10 Movies That Lied About Being Based on a True Story

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate films like Erin Brockovich, The Social Network, Schindler’s List, Argo, 12 Strong, and Hacksaw Ridge. These cinematic masterpieces are inspired by real-life events, though some may bend reality for narrative purposes (and there are a few that unfortunately employ the ‘white savior’ trope, such as The Blind Side and to some extent Hidden Figures). However, it’s important to note that these stories are grounded in truth.

On the flip side, I’ve encountered movies that claim to be based on true events but, upon closer inspection, turn out to be entirely fictional. These films have chosen to misrepresent reality for their own purposes. Examples of such films include… (you can list examples here if you wish).

This technique is commonly employed in horror films, but it’s also used in other genres. It can be seen as a method to deceive the audience, or alternatively, as a means to evoke stronger emotions from viewers regarding the characters. Regardless of perspective, these movies are not grounded in reality.

10) Weapons

In this movie titled “Weapons”, I serve as your guide through a serene, sun-kissed town that initially appears idyllic. Yet, perched above it, you hear the soft voice of a young girl assuring us that this film is based on real events and that these chilling occurrences unfolded in my very own town just two years prior. However, this seemingly secure small town stands as a symbol for any peaceful community where unimaginable horror has cast an ominous shadow.

Zach Cregger, the director, clarified that the movie isn’t a depiction of real events, but instead represents the intense emotions of grief, loss, and trauma he experienced after losing someone dear. Although the central narrative of 17 children mysteriously vanishing during the night is fictitious, the characters’ reactions to this situation are grounded in reality.

9) The Last House on the Left

In Wes Craven’s movie, The Last House on the Left, the opening scene displays white text against a black background, stating, “The events depicted in this film are inspired by true incidents. Character names and locations have been altered to safeguard the privacy of those still alive.” However, this technique was merely a tool Craven employed to create an impression that the violence portrayed wasn’t scripted or part of a movie.

One could easily understand a viewer not questioning the authenticity of “The Last House on the Left.” The film’s depictions are so raw and unnerving that they seem to mirror real-life events, contributing to the profound impact of its graphic violence and extended scenes of disturbance.

Stream The Last House on the Left on Prime Video.

8) The Devil Inside

In 2012, the movie titled “The Devil Inside” is often criticized as one of the worst horror films of its decade. This criticism is largely due to its final scene, which simply displays a website title, and the marketing that suggests the film is based on real events.

The closing credits state that the Rossi family case remains unresolved, however, there’s no actual Rossi family involved in the story. The plot is fictional and may have been a misleading marketing ploy, making for an unfortunate and possibly ill-advised conclusion to the movie.

7) The Amityville Horror

In the beginning of the movie “The Amityville Horror,” we see a tragic event unfold where a man brutally kills his family. The police soon arrive at the scene, removing the lifeless bodies. The date displayed on-screen is November 13, 1974, and the shocking incident took place in Amityville, Long Island. A brief caption at the bottom of the screen reveals that a mother, father, and four children were brutally murdered with no discernible motive.

While “The Amityville Horror” isn’t entirely factual, it has sparked a long-running series of films based on some truth. The novel and initial film were inspired by real events: a 23-year-old man named Ronald DeFeo Jr. did murder his family in Amityville, New York. A year later, the Lutz family reportedly moved into that same house, left after a month, and claimed to have experienced supernatural occurrences. However, contrary to what the movie suggests, these paranormal events likely didn’t happen as described in reality. Unlike portrayed in the book and film, George Lutz never picked up an axe or attempted further violence like Ronald DeFeo Jr. did.

Stream The Amityville Horror on HBO Max.

6) The Strangers

At the start, we’re informed that “The Strangers” is based on real-life occurrences. Further details then reveal that as per the FBI, approximately 1.4 million violent crimes take place annually in the United States.

In part, you’re correct, but allow me to provide more context. In the year prior to the release of “The Strangers,” approximately 1.4 million violent crimes were reported in the United States in 2007. Regarding the premise of this horror movie-a group of masked individuals terrorizing home residents out of the blue-it appears that certain aspects were inspired by real events. Specifically, the story seems to draw upon elements from the Manson murders and a personal home invasion incident experienced by the film’s director, Bryan Bertino, during his childhood.

Stream The Strangers on Prime Video.

5) The Wicker Man

In the opening scene, the classic folk horror movie, The Wicker Man, expresses gratitude to Lord Summerisle and his island community off the western coast of Scotland for providing an authentic look into their faith practices and for their help in creating this film. This gives the audience a sense that they are watching something like a documentary.

In essence, the film isn’t a real-life documentary and the figure known as Lord Summerisle doesn’t exist; instead, that role was portrayed by Christopher Lee. This motion picture cleverly misled its viewers, and it does so quite effectively.

Stream The Wicker Man on Prime Video.

4) Paranormal Activity

Before the main events of Paranormal Activity unfold, a message appears on screen that reads: “Paramount Pictures extends their gratitude to the families of Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston, as well as the San Diego Police Department.” This was a clever move since both Featherston and Sloat were relatively unknown actors at the time.

The film “Paranormal Activity” is primarily inspired by strange noises that director Oren Peli experienced in his home at night. It’s essentially these eerie sounds that form the basis of the movie, with nothing supernatural actually happening. Regarding Featherston and Sloat, they remain alive, healthy, and free from possession. Interestingly, they even made appearances in some subsequent sequels.

Stream Paranormal Activity on Paramount+.

3) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The movie “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” by Tobe Hooper starts with John Larroquette narrating a scrolling text. This text explains that the film is based on a true story about a group of five young individuals, including Sally Hardesty and her brother Franklin. Even if they had lived long lives, they could not have experienced the horrors they encountered that day. Initially, it was an idyllic summer afternoon for them, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. The events of that day led to the uncovering of one of the most unusual crimes in American history, which came to be known as “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”.

To some extent, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” draws inspiration from actual events, similar to how “Psycho” and “The Silence of the Lambs” do. Characters like Norman Bates and Buffalo Bill have real-life counterparts in Ed Gein, a murderer who dug up bodies and created keepsakes from their bones and skin, much like Leatherface does in the film.

Stream The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on Prime Video.

2) Fargo

Before the title of Fargo appears, a statement is displayed prominently stating that “This is based on real events.” It further explains that these events transpired in Minnesota during 1987. To honor those who lived through them, names have been altered. In order to remain faithful to what actually happened, the rest of the story has been told as it unfolded.

Since its debut, the Coen brothers have acknowledged that their claim about the film being factual was merely a creative decision. Their goal was to craft a crime narrative that seemed authentic and relatable, which they managed to achieve effectively. While certain elements were inspired by real-life crimes, this could also be true for any crime movie or series ever produced.

Stream Fargo on fuboTV.

1) The Blair Witch Project

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about the chilling opening of “The Blair Witch Project.” It transports us back to October 1994, where three ambitious student filmmakers mysteriously vanished while deep in the Maryland woods near Burkittsville. A year later, their haunting footage was unearthed, sending shivers down our spines and leaving us questioning what really happened in those dark, eerie woods.

Although the Blair Witch film was shot in Burkittsville, Maryland, and there is indeed a town by that name, it’s important to note that the Blair Witch myth did not exist prior to the movie’s creation. The creators of the film were responsible for fabricating the legend for the purpose of the movie. At the time, only those living in Burkittsville were aware of this fact, making the movie a convincing hoax that deceived many people throughout the country.

Stream The Blair Witch Project on Plex.

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2025-09-07 19:19