This list collects films and TV series adapted from (often longform) journalism: newspaper stories, magazine features, columns and essays, plus a few short stories. Each entry links the original article and an archived copy, then the adaptation's pages on Wikipedia, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. An adaptation counts as journalism when its story first ran in a newspaper or magazine, even if the credits name a later book.
The film dramatizes the Globe Spotlight team's 2001–2002 investigation rather than adapting this one article, and its credits name no source work, so fidelity is Inspired_By. The January 6, 2002 article is the first of the series and is treated as the origin; the series as a whole is a multi-part News_Article project, and the film's connection is to that investigation generally.
Spotlight2015The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null. The film's credits cite the Wired piece by Joshuah Bearman, which I recall as titled 'The Great Escape' rather than the title given in the seed notes, so that title should be checked. The film also draws on Antonio Mendez's memoir 'The Master of Disguise', which is a secondary credited source and is not reflected in the single-source fields.
Argo2012Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is Malcolm Johnson's 1948 New York Sun series, which the film only loosely inspired. Budd Schulberg's screenplay is credited to his own original story, not to Johnson's articles, so the credited source is not the series and fidelity is Inspired_By. The New York Sun is a single-city daily, so Local scope applies. The credited source type is marked Unknown because the original story was not a published work.
On the Waterfront1954An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication: the editor's note says it first ran in Dallas Life, the Dallas Morning News's Sunday magazine, on August 9, 1992, and the Dallas Morning News site reprinted it. Scope is Local because the Dallas Morning News is a metro daily, though the magazine origin is a Sunday supplement. I have not confirmed the film's credits; from memory they cite the life of Ron Woodroof rather than this article, so fidelity is Inspired_By and credited_source_type is Unknown. The film's screenplay draws on Woodroof's story generally, and the article may be only one of several sources.
Dallas Buyers Club2013In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The excerpt reads as Lewis's magazine piece 'The Trading Desk' (likely The New York Times Magazine, 2002, which the seed's 'past four years' framing suggests), but the publication and date are not confirmed in the row. Moneyball (2011) is credited to Lewis's 2003 book, not to this article, so the film is Inspired_By the article rather than Direct.
Moneyball2011Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits the Vanity Fair article 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' by Marie Brenner (May 1996) as its basis, and the article is the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Fidelity is Direct because of the credit, though the film dramatizes and reshapes the reporting considerably; the publication date is from the seed notes and was not independently verified.
The Insider1999A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Almost Famous is credited to no source, and its story is a fictionalized version of Cameron Crowe's own teenage tour reporting for Rolling Stone, not an adaptation of this 1973 Allman Brothers profile. The article is named as a seed in the row, so I classified it as the source, but the link is loose and the Allman piece itself is not adapted, which is why confidence is moderate.
Almost Famous2000A high-school boy in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The article is a reported investigative story from a national nonprofit newsroom collaboration, so News_Article is a judgment call over Magazine_Feature, and the film credits the article but heavily fictionalizes the case, names, and characters, so Loose is also a judgment call that could be Direct.
Unbelievable2019 · scripted seriesA teenager is charged with lying about being raped, but two detectives follow the path to the truth. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is the Life magazine article itself, which is its own first publication, so the origin repeats it with no separate origin title. The film's credit reads as based on the article by P. F. Kluge and Thomas Moore, which I recall from memory rather than from the excerpt. The excerpt shows only the Life issue metadata, not the article text, so the Magazine_Feature classification relies on the standard format of a Life feature.
I believe 'The Sing Sing Follies' ran in Esquire around 2014, but I'm not certain of the date. The seed notes list it as the film's source, but I haven't verified that the screen credits name it, so I've marked fidelity as Inspired_By and credited type as Unknown. Breakin' the Mummy's Code, the other seed entry, is a stage show from the program rather than a published origin, so I've left it out of the chain.
Sing Sing2023Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Junod's Esquire article 'Can You Say... Hero?' (November 1998) but substantially fictionalizes it, most notably through the invented journalist character Lloyd Vogel, so Loose fits; the article is the first published work, so no separate origin title is needed. I did not verify the exact wording of the film's on-screen credit.
The named work is itself the first publication (The New Yorker, 1990), so origin_title is null. The film is described as 'loosely based on' the article, and the article is a satirical legal brief, so the fidelity call is Loose; the on-screen credit wording is inferred from the Wikipedia-style lead and infobox, not verified against the actual credits.
Coyote vs. Acme2026After enduring years of malfunctioning products, Wile E. Coyote teams up with a local personal injury attorney to take on ACME, the manufacturer of anything and everything used by the Looney Tunes characters. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is generally reported to be inspired by Mike Sager's 1989 Rolling Stone profile of John Holmes, but the screen credits name no source, so fidelity is Inspired_By; the article is the first published work and the origin, and the link rests on press accounts rather than credits.
The Minority Report first appeared in the US science fiction digest Fantastic Universe (January 1956), so it is its own origin. The film credits Dick's short story, but it is heavily fictionalized, so Loose fits better than Direct. The excerpt is a binary PDF/JPEG fragment and contains no usable text, so the classification relies on the seed notes and my knowledge of the film.
Minority Report2002The chief of a police unit that can accurately predict and prevent crimes goes on the run after he's accused of a future murder himself. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work, "Orchid Fever" (The New Yorker, 1995), is the first publication, but the film's screen credits name the book The Orchid Thief (1998), which Orlean expanded from the article; the article itself is uncredited and the screenplay heavily fictionalizes the material, so Inspired_By is a judgment call.
