10 gripping TV shows inspired by true historical events

TV shows inspired by true historical events | Images via Prime Video and Netflix
TV shows inspired by true historical events | Images via Prime Video and Netflix

Several TV show maniacs are fond of watching TV shows inspired by true historical events. They discover important historical events while also being amused by these shows. These TV shows depict actual events, factual moments, and even major transformations that changed the world. Some shows are about war, crime, or politics, while others are about royal lives or well-known cases.

These TV shows bring history to life, and it is thrilling. They integrate facts and drama in such a way that the plot entertains while also teaching viewers new perspectives and things. These are the 10 compelling TV shows inspired by true historical events that narrate complicated stories of the past.

Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.


10 gripping TV shows inspired by true historical events are provided below:

10. John Adams (2008)

John Adams - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video
John Adams - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video

HBO miniseries John Adams is one of the TV shows inspired by true historical events, narrating the life of the second U.S. President, following the biography by David McCullough. It succeeds his proceedings in the Boston Massacre trial, his embassies in Europe, and his presidency in the formative period of America. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney are also good, securing the obstinate integrity of Adams and the richness of his marriage.

The TV show inspired by true historical events received numerous Emmys and Golden Globes. The TV show was acclaimed for its production values and heartwarming stories. It takes liberties with the little events, such as the timing of Adams' children's journeys and the fictitious courtroom sequences. However, the show remains accurate to the larger ones, including Adams negotiating treaties and protecting British soldiers. Moreover, the TV show is an engaging, educational, and poignant depiction of early American history.


9. Spartacus (2010-2013)

Spartacus - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Starz
Spartacus - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Starz

Spartacus is a Starz TV show inspired by true historical events about the Thracian-born gladiator who kills his slave owners and begins a slave uprising against the Roman Republic. This TV show, inspired by true historical events, draws inspiration from real historical events. For example, the character Spartacus is often portrayed as a slave, but in reality, he was born free. He originally served as a soldier for Rome before becoming a gladiator in Capua. The Third Servile War (a major rebellion that occurred a long time ago) was ultimately led by Spartacus.

Combat scenes like the flight through Mount Vesuvius and the trick with the trench at Rhegium closely reflect ancient sources. The TV show inspired by true historical events consists of real characters such as Crixus, Gannicus, and Crassus. Nevertheless, theatrical flourishes are evident, including stylized bloodshed, speech, and cliffside amphitheaters. certain battle scenes, weapons, and character backstories are changed in the name of spectacle. Finally, Spartacus is a gripping, moving television show that is more founded on historical fact than a documentary-accurate depiction.


8. American Crime Story (2016)

American Crime Story - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Disney+
American Crime Story - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Disney+

American Crime Story is a TV show inspired by true historical events. The People v. O. J. Simpson, its first season, is a retelling of the well-known 1995 murder trial of O. J. Simpson. The novel The Run of His Life offers an inside look at the inner workings of courtrooms, police operations, and media mania.

Real-life personalities such as the Simpson, his defense team, and his family are included in the show. It received awards in acting, writing, and realism. Sarah Paulson, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Courtney B. Vance deliver strong performances in the cast. It tells a gripping, colorful story of one of the most dramatic trials in contemporary America.


7. Mindhunter (2017-2018)

Mindhunter - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via JustWatch
Mindhunter - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via JustWatch

Mindhunter is a TV show inspired by true historical events about FBI agents in the late 70s who developed criminal profiling methods. They talk to actual serial killers like Edmund Kemper, Charles Manson, and Son of Sam in attempts to get inside their heads. This helps the FBI solve future cases. Holden Ford and Bill Tench are based on real-life agents John E. Douglas and Robert Ressler, respectively, while Dr. Wendy Carr is inspired by Ann Burgess, a psychologist.

The TV show inspired by true historical events is based on the book Mindhunter by Douglas, and it incorporates factual interviews with fiction. It takes a profound, superficial glimpse at the origin of criminal psychology in America.


6. Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)

Boardwalk Empire - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Hulu
Boardwalk Empire - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Hulu

Boardwalk Empire is a TV show inspired by true historical events. The protagonist, Nucky Thompson, is based on real-life political figure Enoch "Nucky" Johnson. Moreover, the plot is set in Atlantic City in the 1920s during the Prohibition era. The show blends period aspects, such as clothing, décor, and King Tut's fashion obsession, into fiction to create the ambiance of the period.

