People have flocked to romantic movies every year to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit. Of course, this year is no exception, with people enjoying movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Love Actually, and Marry Me. However, those movies often strayed far from reality and depicted imaginary pairings. Some viewers have shown a desire for content that is a little less fictitious and a little more realistic.
When looking for a romance movie that was based on a true story, there are quite a few choices. They have undoubtedly been given a Hollywood makeover, but they have nonetheless demonstrated that similar enchantment can be found in the real world. We’ve compiled a collection of 12 love stories that draw inspiration from actual individuals and occasions.
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All My Life (2020)
Solomon Chau was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, so Jennifer Carter and the couple decided to get married sooner than expected. Their journey was documented in the book All My Life. The pair concentrated on living life to the fullest, not holding back, and making the most of the time they had left. All My Life, starring Harry Shum Jr. (Glee, Shadowhunters), and Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day, Forever My Girl), was able to overcome some of its cheese because of the strong chemistry between its two protagonists.
At First Sight (1999)
At First Sight starred Val Kilmer as Virgil Adamson, a blind masseuse who fell for a visitor from New York City. Fortunately, Amy Benite (Mira Sorvino), who was moved by his assurance and optimism, returned those amorous impulses. However, Amy also persuaded Virgil to have surgery to regain his sight, which he approached with considerable reluctance. Shirl Jennings, a real-life person who “regained their eyesight after lifelong blindness,” served as the model for the fictional character Virgil. Shirl’s fiancée at the time persuaded him to get an operation that would change his life, just like Virgil in the movie.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
The in-person Bonnie and Clyde were a notorious criminal duo that committed crimes for 21 months between 1932 and 1934. The pair targeted banks during this period, as well as funeral homes, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses. Bonnie and Clyde, a neo-noir biopic based on the couple, was released by Warner Bros. in 1967. The movie was widely acclaimed for shattering American taboos surrounding violence, but it also drew criticism for glorifying criminals. Bonnie and Clyde is placed No. 27 on the American Film Institute’s list of the best American movies.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
The true tale of young transgender kid Brandon Teena, who dealt with widespread transphobia as he came to grips with his identity, served as the inspiration for the movie Boys Don’t Cry. When Brandon first met Lana Tisdel in Falls City, Nebraska, she had no idea that he wasn’t a cisgender male because she had just moved there. After falling in love and making plans for the future, Brandon was the victim of a horrific hate crime, therefore their future was never realized. The Library of Congress included Boys Don’t Cry to the National Film Registry because it was “one of the first empathic portrayals of a trans person to appear on the big screen.” The historical mistakes in the movie and the use of her name without her consent infuriated Lana Tisdel, who was a real-life person.
I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)
Real-life conman Steven Jay Russell from the United States managed to break out of jail four times. Having fallen in love with Phillip Morris when they were both in prison, Russell did this in the hope of reuniting with him. I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks, a book that chronicles Russell’s life, was published in 2003. I Love You Phillip Morris, a comedy starring Jim Carrey as Russell and Ewan McGregor as the titular Morris, was released six years later. The movie was shockingly based on a true story, and it was possibly one of t he strangest romantic comedies ever created.
It Could Happen to You (1994)
It Could Happen to You, a romantic comedy from the 1990s, featured Nicolas Cage as Charlie Lang, a police officer. Charlie realized he had no money to give server Yvonne Biasi (Bridget Fonda) a tip, so he made a commitment to give her half of his lottery winnings if he did. To the dismay of his wife, he actually won and gave Biasi his earnings. The real-life Robert Cunningham and Phyllis Penzo, who in fact were a cop and a waitress who split a lottery win, served as the inspiration for the novel It Could Happen to You. It Could Happen to You, however, was “completely fake,” in Penzo’s opinion, because it was changed from a chance narrative into a love story.
Southside with You (2016)
Southside with You, which took place on a summer day in 1989, followed a young Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson while they were still employed by a Chicago legal firm. The movie chronicled the couple’s initial encounter, which undoubtedly contributed to their eventual election as the 44th President and First Lady of the United States. Southside with You, which featured outstanding actors Parker Sawyer and Tika Sumpter, emphasized that it was both a historical and a romantic moment.
The Big Sick (2017)
In Hollywood, Kumail Nanjiani (Eternals, Welcome to Chippendales) has established himself as a household figure. The Big Sick was the catalyst for his meteoric rise to fame. The Big Sick, written by Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon and based on their relationship, was marketed as a “awkward real narrative.” Dealing with Gordon’s unexpected sickness and the cultural differences between her and Nanjiani’s families were part of the “awkward true story.” In the movie, Nanjiani played a fictionalized version of himself, and Zoe Kazan played Emily Gardner, a fabricated version of Gordon. The American Film Institute named The Big Sick as one of the top movies of 2017.
The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook has gained a sizable fan base and is still spoken about today, nearly two decades later. The movie demonstrated that Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams could carry a love story, and the two actors later starred in numerous love stories. The movie’s title was taken from a journal that Duke Calhoun read when thinking back on his relationship with Allie, which started in the 1940s. For those who are unaware, The Notebook was adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ book of the same name, which was motivated by the grandparents of Sparks’ wife’s, who were married for more than 60 years. Sparks intended to depict such in a book after observing and learning that “real love can stay forever” (via Nicholas Sparks).
The Theory of Everything (2014)
Naturally, science played a significant role in Stephen Hawking’s life, as did his friendship with writer and educator Jane Hawking. The Theory of Everything, which adapted Jane Hawking’s 2007 autobiography Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, examined both facets of Hawking’s life. Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl, Fantastic Beasts series) and Felicity Jones (Rogue One, On the Basis of Sex) were both superbly cast and had outstanding performances. Redmayne won the 2014 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, while Jones garnered nominations for the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Actress.
The Vow (2012)
In the movie The Vow, Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams co-starred as the contented newlyweds Leo and Paige Collins. Paige went into a coma after a horrible accident, and when she came to, she had no memory of her husband. Paige’s feelings for her ex-fiance muddled matters further, placing Leo in a precarious position. Some people found the premise of The Vow to be implausible, yet it was really based on the true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. After renewing their vows, the Carpenters divorced in 2018 after Kim learned of her husband’s extramarital affair.
Walk the Line (2005)
The biopic Walk the Line, which was directed by James Mangold, was motivated by Johnny Cash’s love affair with June Carter. When Cash first met Carter, he was married, but he ignored his wife’s objections and developed feelings for Carter instead. Cash married Carter two years after divorcing Vivian Liberto, and they remained together until the latter’s death in 2003. The 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy went to Joaquin Phoenix for his work as Cash in the film Walk the Line. At the 78th Academy Awards, Reese Witherspoon, who played Carter in the movie, also took home the Best Actress trophy.
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