Adaptation2002A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed gives no date, but the story first ran in The New Yorker on October 13, 1997, before its 1999 inclusion in the collection Close Range; the film credits Proulx's short story directly, so this is Direct fidelity.
Brokeback Mountain2005Two shepherds fall for each other, but their relationship becomes complicated when they both get married to their respective girlfriends. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Tower is a rotoscoped documentary built from survivor interviews and archival footage, and I don't recall it crediting Colloff's 2006 Texas Monthly feature "96 Minutes"; the link comes from the seed notes, so the chain and Inspired_By fidelity are uncertain.
Tower2016Animation, testimony, and archival footage combine to relate the events of August 1, 1966 when a gunman opened fire from the University of Texas clock tower, killing 16 people. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication, so the origin repeats the source type and title is null. The article ran in the Times Sunday magazine, though the seed note says "New York Times," and I have not verified the film's exact end-credit wording, so Direct fidelity rests on the film's well-known credit to the article.
Dark Waters2019A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham, which first ran as a short story in Collier's in 1947, so the story is both the source and the origin. The supplied excerpt is corrupted binary data and was not usable, so the classification relies on the seed notes and known publication history. Direct fidelity reflects the screen credit, though the film departs substantially from the story's plot.
High Noon1952A town Marshal, despite the disagreements of his newlywed bride and the townspeople around him, must face a gang of deadly killers alone at "high noon" when the gang leader, an outlaw he "sent up" years ago, arrives on the noon tr... (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is a 1972 Washington Post news story, which is the first published work in the chain, so origin_title is null. The film credits the 1974 book by Woodward and Bernstein rather than this article, so fidelity is Inspired_By, and the book is the credited source. Scope is Local because the Post is a big-city metro daily, though its Watergate coverage was nationally significant, so the scope classification is debatable.
All the President's Men1976"The Washington Post" reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon's resignation. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits 'On Seeing a Sex Surrogate' by Mark O'Brien, which ran as a first-person essay in The Sun (May 1990), and it is the first publication of that work; I classed The Sun as National, though it is a small independent literary monthly, so the scope call is less certain, and O'Brien's separate 1983 article on sex and disabled people is not the basis of the film.
The Sessions2012A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is based on Robert Kolker's 2004 New York magazine feature 'The Bad Superintendent', which is itself the first publication, so the origin is the same work. I'm not certain whether the film's credits name the article, so I've marked the credit as Unknown and fidelity as Inspired_By; if the credits say 'based on' the article, fidelity would be Direct.
Bad Education2019The beloved superintendent of New York's Roslyn school district and his staff, friends and relatives become the prime suspects in the unfolding of the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Like Something the Lord MadeKatie McCabeWashingtonian
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
regional
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → made-for-TV film
Seeds
wikipedia_category, imdb_list
Classifier note
The film is credited as based on McCabe's Washingtonian article, which is itself the first publication, so no separate origin title is needed; the publication date is unknown in the excerpt, and the Longform reprint is not the original.
Something the Lord Made2004 · tv movieA dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
The row names the January 1993 Outside article "Death of an Innocent" by Jon Krakauer, which is the first publication. The film credits the 1996 book Into the Wild, not the article, so fidelity is set to Inspired_By relative to the named article. Confidence is reduced because the schema has no source_title field and the row's source is ambiguous between the article and the book.
Into the Wild2007After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work, Sean Flynn's GQ feature "No Exit" (Sept. 27, 2013), is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null; I am relying on memory that the film's credits cite this article, which I could not verify against the credits here.
Only the Brave2017Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters who risk everything to protect a town from a historic wildfire. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Buzz Bissinger's Vanity Fair article 'Shattered Glass' (September 1998), which is also its first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Fidelity is Direct because it is credited, though the screenplay compresses events and invents some scenes, which could argue for Loose.
Shattered Glass2003The story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was discovered he fabricated over half of his articles from the publication The New Republic magazine. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed article is dated January 1987, three years after A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), so it cannot have been the film's source; the film's writer-director Wes Craven is usually said to have drawn on an earlier Los Angeles Times piece about Southeast Asian refugees dying in their sleep, which I could not verify, and the film credits no source. The row therefore reflects the seed's named article only, and the actual inspiration is probably a 1984 or earlier article, so the origin fields should be checked against that piece.
A Nightmare on Elm Street1984Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in rea... (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication (Wired, 2013), and the film's credits and lead name it as the basis, so fidelity is Direct. Wired is a national magazine. Confidence is slightly reduced because the film is heavily fictionalized and I did not verify the exact screen credit wording.
Radical2023A teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption, and violence, tries a radical new method to unlock their students' curiosity, potential - and maybe even their genius. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is widely reported as drawn from Mark Jacobson's 2000 New York magazine piece 'The Return of Superfly', but I am not certain the screen credits name it, so I coded it as uncredited (Inspired_By) and set credited_source_type to Unknown. If the credits say 'based on' the article, fidelity would be Direct. The article is a single first publication with no earlier origin, so origin_title is null.
The named work is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null. The film is credited to Schanberg's magazine article, and the excerpt is raw PDF data with no readable text, so the credit is taken from the seed notes and general knowledge rather than verified from the excerpt.
