Summary

• The true crime genre has been popular in the movie industry, with many successful films inspired by real criminal events.
• Movies like Zodiac, Monster, and The Wolf of Wall Street have received high acclaim for their accurate depictions of famous crimes.
• These films explore the full-scale investigations, psychological aspects of the crimes, and the impact they had on society.

In today's society, the true crime genre has become one of the most popular in the movie industry. In Hollywood, many movies have been inspired by real famous criminal events that have taken place throughout history. Sometimes, it is the most disturbing or interesting criminal event that inspires filmmakers to delve into the story and create a movie about the events.

True-crime movies range from looking at infamous murder cases to examining fraud scams depicted by convicted criminals. They have been successful in their accurate analysis of the crimes that took place and the portrayals of the individuals involved. These acclaimed movies allow audiences a chance to enter the thrilling and sometimes frightening world of real people who committed crimes throughout history.

10 Zodiac (2007)

Based on the Infamous Zodiac Killings

In the late 1960s, America was plagued by an unidentified serial killer who taunted police with encrypted messages that he mailed to newspapers. The murderer became known as the Zodiac Killer and is known to have murdered at least 5 people and is suspected of at least 30 others. The Zodiac Killings are often regarded as one of America's most notorious unsolved murder cases.

The 2007 movie Zodiac was one of several movies inspired by the killings; starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr, and Mark Ruffalo, the movie examines the full-scale investigation that was launched into the killings and the frustrations of the detectives as they try to decipher the codes. Zodiac was released to high acclaim, receiving praise for its directing, attention to detail, and casting. The movie received attention for its haunting recreations of the killings and the fear that the citizens lived through while the killer roamed free.

9 The Bling Ring (2013)

Based on the Bling Ring robberies in California

Directed by Sofia Coppola, The Bling Ring focuses on a string of high-profile robberies in California between 2008 and 2009. The robberies were committed by a group of teenagers who targeted the homes of various celebrities who lived in the area; among those targeted were Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Orlando Bloom. The group was later apprehended and all served jail time; they gained notoriety and media attention for their crimes and were labeled as The Bling Ring.

The movie was inspired by a popular article that described the criminals as fame-obsessed thieves (via Vanity Fair). Emma Watson and Taissa Farmiga were among those cast as the criminal gang. The Bling Ring received high praise for its cast, accurate depiction of the crimes, and screenplay. Sofia Coppola received the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award for her work on the film.

8 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Based on the scams and crimes of Jordan Belfort

The Wolf of Wall Street was adapted from the 2007 memoir of Jordan Belfort. Belfort worked as a stockbroker in New York, where he founded the stockerage business Stratton Oakmont, which defrauded many investors over 7 years. Belfort was ultimately convicted of fraud and spent 22 months in jail, with Stratton Oakmont closing in 1996; since his release, he has worked in motivational speaking.

Martin Scorsese adapted Belfort's story into a movie in 2013. The Wolf of Wall Street starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, offering a humorous and dramatic insight into Stratton Oakmont and Belfort's fraud scams. The movie received a largely positive reception, receiving 5 Oscar nominations in 2014; it was described as an accurate portrayal of Belfort's life and crimes. However, controversially, it also broke the Guinness World Record for most instances of swearing in a movie.

7 Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Based on the infamous crimes of Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy is arguably one of the most evil serial killers to ever exist; using his looks and charm to his advantage, he lured more than 30 young women to their deaths in the 1970s. He was executed by electrocution in 1989, having confessed to multiple murders. During his killing spree, he chillingly maintained a facade of a loving boyfriend to Elizabeth Kendall, who later released a memoir of her life with Bundy.

Kendall's memoir served as the basis for this 2019 movie starring Zac Efron as Bundy; the description of Bundy's crimes by Judge Edward Cowart, inspired the title of the movie. The movie received a mixed response from critics, as some felt it didn't do enough to examine the depths of the crimes fully. However, Zac Efron received acclaim for his portrayal of Bundy and many agree that he was able to depict the evil person that Bundy truly was accurately.

