These must-see Netflix dramas are actually based on true stories
Netflix is absolutely bursting with content tied to actual events. So much so, that the streaming giant has become one of the most influential producers of documentaries around, kicking off way back in 2015 with Making A Murderer all the way through to Don't Fck With Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer* in 2019, and more recently, 2020's Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Yep, thanks to Netflix, we're a nation well and truly hooked on the real life drama.
But what you may not know are that some of the site's best-loved drama series – that is, not actual documentaries – are also based on true stories. These are semi-fictionalised accounts of actual events, played out by actors rather than footage or interviews with the subjects, spread across multiple seasons.
If you're looking to switch things up when it comes to your binge-watching habits – hey, no judgement here, we're on about day 31 of obsessively watching Friends as soon as we finish work #lockdownlife – then why not stick on one of these true stories to shake things up?
It's important to keep in mind though, that the stories in these TV shows are brought to life with a varying degree of artistic license. Some place great emphasis on their historical accuracy (such as regal hit The Crown, which has a full research team who regularly consult with historians), while others simply use the real-life occurrence as the hook from which all the drama stems (GLOW, for example, is only loosely based on a real-life women's wrestling show from the late '80s and early '90s).
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Either way, whether you're here for the mood-lifting comedies, the intimate slow-burn period dramas, or the shocking and thought-provoking true crime series, there is bound to be a true-story drama here you'll love.
If those don't take your fancy then never fear as there are plenty of new releases on Netflix for you, take a look at our pick below and if you love a good binge-watch check out the other best Netflix documentaries, true crime documentaries and date night movies, or our ultimate roundup of the best tv series in the meantime.
NetflixThe Crown
Following Queen Elizabeth II's reign from the 1940s through to modern times, The Crown has picked up several Golden Globes and sees the Queen played by three of our favourite actresses: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton (who takes on the role for the final two seasons).
NetflixUnbelievable
Based on the Pulitzer prize-winning 2015 article 'An Unbelievable Story of Rape', Unbelievable tells the story of 18-year-old Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Denver) who claims to have been raped by an intruder in her home – but the police and her family refuse to believe it. The shocking, gutting mini-series is a difficult watch, but that's exactly why it's so necessary.
NetflixWhen They See Us
When They See Us tells the story of the Central Park Five. In 1989, a woman is attacked whilst jogging in Central Park and five black teens from Harlem – Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise and Raymond Santana – are arrested, interrogated and convicted. This is a four-part dramatised account of these five young black men were victims of a broken justice system and systemic racism.
NetflixApache: The Life of Carlos Tevez
A gritty dramatisation of Argentine footballer Carlos Tevez's life, from his rise to athletic stardom to his life growing up in Barrio Ejército de los Andes near Buenos Aires, a neighbourhood better known as Fuerte Apache.
NetflixThe Spy
Sacha Baron Cohen stars as Eli Cohen, Israel's top Mossad spy who goes undercover in Syria in the 1960s, earning the trust military leaders and gaining insight into the country's anti-Israel initiatives. The Spy is based on the novel The Spy Who Came From Israel by Uri Dan and Yeshayahu Ben Porat.
NetflixAlias Grace
This limited series is based on Margaret Atwood's award-winning novel of the same name, which tells the story of a murder in 19th century Canada, and whether a young woman should be pardoned due to insanity. The series fictionalises the true story of the notorious 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery by two servants, one of whom is Grace Marks, the inspiration for Atwood's book.
NetflixOrange Is The New Black
Orange Is The New Black, one of Netflix's most successful shows ever, is based on Piper Kerman's 2010 memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison about her experiences at FCI Danbury, a minimum-security federal prison in Connecticut.
NetflixGLOW
GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) is a feisty, funny, feminist comedy-drama following a female wrestling league on TV in 1980s America. The 'Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling' was a genuine women's professional wrestling promotion that was founded in 1986.
NetflixNarcos
This hit show tells the true story of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who raked in billions through the production and distribution of cocaine. According to reports, many details in Narcos are historically accurate, with the two DEA agents who took down Escobar – Javier Peña and Steve Murphy — brought in as consultants for the show. But showrunner Eric Newman said the series was '50-50 when it comes to fiction and non-fiction' in The Hollywood Reporter.
NetflixMindhunter
Mindhunter follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they interview serial killers to try and work out the psychology driving their actions. The series is inspired by the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas, who Groff's character is based on. The series also includes real events, such as the Atlanta Child Murders, and real serial killers, such as Charles Manson and Ed Kemper.
NetflixSelf Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker
Okay, so no prizes for guessing that this limited series draws on real life events. The series is based on the biography On Her Own Ground by A'Lelia Bundles, Madam C. J. Walker's great-great-granddaughter, and tells the story of how Walker built a beauty empire and became the first female self-made millionaire.
