha Dog works has to do with its realistic filmmaking and storyline. It’s a powerful depiction of a real-life event anchored by great performances. Both sad (especially the ending) and compelling, Cassavetes’ film will not leave anyone indifferent — the fact that it is actually based on a true story just makes the viewing experience even more unforgettable.

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17 ‘Breathe’ (2017)

Directed by Andy Serkis

Undoubtedly a film to tug on the heartstrings, 2017’s Breathe stars Andrew Garfield as Robin Cavendish, a man paralyzed by Polio from the neck down when he was just twenty-eight years old. Cavendish’s son, Jonathan, produced the movie as a way to tell his father’s story and the inspirational impact Robin had on the lives of people with disabilities at the time.

Robin had the idea of installing a built-in respirator on a chair. That idea went on to accomplish at the time unimaginable steps in improving the lives of people in the same situation as himself. With more chairs distributed, the quality and quantity of life of those in his position greatly improved. Following a bittersweet goodbye to his friends after starting to suffer heavy bleeding from the respirator, Robin died with Diana and Jonathan by his side. While not a must-see, Breathe makes for an intriguing viewing experience for those who are looking for a well-crafted film based on real-life stories.

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16 ‘Everest’ (2015)

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur

When it comes to great natural disaster movies based on true stories, 2015s Everest is a good pick. As the title suggests, the film is based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster and focuses on the journey of hope, faith, courage, and bravery between two expedition groups as they attempt to descend from the summit during treacherous weather conditions, having made it to the top of the tallest mountain in the world.

The film stars Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, and Jake Gyllenhaal to name a few, and depicts the heartbreaking story of the eight people who lost their lives during the third deadliest Everest expedition. From Beck Weathers’ (Brolin) miraculous survival to Rob Hall’s (Clarke) gutwrenching goodbye to his wife and unborn daughter as he dies, Everest wasn’t lacking in the emotional scenes, even if some feel it would’ve been a better documentary than a film. The movie ends with a clip of the real Beck Weathers, having lost both hands and his nose due to severe frostbite, and reveals that Rob Hall‘s body sadly remains on Everest.

15 ‘Deepwater Horizon’ (2016)

Directed by Peter Berg

This great must-see disaster movie follows the events leading up to and the aftermath of the explosion and oil spill of the Deepwater Horizon. An inextinguishable fire resulted, and the rig sank after burning for over a day. The incident resulted in approximately 200 million gallons of oil spilling into the ocean over 87 days, eleven deaths, and is the worst oil disaster in United States history.

Starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russel as Mike Williams and Jimmy “Mr. Jimmy” Harrell, there aren’t many movies like DeepwaterHorizon; the nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat film was nominated for two Oscars. Deepwater Horizon is filled with tense scenes and life-threatening experiences, culminating in a heartbreaking scene with the survivors reuniting with their families and a shaken Mike having a panic attack while being comforted by his wife and daughter. Before the credits roll, footage of the rig and pictures of the eleven people who died play out on screen.

14 ‘The Impossible’ (2012)

Directed by J. A. Bayona

Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and a young but talented Tom Holland in his film debut, 2012’s The Impossible follows one family’s incredible journey to find each other after being separated during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The movie was considered one of the best films of 2012 and received highly positive reviews for its acting and directing, becoming one of the most well-known true disaster movies.

Throughout its entirety, The Impossible is chock-full of incredibly hard-hitting emotion and doesn’t lack tough-to-watch scenes. From losing loved ones in such a tragic way to that heartbreaking reunion scene, The Impossible left viewers reeling from the devastation depicted and the trauma that thousands experienced from the natural disaster that killed over 200,000 people. Its impact on the disaster genre is undeniable.

13 ‘Changeling’ (2008)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Starring Angelina Jolie in one of her best movie performances (it earned her her second Academy Award nom), Clint Eastwood‘s intense Changeling is based on the real-life events surrounding the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders in Mira Loma, California. It focuses on a woman who is reunited with a boy who she then realizes is not really her missing son, depicting her struggles as she is vilified as delusional.

The critically acclaimed feature is undoubtedly a must-see film based on real-life events, especially given the powerfully poignant messages it sends about the anxieties of being a woman and a mother and the constant begging to be believed that comes with it. The heartbreaking Changeling is impactful and recommendable, though the faint of heart may find it difficult to sit through it all.