"Vacation '58" first ran in National Lampoon in 1979, not in the 2015 Hollywood Reporter reprint named in the publication field, so the origin is the 1979 magazine printing. Direct fidelity assumes the film's credits name the story, which I recall but did not verify; the film departs heavily from the story, so Loose is possible.
National Lampoon's Vacation1983The Griswold family's cross-country drive in their brand new Wagon Family Truckster to the Walley World theme park in California proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as loosely based on Jonathan Harr's 1999 New Yorker 'A Reporter at Large' piece of the same name, which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null. Fidelity is Loose because the film is described as loosely based and substantially fictionalized. I did not confirm whether Harr later published a separate book titled 'The Burial', so the chain assumes the article is the only source.
The Burial2023Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The row names the 1985 NYT Magazine feature, which is the first published work. The film credits Fred Waitzkin's 1988 book Searching for Bobby Fischer, which expanded that article, not the article itself, so fidelity is Inspired_By under the uncredited-article rule. The excerpt does not state the headline's exact wording beyond the title given in the seed notes.
The row names Katherine Eban's Vanity Fair feature 'Rorschach and Awe' (July 2007) as a partial source, but the film's screen credits do not name it, so fidelity is Inspired_By and credited_source_type is Unknown. The film's main sourcing is the Senate Intelligence Committee's 6,700-page torture report, so the article's role is uncertain and the chain is only partly established.
The Report2019Idealistic Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones, tasked by his boss to lead an investigation into the CIA's post 9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program, uncovers shocking secrets. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The source is Prebble's 1958 long-form article in the British monthly Lilliput, which is also the first publication, so the origin is the same work and origin_title is null. The infobox lists no based_on, so the credited type is inferred from the lead's claim that the screenplay was based on the article; the film is heavily fictionalized, hence Loose rather than Direct.
The named work is Luke Dittrich's September 2007 Esquire feature itself, so it is its own origin with no earlier piece. I could not confirm whether Primetime's screen credits name the article, so the Inspired_By fidelity and Unknown credited type are provisional.
The Hulu series The Act is credited to Michelle Dean's BuzzFeed News article, which is itself the first publication, so the origin repeats the source; the Direct fidelity and the feature-versus-news-article classification are from memory and not fully verified.
The Act2019 · scripted seriesDeeDee Blanchard is overprotective of her daughter Gypsy, who tries to escape her toxic relationship with her mother. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work, Skip Hollandsworth's 2001 Texas Monthly feature 'Hit Man', is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null. The film is credited to the article, but its romantic comedy plot and the Powell character are heavily fictionalized, so Loose fits better than Direct. I did not verify the exact wording of the on-screen credit, so the credit type rests on the seed notes and my recall.
Hit Man2023A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The specific Epic Magazine article is unidentified (title and author unknown), so the row is classified from the series-level credit that each episode adapts a true story from Epic Magazine. Epic is treated as an online-only magazine, and the first publication is the article itself, so the origin title is null.
Little America2020 · scripted seriesInspired by the true stories featured by Epic Magazine, "Little America" goes beyond the headlines to look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring, surprising stories of immigrants in America, more relevant now than ever. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is widely described as loosely based on John Carlin's Wired feature 'A Farewell to Arms' (May 1997), which is the first publication in the chain, but I am not certain whether the end credits name it, so fidelity is coded Inspired_By and credited_source_type is Unknown.
Live Free or Die Hard2007John McClane is forced to team up with a young computer hacker, Matt Farrell, to stop a master cyber-terrorist called Thomas Gabriel, who wants to shut down the entire nations computer infrastructure in a mass cyber attack. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Matthew Teague's Esquire feature, which is the first published work, so no separate origin is needed. The excerpt's first-person voice could suggest Column_Or_Essay, but the piece is a long-form narrative feature, and I could not confirm whether a later book by Teague sits between the article and the film.
Our Friend2019After receiving life-altering news, a couple finds unexpected support from their best friend, who puts his own life on hold and moves into their family home, bringing an impact much greater and more profound than anyone could have... (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The NYT investigative piece is the first published work and the film's main reported source, but I am not certain the film's screen credits name it, so fidelity is set to Inspired_By and credited_source_type to Unknown; the article's date and byline are as seeded.
Deepwater Horizon2016A dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the Deepwater Horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in history. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is David Grann's 2003 New Yorker Reporter at Large, which is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null. The 2010 book The Devil and Sherlock Holmes collected the piece later and is not the film's direct source, so the chain omits it. Fidelity is Loose because the film is credited to the article but heavily fictionalized; the credit wording was inferred from the Wikipedia lead rather than checked against the film's credits.
The Old Man & the Gun2018Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker and his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
We Can Remember It for You WholesalePhilip K. DickThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction1966-04
Origin
short fiction
Credited
short fiction
Scope
national
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
short story → film
Seeds
imdb_list
Classifier note
The story first appeared in F&SF in April 1966 and is the first published work in the chain; the film credits it as its basis, though the film's plot diverges substantially from the story, and the screen credit wording was not verified here.
Total Recall1990When a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real - or is he? (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed left the publication blank; from memory, Bowden's book grew out of a multi-part 1997 Philadelphia Inquirer series, a big-city metro daily (Local), and the 2001 film credits the 1999 book. The exact series dates and headline are unverified.
