10 movies you didn't know were based on true stories

Gabbi ShawNov 24, 2020, 04:22 IST

"The Conjuring."Warner Bros.

Sometimes, part of a movie's marketing campaign is to tout that it's based on a true story, like "All the President's Men" or "Philadelphia."
Yet sometimes movies seem too weird or unbelievable to be true.
Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" was based on a real man who was stuck inside an airport for 18 years.
A woman in England wakes up every day thinking it's 1994, like Drew Barrymore's character in "50 First Dates."

When you think of movies based on true stories, you might not think of horror movies like "The Conjuring" or rom-coms like "50 First Dates," but — while it may seem unbelievable — they are based on things that really happened.

Even "Footloose," which has a premise that seems impossible (a town outlawing dancing) is based on a real town in Oklahoma.

Keep scrolling to learn about 10 movies you may be shocked to learn are based on real events.

There was a real town in Oklahoma that outlawed dancing, just like in "Footloose."

"Footloose." Paramount Pictures

Although the rom-com portion of "It Could Happen to You" is fictional, the actual lottery ticket incident is real.

"It Could Happen to You." Columbia TriStar/Handout/Getty Images

"The Conjuring" is based on the real stories of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the most famous paranormal investigators of the modern era.

"The Conjuring." Warner Bros.

"Cheaper by the Dozen" is based on the 1948 semi-autobiographical novel by siblings Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.

"Cheaper by the Dozen." Fox

While it might sound too wild to be true, "Catch Me If You Can" is based on the real life of Frank Abagnale Jr.

"Catch Me If You Can." DreamWorks Pictures

The New York City Newsboys' Strike of 1899 was brought to life in "Newsies."

"Newsies." Buena Vista Pictures

"Six Degrees of Separation" follows the life of real con artist David Hampton, who successfully convinced people he was the son of Sidney Poitier.

"Six Degrees of Separation." MGM Home Entertainment

"Dead Ringers" is the all-too-creepy true story of twin gynecologists who died within days of each other.

"Dead Ringers." Twentieth Century Fox

Just like in "50 First Dates," there's a real woman in England who wakes up every day thinking it's 1994.

"50 First Dates." Sony Pictures Releasing

Though the events of "The Terminal" seem outlandish, there really was a man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, stranded inside Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport for almost 20 years.

"The Terminal." DreamWorks

Though the events of "The Terminal" seem outlandish, there really was a man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, stranded inside Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport for almost 20 years.

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10 movies you didn't know were based on true stories

There was a real town in Oklahoma that outlawed dancing, just like in "Footloose."

Although the rom-com portion of "It Could Happen to You" is fictional, the actual lottery ticket incident is real.

"The Conjuring" is based on the real stories of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the most famous paranormal investigators of the modern era.

"Cheaper by the Dozen" is based on the 1948 semi-autobiographical novel by siblings Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.

While it might sound too wild to be true, "Catch Me If You Can" is based on the real life of Frank Abagnale Jr.

The New York City Newsboys' Strike of 1899 was brought to life in "Newsies."

"Six Degrees of Separation" follows the life of real con artist David Hampton, who successfully convinced people he was the son of Sidney Poitier.

"Dead Ringers" is the all-too-creepy true story of twin gynecologists who died within days of each other.

Just like in "50 First Dates," there's a real woman in England who wakes up every day thinking it's 1994.

Though the events of "The Terminal" seem outlandish, there really was a man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, stranded inside Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport for almost 20 years.