Among the ranks of Netflix’s neverending library are several movies based on true stories. Whether biographical accounts of monarchs or gangsters, the platform has produced its fair share of real-life dramatizations. So, let’s discuss some of the most critically-acclaimed Netflix original movies based on true stories.
‘Dolemite Is My Name’ | 2019
This biographical dramedy stars Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian, actor, and singer known for his alternate persona Dolemite: a larger-than-life irreverent character with a flamboyant style and a penchant for risque and explicit humor. His language was colorful (as polite society would describe it).
The film is an uplifting, inspiring, downright brash, and bold comedy that critics deemed a significant homage to blaxploitation. Murphy is magnetic in the role that marked his return to cinema following a break from the silver screen. Murphy gets the chance to honor a man who slipped through the cracks of history despite revolutionizing both the music industry and the comedic world — all while firmly recementing his individual star power.
‘The Two Popes’ | 2019
The Two Popes is a biographical drama highlighting the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) as they work together to confront the past and forge a new path for the Catholic Church. The movie takes place during a turning point for the Vatican following the discovery of misconduct among the clergy.
With two equally matched actors in leading roles, this movie benefits most from compelling performances. These two men are at a crossroads — polar in their personalities and ideologies — but can they come together to fix what’s broken? While The Two Popes greatly fictionalizes the history involved, it does so in a way that augments the film’s emotional core — becoming both a sensitive and sometimes humorous take on what it means to serve God. It’s a difficult story to weave — ensuring not to villainize or exalt anyone involved — but with snappy dialogue and relatable contemporary dilemmas, it achieves greatness.
‘The Irishman’ | 2019
The Irishman is based on the real-life story of truck driver Frank Sheeran who gets involved with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. The three-and-a-half-hour epic saga (consider watching it in parts) follows Sheeran’s climb up the crime syndicate’s ladder to become a top hitman. He goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa — a powerful Teamster tied to organized crime — and later claims to be involved in his disappearance.
Directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, the film has all the gangster movie ingredients imaginable. The man behind Goodfellas steers the ship as the actor behind A Bronx Tale and Casino showcases his tried-and-true chops for playing a suit-and-tie-clad baddie. Despite its lengthy runtime, it’s a riveting film that contemplates themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and betrayal with grave rumination.
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ | 2020
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged with conspiracy and incitement to riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Director Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Moneyball, Being the Ricardos) is firmly in his wheelhouse with this one — showcasing the faults in our modern justice system and the disappointing failings in the land of the free. What takes place inside the courtroom will keep you on the edge of your seat — the dialogue surges with intensity. There is no reprieve.
With a mighty ensemble led by Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Alex Sharp, and more, Sorkin balances the large cast while giving each character a chance to shine. Watching anti-war protesters face such abhorrent treatment at the hands of police brutality is all too relevant today, making this film both a dramatized version of history and a reflection of our current cultural climate. It’s an important and compelling courtroom drama reminiscent of the greats like To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men.
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ | 2020
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a slice-of-life film based on August Wilson’s play of the same name. Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927 — during the heart of the Roaring Twenties.
The film is an immersive and intimate look at the bandmates, yet it’s controlled and restricted to this studio at this time, which keeps the intensity incessantly bubbling, as Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis transfix audiences with stage-like performances. Sometimes, words cannot get at the pain we face. Words cannot capture the strife, the heartache, and the determination tied to living a life…and that is when you need the blues. It feels like a play, but it works in this case, as each monologue, each contentious conversation, and each quick dismissive glance captivates in the hands of talented performers.
‘Fatherhood’ | 2021
Netflix’s Fatherhood is based on Matt Logan’s 2011 best-selling memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love. The movie follows a single father (Kevin Hart) as he raises his daughter following the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after giving birth.
While the movie is the weakest of the bunch on this list (in terms of critical evaluation), it benefits from a great deal of compassion and an overall sweetness that is impossible to resist. Beware: this is not for the weak of heart. Though there are several comedic reprieves, it may leave you crying in your popcorn. It’s a tender and heartbreaking account of resiliency with a compelling Kevin Hart in the title role. What can the human spirit overcome? Watch and see.
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