So many good ones, but here are my favorites:

American Me,
Schindler's List,
Catch Me If You Can,
At Close Range, and
The Insider

Helter Skelter - based on Charles Manson & his followers.

La Bamba, Selena, Walk the Line.

La Bamba, Selena, Walk the Line, and Ray.

La Bamba
Alive
Not Without My Daughter
Coal Miner's Daughter
What's Love Got To Do With It
Sweet Dreams
Schindler's List
Selena
Helter Skelter
Raging Bull
The Elephant Man
Walk The Line
Buddy Holly Story
Ray
The Last Emperor
A Beautiful Mind
American Me

The Other Side of the Mountain movies were always favorites of mine. They were based on the life of former Olympic-hopeful skier, Jill Kinmont, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a qualifying race. They starred the very talented Marilyn Hassett as Jill. I felt bad that she never achieved stardom or a bigger filmography. Even though the writing in both movies is pretty sappy (especially in Part 2), her performances were always top notch.

The Great Escape
Serpico
Zodiac
Dog Day Afternoon

Braveheart
Selena
Schindlers List
Francis

How could I forget one of the creepiest TV movies ever - The Legend of Lizzie Borden starring Elizabeth Montgomery. I have a male friend over 40 who still won't watch this movie today because it scared him as a kid!! :eek:

How could I forget one of the creepiest TV movies ever - The Legend of Lizzie Borden starring Elizabeth Montgomery. I have a male friend over 40 who still won't watch this movie today because it scared him as a kid!! :eek:
That is one awesome movie. It scared the bejesus outta me as a kid. That eerie music at the end where they sing "Lizzie Borden took an axe...":eek:

That is one awesome movie. It scared the bejesus outta me as a kid. That eerie music at the end where they sing "Lizzie Borden took an axe...":eek:
The part that seriously grossed me out was the rancid mutton stew the family had to eat. puke:

The part that seriously grossed me out was the rancid mutton stew the family had to eat. puke:
OH God, those flies all over that stew and the thought of what it must have smelled like just made me wanna :puke: In them days, there was no tupperware and proper refrigeration. :eek:

OH God, those flies all over that stew and the thought of what it must have smelled like just made me wanna :puke: In them days, there was no tupperware and proper refrigeration. :eek:
I almost puked myself the first time I watched that scene. Ewwwww...puke:

The Deliberate Stranger (based on Ted Bundy)

That is one awesome movie. It scared the bejesus outta me as a kid. That eerie music at the end where they sing "Lizzie Borden took an axe...":eek:
That was scary to me, I remember when it first aired. Good movie at least.

Titantic

The best, and creepiest movie I ever saw based on a real story is Heavenly Creatures. That is an amazing movie, and you just can't believe that these schoolgirls could be that out of it. Kate Winslet's first movie and still one of her best.

http://www.juggling.org/movies/Pics/Heavenly_Creatures.gif

"The Miracle Worker", based on Helen Keller's life was also a good movie.

"The Miracle Worker", based on Helen Keller's life was also a good movie.
That is indeed an excellent movie. So is Bitter Harvest, starring Ron Howard and Art Carney. http://imdb.com/title/tt0082077/

Add Titanic and The Miracle Worker to my list of faves.

I wouldn't really consider "Titanic" based on a true story, would you? I mean it's set at a real event, but no Rose or Jack ever lived, so don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?

Anyways, I thought of a few others:

Amadeus
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna Anderson
A Beautiful Mind
Funny Girl
Immortal Beloved
United 93

I wouldn't really consider "Titanic" based on a true story, would you? I mean it's set at a real event, but no Rose or Jack ever lived, so don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?

Anyways, I thought of a few others:

Amadeus
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna Anderson
A Beautiful Mind
Funny Girl
Immortal Beloved
United 93
I like the part when the ship sank. That's the real part. The title of the thread is BASED ON A TRUE STORY...that is not the same as A TRUE STORY. When something is BASED on a true story, that means that elements of the story/movie are true and the rest is DRAMATIZATION (aka fake).

I like the part when the ship sank. That's the real part. The title of the thread is BASED ON A TRUE STORY...that is not the same as A TRUE STORY. When something is BASED on a true story, that means that elements of the story/movie are true and the rest is DRAMATIZATION (aka fake).

