9 Haunting True Crime Movies Based on Actual Events

Horrific crimes that occur in real life have been the subject of many movies for many years. Cinema is one of the most popular entertainment mediums of modern times. It is also one of the most important and mass-powered art forms. For this very reason, millions of people around the world closely follow the different stories, sometimes joyful and sometimes dark, told on the silver screen.

On the other hand, stories that happened in real life are met with much greater excitement by moviegoers, especially if the real story told includes hair-raising crimes! Here are some impressive true crime movies that are based on real events and brought to the silver screen.

Movie List Index

1.City of God

9 Impressive True Crime Movies Based on Actual Events -City of God

First on our list of true crime movies based on real events is the Brazilian-French co-production Cidade de Deus. The movie, which was met with great acclaim by moviegoers upon its release in 2002, has become one of the most significant productions in the history of cinema. The movie effectively portrays the elements of crime and violence in Brazilian ghettos, and its impact was greatly amplified by the fact that the events it covers are based on real life.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, and starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, and Phellipe Haagensen, the production was adapted from Paulo Lins’ 1997 book of the same name.

Moreover, Lins had spent most of his life in the region called City of God, which gave its name to both the book and the movie. In other words, the events depicted in the 2002 movie were largely a reflection of real life. Additionally, most of the actors in the movie were locals who had closely witnessed the crimes and violence in City of God, including murder, drugs, and theft

Information about City of God (2002)

Title: City of God
Director: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Felipe Haagensen
Release Year: 2002
Duration: 130 minutes
Country: Brazil
Genre: Crime, Drama
Language: Portuguese
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Similar Movies: City of Men (2007), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: City of God on IMDb

2.Memories of Murder

9 Impressive True Crime Movies Based on Actual Events - Memories of Murder

The production, directed by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho and starring prominent actors such as Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung, has secured a significant place among crime-themed movies. In his movie Memories of Murder, Bong Joon-ho centers on the story of detectives attempting to solve rape and murder cases that occurred in South Korea in the late 1980s.

The movie‘s narrative is based on the real-life serial murders that took place in South Korea between 1986 and 1991. These horrifying acts were committed by Lee Chun-jae, who is recorded as the country’s first serial killer.

Information about Memories of Murder (2003)

Title: Memories of Murder
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Roe Haeng-bok
Release Year: 2003
Duration: 132 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Language: Korean
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Criterion Channel
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Similar Movies: The Chaser (2008), Zodiac (2007)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Memories of Murder on IMDb

3.Dog Day Afternoon

9 Impressive True Crime Movies Based on Actual Events - Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is one of the standout movies that solidified Al Pacino‘s status as a cinema legend. Directed by Sidney Lumet, this movie has a distinctive feature compared to Pacino’s other acclaimed works.

Dog Day Afternoon is based on a critically acclaimed true crime story. The movie recounts the dramatic events of a bank robbery carried out by two men, John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile, in 1972, and the ensuing developments.

Information about Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Title: Dog Day Afternoon
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick
Release Year: 1975
Duration: 125 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Similar Movies: Serpico (1973), The French Connection (1971)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Dog Day Afternoon on IMDb

4.The Wolf of Wall Street

Bringing together two major figures in the world of cinema, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, the 2013 movie The Wolf of Wall Street combines elements of crime and comedy to depict the story of DiCaprio’s character’s rise as the top stock market fraudster on Wall Street.

In this production, which received high praise from many cinema authorities, DiCaprio portrays none other than Jordan Belfort, the fraudster who was sentenced to 22 months in prison for his crimes. Belfort shared his experiences with millions through his 2007 book, The Wolf of Wall Street.

Information about The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Title: The Wolf of Wall Street
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 180 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Crime
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Similar Movies: American Hustle (2013), Blow (2001)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Wolf of Wall Street on IMDb

5.Public Enemies

Directed by American moviemaker Michael Mann and starring globally acclaimed actors Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, Public Enemies stands out as one of the most cherished true crime movies of our time.

Adapted from the book Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by American reporter and author Bryan Burrough, the movie is regarded as a significant biography-drama-crime production of modern cinema.

The movie chronicles the dramatic events between bank robber John Dillinger, who terrorized the United States during the Great Depression, and FBI agent Melvin Purvis, tasked with capturing him. Public Enemies continues to captivate audiences and retain its popularity even today.

Information about Public Enemies (2009)

Title: Public Enemies
Director: Michael Mann
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard
Release Year: 2009
Duration: 140 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Similar Movies: The Untouchables (1987), Donnie Brasco (1997)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Public Enemies on IMDb

6.Bonnie and Clyde

We mentioned that real-life crime stories brought to the big screen generate much greater excitement among audiences. However, productions that bring creepy crime stories centered on a likable couple are even more successful!

Bonnie and Clyde, which tells the story of a couple who became the nightmare of gas stations and small businesses during the Great Depression, is a prime example!

Directed by Arthur Penn, the 1968 movie focuses on the increasingly violent life of crime, including theft and murder, of the couple Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow.

Information about Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Title: Bonnie and Clyde
Director: Arthur Penn
Cast: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
Release Year: 1967
Duration: 111 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Similar Movies: Thelma & Louise (1991), Badlands (1973)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Bonnie and Clyde on IMDb

7.The Iceman

Starring actors such as Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, and Chris Evans, the movie is a notable entry in the genre of true crime stories adapted to cinema. Directed by Ariel Vromen, it offers a striking look at the story of Richard Kuklinski, an American serial killer and mafia hitman who embodies the concept of “true crime.”

Richard Kuklinski, known for freezing his victims to prevent their time of death from being determined and killing nearly everyone who could identify him, remains one of the most notorious real-life criminals to have made it to the big screen.

Information about The Iceman (2012)

Title: The Iceman
Director: Ariel Vromen
Cast: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans
Release Year: 2012
Duration: 105 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Similar Movies: Goodfellas (1990), Donnie Brasco (1997)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Iceman on IMDb

8.In Cold Blood

Adapted from Truman Capote‘s 1967 book, the movie depicts the gruesome murder of four members of the Clutter family by Richard Hickock and Perry Smith in the United States in 1959. Directed by Richard Brooks, the movie features Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as the “cold-blooded” killers.

Information about In Cold Blood (1967)

Title: In Cold Blood
Director: Richard Brooks
Cast: Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe
Release Year: 1967
Duration: 134 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Similar Movies: The Boston Strangler (1968), Zodiac (2007)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: In Cold Blood on IMDb

9.Snowtown

Last on our list of true crime movies, Snowtown centers on a series of brutal murders that rank among the most horrific events in Australian history. Directed by Justin Kurzel, the movie focuses on the unforgivable crimes of John Bunting, Robert Wagner, and James Vlassakis.

These horrific events are known as the Snowtown murders because the killers dumped the bodies of 12 victims in the Snowtown region of Australia between 1992 and 1999. The movie stars Daniel Henshall, Lucas Pittaway, and Louise Harris.