Although the plot and most characters in the story are fictionalized, key characters such as Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, and Lucky Luciano have story arcs based on real-life happenings. In real life, Johnson received a percentage of all bootleg sales and led a lavish lifestyle. However, he did not command hits as on the TV show. Overall, the TV show inspired by true historical events created a loud and stylized visual representation of prohibition-era politics, crime, and society.


5. Deadwood (2004-2006)

Deadwood - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video
Deadwood - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video

Deadwood is a TV show inspired by true historical events. The show is set in Deadwood, South Dakota, during the 1870s Gold Rush. The series portrays real-life characters such as Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and Al Swearengen. It depicts such occasions as the murder of Hickok, a smallpox epidemic, and typical frontier violence.

The TV show inspired by true historical events provided a feel of a raw and gritty show with real dialogue, strong characters, and brutal power plays. While many scenes are fictionalized, including variations in a child's life path and encounters between individuals, the depiction accurately reflects the lawlessness of the town, the diversity of its residents, instances of graft, and the prevailing way of life. Deadwood created a vivid picture of frontier life mixed with dramatic storytelling.


4. The Gold (2023)

The Gold - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video
The Gold - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video

The Gold is a highly watched TV show inspired by true historical events. The show is a retelling of the 1983 Brink's Mat theft, where gold bullion worth £26 million was stolen from a warehouse at Heathrow. The show entitled follows the robbery, after which it traces the laundering of the stolen gold. Season 2 delves further into the fallout, as the detectives pursue criminals to locations such as Tenerife, Cornwall, and the Caribbean.

Real persons appear in the show, including Kenneth Noye and Brian Boyce. There is a blending of some characters, or characters are introduced to make clarity. The series has more layers and suspense, and it emphasizes greed, fear, and betrayal. It is acclaimed for adapting a complex crime tale into life in a dramatic but thoughtful manner.


3. The Crown (2016-2023)

The Crown - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Netflix
The Crown - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Netflix

The Crown is a luxurious Netflix TV show inspired by true historical events. It has accompanied Queen Elizabeth II since her 1947 marriage to date. The play meticulously recreates royal settings, clothing, and historical events such as the Suez Crisis, the Aberfan catastrophe, and Charles and Diana's marriage.

Historians argue that it keeps true to key events while regularly altering private scenes, conversations, and timelines to create drama. It uses real events, though certain scenes are fictionalized to tell the story. The producers rely on numerous historical sources and consultants to bring the flavour of the epoch. It is to be regarded by the viewers as a dramatic perception of real history rather than a documentary.


2. Chernobyl (2019)

Chernobyl - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video
Chernobyl - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video

Chernobyl is a powerful TV show inspired by true historical events. It describes the 1986 Ukrainian nuclear accident. The series depicts gallant firemen, plant operatives, and liquidators clearing the reactor against lethal radiation. The key characters, such as scientist Valery Legasov and official Boris Shcherbina, are shown. One of the characters, named Ulana Khomyuk, is inspired by several actual Soviet scientists, but she is not a real person.

The show is heavily visualized with radiation exposure and the way the Soviet secrecy aggravated the crisis. Certain scenes and characters are fictional or dramatized, and events have been altered for narrative. Nonetheless, the tone of Chernobyl is widely regarded due to its raw and honest nature, demonstrating a great degree of respect for the real people who had to deal with the calamity.


1. Band of Brothers (2001)

Band of Brothers - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video
Band of Brothers - A TV show inspired by true historical events | Image via Prime Video

Band of Brothers is an emotional mini TV show inspired by true historical events. The plot follows the Easy Company, a unit of the 101st Airborne during World War II. It starts with training and progresses to events like D-Day and the Battle of Bastogne. The TV show is adapted from the book by Stephen E. Ambrose, whose work was based on the interviews and diaries of Veterans.

Real-life major characters including Richard Winters and Dick Winters are presented, which creates an impression of authenticity. This TV show has dramatic battle scenes intertwined with intimate emotional scenes. Although many portions of the conversation and episode structure are fabricated, the creators worked closely with veterans who are still alive to give them justice. The TV show is still one of the highly praised war narratives on television.


It is concluded that these 10 TV shows inspired by true historical events provided people with a new perspective on history. They demonstrated courage, suffering, and transformation using factual narratives. Some of the scenes were altered to make them dramatic, but the core part of every story remained powerful. These historical TV shows gave viewers a profound emotional sensory experience of the past through reenactments and other techniques that history texts could never offer.

Edited by Tanisha Aggarwal