I know that. (Amadeus has more than a few liberties taken). But I think of a true story as having been based on real people. The main characters in Titanic are completely made up, with only minor characters (Captain Smith, Molly Brown, etc) being real people - so I don't think of it as based on a true story. It's merely set during a historic event. If we count every movie that's set during a historical event as a "true story", then go ahead and add Gone With the Wind to the list :crazy:

I know that. (Amadeus has more than a few liberties taken). But I think of a true story as having been based on real people. The main characters in Titanic are completely made up, with only minor characters (Captain Smith, Molly Brown, etc) being real people - so I don't think of it as based on a true story. It's merely set during a historic event. If we count every movie that's set during a historical event as a "true story", then go ahead and add Gone With the Wind to the list :crazy:

Titanic never stated in the beginning that it is BASED ON A TRUE STORY. It was something that I along with another poster added as being our favorites. Based on the title of the thread however, it is asking WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES BASED ON A TRUE STORY. I like most movies that deal with the sinking of the Titanic. James Cameron's version I like best simply for the effects. Overall it was a great movie, true, as far as history goes. That damn ship sank. So AGAIN I REITERATE, BASED ON A TRUE STORY MEANS ELEMENTS OF THE STORY ARE TRUE, NOT THE ENTIRE STORY/MOVIE. Not every biography movie is 100 percent true. Directors/writers/producers throw in fictional parts for dramatic purposes. Even the movie AMERICAN ME is not a biographical movie, but it is somewhat based on a real gang leader, some elements of that person's life is in the movie, but not 100 percent his life.
Although some may see Titanic for the story of a doomed romance, I see it solely for the history of the ship Titanic.

A movie can be based on REAL PEOPLE and the story be made up. That does not make it a true story.

Titanic never stated in the beginning that it is BASED ON A TRUE STORY. It was something that I along with another poster added as being our favorites. Based on the title of the thread however, it is asking WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES BASED ON A TRUE STORY. I like most movies that deal with the sinking of the Titanic. James Cameron's version I like best simply for the effects. Overall it was a great movie, true, as far as history goes. That damn ship sank. So AGAIN I REITERATE, BASED ON A TRUE STORY MEANS ELEMENTS OF THE STORY ARE TRUE, NOT THE ENTIRE STORY/MOVIE. Not every biography movie is 100 percent true. Directors/writers/producers throw in fictional parts for dramatic purposes. Even the movie AMERICAN ME is not a biographical movie, but it is somewhat based on a real gang leader, some elements of that person's life is in the movie, but not 100 percent his life.
Although some may see Titanic for the story of a doomed romance, I see it solely for the history of the ship Titanic.

A movie can be based on REAL PEOPLE and the story be made up. That does not make it a true story.

I never said that 'based on a true story' had to be 100 percent true - please read what I write. Amadeus and A Beautiful Mind both took great liberties with what actually happened, but they were based on lives of real people, not fictional. This is all I'm saying: in my opinion, based on a true story means it should be about people that actually lived, not merely set at a historic event. That's just my view. Obviously you disagree.

Would you consider "Gone With the Wind" based on a true story? It's set during the Civil War. The Civil War did happen. The South did lose. But I'd never consider that one based on or even inspired by a true story - because to me, that implies that there was a Scarlett/Rhett that actually lived. *Shrug* Maybe we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I thought based on a true story meant that the story was based on something that really happened. Since the Titantic was a real ship that hit an iceberg and sank then shouldn't it count?

I have never seen GWTW and don't care to. I don't know if the Civil War was a major plot of the story. Obviously the title of TITANIC implies the sinking of a famous ship. It wasn't titled JACK AND ROSE. Therefore, the historical part of Titanic was true as far as how the ship traveled on its fateful journey, the look of it, how it came to hit the glacier and how it eventually sinked. There were many references made as to the speed it was traveling, comparing it to another ship, etc. It was not a love story with a small story behind it abt a ship that just happen to sink. Obviously to tell the story of Titanic there had to have some interest to keep the audience focused in. Hence, Jack and Rose. Imagine Titanic being made with just the movie focusing on the look of the ship, it's journey and no characters. Just a bunch of people? As if we were voyeurs watching a cruise ship sailing?

