10 Worst “Based on a True Story” Movies That Were Mostly Lies

Movies claiming to be “based on a true story” often stretch the truth, but some take it to another level, inventing far more than they admit. I’ve ranked the ten worst offenders that play fast and loose with facts, starting from the least egregious to the most fabricated.

10. The Strangers (2008)

‘The Strangers’ markets itself as inspired by true events, following a couple terrorized by masked intruders. It loosely nods to the Manson murders and a vague story from the director’s childhood, but the plot is pure fiction.

The film’s chilling atmosphere works, but the “true story” claim feels like a marketing ploy. It’s a solid horror flick, just not the real-life tale it suggests.

9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Tobe Hooper’s ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ claims inspiration from Ed Gein’s crimes, with Leatherface and his cannibal family. Beyond Gein’s skin-wearing, the story of a chainsaw-wielding clan is entirely made up.

The gritty vibe sells the “true” angle, but it’s fiction through and through. The film’s raw terror doesn’t need the exaggerated real-life hook.

8. The Amityville Horror (1979)

‘The Amityville Horror’ follows the Lutz family’s haunted house ordeal, billed as their real 1975 experience. The film leans into demonic possession and supernatural chaos, but the Lutzes’ claims were later debunked as a hoax.

Exaggerated scares and made-up details, like oozing walls, overshadow any truth. It’s creepy but far from the real story it promises.

7. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

This film claims to depict a family’s 1980s haunting in a former funeral home. Marketed as a true story, ‘The Haunting in Connecticut’ piles on fictional exorcisms and ghostly visions that stray far from the Snedeker family’s vague accounts.

The real events were likely embellished for profit. The movie’s scares feel cheap when you know it’s mostly made up.

6. The Fourth Kind (2004)

‘The Fourth Kind’ presents itself as a docudrama about alien abductions in Nome, Alaska, using “real” footage. Starring Milla Jovovich, it claims to depict psychologist Abigail Tyler’s experiences, but no such person or events exist.

The fake archival clips and fabricated story exploit UFO lore for thrills. It’s a bold lie that delivers no genuine laughs or chills.

5. Pocahontas (1995)

Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’ portrays a romantic tale between the Native American heroine and John Smith, marketed as history. In reality, Pocahontas was a child when she met Smith, and no romance occurred; her life was far more tragic.

The film’s feel-good narrative erases her real struggles. It’s a beloved animated story, but its historical accuracy is nearly nonexistent.

4. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

‘The Conjuring 2’ follows the Warrens investigating the Enfield poltergeist, billed as a true 1970s case. While the Enfield haunting happened, the film’s demonic nun and exaggerated horrors are pure Hollywood invention.

The real events were less dramatic, with skepticism around the Warrens’ claims. The movie prioritizes scares over the messy truth.

3. King Richard (2021)

‘King Richard’ celebrates Richard Williams coaching Venus and Serena to tennis stardom, framed as his true story. Will Smith’s performance shines, but the film glosses over Richard’s controversial parenting and personal life, painting him as a flawless hero.

Key events, like his business ventures, are skewed or omitted. It’s inspiring but far from the full, complex reality.

2. The Hurricane (1999)

Denzel Washington stars as Rubin “Hurricane” Carter in ‘The Hurricane’, a boxer wrongfully convicted of murder. The film suggests a clear miscarriage of justice, but it simplifies Carter’s case, inventing a racist cop and heroic detectives.

Real accounts show a murkier trial with no tidy resolution. The powerful drama sacrifices truth for a cleaner narrative.

1. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

‘The Blair Witch Project’ claims to be found footage of students lost in a haunted forest, marketed as a real tragedy. The entire story, including the witch legend, was crafted by filmmakers, with actors playing the “missing” hikers.

Its groundbreaking marketing fooled audiences, but it’s 100% fiction. The film’s impact is undeniable, yet its “true story” claim is the biggest lie here.

Which “based on a true story” movie shocked you with its fabrications, or did I miss a bigger fib? Share your thoughts in the comments!