The Heartbreaking True Stories Behind Your Favorite Movies

11. The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, who was a computer scientist, mathematician, and cryptanalyst who is best known for decrypting German intelligence codes during World War II for the British government. He also designed several different methods of speeding up the breaking of ciphers. His decryptions played major roles in crucial moments against the Nazis, for example, the Battle of the Atlantic. His death remains a mystery until this day, and there have been several theories and speculations regarding what actually happened.

12. 12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave is the story of New York State-born free Solomon Northup who was kidnapped and sold into slavery despite being born to freed slaves. He was held captive and forced to work as a slave in Louisiana. He wrote an account of his 12 years spent in slavery. He was able to escape and regain his freedom after a Canadian working on the same plantation helped get his story to New York, where the Governer Washing Hunt helped him escape and return to New York to live in freedom. His captors never received any punishment.

13. The Danish Girl

The Danish Girl tells the story of Lili Elbe, who was a transgender Danish woman and known as one of the first identifiable recipients of gender reassignment surgery ever. She officially transitioned in 1930 after she was born Einar Magnus Andreas Wegener. She began going by the name “Lili” and publicly introduced herself as Einar’s sister before successfully completing the surgery. Before her transition, she was a successful artist and painter. She was married to a woman before her transition.

14. The Pianist

The Pianist is a historical drama based on the real life of Wladyslaw Szpilman, who was a Jewish Polish pianist and classical composer. He is known for his story of surviving the German occupation of Warshaw as well as the Holocaust. During the German invasion of Poland, Szpilman was forced into hiding in the Warshaw ghetto for two years. He was able to escape the Holocaust with the help of a German officer who opposed the occupation and policies.

15. Hachi

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is a film based on the true story of the dog Hachiko. Hachiko was an Akita who was born in Odate, Akita Prefecture in Japan. He is known and remembered for his unwavering loyalty to his owner, even after his owner passed away. The dog remained faithful to the owner even nine years after his passing. He is often referred to as “chuken Hachiko,” which translates to “faithful dog Hachi.” He became a symbol of faithfulness, loyalty, and fidelity and is continued to be remembered today.

16. Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List is inspired by Thomas Keneally’s book Schindler’s Ark that told the story of Oskar Schindler. Schindler was an ethnic German who was a member of the Party but who is credited with saving the lives of around 1200 Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust. He was able to help save their lives by giving them employment in his ammunition and enamelware factories. He is the only person to have been a part of the Party to be buried in Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

17. Apollo 13

Apollo 13 was the third manned mission meant to land on the moon and the seventh overall manned mission in the Apollo space program. It was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in April 1970. However, the mission did not make it to the moon since an oxygen tank explosion led to a crippled Service Module. This meant that the crew experienced loss of cabin heat, a water shortage, and limited power. Despite this, the crew managed to survive and return home safely.

18. Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco, who in the film named after him was portrayed by Johnny Depp, was the alias of Joseph “Joe” Pistone, who was an FBI agent who spent six years working undercover with the Bonanno crime family. He also infiltrated the Colombo crime family. He worked as an FBI agent for 27 years. Pistone helped pioneer FBI undercover work and helped prove just how crucial going undercover can be as a law enforcement tool. Pistone was able to go undercover due to his Sicilian heritage and his fluency in Italian.

19. War Dogs

War Dogs is 2016 that is loosely based on the actions of two arms dealers, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who supplied munitions for the Afghan National Army after receiving a US Army contract to do so. They supplied the Afghan National Army with nearly $300 million worth of munitions. The two were caught trying to re-brand and re-package Chinese ammunition that are prohibited and after getting caught they ended up serving time for their crimes. Packouz spent seven months under house arrest and Diveroli spent four years in prison.

20. Gangs Of New York

The film Gangs of New York was inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name that described the 19th century New York City gangs that were prominent in the time period. The gangs were the city’s main contributors of crime and came before the rise of the Mafia during the Prohibition period in the 1920’s. The book focused on describing the daily activities of the gangs, which included gambling dens and saloon halls and also described the Five Points area of Lower Manhattan.