Blackhawk Down2001The story of one hundred and sixty elite U.S. soldiers who dropped into Mogadishu in October 1993 to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord, but found themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily armed... (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
article → film (also draws on the 2019 book The Suspect by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen)
Seeds
wikipedia_category, imdb_list
Classifier note
The named work is Brenner's 1997 Vanity Fair feature, which is its own first publication, so the origin is the same piece. The film is credited to it, but it also draws on the 2019 book The Suspect, which is a separate row and not the source here. Confidence is reduced because the film credits both sources and the row could be read as article → book → film.
Richard Jewell2019Security guard Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI leaks to the media that he is a suspect in the case. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Bigger Than Life is credited to Roueche's New Yorker 'Annals of Medicine' piece 'Ten Feet Tall' (1955), which is itself the first publication, so the origin repeats the source with a null title. I assigned Loose rather than Direct because the film heavily dramatizes the article's medical case history into a family drama; the exact credit wording is from memory and could shift the fidelity call.
The row names Hillenbrand's article 'Four Good Legs Between Us', which I believe ran in American Heritage in 1998 before becoming the book Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001), but the row gives no publication or date. The excerpt reads like book prose, so the row may be mislabeled, and the film credits the book rather than the article, so fidelity is set to Inspired_By relative to the article.
Seabiscuit2003True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
(title unknown)Edward MontgomerySan Francisco Examiner
Origin
news article
Credited
news article
Scope
local
Fidelity
loose (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
news article series + Barbara Graham's letters → film
Seeds
wikipedia_category
Review flags
model downgraded fidelity
Classifier note
The source is a series of Ed Montgomery's San Francisco Examiner newspaper articles on the Barbara Graham case, so the origin is the same news work and no separate title is known. Barbara Graham's personal letters also fed the screenplay, but the chain is traced to the newspaper articles. Fidelity is Loose because the film is credited to these articles and letters yet is highly fictionalized. The exact publication dates and series headline are unverified, and the scope is Local because the Examiner is a big-city metro daily.
The named work is itself the first publication (Texas Monthly, January 1998), so the origin repeats the type with a null title. Fidelity is Direct on the assumption that the film credits Skip Hollandsworth's Texas Monthly article, which I recall but did not verify against the credits.
Bernie2011In small-town Texas, an affable mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The article is itself the first publication, so the origin is the same work and origin_title is null. New York is a city magazine with national circulation, so it is classed Regional. Fidelity is Loose rather than Direct because the film is credited to the article but substantially dramatizes and composites its subjects.
Hustlers2019Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, "Hustlers" follows a crew of savvy former strip-club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication, a 2014 Rolling Stone feature, so the origin repeats it with no separate origin title. I recall the Hulu series crediting the article, but I'm not certain of the exact credit wording, and the chain is listed as article → film because the row names the article directly.
Pam & Tommy2022 · scripted seriesFollows the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's relationship, going back to their whirlwind romance that started with them marrying after only knowing each other for 96 hours in 1995. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is Capote's 1965 New Yorker piece, the first published work in the chain, which he expanded into the 1966 book; the 1967 film credits the book, not the article, so fidelity is Inspired_By under the article-based rule. The article is a long-form magazine feature, not a newspaper story, and the row's source_title is the article's own title.
In Cold Blood1967Two ex-cons murder a family in a robbery attempt before going on the run from the authorities who try to piece together the details of the murder in an attempt to track down the killers. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Marie Colvin's Private WarMarie BrennerVanity Fair2012-08
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
national
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → film
Seeds
wikipedia_list, wikipedia_category
Classifier note
The film is credited as based on Marie Brenner's Vanity Fair article, which is the first and only published work in the chain. Fidelity is a judgment call: the film dramatizes and adds scenes beyond the article, so Loose is also defensible if the credit's wording is read strictly.
A Private War2018One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontline of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed's '1943 book' label is wrong: the source is Inez Wallace's article of the same title, which I believe ran in Liberty magazine around 1936, though the exact date and outlet are unverified here. The film credits it but heavily fictionalizes it and blends in Jane Eyre, so I chose Loose over Direct.
The 2012 New Yorker piece by Dexter Filkins is the first publication and is itself the origin, so origin_title is null. The film's lead credits it only as 'inspired by,' and the Wikipedia infobox lists no based_on, which supports Inspired_By. The credited_source_type reflects that the 'inspired by' credit names an article, though the exact screen wording is not verified here.
Atonement2026A troubled marine seeks to reconcile with the survivors of an Iraqi family he and his unit fired on back in 2003. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is the Dirty John podcast, which grew out of Christopher Goffard's 2017 Los Angeles Times reporting. The exact original LA Times headline is uncertain, so origin_title uses the series name. The TV adaptation is a series rather than a film, and I have assumed its credits name the podcast as the source.
Dirty John2018 · scripted seriesAnthology series in which each season is based on a true crime story featuring an epic tale of love gone wrong. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits David Grann's 2009 book, which the excerpt's prose appears to come from; I believe the book grew out of a New Yorker feature of the same title, but I'm not certain of that piece's date or exact relationship to the book, so the origin fields are the least certain part of this row.
