Sometimes, the easiest way to convince an audience is to tell them upfront that the story unfolding before their eyes actually happened, even if it didn’t.
Let’s explore the best movies with plots “based” on real-life events.
The Blair Witch Project
In October 1994, three film students disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary. A year later, their footage was found.
This footage depicts their attempt to create a small project for a college course. According to legend, the Maryland woods are home to a witch who controls people and forces them to kill children. While gathering material on this folkloric figure, the students go too far.
Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez’s mockumentary is considered one of the most successful independent horror films of all time. With a $22,000 budget, it grossed over $250 million.
What made it as captivating as betting on football or basketball via 20Bet? The film was marketed as actual footage left behind by a student group that ventured into Burkittsville.
A dedicated website added to the intrigue, featuring fake police reports and news about the “real” case. This helped spark public interest and popularized the found-footage genre.
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Fargo
Car salesman Jerry Lundegaard has a brilliant plan. His wife, Jean, is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Jerry hires two criminals to kidnap her, planning to split the ransom among the three of them. But things quickly spiral out of control, especially when police officer Marge gets involved.
Many fans of the Coen brothers consider Fargo their finest work, surpassing Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski in directing and acting. The film opens with a title card claiming the story is real, with only the names changed at the survivors’ request.
However, the brothers themselves debunk this claim in the credits, revealing the entire plot to be fictional. This device elevates the film’s absurd twists to surreal heights — it’s hard to believe such events could actually happen.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
A brother, sister, and three friends drive a van to a dusty corner of Texas to check on their grandfather’s old house and ensure his grave hasn’t been vandalized. The area is abuzz with rumors of grave robbers. Although their trip starts poorly, the group reaches their destination safely. However, a local family of cannibals has already set their sights on them.
Leatherface, the iconic villain, was partially inspired by real-life serial killers, including Ed Gein. His character was so vividly crafted that the chainsaw-wielding murderer became a pop culture phenomenon, appearing in numerous subsequent films.
The Fourth Kind
In 2000, psychiatrist Abigail Tyler begins documenting strange cases in Nome, Alaska. Several patients with different diagnoses report similar symptoms: they wake up at the same time every night and see the same figure outside their windows. During a hypnosis session with one patient, chaos erupts as the man tries to recall the events. When Abigail reviews the session recording, she detects the presence of an unknown being.
The title of this sci-fi thriller references a classification system for alien encounters. Director Olatunde Osunsanmi skips subtlety, opening the film with a prologue where Milla Jovovich addresses the audience, claiming her character is based on a real researcher. The film even incorporates supposed archival footage from Abigail Tyler’s hypnosis sessions.
This clever artistic choice heightens the fear factor and sells the illusion of authenticity.
The Last House on the Left
Mary and Phyllis set out to have a great evening: they leave their small town for a rock concert in the big city and later decide to explore local shops and streets. However, a group of escaped criminals takes notice of them and commits horrific acts. The gang, led by Krug, hides in a nearby house, which turns out to belong to Mary’s parents. They’re determined to exact revenge.
Wes Craven’s debut movie, released in 1972, became a grueling experience for audiences. Its raw portrayal of violence shocked viewers, with many walking out of screenings unable to endure such harrowing scenes.
The Strangers
Kristen and James retreat to a secluded country house where James plans to propose. Their idyllic evening is ruined not only by Kristen rejecting his proposal but also by the arrival of masked strangers. Initially, Kristen assumes the visitors need help, but the encounter soon turns violent.
The marketing campaign for The Strangers claimed it was based on real events. In reality, writer-director Bryan Bertino drew inspiration from the infamous Manson Family murders, which he learned about as a child.
What struck him most about the Manson-Tate case was the seemingly random nature of the violence — the victims had no connection to their killers.
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The Amityville Horror
George and Kathy Lutz find their dream home: a massive house in Amityville sold at an affordable price. On moving day, Father Delaney visits to bless the house but leaves feeling unwell. Strange occurrences begin in the house, where a murderer once killed his family under the influence of voices.
The legend of the Amityville house is deeply ingrained in American folklore. Stuart Rosenberg’s film convinced many viewers that it depicted real events.
While a brutal crime did take place in Amityville — Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his family in 1974 — the story of a dark force inhabiting the house was largely a creation of mystical enthusiasts and the filmmakers.