Weird History

The Empress on Netflix provides a look at the early life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Through six episodes, viewers see the rebellious and spirited young woman who would go on to have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-of-elisabeth-of-austria/philgibbons">a life plagued</a> with tragedy.&nbsp;The story behind The Empress is more complicated than the show can depict accurately, but it does provide many facts about Elisabeth (often called “Sisi”). We also meet Emperor Franz Joseph, his mother, Sophie, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/empress-cast-vs-real-people/elle-tharp">the other figures</a> who defined life at the Habsburg court in Austria during the 19th century.&nbsp;Notable fictions are woven into The Empress, so we decided to examine the overall historical accuracy of the series. Take a look at what we found out and vote up the subjects you were curious about, too.&nbsp;

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What 'The Empress' Actually Gets Right - And Wrong - About History

General

Melissa Sartore

Revisiting HBO's beloved, harrowing, heartbreaking miniseries that follows the Easy Company from jump training in 1942 through the end of WWII.

Band of Brothers

Max (FKA HBO) Shows

In TV and movies, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. That's especially true when you're trying to make a true-to-life historical series like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.amazon.com/Band-of-Brothers-Season-1/dp/B006885EFE">Band of Brothers</a>. The producers of Band of Brothers were famously fanatical about getting everything right, going well <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/band-of-brothers-show-vs-book/gordon-cameron">beyond the book</a> in their research. Producer/writer Erik Jendresen <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wfae.org/show/charlotte-talks-with-mike-collins/2019-06-06/charlotte-talks-band-of-brothers-co-creator-erik-jendresen">said he did so much research</a> that by the end of the process he said, "I could close my eyes on any given day in 1944, and knew what was happening 360 degrees around me if I had been in [Easy Company]."Here are some of the little details that put Band of Brothers a couple of notches above the usual WWII TV and movie fare.

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'Band Of Brothers' Has Subtle Details That Add To Its Historical Accuracy 

'Band Of Brothers' Details That Make It Historically Accurate

Jessica Wright

Lists about real life on the wild American frontier and fictionalized versions of the Old West.

Wild, Wild West

Watchworthy

There's no paucity of shows about frontier life, and finding a good Wild West series is somewhat subjective. There are numerous television series, such as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-the-life-and-legend-of-wyatt-earp-cast-list-for-the-show-the-life-and-legend-of-wyatt-earp/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp</a> (1955-1961), that incorporate well-established figures, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historically-inaccurate-western-movie-tropes/genevieve-carlton">Western tropes</a>, and themes to entertain viewers and provide a level of authenticity. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-western-movies-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The best westerns</a> of all time knows how to deliver historical accuracy.Other shows, like Wild Wild West&nbsp;(1965-1969),&nbsp;a series no one would confuse for accurate, push the envelope and integrate innovative ideas into elaborate and adventurous plots and characters.&nbsp;&nbsp;When it comes to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/western-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">classic Western series</a>, shows like&nbsp;1950s cowboy shows like Bonanza,&nbsp;Gunsmoke, and, more recently,&nbsp;Deadwood&nbsp;have managed to create and maintain a well-established following. Just because these shows about frontier life are popular, however, does not mean they provide a realistic depiction of their subject. How accurate are these Wild West series? And where do they just not quite hit the mark?

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The Most Accurate TV Shows About The Wild West

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Casting a captious eye at Shondaland's romantic and, ahem, steamy Bridgerton in all its iterations, now playing on Netflix.

XOXO, Lady Whistledown

Bridgerton (Netflix)

Set in the time period of Regency London, Bridgerton&nbsp;follows the romantic adventures and misadventures of the titular aristocratic family. So, how accurate is&nbsp;Bridgerton&nbsp;and its depiction of the early 19th century?&nbsp;The Regency period in Great Britain technically lasted from 1811 to 1820, when the Prince of Wales ruled as regent in place of his father <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-mad-king-george-iii/setareh-janda?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">King George III</a>. It&nbsp;was the era of Jane Austen and Waterloo, imperialism and Romanticism, slavery and the Industrial Revolution. Bridgerton&nbsp;sets its gaze on the fashionable upper classes&nbsp;- known as the ton&nbsp;- of Regency society, depicting&nbsp;a world governed by rules that, if broken, could ruin a family's fortunes. It imagines a period of rakes and heiresses, debauchery and virtue, glittering parties and seedy dens of vice.&nbsp;

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Is 'Bridgerton' Historically Accurate To The Regency Era? (Yes and No)

How Accurate Is Netflix's 'Bridgerton' To The Time Period?