The Lost City of Z2016A true-life drama, centering on British explorer Major Percival Fawcett, who disappeared whilst searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is Crowe's 1981 Playboy nonfiction piece, which the film credits only through his later book, so the article itself is not credited and fidelity is Inspired_By. The piece is the first publication, so origin_title is null; the exact credit wording and the book's publication date relative to the article are from memory and not verified.
The named source is itself the first publication (Sports Illustrated, Oct. 2020), so no separate origin title is given. Direct fidelity rests on the Wikipedia infobox 'based on' entry, which I did not verify against the on-screen credits. The film's release details come from the lead and are not independently confirmed here.
The source is only identified by title and author, with no publication or date, so the Magazine_Feature type is a guess from the title and the 'based on' credit in the infobox; I could not confirm the screen credit or the outlet, and the work could be a newspaper story instead.
Gracie's Choice2004 · tv movieA teenage girl tries to raise her three half-brothers and one half-sister on her own after their drug-addicted mother is sent to jail. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
The film is described as based on Jennifer Gonnerman's 2021 New Yorker article, which is the first and only published work in the chain, so the origin is the same piece with no separate title. Confidence is slightly reduced because the 'based on' credit comes from the seed's Wikipedia infobox and I did not verify the on-screen credit.
The excerpt names no author; I believe the series was reported by Kyle Hopkins, but that is unverified here. The series is a joint Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica project, so the Local scope is a judgment call. I'm treating the series as the source and the 2022 show as uncredited and fictionalized, which makes it Inspired_By rather than Direct.
The named work is a 2006 GQ magazine feature that is also the first publication, so the origin matches it. The lead and Wikipedia infobox describe the film as based on the article, but I could not confirm the on-screen credit wording. I chose Loose over Direct because the film substantially fictionalizes the story, so the credit wording and fidelity label are the main uncertainties.
The seed gives no publication or date, and I could not verify the genre of 'Priča o Tomislavu Buzovu'; Dežulović is a Croatian columnist, so a column is a guess, and the work could instead be short fiction or a book chapter. Fidelity is Direct because the film's infobox credits it as the basis.
The source is a 2017 Esquire long-form feature by Jesse Barron, with the headline not verified here, and it is the first published work, so origin equals source. Fidelity is Direct on the assumption that the series credits the article, which I recall but have not confirmed. The source_chain uses a generic 'series' ending because the screen format (limited series) is not a SourceType value.
The seed names Catherine Vimenet's 'Les étoiles filantes' with unknown publication, and I recall it as a 1966 Le Nouvel Observateur piece, but I'm not certain of the outlet or whether it was a book. Fidelity is Inspired_By because I don't know that the screen credits name the source; the Wikipedia infobox 'based_on' field may overstate the link.
The 2008 Washington Post profile of Eugene Allen is the first publication and is the film's source, but the film's credit is recalled as 'inspired by' rather than 'based on,' and the story is heavily fictionalized, so Loose is a possible alternative. The Post is a big-city daily, so the Local rule applies, though its national prominence could justify National.
The Butler2013As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film's infobox credits Paul Kix's GQ article 'The Accidental Get Away Driver' (2017) as its basis, so this is classed as Direct, but the film's lead describes it as 'inspired by' the 2016 abduction, so the credit wording and the degree of fictionalization are uncertain. The article is the first published work in the chain, so origin_title is null.
The film is credited as based on "Anti-Sniper" by John Falk in Details (November 1995), a national men's magazine feature, and that article is the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Confidence is held back because the article's exact type and the credit wording were taken from the seed notes and lead rather than verified against the magazine itself.
Shot Through the Heart1998 · tv movieThe horrors of war are examined from the view points of lifelong friends, who end up on opposing sides in the war in Sarajevo. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
The film credits Nik Cohn's New York magazine article 'Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night' (June 7, 1976), but it substantially fictionalizes the material, moving the story to Brooklyn and reshaping the characters, so Loose fits. New York is a city magazine with national circulation, so Regional applies. Confidence is moderate because the credit wording and the exact fidelity label are judgment calls.
Saturday Night Fever1977Anxious about his future after high school, a 19-year-old Italian-American from Brooklyn tries to escape the harsh reality of his bleak family life by dominating the dance floor at the local disco. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
They Thought the War Was On!Lois DickertMcCall's1963-04
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
national
Fidelity
inspired by (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → film
Seeds
wikipedia_list, wikipedia_category, imdb_list
Review flags
no source credit
Classifier note
The seed notes call the McCall's April 1963 piece an article, and I classed it as a national magazine feature, but I could not confirm the exact screen credit wording, so the Direct fidelity rating is uncertain and could be Loose given the film's fictionalization.
Ladybug Ladybug1963Staff and students at a rural school react to a warning of an imminent nuclear attack, not knowing whether it is real or a mistake. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits Michael Lewis's book The Blind Side, not the article named in the row; I believe 'The Ballad of Big Mike' was a 2006 New York Times Magazine piece that preceded the book, but the excerpt's photo captions and book-style prose leave the publication and its date unverified.
The Blind Side2009The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Love and Death in Silicon Prairie* (Archive)Jim Atkinson and John BloomTexas Monthly1984also: Love and Death in Silicon Prairie, Part I: Candy Montgomery’s Affair
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
regional
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → series
Seeds
manual_tv, texas_monthly_hollywood
Classifier note
The named source is Texas Monthly's 1984 feature, which is its own first publication, so origin is the same piece. The authors later expanded it into the 1989 book Evidence of Love, which may be the more direct basis for the series, and I have not verified the exact screen credit wording.