12 ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ (2016)

Directed by Mel Gibson

Desmond Doss was a combat medic who refused to carry a firearm or weapon of any kind and heroically saved the lives of an estimated seventy-five soldiers during the World War II Battle of Okinawa. Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Andrew Garfield in the lead role, 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge is a biographical drama that follows the story of Doss, who became the first conscientious objector to win the Medal of Honor.

Throughout this heartwrenching film, Doss was often looked down upon for refusing to bear arms, earning him zero respect from his fellow soldiers. His sergeant and Captain put him through intense labor to get him to quit, his fellow soldiers beat him up, and he faced potential imprisonment. Despite everything, Doss saved dozens of lives and became a hero in the face of treacherous conditions. There is no doubt that Hacksaw Ridge is an incredibly touching film based on real-life events.

11 ‘United 93’ (2006)

Directed by Paul Greengrass

United 93, which is among the most popular terrorism movies based on a true story, is a docudrama written and directed by PaulGreengrass that tells the harrowing story of the only hijacked plane that didn’t reach its intended target during the 9/11 attacks. While Flights 11, 77, and 175 devastatingly hit their targets, Flight 93 didn’t. Instead, it crashed into a Pennsylvania field due to the bravery of the flight crew and passengers on board.

The two-time Academy Award-nominated film follows the passengers and crew as they attempt to retain control from the al-Queda terrorists after a violent hijacking. The heartbreaking reality of Flight 93 remains instilled in the hearts and minds of the people directly impacted and the world. What could’ve added thousands of losses to the death toll was prevented by the forty courageous people who sadly lost their lives aboard Flight 93 on that tragic day.

10 ‘Stronger’ (2017)

Directed by David Gordon Green

Those who enjoy movies like Patriots Day should check out 2017’s Stronger. It follows the events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombings that happened on April 15th, 2013. However, unlike Patriots Day, which follows the investigative side of things, Stronger is a biographical drama that highlights the impact it had on one man who was hailed a hero after identifying one of the bombers involved.

Based on Jeff Bauman and Bret Witter‘s memoir of the same name, the movie emotionally depicts the personal struggles faced by Jeff (played by JakeGyllenhaal) as he adjusted to life after losing both legs in the attack. Jeff struggled greatly with his mental health, and PTSD and had flashbacks to the day of the bombings, not helped by the constant media attention. But, despite his mental health conditions (depicted with precision), he overcame the challenges he faced, learned how to walk again, and became an inspiration to thousands. With that being said, Stronger is easily one of the most encouraging and captivating films about real-life events.

9 ‘Hotel Rwanda’ (2004)

Directed by Terry George

Based on the Rwandan genocide twenty years before the film’s release, Hotel Rwanda is a multi-award-nominated movie that follows the events that took place between April 7th and July 15th, 1994, and resulted in an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 Tutsi deaths over a timeline of just one hundred days.

The film pursues the story of Paul Rusesabagina and his wife Tatiana (played by Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo) as they embark on saving the lives of their family and over a thousand other Hutu and Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan civil war. Hotel Rwanda is full of chilling and tear-jerking scenes. It’s among the best sad movies based on true stories, with the real-life conflict that inspired the heartbreaking but high-rated film remaining as one of the most difficult to fathom for many.

8 ‘Captain Phillips’ (2013)

Directed by Paul Greengrass

Directed by Paul Greengrass and starring America’s dad Tom Hanks as the title character, this 2013 biographical drama follows the story of Captain Richard Phillips and his hostage-taking during the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009. With a screenplay inspired by Phillips’ book, the film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Captain Phillips certainly isn’t lacking in intensity and hard-to-watch scenes. From nail-biting confrontation and negotiation to Hanks’ incredibly emotional performance as Phillips, the film was a critical success. In the aftermath of his kidnapping, Richard Phillips became an author and returned to sea just over a year later until his retirement in 2014. If you’re looking for sad true story movies, this might be worth a shot.

7 ‘Titanic’ (1997)

Directed by James Cameron

Possibly the most famous of the bunch, James Cameron‘s highly popular drama was inspired by the events of the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912, a British-registered ship that was launched on May 31, 1911. After striking an iceberg, the Titanic broke apart and sank to the bottom of the ocean. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the lead roles, depicting their ill-fated, timeless love story.

Although it contains both historical and fictionalized aspects, the iconic 1997 movie is indeed a widely appreciated one. For the date it was released, the heartwrenching Titanic featured a massive budget and high production, which ultimately made the whole viewing experience extremely immersive, especially in movie theaters.

