This is a list of films and miniseries that are based on actual events. All films on this list are from American production unless indicated otherwise.
Not all films have remained true to the genuine history of the event or the characters they are portraying, often adding action and drama to increase the substance and popularity of the film. This list should only include films supported by a Wikipedia article.
1890s The Dreyfus Affair (French: L'affaire Dreyfus) (1899) – French biographical short film reconstructing episodes from the trial of Alfred Dreyfus The Execution of Mary Stuart (1895) – historical short film portraying the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots King John (1899) – British drama short film about the life of John, King of England Major Wilson's Last Stand (1899) – British silent short war film dramatizing the final engagement of the Shangani Patrol and the death of Major Allan Wilson and his men in Rhodesia in 1893
1900s Attack on a China Mission (1900) – British silent drama film depicting the Boxer Rebellion, which began in the early months of 1900 Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc) (1900) – French silent film based on the life of Joan of Arc Capital Execution (Danish: Henrettelsen) (1903) – Danish silent film telling the true story of a French woman who is condemned to death for killing her two children Dingjun Mountain (Mandarin: 定軍山) (1905) – Chinese historical film depicting a dramatized account of Battle of Mount Dingjun (219 AD)Zhang, Yingjin & Xiao, Zhiwei (1998). "The Fifth Generation" in Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. Taylor & Francis, p. 128. . The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) – Australian bushranger film following the life of the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly, often cited as the first full-length feature film Eureka Stockade (1907) – Australian silent film about the Eureka RebellionAndrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, 7 The Unwritten Law (1907) – crime drama film, about Harry Kendall Thaw's killing of Stanford White over his involvement with model and actress Evelyn Nesbit. Antony and Cleopatra (1908) – historical film based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, dramatizing the ill-fated romance between Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt The Assassination of the Duke of Guise (French: La Mort du duc de Guise) (1908) – French historical film about the murder of Henry I, Duke of Guise, in 1588 The Boston Tea Party (1908) – silent historical drama film about the Boston Tea Party of 1773 The Last Days of Pompeii (Italian: Gli ultimi giorni di Pompeii) (1908) – Italian historical drama film about the cataclysmic destruction of the city of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 Macbeth (1908) – historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland The Reprieve: An Episode in the Life of Abraham Lincoln (1908) – biographical film based on the life of Abraham Lincoln Edgar Allen Poe (1909) – silent drama film focusing on Edgar Allan Poe and his wife Virginia Clemm, who is bedridden and seriously ill The Life of Moses (1909) – silent epic christian film telling the story of the life of Moses Macbeth (1909) – French historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland Macbeth (1909) – Italian historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland
1910s 1910 Abraham Lincoln's Clemency (1910) – historical film revolving around US President Abraham Lincoln pardoning a hapless sentry who had fallen asleep while on duty during the height of the American Civil War Davy Crockett (1910) – silent Western film loosely based on the frontiersman Davy Crockett Peg Woffington (1910) – silent historical film about the actress Peg WoffingtonKlossner, Michael. The Europe of 1500-1815 on Film and Television: A Worldwide Filmography of Over 2550 Works, 1895 Through 2000. McFarland & Company, 2002. Page 289 Peter the Great (Russian: Pyotr Velikiy) (1910) – Russian short film showing the main events in the life of Peter the GreatВладимир Бортко раскрыл тайну любви и смерти Петра Первого Pocahontas (1910) – silent drama film depicting a retelling of the well-known story of Pocahontas
1911 The Colleen Bawn (1911) – romantic drama film based on the actual 1819 murder of 15-year-old Ellen Scanlan The Colleen Bawn (1911) – Australian romantic drama film based on the actual 1819 murder of 15-year-old Ellen ScanlanAndrew Pike and Ross Cooper, Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998, p24 Defence of Sevastopol (Russian: Оборона Севастополя) (1911) – Russian historical war film about the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War Henry VIII (1911) – British historical film depicting the life of Henry VIII, based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher The Life and Deeds of the Immortal Leader Karađorđe(Serbian: Живот и дела бесмртног вожда Карађорђа) (1911) – Serbian silent film depicting the eponymous rebel leader Karađorđe, who led the First Serbian uprising of 1804–1813 Macbeth (1911) – historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland Sweet Nell of Old Drury (1911) – Australian silent film about the relationship between Nell Gwynne and King Charles II