[QUOTE=Ireneparalegal]I have never seen GWTW and don't care to. /QUOTE]:eek: Why? and yeah I havent seen it yet

[QUOTE=Ireneparalegal]I have never seen GWTW and don't care to. /QUOTE]:eek: Why? and yeah I havent seen it yet
Not my cup of tea. :lol: I am not clear on your post, you haven't seen GWTW either?

[QUOTE=Cactus Jack]
Not my cup of tea. :lol: I am not clear on your post, you haven't seen GWTW either?
Nope

I have never seen GWTW and don't care to. I don't know if the Civil War was a major plot of the story. Obviously the title of TITANIC implies the sinking of a famous ship. It wasn't titled JACK AND ROSE. Therefore, the historical part of Titanic was true as far as how the ship traveled on its fateful journey, the look of it, how it came to hit the glacier and how it eventually sinked. There were many references made as to the speed it was traveling, comparing it to another ship, etc. It was not a love story with a small story behind it abt a ship that just happen to sink. Obviously to tell the story of Titanic there had to have some interest to keep the audience focused in. Hence, Jack and Rose. Imagine Titanic being made with just the movie focusing on the look of the ship, it's journey and no characters. Just a bunch of people? As if we were voyeurs watching a cruise ship sailing?

Irene, you could make nitpicking an olympic sport. Can you ever just let something go? It's just a difference of opinion.

The British historical drama on the sinking of the Titanic - A Night to Remember ('58).

Irene, you could make nitpicking an olympic sport. Can you ever just let something go? It's just a difference of opinion.

Then you should never have asked me question in your last post. If you ask someone a question, you are expecting an answer. You asked and I responded. If I posted a question and didn't want an answer, I would make that clear by posting a RHETORICAL QUESTION, and since someone may not know what that is, I would post, don't bother answering.

Then you should never have asked me question in your last post. If you ask someone a question, you are expecting an answer. You asked and I responded. If I posted a question and didn't want an answer, I would make that clear by posting a RHETORICAL QUESTION, and since someone may not know what that is, I would post, don't bother answering.

I don't know what it is, but for some reason you really seem to want to pick fights with me. I don't know why. But you seem to see everything I say as something you need to refute.

Okay, I can see how you interpreted it as a question directed at you, but actually the last thing I said was "Maybe we'll have to agree to disagree." Can you let that be an end to it?

Star 80
Not Without My Daughter

The Black Dahlia - loosely based on the murder of Elizabeth Short.

The Black Dahlia - loosely based on the murder of Elizabeth Short.
Another good movie.
I love how you posted that..."loosely" based. ;) Afterall, don't want to rattle a nerve on the p.c. of the BASED ON A TRUE STORY theme here. :crazy: :lol:

The Black Dahlia - loosely based on the murder of Elizabeth Short.i saw that movie last week i liked it

Coal Miner's Daughter

Walk the Line

Star 80 (Eric Roberts scared the hell outta me)

The Legend of Lizzie Borden (so did Elizabeth Montgomery)

The Last Emperor

Blow

Miracle

Rudy

Remember the Titans

At Close Range

Schindler's List

The Buddy Holly Story

Stand and Deliver

La Bamba

Dog Day Afternoon

Amadeus

Goodfellas

The Doors

The Right Stuff

Helter Skelter

This Boy's Life

Ray

Walking Tall (1973)

I Love You to Death

St. Helens

Summer of Sam

The Untouchables

Silkwood - based on the story of union activist Karen Silkwood who died while investigating the health risks of the nuclear fuel that was produced at the plant where she worked in OKlahoma.

Monster
Boys dont cry
North Country
Girl interupted
Schinlers List
The exorcist
Alive
Mask (cher)
Walk the Line
Sweet Dreams
The Babe
Ike and tina turner movie
The color Purple

I Love adding to my list:

Monster
Boys Don't Cry
I Love You To Death
The Doors
Stand & Deliver

Lawrence Of Arabia

The French Connection

The Exorcist

Serpico

The Sugarland Express

Dog Day Afternoon

All The President's Men

Raging Bull

Flashdance

The Untouchables

Casualties of War

Goodfellas

The Doors

Schindler's List

The Insider

Munich

I'm sure that there are a few I've left out.