6 ‘The Elephant Man’ (1980)

Directed by David Lynch

Based on the life of Joseph Merrick (“John” in the film), The Elephant Man tells the heartbreaking story of a severely deformed man who lived in London in the late 19th century. The story was adapted from Frederick Treves‘ The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences and Ashley Montagu‘s The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity.

As expected from the filmmaker, David Lynch’s acclaimed movie is incredibly well-directed and stylish. Some even name it the most accessible of all his complex body of work. The black-and-white cinematography is also top-notch, perfectly mirroring the dark themes of exploitation and other complicated situations its protagonist is put through. At its core, The Elephant Man reflects on integration and humanity, highlighting that there is no such thing as limits when it comes to compassion.

5 ’12 Years A Slave’ (2013)

Directed by Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen‘s 12 Years a Slave is a heart-wrenching survival drama that tells the true story of a free Black man (Chiwetel Ejiofor, who delivers a powerhouse performance) from upstate New York who is kidnapped in Washington, D.C. by two conmen in 1841 and eventually sold into slavery. The film chronicles his heartbreaking struggles, shedding light on themes of racism and sexism among others.

This powerful movie is not an easy watch by any means. However, those curious to know more about this specific topic and the hardships many faced may want to give 12 Years a Slave a try. It is also worth mentioning that the performances by its star-studded cast are incredible, with Lupita Nyong’o also standing out in her film debut (and winning a very much-deserved Oscar for it). The tear-jerker is based on the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by SolomonNorthup.

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4 ‘One Life’ (2023)

Directed by James Hawes

When it comes to devastating pictures, 2023’s drama One Life also deserves a mention. Based on a true story about a tragic real-life event, James Hawes‘ powerful movie follows British humanitarian SirNicholasWinton (portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins) as he looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to hide and escape just before the beginning of World War II.

This heart-wrenching film is guaranteed to move audiences to tears given the sensitive topic it tackles and Hopkins’ dramatic performance that anchors it. Despite its sad bits, though, the highly emotional One Life also celebrates Winton’s incredible accomplishments and the numerous lives that he saved. Based on the book If It’s Not Impossible…: The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton by BarbaraWinton.

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3 ‘Fruitvale Station’ (2013)

Directed by Ryan Coogler

This powerfully acted Michael B. Jordan-led film directed by the MCU filmmakerRyan Coogler is one of the most heartbreaking portrayals of police brutality on-screen. It centers on 22-year-old Bay Area resident OscarGrant III, who makes the New Year’s Eve resolution of being a better son, boyfriend, and father on the final day of 2008. In the meantime, he runs into friends, foes, family, and strangers.

As viewers would guess, Coogler’s thoroughly impressive directorial debut is inspired by the events leading to the death of a young man who was brutally killed by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer JohannesMehserle at the Fruitvale district station in Oakland in the year of 2009. Shining a poignant light on prejudice and an increasingly unjust system, Fruitvale Station makes for a deeply touching and memorable watch that provides food for thought.

2 ‘Letters From Iwo Jima’ (2006)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

From the mind of the iconic Clint Eastwood, this intriguing 2006 adventure drama introduces audiences to the true story of the Battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II. It is, of course, told from the point of view of the Japanese who fought in the war.

Featuring an absorbing storyline that shines a light on the humanistic side of such tragic events, this engaging feature is likely to glue the audience’s eyes to their screens. While it may not be as ostentatious and bold as other war films — but silently heartbreaking instead — Letters From Iwo Jima is nonetheless essential viewing for those who enjoy true story movies.

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1 ‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg‘s 1993 historical drama, Schindler’s List, remains one of the most heartbreaking depictions of the Holocaust of all time. The film is based on the non-fiction novel Schindler’s Ark, written by Thomas Keneally in 1982, and was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, winning seven, including Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg.

The war film which doesn’t actually focus on the fighting stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist responsible for saving the lives of over a thousand Jewish people from the Holocaust. The Nazi’s genocide of the Jewish people resulted in the deaths of an estimated six million Jews, and Schindler saved approximately 1200, who became known as the Schindlerjuden (Schindler Jews). An epilogue for the film shows the surviving Schindlerjuden and the actors visiting Schindler’s grave. Schindler’s List is widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time, so it only makes sense that it is essential in the genre.

NEXT:Popular Movies You Didn’t Know Were Based on True Stories