Love & Death2023 · scripted seriesTwo churchgoing couples enjoy small town family life in Texas - until somebody picks up an axe. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is McKelway's 1940s story collection, which reprinted his New Yorker article on Emerich Juettner; I believe that article was headlined 'Mister 880' and ran around 1947, but I did not verify the exact headline or date, and the seed notes give no publication details.
Mister 8801950Gentle romantic comedy about a Secret Service Agent trying to catch a cold case counterfeiter and a United Nations translator. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed notes say 'New York Times', but the excerpt's typography and the 2005 date point to the NYT Magazine cover feature 'My Addicted Son'; the film's screen credits name David Sheff's book Beautiful Boy (and Nic Sheff's memoir Tweak), not the article, so fidelity is Inspired_By.
Beautiful Boy2018A family coping with addiction over many years goes through the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is itself the first published work, so the origin repeats it; I could not confirm the Peacock series credits Baum's piece, so fidelity is Inspired_By, and the trade-publication scope is a judgment call under the schema's categories.
Angelyne2022 · scripted seriesA limited series about the mysterious blonde bombshell who takes over Los Angeles billboards in the mid-1980s, planting the seed for famous-for-being-famous influencer culture. (Rotten Tomatoes)IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The source is named only in the Wikipedia infobox, with no publication or date, and the title reads like a collection of essays, so the type is a guess. I could not confirm that the film's on-screen credits name this work, so the credited type and the Direct fidelity rest on the infobox alone.
Down for Life2009Based on a true story depicting a single dramatic day in the life of a Latina gang leader in South Central Los Angeles. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The 1996 'Dark Alliance' series is a newspaper series, but the film's credits name Webb's 1998 book of the same title, so the book is the credited source while the series is the first publication. The Mercury News is a big-city metro daily, hence Local scope.
Kill the Messenger2014Journalist Gary Webb, California 1996, started investigating CIA's role in the 1980s in getting crack cocaine to the black part of LA to get money and weapons to the Contra insurgents in Nicaragua. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Adjustment TeamPhilip K. DickOrbit Science Fiction1954
Origin
short fiction
Credited
short fiction
Scope
national
Fidelity
loose (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
short story → film
Seeds
imdb_list
Review flags
model downgraded fidelity
Classifier note
The film credits Philip K. Dick's short story 'Adjustment Team' (Orbit Science Fiction, 1954), which is the first publication, so no separate origin is needed; fidelity is Loose because the film adds a romance and substantially reworks the plot, though it is credited. Scope is coded National on the assumption that this US digest had national distribution, and I have not verified that.
Pokorná's 'Rok vdovy' is a first-person diary series in the national Czech weekly Respekt, so I classed it as a first-person essay rather than reported news. The lead says the articles ran in 2014 and 2016, but the excerpt is dated 2014, so the later installments are unverified. The film is described as based on the articles of the same name, which supports Direct fidelity.
The film is credited as based on Sam Dolnick's 2014 New York Times article, and the work is a first publication with no earlier origin. The main doubt is whether the piece counts as News_Article or Magazine_Feature, since it is a long-form reported feature; I chose News_Article because it ran in the newspaper.
The Mule2018A ninety-year-old horticulturist and Korean War veteran turns drug mule for a Mexican cartel. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
How Tom Wolfe Became ... Tom WolfeMichael LewisVanity Fair2015-10-17
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
national
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → film
Seeds
wikipedia_category
Classifier note
The based_on link comes from a Wikipedia infobox seed, not from on-screen credits, so the screen credit is marked Unknown and fidelity is Inspired_By; the feature was first published in Vanity Fair and later reprinted by RealClearPolitics, and the exact headline and credit wording are unverified.
Radical Wolfe2023With a distinctive style all his own, author and journalist Tom Wolfe reshapes how American stories are told. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is the Wired article 'La Vida Robot' (April 2005), which is also the first publication in the chain. The film credits Davis's 2014 book Spare Parts, not the article, so fidelity to the article is Inspired_By, and the book is the credited source.
The row gives no outlet or date; I believe 'The 15 Year Layover' ran in GQ in 2004, but this is from memory and unverified. The film is loosely inspired by Merhan Nasseri's story and does not credit the article, so fidelity is Inspired_By and no credited source is recorded.
The Terminal2004An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded at JFK airport and must take up temporary residence there. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
"Ruidoso" is a long-form New Yorker feature (April 29, 1974), and it is the first published work in the chain, so the origin repeats the source. The Wikipedia lead calls the film 'based on' the article, which supports Direct, but the film reworks the piece's material heavily, so the Direct/Loose call is the main doubt; I did not verify the exact on-screen credit wording.
The seed notes describe the film as 'inspired by' Michael Hall's 2009 Texas Monthly piece, so I classed it as Inspired_By with no credited source type; I did not verify the film's end credits, and the publication year and film year are taken from the seed notes and excerpt rather than checked.
How to Create a Sex Scandal2023 · docuseriesGabby Sones, a tomboy who loves fishing and riding in her trucker father Jimmy's rig, is taken from her parents by Child Protective Services at seven and moves through foster and adoptive homes in Texas. (generated from the article)IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as based on Teresa Carpenter's Village Voice article, which is the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Classifying the piece as a Magazine_Feature rather than News_Article is a judgment call, since it ran in an alt-weekly newspaper, and the source_chain string uses 'feature' where the schema example uses 'article'.
