Top 10 Films Based on True Stories

Description: This film tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. It's a poignant reminder of the power of individual action against overwhelming odds.

Fact: Steven Spielberg initially refused to direct the film, feeling he was not ready to tackle such a heavy subject. The film was shot in black and white to give it a documentary feel.

Description: Based on the autobiography of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survived the Holocaust by living in hiding in Warsaw, this film captures the resilience of the human spirit.

Fact: Adrien Brody learned to play the piano for the film and lost 30 pounds to portray Szpilman's physical decline.

Description: This film tells the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of French Elle magazine, who suffers a massive stroke and is left with locked-in syndrome, able to communicate only by blinking his left eye.

Fact: The film was shot from the perspective of Bauby, with the camera often positioned to mimic his limited field of vision.

Description: This film chronicles King George VI's struggle with a speech impediment, with the help of an unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue, as he prepares to lead his country through World War II.

Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life friendship between King George VI and Lionel Logue, whose diaries were discovered by his grandson.

Description: Based on the real-life hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama, this film focuses on the bravery of Captain Richard Phillips and the intense negotiations for his release.

Fact: The real Captain Phillips was on set as a consultant, and Tom Hanks spent time with him to understand his experiences.

Description: This film follows The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team, the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative journalist unit in the United States, as they uncover the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese.

Fact: The real-life journalists portrayed in the film were involved in the production, ensuring accuracy in the depiction of events.

Description: Based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, this film recounts his kidnapping in Washington, D.C. in 1841 and subsequent sale into slavery, highlighting the brutality of the American slave system.

Fact: The film was shot on the same plantation where much of the real Solomon Northup's story took place.

Description: The story of Alan Turing, the British mathematician who helped crack the Enigma code during WWII, highlighting his genius, his personal struggles, and the tragic end to his life.

Fact: The film was partly shot at Bletchley Park, where Turing actually worked.

Description: This biopic explores the life of physicist Stephen Hawking, focusing on his relationship with his wife Jane, his battle with motor neuron disease, and his groundbreaking work in cosmology.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking, met with him several times to prepare for the role, and Hawking himself approved of the portrayal.

Description: This film tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who sheltered over a thousand Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan genocide, showcasing the heroism of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

Fact: The film was shot in South Africa due to safety concerns in Rwanda at the time.