There are many remarkable crime films throughout history, but some of the best draw their stories from real-life criminals, even if these narratives are often embellished. It is crucial to remember that crime films based on true stories are biopics, and they do not represent true-crime narratives. They often present fictionalized versions of the actual events that occurred. Even when the names remain unchanged, the events and most personal details are frequently altered for dramatic effect.

However, this is what makes these crime movie biopics so engaging. Each film dramatizes a real criminal, creating fascination through the tension between the film and the documented truth. These movies feature real criminals from various backgrounds, ranging from depression-era outlaws and Wall Street fraudsters to serial killers and mob enforcers. The films also represent a strong mix of critically acclaimed releases, box office successes, and even entries in the National Film Registry.

It should also be noted that, regardless of how great a movie is, many of the real-life criminals dispute the stories, or in some instances, the criminals praise the tales while law enforcement claims that the retellings have dubious foundations. From Martin Scorsese’s masterpieces to a film that earned Charlize Theron an Oscar and several films by the top stars of their generation, these movies highlight the best of this crime subgenre.

Blow (2001): George Jung

George Jacob Jung, also known as Boston George from Weymouth, Massachusetts, was a significant cocaine smuggler during the 1970s and ’80s who, alongside partner Carlos Lehder, distributed drugs for Colombia’s Medellín Cartel. Jung was sentenced to 60 years in 1994, which was later reduced to approximately 20 years after he testified against Lehder. He was released in 2014.

In Blow, Johnny Depp portrays Jung, Penélope Cruz plays his wife Mirtha, and Franka Potente plays his first love Barbara. In this film, Lehder is fictionalized as Diego Delgado (Jordi Mollà). The Ted Demme-directed movie remained mostly faithful to real life but was dramatized and condensed for cinematic purposes.

White Boy Rick (2018): Richard Wershe Jr.

Directed by Yann Demange, White Boy Rick features Richie Merritt in his film debut as Richard Wershe Jr., while Matthew McConaughey portrays his father Richard Wershe Sr., a small-time illegal gun dealer in 1980s Detroit. The criminal in this film is Richard Jr., who became an FBI confidential informant at ages 14 to 16, making him the youngest known informant in FBI history. He infiltrated a Detroit drug gang before the FBI ceased using him.

At age 17, he was arrested for possessing over eight kilograms of cocaine and sentenced to life in prison under Michigan’s 650-Lifer Law. He was paroled in 2017 and released on July 20, 2020, after approximately 32 years incarcerated. White Boy Rick narrates the story of how the FBI utilized him and then discarded him, leading him to sue both the FBI and the Detroit police department. The film was only loosely based on true events and included significant creative embellishments.

Monster (2003): Aileen Wuornos

Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) made her directorial debut with the serial killer film Monster. This movie recounts the story of Aileen Wuornos, who shot, killed, and robbed seven male clients in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She received a death sentence for six murders (one body was never found) and was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002. Charlize Theron plays Wuornos in the film while Christina Ricci portrays Selby Wall, a semi-fictionalized version of Wuornos’s real girlfriend Tyria Moore.

Theron gained around 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows, and wore prosthetic teeth to become almost unrecognizable in her role. This transformation earned her first Oscar for Best Actress with a performance that many compared to Robert De Niro’s role in Raging Bull. The film includes real murders but compresses timelines and dramatizes confessions while portraying Selby as somewhat more naive than Moore was.

The Irishman (2019): Frank Sheeran

The Irishman is a mobster film directed by Martin Scorsese for Netflix. This crime movie from 2019 is based on Charles Brandt’s book from 2004 titled I Heard You Paint Houses. It features Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran, Al Pacino as Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, and Joe Pesci as crime boss Russell Bufalino. The main character is Sheeran, a World War II veteran turned labor official and mob enforcer who was convicted of labor racketeering in 1980. He served 13 years of a 32-year sentence.

However, there were significant complaints regarding the accuracy of this story. Sheeran’s deathbed assertion that he killed Hoffa in 1975 is dismissed by most historians. No physical evidence linked him to Hoffa’s disappearance while blood found at the scene did not match Hoffa’s DNA. Numerous individuals have claimed responsibility for Hoffa’s murder since he went missing.

Catch Me If You Can (2002): Frank Abagnale

Catch Me If You Can is a Steven Spielberg film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. In his memoir that served as the basis for this movie, Abagnale claimed he impersonated a Pan Am and TWA pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer while cashing over $17,000 forged checks totaling around $2.5 million between ages 16 to 21. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, a fictionalized FBI agent pursuing Abagnale.