Henry Adams

Looking closer at movies, TV shows, and even characters based on and "inspired by" reality.

Based on a True Story

Entertainment

Have you ever watched a movie with a good story and been shocked to find out it's based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crime-scenes-movies/lyra-radford">real-life events</a>? Knowing a fictional story is based in reality makes the twists and turns of the movie seem even more incredible. However, there are probably a lot more <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-loosely-based-on-true-stories/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies based on real people</a> than you realized.Classics like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sound-of-music-true-story/erin-mccann">The Sound of Music</a>, Goodfellas, and even Chicago were based on real-life people. Some of these films closely follow a memoir or news stories, while others take bits and pieces of the true story and add new aspects to make it more theatrical. For example, many films include additional plotlines, such as a love story, to make it more interesting for viewers.All the movies included in this list were somehow inspired by real-life people and/or events. Some of the creators were very open about what inspired them while others don't often share that information, leaving many people shocked when they find out the true story behind the film.

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Movies You Didn't Know Were Based On Real People

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The 16 Movies Surprisingly Based On Real People, Ranked

Molly Weinfurter

Lists about the true stories that inspired books, films, TV, and other stories you think you know. 

What Really Happened

Visiting the mysterious empty and sunken vessels of the deep blue sea.

Ghost Ships & Shipwrecks

The Perfect Storm

The Perfect Storm's true story of The Andrea Gail shipwreck is as gripping as the Hollywood adaptation—maybe even more so. In the early '90s, Mother Nature's unrelenting power lashed out in an epic storm that caught the fishing vessel Andrea Gail in its deadly grip. The real-life events behind the novel and subsequent movie are a chilling reminder of the unpredictable strength of the ocean and the brave souls who make their living on it. This wasn't just another fishing trip gone awry; it was a desperate battle for survival against a monstrous convergence of weather systems that spawned a storm like no other.Tragically, all six crew members aboard the Andrea Gail were lost to the sea. Despite a heart-wrenching search effort, the shipwreck was never found. Coast Guard teams and rescue crews scoured the ocean in hopes of finding the fishermen and their vessel, launching an exhaustive search that spanned over ten days. The story of the Andrea Gail and her crew remains a poignant testament to the perils faced by those who venture into the deep sea—a tale entrenched in maritime history as a story of courage, loss, and the formidable forces of nature.

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Tragic Facts About The Perfect Storm, The Shipwreck Story No One Lived To Tell

'The Perfect Storm' True Story: The Real Story of The Andrea Gail Crew

Anna Lindwasser

Fact vs. Fiction

History has long fascinated filmmakers and audiences alike. For the former, there's the challenge of depicting past events accurately while presenting a fresh angle that will keep people watching, even if they know the outcome in advance. For the latter, seeing real events brought to life cinematically can provide new insights into chapters of history.&nbsp;With the volume of movies Hollywood produces each year, it's no surprise that some films cover the same historical ground, making perspective a key distinguishing factor. The following sets of films deal with the same historical events or time periods in very different manners. Watching either of them individually can give you a compelling outlook on the events at the center of their stories, and watching both as a double feature will give you a more well-rounded context because of how different their takes are.