Star 801983A successful young model finds trouble when her obsessive manager-turned-husband becomes dangerously jealous. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as based on the 2010 New York Times article, which is a reported news story with no earlier publication, so the article is both source and origin. Fidelity is Direct because the lead describes the adaptation as based on the article, though the film's full credits were not checked and the story is only loosely connected to the film's plot.
Kodachrome2017Set during the final days of the admired photo development system known as Kodachrome, a father and son hit the road in order to reach the Kansas photo lab before it closes its doors for good. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as based on Henry Post's February 2, 1981 New York magazine article, which is also the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Fidelity is Direct because of that credit, though the TV film is a dramatized crime thriller and could arguably be Loose; I did not verify the screen credits directly.
The Red-Light Sting1984 · tv movieGovernment agent Frank Powell (Beau Bridges) is determined to bring down racketeering crime lord Oliver Sully (Harold Gould) but cannot find any evidence. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
39
5.0
106
I Broke the Brooklyn Graft ScandalEd ReidTrue Magazine
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
national
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → film
Seeds
wikipedia_category
Classifier note
The film is credited as based on the True Magazine article, which is the first published work in the chain, so origin_title is null. Scope is National because True was a nationally distributed men's magazine, but I did not verify its circulation. The article's publication date is unknown.
The named work is Tom Wolfe's March 1965 Esquire profile, which is also the first publication, so the origin is the same piece with no separate origin title. The film credits the essay, so I rated fidelity Direct, though the protagonist is renamed Junior Jackson and the story is dramatized, so Loose is a plausible alternative.
Remembering SatanLawrence WrightThe New Yorker1993-05-17
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
magazine feature
Scope
national
Fidelity
loose (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → TV movie
Seeds
wikipedia_category
Review flags
model downgraded fidelity
Classifier note
The film credits Wright's two-part New Yorker article "Remembering Satan" (May 17 and 24, 1993) as its basis, and the article is the first publication, so no separate origin exists. I chose Loose over Direct because the film renames the Ingrams as the Bradshaws and includes a fictional character, but the credit itself says "based on", so the Direct/Loose line is a judgment call.
Forgotten Sins1996 · tv movieA county sheriff is accused by his two daughters of having abused them. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
The named source is Colloff's Texas Monthly feature, which is itself the first published work, so origin repeats the same type with no separate origin title; the film is described as based on the article, though the credits are not directly confirmed here and the Wikipedia seed note is the basis for Direct fidelity.
Sins of the Father2002 · tv movieBased on true events, this film recounts the story of Bobby Frank Cherry (Richard Jenkins), who participated in the infamous 1963 bombing of a Birmingham, Ala., church that left four black girls dead. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is David Grann's 2009 New Yorker feature 'Trial by Fire', which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null. Fidelity is marked Direct because the film is described as based on the article, but as a fact-based dramatization of Willingham v. State of Texas it may be substantially fictionalized, and I did not verify the exact on-screen credit wording.
Trial by Fire2018The tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children even after scientific evidence and expert testimony bolstered his claims of innocence. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed names 'Living Large' by Mark Kriegel only via a Wikipedia infobox, and I could not verify its form, publisher, or date. I treat it as a book with no earlier magazine or newspaper origin, but it may have started as an article. Fidelity is Direct on the assumption that the screen credits it, which I have not confirmed.
The named source is the 1972 book, which grew out of Thompson's two-part 1971 Rolling Stone feature of the same title, so the origin is a Magazine_Feature. The film credits the book, and I classed that as Direct, though its liberties with the source could support Loose. The exact 1971 issue dates and headline punctuation are from memory and may differ slightly.
The film credits the Rolling Stone article 'The Stoner Arms Dealers' by Guy Lawson, which is also the first publication, so the origin is the same work. The film heavily dramatizes the real story, but the credit names the article, so fidelity is Direct. Guy Lawson's later book Arms and the Dudes (2016) is a separate work and is not the credited source.
War Dogs2016Loosely based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a three hundred million dollar contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Jason Fagone's 2018 HuffPost article of the same name, which is also the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. HuffPost is an online-only outlet, but I scored it National on the basis of its national reach, which is a judgment call against the Online_Only option.
Jerry & Marge Go Large2022Based on a true story about long-married couple Jerry and Marge Selbee, who find a way to win the lottery repeatedly and use the money to revive their small town. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is McNulty's New Yorker piece of the same title, which is the first publication, so no separate origin title is needed. The lead and infobox describe the film as based on the article, supporting Direct fidelity, though the film's credits were not checked directly and the screenplay may be loosely adapted from the true story.
The named work is John Seabrook's 'The Flash of Genius' (Annals of Invention, The New Yorker, January 11, 1993), which is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null. The film is credited as based on the 1993 New Yorker article, so fidelity is Direct. Some doubt remains because the excerpt and seed notes do not show the on-screen credit wording itself, and the film's screenplay is by Philip Railsback, not Seabrook.
Flash of Genius2008Robert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is a long-form magazine profile of Joe Exotic, apparently published in New York magazine in September 2019, and it is the first publication in the chain, so origin_title is null. The docuseries does not credit it, so fidelity is Inspired_By. I am not certain of the headline or the byline, and the seed note's reference to Joe vs. Carole does not change the classification.
