Throughout the years, there have been several films based on famous newspaper and magazine articles. Even TV series, like Netflix’s latest Inventing Anna, find inspiration in the news. Whatever the case, these stories have resonated with mass audiences due to their thought-provoking stories. At the same time, they are intriguing due to the fact that they are based on true stories. These articles create the perfect blueprint for a good, dramatic film. We saw in films like Best Picture Oscar-winner Spotlight how a newspaper article can literally change the world by bringing injustice to light.

Journalism is a complicated and difficult profession, but it has helped shape the history of the world.

It is very common for films to be adapted from books and stories. Although it seems to be less common for a film to be adapted from a news article, many of the ones out there have been utterly fantastic. They give you a good look into history and, as we saw in Almost Famous, it can give you a look into the past of famous directors or other personalities. Although sometimes the news can be twisted or biased, a good news or magazine article will provide important information. After some tough cuts, let’s dive into the greatest films based on news or magazine articles, ranked.

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9 Hustlers

     STXfilms

This film tells the story of a group of New York City strippers who devise a plan to drug stockbrokers and CEOs to steal money from their credit cards. The story was based on the article, “The Hustlers at Scores,” written by Jessica Pressler. It is a fascinating story of empowered women who decide to turn the tables on their financial situations. Hustlers features several great performances from Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and many more.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

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8 Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy was based on “My Addicted Son” by David Sheff, who was played by Steve Carell in the film. The article debuted in The New York Times in 2005, and it chronicles the relationship between Sheff and his son Nic through Nic’s drug addiction. Timothée Chalamet plays Nic Sheff and gives a brutal performance depicting the realities and torment of addiction. Through it all, David Sheff loved his son, and desperately tried to help him. Fortunately, Nic Sheff was able to overcome his addiction.

7 A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

     Sony Pictures Releasing

This wonderful film about Fred Rogers is based on “Can You Say…Hero?” by Tom Junod and appeared in Esquire in 1998. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood chronicles the relationship between Rogers (Tom Hanks) and a reporter (Matthew Rhys) and shows you the optimistic and loving man that Rogers was. The movie is a fantastic portrayal of Rogers, but also shows you the positive relationship that can happen between a reporter and his subject.

6 Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

     Universal Pictures 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas gives you an in-depth look into the persona and life of acclaimed writer Hunter S. Thompson. The film was based upon Thompson’s Rolling Stone article, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream.” The film chronicles Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and Dr. Gonzo’s (Benico del Toro) drug fueled adventure through Las Vegas. The film is filled with amazing visuals, memorable lines, and stays true to Thompson’s article.

5 The Killing Fields

     Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors

The Killing Fields was based on The New York Times Magazine article, “The Death and Life of Dith Pran.” The story follows two journalists, played by Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor, who are covering the events of a civil war in Cambodia. It is a heartbreaking story that portrays the violence and chaos that comes about during times of war. The film stays true to the original article and features several magnificent set-designs that make you feel as if you are really there.

4 Almost Famous

Many people don’t know that Almost Famous comes from Cameron Crowe’s actual experiences traveling around with rock groups. The film was based on Crowe’s Rolling Stone article, “The Allman Brothers Story.” Although the band in the film was changed, it does portray Crowe’s adventures as a young journalist and the rock star lifestyle that he witnessed. The film captures the culture of the 1970s music scene and features several memorable performances.

3 Dog Day Afternoon

     Warner Bros. 

Dog Day Afternoon was based on a stunning true story as well as the LIFE Magazine article, “The Boys in the Bank,” by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore. The story chronicles a bank robbery in Brooklyn, New York, which leads to an insane hostage situation. Al Pacino and John Cazale play the bank robbers, and the two of them give legendary performances. Although the situation didn’t play out in the bank robbers’ favor, we were left with a very thought-provoking, true story.

2 Spotlight

     Open Road Films

The Boston Globe Spotlight team brought to light years of child abuse in the Catholic Church. The series of reports started with a Boston Globe article entitled, “Church Allowed Abuse by Priests for Years.” It is a riveting, yet extremely disturbing story, that also discusses how scandal was hidden for years. The film depicts the hard work and determination carried out by the reporters who broke the story. Spotlight went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

1 All The President’s Men

All The President’s Men portrays one of the most significant investigations in political history. The film is based on The Washington Post article, “GOP Security Aide Among Five Arrested in Bugging Affair.” The film follows the investigation of two journalists played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford who uncover significant details about the Watergate Scandal. It is a thought-provoking story that shows you the importance of journalism and how it can sometimes be the last resort to uncover the truth.