1912 1812 (Russian: 1812 год) (1912) – Russian historical war film illustrating the events Patriotic War of 1812В Москве покажут первые отечественные фильмы Cleopatra (1912) – historical drama film about the fabled queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, and her affair with Roman general Mark Antony Custer's Last Fight (1912) – silent Western film about George Armstrong Custer and his final stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn"Last Stand at Little Big Horn". American Experience. PBS. From the Manger to the Cross (1912) – Christian drama film telling the story of Jesus Christ's life, interspersed with verses from The Bible The Independence of Romania (Romanian: Independența României) (1912) – Romanian historical war film depicting the events of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), which led to independence for Romania The Loves of Queen Elizabeth (French: Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth) (1912) – French silent drama film based on the love affair between Elizabeth I and the Earl of EssexDavis, Richard (1999). Complete Guide to Film Scoring, Berklee Press, Boston. , p. 17 Richard III (1912) – French-American silent drama film depicting the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of King Richard III of Englandp.19 Rothwell, Kenneth S. A History of Shakespeare on Screen: A Century of Film and Television Cambridge University Press, 28 Oct. 2004 Saved from the Titanic (1912) – silent drama film about the sinking of the RMS Titanic
1913 Antony and Cleopatra (Italian: Marcantonio e Cleopatra) (1913) – Italian historical film based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, following the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Sicilian revolt to Cleopatra's suicide during the War of Actium The Battle of Gettysburg (1913) – silent war film based on the American Civil War battle of the same name(Wayback Machine) David Garrick (1913) – silent film about the actor David Garrick The Eaglet (French: L'aiglon) (1913) – French historical film portraying the life of Napoleon II King Charles (1913) – British historical film about Charles II's escape to Continental Europe, following his army's defeat at the Battle of Worcester The Last Days of Pompeii (Italian: Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei) (1913) – Italian historical drama film about the cataclysmic destruction of the city of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79Review, synopsis and link to watch the film: Macbeth (1913) – historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland One Hundred Years of Mormonism (1913) – historical film depicting the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quo Vadis (1913) – Italian historical drama film set during the latter years of the reign of the emperor Nero Sixty Years a Queen (1913) – silent historical film about the life and reign of Queen VictoriaOakley, Charles. Where We Came In: Seventy Years of the British Film Industry. Routledge, 2013. Page 58 When Lincoln Paid (1913) – historical drama film focusing on Abraham Lincoln's well-known practice of pardoning young Civil War soldiers condemned to die
1914 Cabiria (1914) – Italian epic film set in ancient Sicily, Carthage, and Cirta during the period of the Second Punic War, featuring an eruption of Mount Etna, heinous religious rituals in Carthage, the alpine trek of Hannibal, Archimedes' defeat of the Roman fleet at the Siege of Syracuse and Scipio maneuvering in North Africa The Higher Law (1914) – silent drama film about François Villon Home, Sweet Home (1914) – silent biographical film about John Howard Payne and his creation of the song Home! Sweet Home! In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914) – historical drama film fictionalizing the world of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples of the Queen Charlotte Strait region of the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada The Indian Wars Refought (1914) – silent Western film depicting several historical battles of The Indian Wars Ireland a Nation (1914) – British historical film telling the history of Ireland between 1798 and 1914 Judith of Bethulia (1914) – silent drama film about the life of JudithThe AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Judith of Bethulia Julius Caesar (Italian: Giulio Cesare) (1914) – Italian historical film portraying the events leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar The Life of General Villa (1914) – silent biographical action–drama film incorporating both staged scenes and authentic live footage from real battles during the Mexican Revolution, around which the plot of the film revolves The Life of Shakespeare (1914) – British biographical film following the life of the English playwright William ShakespeareBFI Film & TV Database The LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE (1914) The Oubliette (1914) – silent historical drama film about François Villon Richelieu (1914) – historical drama film portraying the life of the Seventeenth Century French statesman Cardinal Richelieu The Sleeping Sentinel (1914) – historical drama film based on William Scott, a private in the 3rd Vermont Infantry, who fell asleep while on guard duty
1915 Barbara Frietchie (1915) – silent war drama film based on the life of Barbara FritchieThe Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Barbara Frietchie The Birth of a Nation (1915) – epic drama film chronicling the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and the relationship of two families in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras over the course of several years Captain Courtesy (1915) – historical drama film set against the events surrounding the formation of the California Republic on June 14, 1846, and its occupation by United States forces on July 9, 1846 DuBarry (1915) – historical drama film about Madame du BarryThe Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:DuBarry Florence Nightingale (1915) – British silent historical film portraying the life of Florence Nightingale, particularly her innovations in nursing during the Crimean War Jane Shore (1915) – British silent historical film based on the life of Jane Shore Macbeth (1915) – French historical drama film based on the William Shakespeare play of the same name about Macbeth, King of Scotland Martyrs of the Alamo (1915) – historical war drama film about the siege of Béxar, the Battle of the Alamo, and the Battle of San Jacinto