19 movies you didn't know were inspired by true events

Modified Jan 13, 2025 00:37 ET

Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Russel Crowe, Zac Efron, and Leonardo DiCaprio (Clockwise from top left) — Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Russel Crowe, Zac Efron, and Leonardo DiCaprio | Image via Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures, A24, Paramount Pictures (Clockwise from top left)

5) Hidden Figures (2016)

Still from Hidden Figures| Image via 20th Century Studios

This inspiring film tells the true story of three African-American women mathematicians—Katherine Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (played by Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)—who worked at NASA. Their contributions were crucial to the success of early space missions, breaking barriers in both race and gender. The film is loosely based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book of the same name.