War / Political Movies Based on True Stories
Franklin: History vs. HollywoodPolitical | Michael Douglas portrays diplomat, publisher, and statesman Benjamin Franklin, who at age 70 traveled to France to secure the Franco-American Alliance of 1778.
ALL TRUE STORY War / Political Movies
Go behind enemy lines as we present our research into true war movies. Here, you will also find political movies inspired by true stories. Whether it's a mission to rescue civilians trapped in a country that has turned hostile like in Argo, or a ferocious battle to stop the Persian invasion of Greece like in 300, war movies based on true stories often provide a suspense-filled, unflinching glimpse at what it's like to be on the tripwire of death, facing constant fear while functioning on adrenaline and the desire for self-preservation. Of course, some movies only embrace the heroism and explosions, while leaving out the brutal reality. We attempt to confirm the truth and fill in the gaps.![](/reelfaces/images/2024/03/franklin/indx.jpg)
Franklin
Michael Douglas portrays Benjamin Franklin, who at age 70 worked to secure the Franco-American Alliance.
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We Were the Lucky Ones
Members of a Jewish family each embark on their own path to safety during WWII, hoping to reunite again.
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Masters of the Air
Does the series hit the target with regard to the facts about the 100th Bomb Group during WWII?
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Napoleon
Does Joaquin Phoenix accurately depict French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte?
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Reality
NSA translator Reality Winner leaks a classified intelligence report to The Intercept.
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A Small Light
The Nat Geo miniseries tells the story of Miep Gies, one of the people who helped hide Anne Frank and her family.
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Devotion
Two U.S. Navy pilots develop a bond of brotherhood as they fly combat missions in the Korean War.
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The Woman King
Does the movie tell the whole story of the Kingdom of Dahomey and its female warriors?
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Top Gun: Maverick
How realistic is the sequel? We examine the flying, the pilots, and the plot.
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Operation Mincemeat
To trick the Nazis, the British place fake documents on a corpse posing as an officer. Is the WWII movie accurate?
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The Survivor
Does this story of a Holocaust survivor who boxed fellow prisoners keep the facts in the ring?
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Munich: The Edge of War
Two former classmates who work for rival governments meet to discuss peace in the lead up to WWII.
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A Journal for Jordan
Denzel Washington directs this fact-based story of a soldier who authors a journal for his infant son.
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The Courier
How much fiction is smuggled into this story about Cold War spy Greville Wynne?
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The Mauritanian
A man is held without charges at Guantanamo as an attorney (Jodie Foster) fights for his freedom.
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Greyhound
Based on a novel, the Tom Hanks film was inspired by a real-life WWII battle.
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The Outpost
How accurate is this story of a small force of U.S. soldiers who defend their outpost from hundreds of Taliban?
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Sergio
UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello finds himself in a perilous situation in the aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq.
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Mrs. America
Hollywood finds the villain in conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, but is it the truth?
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1917
Two WWI soldiers are tasked with delivering a message that could save hundreds of lives, but did it happen?
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Midway
Is director Roland Emmerich's version of the WWII Battle of Midway accurate?
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The Best of Enemies
A civil rights activist works with a Klan leader, but is the story accurate?
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Vice
Christian Bale captures Dick Cheney physically, but does the movie bear any resemblance to the truth?
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Outlaw King
How accurate is this film about the 14th century Scottish 'Outlaw King' Robert the Bruce?
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22 July
How true is this film about Norway's worst terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 77 people?
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Operation Finale
In 1960, a group of secret agents attempt to capture Adolf Eichman, an architect of the Holocaust.
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The 15:17 to Paris
Is this Clint Eastwood movie more accurate because the heroes portray themselves?
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12 Strong
A U.S. Special Forces team works with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban. Starring Chris Hemsworth.
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The Death of Stalin
Russia banned the movie, a dark comedy that stars Steve Buscemi as Khrushchev.
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The Post
Is this story of a newspaper publisher's decision to publish government secrets accurate?
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Darkest Hour
Gary Oldman portrays Winston Churchill during the early days of WWII, but is the movie accurate?
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Dunkirk
Do the facts become casualties in Christopher Nolan's WWII movie?
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Megan Leavey
Megan Leavey fights to adopt her combat dog Rex in the years after they survive an IED explosion.
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The Promise
We reveal how much of The Promise is based in reality and explore the controversy around the movie.
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Patriots Day
A chronicle of the Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent terrorist manhunt.
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Hacksaw Ridge
Mel Gibson directs the story of a WWII Medal of Honor winner who never fired a shot.
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The Crown
Meet the real people behind more than 16 characters from the Netflix series and find out how much is fiction.
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War Dogs
Is the real story of these two stoner arms dealers as exciting as the movie?
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Anthropoid
This story of the assassination of SS officer Reinhard Heydrich is refreshingly accurate.
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Free State of Jones
Matthew McConaughey is a farmer who rebels against the Confederacy during the Civil War.
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The Finest Hours
Does the truth stay afloat in this story of a perilous Coast Guard rescue mission?
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The Big Short
Meet the key players in the housing market crisis who are represented in The Big Short movie.
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Bridge of Spies
Tom Hanks is lawyer James Donovan, who defended spy Rudolf Abel during the Cold War.
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Texas Rising
Does Texas Rising retell or rewrite the rise of the Texas Rangers?
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Woman in Gold
Does this story of a woman who fights to reclaim a painting stolen by the Nazis smudge the facts?
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Unbroken
Does the truth remain unbroken in this story of an Olympian and WWII hero?
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Manhattan
We compare the Manhattan TV show to real life at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.
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The Railway Man
Colin Firth portrays Eric Lomax, a WWII POW who tracks down one of his former captors for closure.
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The Monuments Men
Does director George Clooney paint over the facts with too much fiction?
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Lone Survivor
Mark Wahlberg fights for his life, but does the truth hold up in the onscreen version of the battle.
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Diana
Does the Diana movie reproduce the truth as well as it does the fashion?
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Captain Phillips
Climb aboard Tom Hanks's character's cargo ship as we explore the facts behind Captain Phillips.
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Argo
Go undercover and discover the truth about the daring escape.
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300
It's full of great fight scenes and lots of blood, but is the story accurate?
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Breach
Investigate the FBI Agent who betrayed his country, religion and family.
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United 93
Meet the heroes and investigate the story behind the film.
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The Pianist
Did you know that director Roman Polanski had himself been a prisoner of the Polish ghetto during WWII?
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Men of Honor
Meet the real Navy diver who lost his leg but not his ability to overcome his circumstances.
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Schindler's List
As a result of refusing to obey, he saved the lives of nine hundred.