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Movies That Tell The Same Historical Story From Two Different Perspectives

Mike McGranaghan

Whether sitting down to enjoy a horror flick, a war drama, or a family film, believing that the narrative is based on a true story somehow makes the experience all the more appealing. Witnessing “real life” events depicted on screen can give audiences the sense that their cinematic choice is entertaining as well as educating them, allowing viewers to understand events on a more personal level.&nbsp;Undoubtedly, there are many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-based-on-true-stories/ranker-film">great movies based on actual events</a>. However, filmmakers often feel the need to take creative liberties with historical narratives to make the plotlines more entertaining. While some deviations from the original stories don't detract from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-with-historically-accurate-small-details/raelyn-giansanti">movie's accuracy</a>, others become so derailed from the historical event that they should really be considered “inspired” by events rather than “based” on them.&nbsp;Below are films that were marketed as being based on true events but really aren't. While some loosely resemble their historical equivalents, others are almost entirely fiction. &nbsp;

Movies That Were Based On The Smallest Grain Of Truth

Lauren Glen

What's fact? What's just an old wives' tale? Read up on these persistent, sometimes creepy, totally believable urban legends to separate truth from myth.

Myths and Legends

From the reported divorce rate, to how long gum stays in a person's stomach, a number of random statistics are presented to the public as facts. But do a little digging into these numbers, and it turns out that many of these “facts” are either <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-we-didnt-know-are-myths/chrissy-rose">complete myths</a> or based on outdated or misleading information.Here are some of the widely reported statistics that you may be surprised to learn are false.

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Statistics You Hear All The Time That Sound Plausible But Just Aren’t Correct

14 Frequently Heard Statistics That Are Actually False

TGWrites

The sheer number of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-historically-inaccurate-movies/genevieve-carlton">inaccurate films about the past</a> prove that movies aren’t history lessons. But every now and then, a historical film comes out that gets the facts right. These films generally stick to the truth because the facts are almost too wild to believe, like the story of a German officer <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/failed-hitler-assassination-attempts/genevieve-carlton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">who tried to assassinate Hitler</a> or the wildly dysfunctional family life of a medieval king. In all of these stories, screenwriters didn’t have to invent much drama; the facts were dramatic enough.Accuracy isn’t always about recreating events exactly as they happened or in the order they occurred. Sometimes, films are authentic in different ways, like in their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-casting-historical-figures/elle-tharp">portrayal of historical figures</a> and the relationships that determined their lives. &nbsp;Which movies are the best at sticking to the facts? That’s for you to decide.

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Historically Accurate Movies That Didn't Have To Make Stuff Up To Be Interesting

The 13 Most Historically Accurate Movies, Ranked By Viewers

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Exploring the strange and fascinating lives of rulers, royals, and royalty all around the world and throughout history.

We Will Never Be Royals

Historical Entertainment

What are the most inaccurate <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies about royals</a>? Whether depicting love affairs that never happened or covering up unsavory politics, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal biopics</a>&nbsp;on this list don't tell the full - or even the real - story about kings and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-queens/mallory-weiler?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">queens in history</a>.Historians evaluate the accuracy of films in two ways: by policing the nitty-gritty historical facts that the movie depicts,&nbsp;and by analyzing the overall truth that the film is communicating about a person, event, or era. Historical facts often get manipulated for the sake of narrative necessity. Worse, many films are inaccurate by omission, since they leave out crucial facts that might shape how a royal is remembered. In these cases, royal biopics completely misrepresent the past.From Shakespeare's plays to Hollywood biopics, the lives of royals throughout history have always made for compelling drama. But good movies are rarely good history lessons.

The Least Accurate Movies About Historical Royals

The Most Inaccurate Movies About Royals

A closer look at the animated series that follows Aang's successor Korra in the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

The Legend of Korra

Nickelodeon

From Kwong's Cuisine to Little <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/avatar-the-last-airbender-ba-sing-se-trivia/kayla-webb-1?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Ba Sing Se</a>, the highly detailed settings and locations in The Legend of Korra are part of what makes the show so special. Here are the real world inspirations for many of your favorite Legend of Korra locations, along with side by sides so you can see the similarities and differences.

