Movies and shows are often associated with the fictional world. They create a perfect escape route from routine daily life to the world of fantasy and impossibilities. Thus, everyone loves it. As binge-watching is becoming a common phenomenon, families gather up and enjoy these shows together on a weekend. So why not try something serious, like shows based on true stories?
From history to politics, criminals to celebrities, horror to comedy, real-life inspired all types and genres. These shows open up an array of mind-boggling things to watch. Shows can be based on the 19th century, the serial killers of the twentieth century, or the disasters that killed way too many people. Here are 25 such shows based on true stories.
Best Series Based On Real Life
25. Special
Based on the 2015 memoir ‘I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves‘ by the show writer Ryan O’Connell, the series delves into the tale of a man with cerebral palsy who reaches out to live a more daring life. The show has various storylines created from his own experiences.
Related: Top 25 Thriller Series Worth Watching
24. The Serpent
Charles Sobhraj is not a name that can be unheard of. An international serial killer, nicknamed The Serpent of The Bikini Killer is on whom the show is based. The eight-part BBC series discusses his capture and trial.
In case you missed: Top 10 Most Famous Serial Killers Of All Time
23. Wolf Hall
The series is an adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s book of the same name. The plot follows the growth of Thomas Cromwell from the son of a blacksmith to King Henry VIII’s chief minister.
22. A Very British Scandal
The Duke of Argyll filed for divorce in 1963, and the brutal case played out amid a media frenzy with accusations of adultery, theft, violence, drug use, forgery, and bribery. The drama came out in 2021 with three episodes.
21. White House Farm
Here’s a true murder tale. The drama is based on the murder of a five-member family in their Essex farmhouse in August of 1986. Enclosed in six episodes, the investigations lead to revelations from within the family.
20. Seven Seconds
Racial tension explodes in the city of Jersey as a Black cyclist is hit and run by a White police officer. The crime drama of 2018 explores the aftermath of the accident, which includes an attempted cover-up by the police department and a volatile trial.
Related: Top 25 Movies Based On True Stories
19. Mrs. America
The drama focuses on the anti-feminist activist of the 1970s, Phyllis Schlafly, who advocated the traditional roles of women in American society. She was a long-time religious rights activist who led movements to stop the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
18. Call The Midwife
The thought-provoking period drama is based on the book ‘Call The Midwife: A True Story Of The Eats End In The 1950s‘ by Jennifer Worth. The series discusses the thalidomide scandal of the 1960s, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, sexual assault, illegal abortion, and homophobia of those times.
17. The Act
The series is based on the mother-daughter duo, Dee Dee Blanchard and Gypsy, who appeared in the 2016 BuzzFeed article. The doting mother was found dead one day, with her chronically ill daughter had gone missing. As the people start to search for the young girl, it leads to the unveiling of darker truths.
16. Say Nothing
Based on the book, ‘Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland,’ the series tracks decades of the Troubles. With Price sisters at the epicentre, ‘Say Nothing’ is a must-watch historical drama depicting the conflict between Irish Catholics and U.K. Protestants.
15. Unorthodox
Developed on the memoir of Deborah Feldman of the same name, the critically acclaimed series tells the tale of an Orthodox Jewish woman who escapes a sour marriage as she is unable to consummate and produce a baby.
14. Small Axe
This is an anthology of five films by the writer and director Steve McQueen. The episodes focus on the experiences of the West Indian communities in London during the 1960s to 1980s. This transfixing series had been out in 2020.
13. Des
Inspired by the serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who murdered 15 men and boys between the years of 1978 and 1983. The true crime story does not detail the murderer’s deeds but focuses on his capture, subsequent investigation, and the media coverage that followed.
12. Feud
‘Feud’ is a brilliant anthology that sheds light on historical rivalries between famous celebrities. While the first season focuses on the reality of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s ugly Hollywood war, the second season pits the great author Truman Capote against New York elites – his “swans,” who went from true friends to vindictive enemies.
11. It’s A Sin
The heartbreaking series is all colorful and vibrant until the Aids epidemic starts wiping down the population of London in the 1980s. Russell T Davies, the show maker, was inspired by the life of one of his friends, Jill, during those days. The five episodes tell their story through a group of friends.
10. Escape At Dannemora
The incident surrounding the drama takes place at the Clinton Correction Facility, a maximum security prison. Here, two of the inmates become involved in the life of a married female prison employee. Now they are plotting their escape.
9. Dopesick
Starring Michael Keaton, ‘Dopesick’ lays bare the nexus of the drug company (Purdue Pharma), doctors, and dealers who pushed America toward opioid addiction. OxyContin’s production, marketing, and consumption made up a carefully designed billion-dollar plan that destroyed families, careers, and extinguished countless lives.
8. Alias Grace
The drama is based on Margaret Atwood‘s 1996 novel of the same name. The mini-series tells the tale of an Irish immigrant to Canada, Grace Marks, who was sentenced to prison for killing her employer and his housekeeper.
7. MindHunter
With a few episodes directed by David Fincher, the series focuses on a special section of crimes, the ones that are committed without any rational motive. With an FBI agent, his mentor, and a psychologist on track, the series gets going. The show aired from 2017 to 2019.
6. The Crown
As everyone is aware, ‘The Crown‘ focuses on the private and political lives of the British Royal family. The drama began with the early life of Queen Elizabeth and the death of Princess Diana, and so on. Unlike other real-life series, this particular one has been going on for a very long time.
5. Unbelievable
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning article, ‘Unbelievable Story of Rape‘, the serialized version focuses on the real-life trauma and resilience of a teenage girl by the name Marie. The series sparked conversation on the treatment of women in society and the administrative and legal systems.
4. Narcos
The thriller deals with the horrific, drug-laden history of Colombia during the time of the kingpin drug dealer Pablo Escobar. The series that aired from 2015 to 2017 showcases archival footage mixed with fictional components.
3. When They See Us
It is the true story of Central Park Five, five boys who were accused of rape and assault in 1990 wrongfully and had to serve years in prison. They had been the victims of police corruption and racism. The miniseries went on for four episodes in 2019, with a cast of Emmy winners and nominees.
2. American Crime Story
The anthology series discusses the true crimes that have happened in American society over the years. Several historical and high-profile murder cases are re-enacted with factual evidence, official records, and background information, giving a different insight into these abandoned murder cases.
1. Chernobyl
Based on the book written by Svetlana Alexievich, ‘Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster‘, the series was extended to five episodes. Described as “one of the greatest series of all time”, it tells the tale of the 1986 catastrophic disaster that led to the explosion of the nuclear reactor, affecting thousands living in the area.
