25 Netflix Original Movies You May Not Have Realized Were True Stories

This film tells the story of young Barack Obama while he was a student in New York, long before he was the leader of the United States.

Watch Barry on Netflix.

This film follows the story of a Malawian boy who builds a wind turbine to save his village.

Watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on Netflix.

This is the incredible story of a young woman who has a mysterious brain disease that’s almost too hard to believe.

Watch Brain on Fire on Netflix.

Get the wild story of Mötley Crüe in this biopic of their years as rock stars.

Watch The Dirt on Netflix.

Follow Rudy Ray Moore – aka Dolemite – on his rise to comedy fame in this film about his life.

Watch Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix.

This incredible Spanish film follows a woman who pretends to be a man so she can marry the woman she loves.

Watch Elisa & Marcela on Netflix.

Zac Efron plays Ted Bundy in this fascinatingly horrible movie about the serial killer’s life.

Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile on Netflix.

This movie follows a 5-year-old girl in Cambodia on her quest for survival.

Watch First They Killed My Father on Netflix.

In this Mexican film, you meet a young man in prison who ends up on a football team that might not be exactly what you’d think.

Watch The 4th Company on Netflix.

Two men are tasked with taking down Bonnie and Clyde in this film based on the real story.

Watch The Highwaymen on Netflix.

This historical film is based on real people and real events from William Shakespeare’s time.

Watch The King on Netflix.

Go along with Meryl Streep in this film about the Panama Papers and all the drama that surrounded the scam.

Watch The Laundromat on Netflix.

This film is based on the true story of Mari Gilbert and her quest to find her missing daughter Shannan.

Watch Lost Girls on Netflix.

Follow along as a young Italian grows up to become a criminal and join the mafia.

Watch The Ruthless on Netflix.

Find out just why controversial atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair was so hated in this film about her life.

Watch The Most Hated Woman in America on Netflix.

Find out how Stefano Cucchi spent a week in jail on drug charges, and why it changed him forever.

Watch On My Skin on Netflix.

This movie is a little bit of comedy, a little bit of scheming, and a whole lot of polka.

Watch The Polka King on Netflix.

Find out the incredible true story of young 1980s rapper Roxanne Shanté.

Watch Roxanne Roxanne on Netflix.

This story of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis is based on true events of the two popes coming together.

Watch Two Popes on Netflix.

See what it’s like for the survivors of a terrorist attack in Norway to find peace again.

Watch 22 July on Netflix.

Brad Pitt plays a military general tasked with winning a war that’s been going on for eight years, in this film based on real-life events.

Watch War Machine on Netflix.

Based on the true story of equestrian Amberley, who won’t let her paralysis stop her from competing again.

Watch Walk. Ride. Rodeo. on Netflix.

Go through the rich history of comedy with National Lampoon cofounder Doug Kenney.

Watch A Futile and Stupid Gesture on Netflix.

A lot of this film about Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Sheeran is based on a book – which is widely based on true events.

Watch The Irishman on Netflix.

Sergei Dovlatov just wants to publish his writing under the Soviet regime in this story based on real events.

Watch Dovlatov on Netflix.