Thrilling Films About Historical Discoveries

Description: This epic film covers the early days of the U.S. space program, focusing on the test pilots selected to become astronauts, marking a significant chapter in human exploration.

Fact: The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning four. It was based on Tom Wolfe's non-fiction book of the same name.

Description: Based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters, this film delves into the discovery of the man-eating lions that terrorized workers building the Uganda-Mombasa Railway.

Fact: The lions' skulls are now on display at the Field Museum in Chicago. The film was shot in South Africa, not Kenya, where the events took place.

Description: While not a traditional historical discovery, the film explores the personal discovery of a man who, after a massive stroke, learns to communicate through blinking, showcasing human resilience.

Fact: The film was shot using a unique technique to simulate the protagonist's point of view, with the camera representing his limited field of vision.

Description: Chronicles the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician whose discoveries in number theory have had lasting impacts on mathematics.

Fact: The film was shot in Cambridge, where Ramanujan studied. Dev Patel, who played Ramanujan, did extensive research to understand the mathematical concepts.

Description: This film follows the real-life journey of British explorer Percy Fawcett as he ventures into the Amazon in search of an ancient lost city. The movie captures the obsession and peril of exploration, making it a perfect fit for this collection.

Fact: The film was shot in Colombia, which provided a realistic backdrop for the Amazonian jungle. Charlie Hunnam underwent extensive physical training to portray Fawcett's endurance in the jungle.

Description: While not a traditional discovery, this film explores the personal discovery of King George VI's ability to overcome his stammer, a pivotal moment in history that allowed him to lead his nation through WWII.

Fact: The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The real Lionel Logue's diaries were used to ensure historical accuracy in the portrayal of his therapy sessions.

Description: This film recounts the story of Alan Turing and his team's efforts to crack the Nazi's Enigma code during WWII, a discovery that significantly altered the course of the war.

Fact: Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Turing. The film's title refers to Turing's famous test for artificial intelligence.

Description: This film tells the story of an unlikely platoon tasked with rescuing art masterpieces from Nazi thieves during WWII, a cultural discovery and preservation effort.

Fact: The film is based on the true story detailed in the book "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History."

Description: Focuses on the life of physicist Stephen Hawking, highlighting his groundbreaking work on black holes and the universe, which were monumental discoveries in the field of physics.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne won an Oscar for his role as Hawking. The film was shot in Cambridge, where much of Hawking's work took place.

Description: Directed by Werner Herzog, this film follows the Spanish conquistador Lope de Aguirre on his obsessive quest for El Dorado, the legendary city of gold.

Fact: The film was shot in the Amazon jungle with real-life hardships for the crew, mirroring the film's narrative. Klaus Kinski's performance as Aguirre is considered one of his most iconic roles.