Netflix has a rich tradition of bringing true stories to the screen, and 2024 was no different. This year, the streaming giant released a host of popular shows based on real-life events, including the contentious Baby Reindeer.
Audiences also flocked to documentaries such as Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare and Worst Ex Ever. However, it’s arguably in its film offerings where Netflix has truly capitalised on gripping real-life narratives.
This year, the platform delved into lesser-known historical tales, bone-chilling true crime, and even comedy inspired by real events. From Glen Powell to Gillian Anderson, here are the top films based on true stories that debuted on Netflix this year.
5. Shirley
History is always full of surprises, and Shirley is a prime example. This political drama tells the inspiring story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black candidate to vie for a major party’s presidential nomination, reports the Mirror.
Penned and directed by Oscar-winner John Ridley, known for his work on 12 Years a Slave, Shirley focuses on Chisholm’s audacious presidential campaign.
While the film industry is awash with biopics about political figures, co-producer and lead actress Regina King aimed to buck the trend of male-centric stories, choosing instead to tell a lesser-known tale centred around a formidable woman.
Although the film does not boast impressive special effects, its script and acting performances are more than enough to keep viewers engaged.
4. Scoop
Scoop is another political powerhouse, this time focusing on the Duke of York. The drama delves into the events surrounding Prince Andrew’s 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, where he was grilled about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
While the interview gripped the nation, Scoop takes audiences behind the scenes of securing the Royal guest.
Gillian Anderson heads up the cast as journalist Emily Maitlis, with Rufus Sewell playing Prince Andrew and Billie Piper portraying Sam McAlister, who played a pivotal role in arranging the sit-down with Buckingham Palace.
The film was widely praised upon its premiere and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
3. Hit Man
With an impressive 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Hit Man is astonishingly based on ‘true’ events.
Glen Powell steps into the shoes of Gary Johnson, a straight-laced professor who moonlights as a phony hitman. He collaborates with the local police department to trap individuals willing to pay for murder.
Johnson encounters difficulties when he falls for one of the potential criminals, igniting a passionate affair with her. Audiences are taken along for the action-filled and often humorous fallout of the romance.
Powell wowed fans with his performance and recently bagged a Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
2. JOY
Joy is a cinematic tribute to the wonders of science, recounting the remarkable story of the world’s first ‘test tube baby’. The biographical drama, set between 1968 and 1978, centres around Jean Purdy, a dedicated young nurse who played a pivotal role in the pioneering IVF team.
Alongside scientist Robert Edwards and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, Purdy works tirelessly to achieve the revolutionary breakthrough. The film boasts an impressive cast, including James Norton, Thomasin McKenzie, and Bill Nighy, and has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with a 90 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and a consensus that hails it as “an uplifting tribute to the miracles of science.”
1. Woman of the Hour
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut has generated significant buzz online, and deservedly so. Woman of the Hour delves into the shocking true story of a serial killer who appeared on a 1970s blind dating show.
Rodney Alcala, notoriously known as The Dating Game Killer, was chosen by bachelorette Sheryl Bradshaw from a lineup of potential suitors. Although initially charmed by his responses, Bradshaw later declined a date with Alcala, confiding in the production team that she found him “creepy.”
Her instincts may have saved her life, and this gripping thriller explores the stories of various women who crossed paths with Alcala, including one who narrowly escaped his clutches.
Kendrick’s performance has been lauded for its authentic depiction of how victims can be overlooked, letting perpetrators escape unpunished. Following the show’s release, fans expressed their approval, with one viewer commenting on X, previously known as Twitter: “Woman of the Hour is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen.”