From the historical comedy The Favorite to the drama Snow Society, here are some good options for movies based on true stories to watch on Red streaming Netflix.
Movies based on true stories are one of the big bets for Hollywood studios when it comes to having a high box office return. This is the case of popular titles among critics and the public, such as Sociedade da Neve (2023), Mafia da Dor (2023), and even other bizarre and unlikely stories that no one would believe if they hadn’t happened, as is the case of The Favorite (2013). All of these are available on Netflix.
With this in mind, Streameast Watch prepared a list of movies available on Red streaming that retell real stories or, at least, have plots based on them. In the following topics, you can find more details, such as the plot, cast, and repercussions of each of the works. Check out!
In the list organized by Streameast Watch, you will find the following movies based on true stories available on Netflix:
- I, Tonya (2018)
- Fearless (2023)
- The King (2019)
- Snow Society (2024)
- Mafia of Pain (2023)
- Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
- Shirley For President (2024)
- The Big Interview (2024)
- City of God (2002)
- The Favorite (2018)
1. I, Tonya (2018)
Starring Margot Robbie ( Barbie ), the film retells the story of American athlete Tonya Harding, banned from figure skating after a scandal of aggression against another participant during the Winter Olympics in 1994. Here, the script for the work, written by Steven Rogers (Mike: Beyond Tyson), is based entirely on interviews with Tonya and her husband, Jeff Gillooly. However according to the screenwriter, in an interview with the blog É Tudo História, they ” were so contradictory that I realized that would be my entry point into the script. I would put the points of view and let the audience decide what to believe. ” The film has a rating of 7, 5 on IMDB and 90% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. Fearless (2023)
The original Australian film from Red Streaming is based on the true story of navigator Jessica Watson, played by Teagan Croft (Titans), who decides to sail alone around the world to become the youngest person to achieve such a feat in history. It is also worth mentioning that the film had Watson herself as a consultant to ensure fidelity to the facts. Furthermore, despite being fictional in some parts, the production was also based on Jessica’s memoir, which still has no translation available in Brazil. The film has a rating of 6.8 on IMDB and a 75% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. The King (2019)
Based on several plays from William Shakespeare’s “Henriad”, this Netflix original drama film follows the life of monarch Henry V, who reigned in England in the first half of the 15th century amid many conflicts, including the war against France. Even based on literary inspiration, the historical figure, played here by Timothée Chalamet ( Wonka ), really existed. Despite this, many historians still have negative comments about the film. The film has a 7.3 rating on IMDB and a 71% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. Snow Society (2023)
The production by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible) was one of the big nominees for the 2024 Oscar for bringing a new portrait of the tragedy involving the crash of Uruguayan Flight 571 in the Andes Mountains in 1972. The film has been considered the best production audiovisual already made about the accident, both by critics and users, as well as by the families of those involved in the accident, mainly because it brings reliable details, such as the initial number of deaths, cannibalism and more.
Starring Enzo Vogrincic (Iosi, The Repentant Spy), Agustín Pardella (All for the Game), and Esteban Bigliardi (Die, Monster, Die), the film has a rating of 7.8 on IMDB and a 90% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a “fresh” seal on the Tomatometer.
5. Mafia of Pain (2023)
This crime drama is inspired by a 2018 New York Times Magazine article written by Evan Hughes, which he later turned into a non-fiction book titled Pain Hustlers. The film is directed by David Yates ( Harry Potter ) and the plot follows a single mother who, willing to do the best for her sick daughter, starts working at a pharmaceutical startup. However, she ends up involved in a dangerous trading scheme involving opioids. Starring Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) and Chris Evans (Knives Out), the film has a 6.5 rating on IMDB and a 64% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
6. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Based on the autobiographical novel by Elizabeth Gilbert and starring Julia Roberts ( Pretty Woman ) as Liz Gilbert, the film adaptation tells about a woman who, despite having “the perfect life”, feels extremely frustrated. To reverse the situation, she then decides to travel in search of quality cuisine, greater spirituality, and great and true love, her destination being Italy, India, and Bali, respectively. The film has a rating of 5.8 on IMDB and a 35% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
7. Shirley For President (2024)
With a more inspiring touch, this biopic, directed by John Ridley, narrates the public and personal details of Shirley Chisholm (1924 – 2005), the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and also the first to run for office. president of the country for the Democratic Party. The historical character here in the biopic is played by actress Regina King (Watchmen series). The film has a rating of 6.3 on IMDB and a 73% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. The Big Interview (2024)
One of the latest releases on red streaming is this biographical drama starring Gillian Anderson ( Sex Education ) and Rufus Sewell ( The Diplomat ). Here, the plot goes behind the scenes of Prince Andrew’s iconic and controversial interview with the BBC’s British newspaper Newsnight, which, took place in 2019. At the time, the event generated a lot of buzz among the tabloids in the United Kingdom and around the world. The film is directed by Philip Martin (The Impostor). The film has a rating of 6.5 on IMDB and a 77% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes with a “fresh” seal on the Tomatometer.
9. City of God (2002)
Critically acclaimed to this day, the drama, directed by Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardener), received four Oscar nominations in 2003, including Best Foreign Film. The plot here narrates two generations of poverty and violence in Cidade de Deus, a favela in Rio de Janeiro. The cinematographic work is based on the novel of the same name by Paulo Lins, which is inspired by reality. The author narrates in a semi-autobiographical way his childhood in the neighborhood by portraying characters that are not only real but also representations of people he knew. Furthermore, the criminals mentioned in the story existed. Starring Douglas Silva (Fuzuê) and Alice Braga (Eu Sou a Lenda), the film has an 8.6 rating on IMDB and 91% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes with a “fresh” seal.
10. The Favorite (2018)
Set during the 18th century, the plot shows the love triangle between Queen Anne, of England, her secret lover, and a bankrupt aristocrat looking for advancement. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the same filmmaker behind Poor Creatures, the cinematographic work presents a real portrait of the monarch’s biography, apart from some minor details that involve fiction. Starring Emma Stone (The Lie), Rachel Weiss (Disobedience), and Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), the film has a 7.5 rating on IMDB and a 93% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
