A good film becomes even better when it ends or begins with “… based on true events.” While there are many types, such as paranormal, war, tragedy, etc., there aren’t more films based on true crimes than anything else. Today, we’re looking at the 15 best murder films based on true events, so let’s get started.
15. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is the story of one of the most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy. To a lot of you, he may not need an introduction, considering his vile crimes are a thing people know quite well.
Though this film is from the perspective of Liz Kendall, who suspects something but doesn’t believe her lover is the notorious serial killer. This real-life story will send chills down your spine—as will all the stories related to Ted Bundy.
14. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Heavenly Creatures is a rendition of one of the vilest murders in the history of New Zealand. The film tells the story of two friends, Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey) and Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet), who are obsessed with one another.
This obsession catches the eye of Parker’s mother, Honora Parker (Sarah Pierse). In a bid to stop their friendship from escalating further, Honora ends up becoming the victim of a heinous murder planned by the two fanatical friends.
13. Snowtown (2011)
Snowtown is another great film that’ll send chills down your spine, especially when you consider it really happened. This critically acclaimed crime drama tells the story of John Bunting, who uses his girlfriend’s son as a scapegoat for his crimes.
This true story tells a harrowing tale, and it may not be for everyone to stomach. It touches on dark subjects such as homophobia, pedophilia, incest, etc. The murders in this film are accurately portrayed as they happened in a real town in Australia.
12. Natural Born Killers (1994)
Natural Born Killers is another true crime story, but this one is loosely based on real-life criminals called Caril Ann Fugate and Charles Starkweather from Lincoln, Nebraska. The film, however, changes their names but keeps the killing spree.
Soon, the couple is chased after by Wayne Gayle (Robert Downey Jr.), a brilliant journalist who wants to put a stop to this rampage. However, the couple went rampant and killed over 50 people (the real-life couple killed 11).
11. The Iceman (2012)
The Iceman is another film based on the true story of a truck driver. On the cover, Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) lives a good life as a devoted husband and father. But as his alter ego, he’s a murderer and hitman for hire.
From his days in the mob, Kuklinski stayed in touch with the dark side and was a murderer for hire. Working for a mob boss, Roy DeMeo, has him enforce and kill people on command. Throughout the 1960s and until 1985, Kuklinski claimed to have killed more than 100 people.
10. Elephant (2003)
Elephant is another story inspired by true events, though the characters and the scenes in the film are fiction only. It all begins when two best friends get embroiled in violent video games and get captivated by Nazi ideology.
Soon after, they begin to gather arms and fantasize about murder—to the point where they plan a careful ambush of their high school. What ensues when their plan is set in motion is a massacre and a horrific depiction of real-life events.
9. The Black Dahlia (2006)
The Black Dahlia is another crime mystery that’s unsolved to this day. The film of the same name captures this story quite well. Although it has some fictional elements, it’s still focused on the murder and mystery of Elizabeth Short, aka Black Dahlia.
The film’s story captures how over 750 officers got onto the case after the brutal murder but still failed to find a suspect. With a lot of false claims of being the murderer, the case soon went cold. And the film portrays that as detectives on the case begin to get frustrated.
8. Dahmer (2002)
Dahmer is one of the films that put Jeremy Renner on the radar for his sadistic portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer. The film captures Dahmer’s sadistic nature and his mentality to torture victims before killing them.
There is also the Netflix Show, and Evan Peters did a great job. But Jeremy Renner in this movie also captures the soul of a deranged mind like Dahmer’s. This film focuses mainly on the murder of Rodney.
7. Monster (2003)
Monster is the true story of Aileen Wuornos. After a difficult upbringing, Wuornos continued to struggle through her life and chose a life of crime and prostitution. Her early life in crime involved char theft, armed robbery, etc.
However, it wasn’t until 1989 that things took a turn for the worse for Aileen. Her prostitution career went left when she murdered a store owner. From there, she went on to murder seven men over the next 12 months and fled until her apprehension in 1991.
6. The Irishman (2019)
The Irishman is another story based on the real-life events of a hitman/enforcer. It begins when truck driver Frank gets involved with a powerful mob boss. Soon, he’s introduced into the Bufalino crime family.
Then, he goes up the ranks in the mob world, enforces Russel Bufalino’s will, and becomes a top hitman in no time. In this film, there are a few instances of murder that are purely fictional. However, some are taken word-to-word as described by the real Frank Sheeran.
5. Foxcatcher (2014)
Foxcatcher is the true and tragic story of Mark and David Schultz, two very promising wrestlers. The Olympians went on to accumulate several accolades before they were approached by a wealthy sponsor, John du Pont (Steve Carell).
The film thoroughly depicts the two events and how Du Pont manipulated the two brothers and drove them away from one another. All until the events of du Pont going to the older brother’s house and murdering him in cold blood.
4. Bully (2001)
Bully is another true story that surrounds violence in a school. As sad as it is, it’s one of the true stories from 1993 that is the basis for this 2001 film. The reason it’s high on this list is how well it portrays blood rage and revenge.
As the name suggests, the story is about a boy, Marty, who is done with his friend, Bobby. Bobby constantly bullets Marty, and one day, Marty decides to get rid of him. In his heinous plan, he aims to get rid of Bobby by killing him.
3. The Boston Strangler (2023)
The Boston Strangler is the true story of the murderer of the same name, who killed more than a dozen women during the early 1960s. The series of murders took place from June 1962 until January 1964.
The film portrays the harrowing details of the murders over the 18 months. Though Albert DeSalvo confessed to the murders, many people believed he was seeking attention only. However, his DNA linked him to the final victim, and the killings stopped after his arrest.
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is not the kind of film you see and think, “Oh, that’s a true story!” Well, it is not a true story, but Leatherface is inspired by murderer Ed Gein. It’s important to note that the entire story and characters are fictional.
And while the film’s serial killer, Leatherface, is a cannibalistic maniac, the real-life serial killer wasn’t a cannibal, though he was a cold-blooded killer and grave robber. So, there’s no wonder how one of the most infamous horror films of all time is inspired by true events.
1. Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac killer murders have been quite the pop cultural icon for the past 50 years or so. While there’s nothing glamorous or fashionable about the murders, it has been a large part of conspiracy theories and films over the years.
That’s why Zodiac from 2007 is on the top here because it captures details about the Zodiac killings quite comprehensively. It thoroughly portrays how Zodiac Killer could have been more than one, leaving the audience guessing about the real identity just as people have in real life over the years.
Honorable Mentions
- Capote (2005)
- Wonderland (2003)
- Lost Girls (2020)
What are your favorite murder movies based on true events? Share with us in the comments!