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These Are The Real World Inspirations For Locations In 'The Legend Of Korra'

Real World Inspirations For The Legend Of Korra Locations

Joe Donley

People go to the movies for many reasons, sometimes for the plot but, just as often, to spend time with the characters brought memorably to life by their favorite actors. Very often, the characters who appear in films are larger-than-life, with mannerisms that seem outlandish compared to the real world.It’s often surprising to learn how even the most outlandish and strange of characters are often based, at least in part, on real-life people. Learning the fascinating stories behind such characters deepens one’s appreciation of the actor’s craft and the skills of those who imbue their on-screen selves with elements of reality.

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Over-The-Top Movie Characters You Didn't Realize Are Based On Real People

Fictional Character

Thomas West

Netflix has developed a reputation for making the kinds of movies that major studios no longer want to, either because of challenging subject matter or the project isn't an obvious commercial blockbuster. Fans of the streaming service embrace those things, enjoying the ability to watch high-quality motion pictures - often with A-list stars - from the comfort of their homes. The range and scope of the stories Netflix brings to audiences is impressive.A fair number of Netflix's productions are based on true stories. They run the gamut from Martin Scorsese's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/netflix-jimmy-hoffa-frank-sheeran-facts/melissa-sartore">The Irishman</a>, about mobster Frank Sheeran and his possible connection to the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-survival-movies-based-on-true-stories/ranker-film">Society of the Snow</a>, a re-creation of what happened when a group of plane crash survivors were stuck in the snowy Andes for more than two months. Some of the films are very factual, whereas others bend the truth to a degree to heighten the drama. Either way, the following Netflix movies tell true stories in a gripping manner.

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18 Netflix Movies Based On Gripping True Stories, Ranked

18 Netflix Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked

History

There's singing and there's dancing - and that's just what Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson brings to Moana and Moana 2. Alongside his presentation of the Polynesian demigod Maui, there's Auli'i Cravalho as Moana, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Moana's mother, and a strong ensemble cast that highlights how magical <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-animated-movies/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Disney animated movies</a> can be.&nbsp;What's not entirely clear is that, when you look a little further or listen a bit closer, there's a lot of Polynesian history and myth woven into Moana and Moana 2 as well. This is especially true when it comes to Maui. The trickster, shape-shifter, and larger-than-life presence is actually at the heart of Polynesian origin stories and, no matter how many times he saves the day onscreen, Maui is, first and foremost, a mythological hero to humanity.&nbsp;

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The Real Maui Is So Much More Of A Hero Than What You See In 'Moana' And 'Moana 2'

Real Maui Mythology 'Moana 2' Doesn't Tell You

A look at major events that happened a long time ago and the people who played the biggest roles in shaping the world as we know it.

Historical Facts & Figures

The lives of historical figures have provided Hollywood with film fodder for decades. Biographical movies aren't necessarily as accurate as they claim to be, though. From&nbsp;<a href="/list/everything-bohemian-rhapsody-gets-wrong-about-queen/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">Bohemian Rhapsody</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="/list/historical-mistakes-errors-and-inaccuracies-in-braveheart/machk" target="_blank">Braveheart</a>, <a href="/list/most-inaccurate-biopics-musicians-bands/erin-mccann" target="_blank">inaccurate biopics</a> prove that great films don't always make for great history lessons.Inaccurate films about historical figures tell mistruths that range from the mild to the outrageous. Some biography movies merely compress events,&nbsp;re-order chronologies, or <a href="/list/fictional-major-characters-in-historical-movies/jim-rowley" target="_blank">create composite characters</a> to streamline storytelling;&nbsp;others twist facts and&nbsp;misrepresent historical figures in offensive ways. What bio movies don't say about historical figures is sometimes as important as what they do say: biopics that lie by omission tend to glorify historical subjects by ignoring inconvenient truths that are nonetheless important windows into their lives.But no matter how they&nbsp;may twist or ignore the facts, all the films on this list sacrifice&nbsp;accuracy in some way to sugarcoat, whitewash, misrepresent, over-dramatize, or over-simplify the past.

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Fact vs. Fiction lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Fact vs. Fiction lists on Ranker

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