The Pursuit of Happyness
Party Monster
The Burning Bed
The Tracy Thurman Story
Malcolm X

Flashdance

Was that based on a true story? Huh, I never heard that.

:) Learn something new every day :)

Was that based on a true story? Huh, I never heard that.

:) Learn something new every day :)


Yeah, it was. I guess Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (the producers) paid the lady who's real life story was the basis for the movie not only for the rights to tell her story but to keep quit about it. A couple of years ago though the lady sued Paramount Pictures for more money, so the tuth came out about her being the real life inspiration for the film.

Winds Of War
Awakenings
United 93
Roots

Yeah, it was. I guess Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (the producers) paid the lady who's real life story was the basis for the movie not only for the rights to tell her story but to keep quit about it. A couple of years ago though the lady sued Paramount Pictures for more money, so the tuth came out about her being the real life inspiration for the film.

That's really interesting. I remember a similar thing happening with the original dancers who inspired "A Chorus Line." They all told their stories to the writers of the Broadway show, but were never compensated for the movie or the Broadway revival. :(

Helter Skelter

I thought the remake did a beautiful job of portraying Sharon Tate (for however brief it was). Roman Polanski too. I wish they'd make a movie just about Sharon's life though, not just her death.

I thought the remake did a beautiful job of portraying Sharon Tate (for however brief it was). Roman Polanski too. I wish they'd make a movie just about Sharon's life though, not just her death.

I just went over to the IMDb and that remake came out three years ago? :eek: I don't remember ever seeing it, but I wish I had after finding Jeremy Davies as Manson and hearing how well they did at portraying Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. I'm really glad they did. :)

To have them do a movie based on her life would be really great, that's one I'd love to see. Her death was horrific.. Just about everybody knows about it, even if one isn't familiar with her as an actress. That fateful night is not what she should be remembered for. :(

Here are some of my favorites:

1) David

2) Adam

3) A Cry For Help: The Tracey Thurman Story

Here are some of my favorites:

1) David

2) Adam

3) A Cry For Help: The Tracey Thurman Story
I will add DAVID and ADAM to my list as well.

ERIN BROCKOVICH
PRIVATE PARTS
THE TAKING OF FLIGHT 847: THE ULI DERICKSON STORY http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096216/ This movie starred Lindsay Wagner who did a great job in the movie. I remember when this terrorist act took place. It was heart-breaking and horrible.

The Executioner's Song
Why Do Fools Fall In Love

The Onion Field
The Prize Pulitzer
The Karen Carpenter Story

Bonnie and Clyde

All the President's Men

I just went over to the IMDb and that remake came out three years ago? :eek: I don't remember ever seeing it, but I wish I had after finding Jeremy Davies as Manson and hearing how well they did at portraying Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. I'm really glad they did. :)

To have them do a movie based on her life would be really great, that's one I'd love to see. Her death was horrific.. Just about everybody knows about it, even if one isn't familiar with her as an actress. That fateful night is not what she should be remembered for. :(

Agreed.

And I love the pic you have of her in your avatar. She always looked beautiful, and somehow, a little sad. :rip:

All That Jazz
Chicago
Open Water
Grizzly Man
Shine
Lawrence of Arabia
To Kill a Mockingbird

A Killer Among Friends

I Know My First Name Is Steven

A Woman Scorned: Betty Broderick Story

Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick Story (part 2)

Love, Lies And Murder

Woman On The Run: Lawrencia Bembenek Story

A Matter Of Justice

Shattered Innocence

Stalking Laura

Big Dreams, Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story

A Woman Scorned: Betty Broderick Story

Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick Story (part 2)

OMG, I remember those! They were really well-done. Meredith Baxter was really spooky in them. :eek:

OMG, I remember those! They were really well-done. Meredith Baxter was really spooky in them. :eek:
I loved her acting in those movies. Awesome acting on her part. ;)

Midnight Express

Mommie Dearest

Mrs. Harris

Agreed.

And I love the pic you have of her in your avatar. She always looked beautiful, and somehow, a little sad. :rip:

Thank you, Liza. You're right, even with her softness and beauty, there was a sadness found there. :(

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story