Viewers often turn to fantastical movie genres like the thriller genre as temporary escapes from reality. However, some of the most terrifying and impactful thrillers are actually based on truth. While this is not always the case, viewing experiences are made even more terrifying when audiences imagine themselves in the protagonist's shoes as these awful events unfold around them.

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This being said, thrillers based on true stories need to be even more careful in their production than their fictional counterparts since real people experienced these dreadful events. For these thrillers to be truly successful, they need to tell these stories while acknowledging the terrifying realities these victims were forced to endure.

10 Black Christmas (1974) Engrains A Compelling Twist Within Its Tragic Subject Matter

A still from Black Christmas.

Black Christmas follows a group of sorority sisters as they receive ominous threats and are later stalked by an evil killer during the Christmas season. The film was inspired by the contemporary urban legend of "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs" and a tragic string of murders that occurred during the holiday season in Montreal.

While the series of murders that inspired Black Christmas were based in a domestic setting, the film's screenwriters decided to reimagine these unfortunate events through a university setting. The film was initially met with mixed reviews, but has gradually become recognized as one of the best horror films ever made.

9 The Good Nurse Is Unique As A True Crime Thriller That Takes Audiences Along For The Ride

A still from The Good Nurse.

The Good Nurse tells the story of Charles Cullen, a serial killer who murdered hospital patients while working as a nurse, through the perspective of Amy Loughren, a colleague of Cullen's who played a critical role in his prosecution. However, The Good Nurse offers a compelling take on the true crime genre by having the viewer gradually discover Cullen's nefarious intentions alongside Loughren.

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While some critics complain that the film lacks realistic storytelling elements at times, the fact that The Good Nurse is based on true events should not be taken lightly. The film was made even more compelling by Jessica Chastain's evocative portrayal of Loughren and Eddie Redmayne's nuanced portrayal of the twisted yet initially "normal" Cullen.

8 The Imitation Game Tells The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Of Alan Turing's Life

A still from The Imitation Game.

The Imitation Game tells the story of underrated historical figure Alan Turing, an intelligent English mathematician who played a critical part during World War II by deciphering Nazi codes. The film offers a retrospective look at Turing's life, from feeling alone as a child and meeting his first love, Christopher, to contributing greatly to the Allied powers' victory.

However, the film takes a dark, distressingly real turn when the authorities discover that Turing is gay. While the film does the important work of showcasing Turing's contributions during World War II, it also unabashedly showcases how openly Turing was discriminated against as a gay man — discrimination that would last the rest of Turing's life despite his genius.

7 Brain On Fire Flopped In Theaters, But Crucially Raises Awareness About A Rare Brain Disease

A still from Brain on Fire.

Brain on Fire introduces audiences to Susannah Cahalan, a prolific journalist who initially leads a rewarding life as a writer for The New York Post. However, the film takes a dark turn when Cahalan develops a mysterious illness that culminates when she hears ominous voices in her head and begins having seizures.

While Brain on Fire seems too unnerving to be real, the film is based on Cahalan's memoir Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. Despite receiving lackluster critic reviews, Brain on Fire was an incredibly important story to be told since it spreads much-needed awareness regarding anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare brain disease that, with the proper medical attention, is treatable.

6 Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile Encapsulates How Unnervingly Charming Serial Killer Ted Bundy Was

A still from Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile tells the unnerving story of Ted Bundy's terrible crimes from the perspective of his long-time girlfriend, Liz Kendall. She refuses to acknowledge that her boyfriend has done anything wrong. One of the most unnerving aspects of the film is Zac Efron's charismatic portrayal of Bundy.

Another notable aspect of the film is its unabashed portrayal of serial killer "groupies" like Bundy's old friend, Carole Ann Boone, who wholeheartedly believes Bundy is innocent. While this tale is incredibly hard to believe, it is, in fact, based in truth and refreshingly ends with Kendall realizing her initial delusions and moving on with her life.

5 The Conjuring Depicts Real-Life Paranormal Events That Ought To Have No Place In Reality

Ed and Lorraine Warren hunt spirits in the Conjuring franchise.

The Conjuring follows paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren as they investigate the unexplainable events that unfold in the Perron family's new home: a secluded farmhouse with an ominous aura. While these events are initially benign, they quickly escalate when the family's perfectly healthy dog mysteriously dies.

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The film takes an even odder turn as the Warrens pinpoint the culprit: a possessed doll called Annabelle. While it can be hard to believe that The Conjuring is based on truth, Warner Bros. later confirmed that the film is based on notable, bizarre events that were part of Lorraine and Ed Warren's daily lives.

4 3096 Days Does Its Source Material Justice As A True Crime Film That Remains Based In Truth

A still from 3096 Days.

3096 Days is based on the true story of Natascha Kampusch, an Austrian woman who was kidnapped as a 10-year-old and imprisoned by her kidnappers for eight years. As a film that addresses sensitive subject matter, it certainly isn't for all audiences and can be an emotionally draining viewing experience.

Despite enduring physical and sexual assault over the course of her eight years in captivity, Kampusch perseveres at every turn and manages to escape. As a film based on Kampusch's eponymous memoir, 3096 Days honors its source material while acknowledging the cruel reality Kampusch was forced to live through for eight years of her life.

3 The Girl Next Door (2007) Brings The Cruel Fate Of Sylvia Likens To The Fore

A still from The Girl Next Door.

The Girl Next Door tells the tragic tale of sisters Meg and Susan, who are subjected to constant emotional and physical torment under their aunt's care. While the two girls endure unspeakable horrors that are too terrible to believe, the film is based on Jack Ketchum's eponymous novel, which was inspired by the real-life murder of Sylvia Likens.

Despite this, The Girl Next Door received mostly negative reviews as a film that, on the surface, dramatizes past trauma for the sake of financial gain. However, great minds like Stephen King have expressed nothing but good things about The Girl Next Door as a film that unabashedly showcases just how cruel tormenters can be.

2 Thirteen Lives Is Based On A Real Rescue Mission

A still from Thirteen Lives.

Thirteen Lives follows a junior football team and their coach as they leave practice to explore the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand. However, the film takes a dark turn when these boys' parents notice their absences and head to the caves to find their boys' bikes deserted, and the Tham Luang cave flooded.

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Due to how unnerving this scenario is, audiences were shocked to discover that Thirteen Lives is based on a true story of the Tham Luang rescue mission in 2018. While the rescue mission successfully retrieved all 12 boys and their coach, the film importantly reminds viewers that the mission was not without fatalities.

1 Heavenly Creatures (1994) Is A True Crime Thriller That Is Disturbingly Based In Reality

A still from Heavenly Creatures.

Heavenly Creatures focuses on the intimate friendship that forms between teenage girls Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, which culminates when the pair murders Parker's mother when their parents attempt to separate them. The film is based on the infamous 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case.

Perhaps one of the most unsettling aspects of the film is that the friendship between Hulme and Parker blossoms as the two bond over their similarly traumatic pasts of severe sicknesses that left them isolated in hospitals for much of their childhoods. Upon its release, Heavenly Creatures was honored as one of the best-received films of 1994.

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