No matter how much theatricality it relies on, a true story is always stranger than fiction. Especially in the case of the true crime genre, which has taken the world by storm.
Here are the 10 movies inspired by true crimes, perfect for your next watch if you want to dive into the unsettling side of human existence.
10. All The President’s Men (1976)
Based on the Watergate Scandal, which brought down the presidency of Richard Nixon, ‘All The President’s Men’ is an essential political thriller for fans of true crime. When a burglary goes wrong, it actually reveals a shocking secret inside the walls of the White House itself.
The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) follow this trail of money and deceit only to be led higher and higher up in the presidency.
9. Foxcatcher (2014)
For true crime fans who love to watch psychological analyses of the criminal mind, ‘Foxcatcher’ is a must-watch. It is loosely based on the story of the multimillionaire Du Pont family and John du Pont’s murder of the Olympic-winning wrestler Dave Schultz.
Wrestler brothers Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) find themselves recruited by John du Pont (Steve Carrel) to move into their estate. All they have to do is help build Team Foxcatcher, a team of wrestlers to compete in the 1988 Olympics. But things take a turn when the eccentric son’s obsession with power and control leads to bloodshed.
8. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
In the boiling summer of 1972, Sonny (Al Pacino) decides to rob the Brooklyn bank along with his partners. The plan seemed nice and simple. All they have to do is walk in, take the money, and run. But the robbery goes out of control as everything starts to go wrong.
Their simple plan turns into a nightmare, which draws in the whole police department and a bunch of onlookers. The movie is based on a real robbery and hostage situation that happened in 1972.
7. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
This movie is exactly as the title suggests, stripping away all the theatrics to focus on the ugliness of a man whose sole pleasure is in gruesome murders. Michael Rooker stars as the nomadic killer protagonist Henry, based on the convicted real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.
Henry moves in with his partner Otis and starts to school him on his ways of killing strangers with no rhyme or reason. With no real explanation as to why he is the way he is, the movie charts the spine-chillingly scary workings of a serial killer.
6. Monster (2003)
This is the story of Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron), a sex worker turned serial killer. The role is taken up by Charlize Theron, whose performance made her win an Oscar.
Aileen has been trying to make ends meet since she was a teenager. She finds hope when a romance blooms between her and a girl named Selby (Christina Ricci). But things take a tragic turn when she begins killing her clients one by one.
5. Citizen X (1995)
Based on the true story of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, ‘Citizen X’ follows this killer who managed to murder 52 women and children over the course of a decade before he was finally caught.
Two detectives try their best to catch this killer in a system that refuses to admit such a crime could even happen. Facing multiple disruptions by bureaucracy and those in power, the story is told from the point of view of Viktor Burakov, a low-level detective who takes the viewers on a journey to find the killer.
4. Spotlight (2015)
‘The Spotlight’ is the Boston Globe’s investigative journalism unit. The movie chronicles their investigation into a church’s sex abuse scandal. What happens when a bunch of journalists go up against the entire Catholic Church, revealing secrets that leave it shaken up to its core?
Led by editor Walter Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James), and Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. Their goal is to find rock-hard proof for a crime that has been systematically covered up.
3. In Cold Blood (1967)
Based on the nonfiction novel by Truman Capote, ‘In Cold Blood’ remains a watershed film in the genre of crime and neo-noir films. When two ex-convicts team up in an attempt to rob a farmhouse, things take a turn and end with them murdering an entire family.
Through flashbacks, the movie tells the story of the investigators trying to solve the case and catch the suspects. The noir style of the movie, along with the eerily calm and casual demeanors of the actors, makes this a blood-chilling watch.
2. Memories of Murder (2003)
This South Korean movie, inspired by the real-life Hwasong Killer, remains a true crime masterpiece. Coming from the creators of ‘Parasite’, ‘Memories of Murder’ shows Bong Joon-Ho’s mastery of the neo-noir thriller genre. In the 1980s, the small Korean province of Hwasong was terrified because women weren’t returning from work.
Instead, they are found mutilated in ditches. Two detectives use the limited resources they have to find the killer before he strikes again. The case remained unsolved for more than 30 years, and the movie leaves you with more questions than answers, but it is a must-watch for true crime fans.
1. Zodiac (2007)
If you are a die-hard, true crime fan, then the best movie for you to watch has to be about a crime that remains unsolved. In the late 1960s and ’70s, the police were scrambling to find the Zodiac Killer, who had terrorized Northern California with a killing spree.
He sends bloodstained clothes to the police and taunts them with letters and ciphers. Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), an amateur detective, becomes obsessed with tracking down the murderer. The movie exceptionally brings out the smallest details of the real murders, all thanks to the intense research done by the creators.