6 Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

Based on the crimes of Lee Israel

The 2018 movie is based on the titular autobiography of writer, Lee Israel. A struggling writer in the 1990s, Lee Israel began committing literary fraud by forging letters from deceased celebrities. She served 5 years probation and 6 months house arrest for her crimes; she released her memoir in 2008, as an apology and confession.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? stars Melissa McCarthy as Israel and Richard E. Grant as her partner in crime, Jack Hock. Both actors were praised for their performances, with McCarthy receiving an Academy Award nomination. The movie is regarded as a fascinating and moving depiction of a writer's desperation and the lengths she took to revitalize her career.

5 Changeling (2008)

Based on the disappearance of Walter Collins and the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders

In 1928, 9-year-old Walter Collins was reported missing in Los Angeles after failing to return home from the movies; after five months, the LAPD found a boy claiming to be Walter in Illinois and brought him to Walter's mother, Christine. When Christine maintained the boy was not her son, she was unwillingly detained in a psychiatric ward by order of the police captain. The boy brought to Christine was later confirmed to be an impostor; Walter Collins was eventually named as a victim of the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, committed by Gordon Northcott.

Clint Eastwood directed the 2008 movie Changeling, which focused on Christine Collins' search for her son and the Wineville Murders. Angelina Jolie's performance as Christine Collins is often regarded by many as one of the best in her acting career. Changeling was widely praised for its portrayal of political corruption and the cruel mistreatment of mental health patients that took place during the early 20th century.

4 Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Based on the life and crimes of Frank Abagnale

Directed and produced by Stephen Spielberg, Catch Me If You Can depicts the story of Frank Abagnale, one of the most notorious con artists in history. In his late teens and early 20s, Abagnale successfully posed as a pilot, teacher, lawyer, and doctor in cons that were worth millions, all while evading police capture. After his release from prison, Abagnale married, had 3 sons, and now works as a security consultant.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks star as Abagnale and FBI agent Carl Hanratty, respectively, in this 2002 biopic. The movie is often regarded as one of Spielberg's best comedic works, with DiCaprio and Hanks receiving praise for their performances. Catch Me If You Can is a humorous story of one of the world's most successful con artists and the FBI's wild chase to capture him.

3 Monster (2003)

Based on the murders of Aileen Wuornos

Aileen Wuornos is recognized as one of the most infamous female serial killers in history. Between 1989 and 1990, while working as a prostitute, Wuornos shot and murdered 7 men; she claimed that she committed the murders in self-defense, but she was found guilty on six charges of murder. In 2001, Wuornos was executed by lethal injection.

Monster, stars Charlize Theron as the convicted killer and Christina Ricci as her lover, as they struggle to build a life for themselves. Wuornos herself, gave the director, Patty Jenkins, access to letters she'd written before her death, to assist in the development of the film. With an Academy Award-winning performance from Charlize Theron, Monster is a dark and thrilling depiction of the sinister world of drugs, prostitution, and murder.

2 All The President's Men (1976)

Based on the Watergate Scandal

Watergate is arguably one of the most infamous political scandals ever to hit the White House. In 1972, a burglary at the Watergate complex uncovered illegal activities, such as phone tapping and bugging that were being done by the istration of President Richard Nixon. Despite his denial of any knowledge of the hacking, Nixon's reputation was ruined in the public eye, leading to his resignation as the U.S. President in 1974.

All The President's Men is based on the book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two journalists who broke the scandal in The Washington Post during Nixon's second inauguration. The movie was a critical success and won 4 Academy Awards. It was later preserved by the Library of Congress and is regarded as one of the best political thrillers ever made.

1 In Cold Blood (1967)

Based on the crimes of Perry Smith and Richard Hickock

As the title of the movie reflects, the murder of the Clutter family in 1959 was committed in cold blood. Perry Smith and Richard Hickock broke into the family home in Kansas and murdered four of the Clutter family, before robbing them of their valuables. Both men were quickly caught and hanged for their crimes in 1965.

Author Truman Capote spent six years researching the Clutter family murders before releasing the book In Cold Blood in 1966; the movie starring Robert Blake and Scott Wilson was released in 1967. The movie received 4 Academy Award nominations, and critics called it a darkly powerful depiction of the killers' real sociopathy and cruelty. In Cold Blood is often listed as one of the best movies based on true crimes ever made.

Source: Vanity Fair