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How to order a movie?

How historically accurate must a movie be in order to claim it was "based on a true story"?

  • This questions is applied to a movie claiming to be "based on true events" as well. Does a movie only need to use something as simple as the characters names from the source of the story? Or is there a certain percentage of the true story that must be contained within the movie's script that allows it to make the claim? I am curious what portion of any movie that makes the claim that it was "based on a true story or events" is fact, rather than filler to keep the audience engaged! Is this only a tactic for marketing military themed & scifi movies?

  • Answer:

    Fargo opens with the following text: THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred. The film is almost completely fictional. One scene (the one with the wood chipper) is based on a real murder.

Graeme Shimmin at Quora Visit the source

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There are no standards at all for the use of this phrase. It would be pretty hard to apply any standards anyway. How to you measure 50% true events?

Todd Gardiner

I don't think there is a legal distinction  Like "may contain peanuts". Usually the film is tied at least to some memorable or strange historical event.  It is a publicity tool.

A Ryan Heinlein

Based on a true story simply states that a true event formed the basis for a movie or show. How many actual facts that are depicted depend entirely on the writers or director, who ever wants the movie or show to be more appealing to a target audience. It's kind of like satire but without the ridicule. If we wanted to look at it in this context, many South Park episodes are based on true events (meaning the idea for the episodes came from true events). The only reason they don't stamp that lable on it is because it is satire.

Josh Moran

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