In reality, Hanratty was a fictional composite of actual agents. Interestingly enough, Alan C. Logan’s book from 2020 titled The Greatest Hoax on Earth argues that much of Abagnale’s narrative is fabricated. The book asserts that what was portrayed as years-long deception actually lasted only weeks while documented records indicate that Abagnale faced only check theft convictions in 1965 along with later car theft imprisonment.

American Gangster (2007): Frank Lucas

Directed by Ridley Scott, American Gangster stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Harlem while Russell Crowe plays detective Richie Roberts who attempts to take Lucas down. In reality, Lucas built his heroin empire after mentor Bumpy Johnson’s death by sourcing nearly pure product from Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle branded Blue Magic. His arrest in 1975 resulted in approximately $584,683 being confiscated.

Lucas received a sentence of 70 years which was later reduced after he agreed to become an informant. He was released around1991. The movie faced criticism due to claims made by Lucas that have been questioned. His assertion about smuggling heroin using dead soldiers’ coffins has been widely disputed with no evidence supporting its validity. Additionally, former DEA agents sued Universal for their portrayal but their case was dismissed.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Jordan Belfort

The Wolf of Wall Street is another crime movie based on the memoir of its featured criminal. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it tells Jordan Belfort’s story played by Leonardo DiCaprio—a white-collar criminal whose firm Stratton Oakmont executed pump-and-dump schemes manipulating shares of at least thirty-four companies defrauding over one thousand five hundred investors out of approximately $200 million before his indictment in1999.

Belfort received a four-year sentence in July 2003 but served around twenty-two months after reaching a plea deal during which he became an FBI informant wearing a wire while testifying against his associates. He was also ordered to pay $110 million in restitution to one thousand five hundred thirteen victims but prosecutors indicated by2018 he still owed around $97 million with only about $12 million reaching victims directly. The film received five Oscar nominations although critics argued it glorified rather than satirized Belfort’s criminality.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967): Clyde Barrow And Bonnie Parker

The film Bonnie and Clyde, released in1967 tells the story of depression-era outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker portrayed by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway respectively showcasing how these bank-robbing murderers became cult heroes among small-town residents who felt oppressed looking up to them despite their gang being responsible for thirteen deaths including nine police officers.

Parker and Barrow led their gang across central U.S from1932 until1934 when they were ambushed by police near Sailes Louisiana on May23rd resulting in officers firing approximately130 rounds into their vehicle.The movie heavily fictionalizes events since they primarily robbed small stores rather than banks.Texas Ranger Frank Hamer’s family sued producers for defamation settling out-of-court yet it garnered ten Oscar nominations remaining foundational within New Hollywood cinema.

Donnie Brasco (1997): Joseph Pistone

The1997 film Donnie Brasco, directed by Mike Newell adapts Joseph D.Pistone’s nonfiction book co-authored with Richard Woodley.Johnny Depp portrays FBI agent Pistone undercover posing as jewel thief Donnie Brasco while Al Pacino plays Bonanno soldier Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero acting as his mentor.The true story saw Pistone’s undercover operation leading to over two hundred indictments along with over one hundred convictions.

The movie fictionalizes much particularly regarding Lefty Ruggiero’s fate hinting at an execution scene whereas he actually received fifteen years imprisonment before dying from cancer post-release after living under an assumed identity since then due to reported mafia contracts worth $500k placed upon Pistone’s head since operation commenced.

GoodFellas (1990): Henry Hill

The crime drama GoodFellas, considered one of Martin Scorsese’s finest works is based on Nicholas Pileggi’s nonfiction book Wiseguy published1985 chronicling real-life informer Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta.Hill associated with Lucchese crime family from1955 until arrested for narcotics charges1980 becoming an FBI informant whose testimony led approximately fifty convictions entering witness protection later expelled thereafter during1987.

This adaptation altered names ages among figures depicted such that real Tommy DeSimone aged twenty-eight at death contrasts actor Joe Pesci aged forty-six during filming.Hill himself did not actively participate during1978 Lufthansa heist orchestrated by Burke portrayed here through Robert De Niro.The movie achieved massive success garnering six Oscar nominations with Pesci winning Best Supporting Actor.Additionally, GoodFellas entered National Film Registry backin2000.