Movies take their inspiration from different sources, and many are inspired by the lives of real people. Movies based on real people and events are challenging, since movies have to balance historical accuracy with creating interesting narratives. To this end, there are many movies that specifically take their sources from books people have written about real people and events. There are exceptional movies that take these non-fiction books and translate them to the screen.
Some movies, likeCatch Me if You Can, are loose adaptations of the source material, which gives them more freedom to tell compelling stories. Other movies, likeLawrence of Arabia, are based on autobiography, and so offer unique perspectives on the lives of real people who accomplished and experienced incredible things.The best movies based on non-fiction books balance historical accuracy with telling relatable human stories.
10’Walk the Line' (2005)
Directed by James Mangold
Walk the Lineis based onJohnny Cash’s memoirs, “Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words” and “Cash: The Autobiography”. The movie starsJoaquin Phoenixplaying the Man in Black, andReese WitherspoonasJune Carter Cash.Walk the Linefollows Cash’s rise to fame, fall from grace, and his return to form. The movie highlights the struggles Cash faced throughout his life, and how he relied on the woman he loved to get through the darkness.
Like Cash’s memoirs,Walk the Linehighlights the singer’s struggles with fame and substance use disorder. The movie is an effective distillation of Cash’s memoirs, in which he detailed his own perceptions about how he was able to overcome his struggles.Walk the Lineis also an honest reflection on the price of fame, which Cash also speaks to in the memoirs on which the movie is based. This movie captures how Cash saw himself and his career when he had the chance to look back.
Walk The Line
9’Moneyball' (2011)
Directed by Bennett Miller
Moneyballfollows the true story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, and their manager Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) quest to create a successful MLB team on a budget. The movie follows Beane’s unique approach to scouting talent for his team, and his unconventional philosophy. Moneyball is based on Michael Lewis’s non-fiction book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game”, which was an in-depth look at Beane’s methods and ultimate results.
What makesMoneyballan effective adaptationof a non-fiction book is the fact that it takes what could be considered a fairly dry subject for those who aren’t fans of sports, particularly baseball. The movie asks viewers to consider what makes a professional sports team successful, and highlights the unique vision of one man to create a winning team.Moneyballpaints a picture of a man with a dream who was determined to stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
8’Apollo 13' (1995)
Directed by Ron Howard
Apollo 13details the real-life story of three American astronauts who faced disaster when on their way to complete a lunar mission. The movie is based on the 1994 book “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13” byJim LovellandJeffrey Kluger. The movie starsTom Hanksas Lovell,Bill PaxtonasFred HaiseandKevin BaconasJim Swigert.Apollo 13captures the effort that it took to return these astronauts safely after disaster struck their spaceship.
Apollo 13takes an incredibly detailed bookand makes it thrilling. While the book goes into further detail about Lovell’s career before his experience on the Apollo 13 mission, the movie faithfully portrays the high stakes that were at play to bring these astronauts home.Apollo 13makes these technical details thrilling, and easily digestible for those with no scientific background. The movie focuses on the human drama that played out in real time when these astronauts were stranded in space.
7’Girl, Interrupted' (1999)
Girl, Interruptedis based onSusanna Kaysen’s memoir of the same name. The story follows Kaysen’s experience of being admitted to an in-patient psychiatric hospital, and subsequently being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Like the source material, the movie follows Kaysen’s perspectives on her fellow patients and the hospital staff.Winona Ryderstars as Kaysen, and captures her innermost thoughts about her time in the hospital.
What makesGirl, Interruptedsuch a powerful adaptation of the original memoir is the fact that it captures Kaysen’s humanity so beautifully. The movie faithfully captures the challenges Kaysen faced while being institutionalized. The movie is memoir-like, in that it shows Kaysen’s narrow view of the world around her and how she was impacted by those she met while in treatment.Girl, Interruptedis an authentic portrayal of someone with a new mental health diagnosis navigating a whole new reality.
Girl, Interrupted
6'12 Years a Slave' (2013)
Directed by Steve McQueen
12 Years A Slaveis based on the horrifying account of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who was captured and sold into slavery in 1841. The movie follows Northup’s experience trying to survive the ensuing depravity.12 Years a Slavehighlights the horrors Northup faced while enslaved and how brutal the entire system was. As Northup fought to survive, he came across people who represented the best and worst of humanity.
What makes12 Years a Slavesuch an effective adaptationis that it captures Northup’s horrific experiences without sanitizing any part of the story.Ejiofor never stops showcasing Northup’s humanity as it is portrayed in his memoir. The performances of everyone in this movie bring this brutal time period to life in a jarringly effective way.12 Years a Slavehonors Northup’s experiences as detailed in his memoirs by spotlighting the truth of what he had to do to survive.
12 Years a Slave
5’All the President’s Men' (1976)
Directed by Alan J. Pakula
All the President’s Menfollows the story of the journalists who broke the Watergate Scandal that ultimately ended the Nixon presidency. Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) worked as journalists for the Washington Post. When they uncover the true scale of the Watergate break-in, they use their skills to bring the story to the country and the world.All the President’s Menis a political and journalistic thriller literally ripped from the headlines.
All the President’s Menuses Bernstein and Woodward’s book about this experience to highlight how important journalism has always been in ensuring a healthy democracy. The movie highlights the fact that great journalism requires skill and commitment when investigating stories that are important.All the President’s Menmay be a period piece detailing the relationship between an American president and the press, but it is an evergreen reminder of the power of good journalism.
All the President’s Men
4’Catch Me if You Can' (2002)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Catch Me if You Canchronicles the wild story ofFrank Abagnale Jr.(Leonardo DiCaprio), who claimed to be a major con artist before turning 20. In his semi-autobiographical book, Abagnale claimed to have impersonated a pilot, a doctor, and a prosecutor. The movie follows these experiences, and highlights Abagnale’s relationship with FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), the man who spent years tracking him down.
Catch Me if You Canprioritizes telling a fun story over historical accuracy. The fact that the movie focuses more on the cat-and-mouse dynamic between a criminal and the law.Catch Me if You Cantells a fun story of a man who seemed intent on committing crimes while seemingly leaving no (or few) victims. The fact that Abagnale eventually uses his talents to aid law enforcement, as detailed in his book, makes him a character with added depth.
Catch Me If You Can
3’The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Streetis based onJordan Belfort’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) memoir of the same name, which detailed corruption on Wall Street as well as his own rise and fall in the financial world. The movie follows Belfort’s career as a stockbroker in New York City, and his own engagement in illegal activities before eventually being caught.The Wolf of Wall Streethighlights the multiple scandals Belfort got himself caught up in.
The Wolf of Wall Streetis another example of a movie that remains faithful to its source material.DiCaprio’s performance is what makes this movie great.The Wolf of Wall Streetputs Belfort’s flaws firmly in the spotlight. Like the source material, the movie is an unflinching look at the sheer scale of corruption that occurs on Wall Street, and the ordinary people that keep the system in place.The Wolf of Wall Streetcaptures Belfort’s unique perspective on the impact this corruption has on those on the inside.
The Wolf of Wall Street
2’Goodfellas' (1990)
Goodfellasis an adaptation of the 1985 book “Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family” byNicholas Pileggi. The story follows Henry Hill (Robert De Niro), a mafia associate who was active between 1955-1980. The movie details Hill’s experience as part of one of America’s most high-profile mafia families.Goodfellasalso chronicles Hill’s fall from his pedestal as he is constantly pursued by American law enforcement.
What makesGoodfellassuch a notable adaptationof a non-fiction book is the fact that it highlights the human cost of organized crime.The movie never makes apologies for Hill’s actions, nor does it ever try to justify them. Instead,Goodfellaspaints Hill and his fellow associates as deeply flawed human beings who found themselves getting caught in a cycle from which there was never any escape.
Goodfellas
1’Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)
Directed by David Lean
Lawrence of Arabiais a biographical account of British army officer T.E. Lawrence’s (Peter O’Toole) experiences leading up to and during World War I. The movie is based on Lawrence’s account of his time in the Middle East, entitled “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”. In the book, Lawrence recounts his experiences and reflects on the various lessons he learned while stationed in the Middle East at such a tumultuous time in history.
Lawrence of Arabiaeffectively captures Lawrence’s reflections on his life and career that were detailed in his book. The movie humanizes Lawrence, who has become an icon of history.Lawrence of Arabiahighlights the ability Lawrence had to make genuine connections with people. Like the source material, the movie shows Lawrence as a man who took the greatness that had been thrust upon him at a time when the world was in chaos.