Tiger King2020 · docuseriesA rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is itself the first publication (Texas Monthly, 1996), so the origin is the same article with no separate origin title, and the film credits it as based on the article per the seed notes. Confidence is slightly reduced because the film was substantially dramatized, though the credit is still Direct.
The named work is itself the first publication, so the origin is the same 2006 New Yorker feature with no separate origin title. The film credits it as the basis, but the article is a short nonfiction piece about relocating homing pigeons, and the film builds a substantially different coming-of-age drama around it, so Loose fits better than Direct. Fidelity is the main uncertainty.
Little Wing2024A 13-year-old girl is dragged into the world of pigeon racing as she deals with her parents' divorce and the impending loss of her home. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is itself the first publication, Latham's Esquire feature of September 1978, so the origin is the same work with no separate origin title. The film credits it as the basis, so fidelity is Direct, though the screenplay substantially reshapes the material. I am recalling the exact wording of the credit from memory.
"Game Brain" is a 2009 GQ feature by Jeanne Marie Laskas and is itself the first publication, so no separate origin title is needed. The film credits it as the basis, but it takes liberties with characters and events, so Loose is arguable; I chose Direct because the credit is explicit.
Concussion2015In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
short story → book (I, Robot, 1950 fix-up collection) → film
Seeds
imdb_list
Review flags
model downgraded fidelity
Classifier note
The film credits Asimov's 1950 story collection "I, Robot" but its plot is almost entirely original, so Loose fits; the origin is a 1940 pulp short story, and I'm unsure which magazine's printing the seed's publication line refers to, so the outlet name and scope are approximate.
I, Robot2004In 2035, a technophobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits Ehud Yonay's 1983 California magazine article 'Top Guns' as its basis, and the article is the first published work, but the film's plot and characters are heavily fictionalized, so Loose is chosen over Direct; the exact scope of California magazine (state-focused regional) is a reasonable inference.
Top Gun1986The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is Skip Hollandsworth's Texas Monthly feature 'Suburban Madness' (November 2002), which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null. Fidelity is Direct based on the Wikipedia infobox crediting the article, but I have not verified the on-screen credit, and a heavily dramatized TV film could arguably be Loose.
Suburban Madness2004 · tv movieBased on the real story of Clara Harris, the Houston, Texas dentist who made headlines in July 2002 when she killed her adulterous husband by repeatedly running over him with her car. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The row says 'film', but Inventing Anna is a Netflix limited series, and the source is the 2018 New York magazine (The Cut) feature by Jessica Pressler, which is its own first publication. Fidelity is Loose because the series is credited to the article but heavily fictionalized, with composite and invented characters; I am less certain whether the credits name it as 'based on' the article, which would make it Direct.
Inventing Anna2022 · scripted seriesA journalist with a lot to prove investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary German heiress who stole the hearts of New York's social scene - and stole their money as well. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film's infobox and lead credit Foer's 2012 NYT Magazine article as its basis, but the film is heavily fictionalized (renamed characters, an on-screen disclaimer that it does not claim to be the truth), so Loose fits better than Direct. The article is the first publication, so the origin repeats the source with no separate title.
Georgetown2019Ulrich Mott, an ambitious social climber, marries a wealthy widow in Washington D.C. in order to mix with powerful political players. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The source is a GQ long-form feature by Kathy Dobie, and the film's Wikipedia lead and infobox name it as the basis, but I did not verify the on-screen credit wording or the publication date. Direct fidelity assumes the film credits the article as its source, which the seed notes imply but do not confirm.
American Outlaws2023Three siblings, facing the possibility of prison, take matters into their own hands with a cross-country crime spree of epic proportions. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named source is Mark Bowden's 1986 Philadelphia Inquirer story 'Finders Keepers', which is itself the first publication, so origin equals source with no separate origin title. The film is credited to it but substantially fictionalized, so Loose; the 'Local' scope rests on the Inquirer being a big-city metro daily, and I did not verify the screen credit wording beyond the provided lead and infobox.
The film is credited to Peter Landesman's cover story "The Girls Next Door" (NYT Magazine, Jan. 24, 2004), which is itself the first publication, so no separate origin is needed. I chose Loose over Direct because the film is a heavily fictionalized drama with invented characters, though the infobox and lead describe it as based on the article; the exact on-screen credit wording was not verified.
The named source is Sabbag's 1996 NYT Magazine feature, which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null; the lead says the teleplay is based on that article, though the infobox's 'by Robert Sabbag' phrasing and the excerpt's lack of a headline line leave slight doubt about how the credit is worded on screen.
Witness Protection1999 · tv movieA mobster, suspected of cooking the books, is targeted by the mob boss. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb
The named source is itself the first publication (NYT Magazine, June 2011), so no separate origin title is needed. Fidelity is Direct because the film is credited as based on the article, though the film heavily dramatizes and adds fictional elements, so Loose is a plausible alternative.
I Am Michael2015Based on the fascinating true-life story of Michael Glatze, a gay activist who becomes a Christian pastor after identifying as a heterosexual. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as based on the Los Angeles Times Magazine piece of the same title by J. R. Moehringer (1997), which is itself the first publication, so origin_title is null; scope is Local because the Los Angeles Times is a big-city metro paper even though its magazine supplement may circulate more widely.
Resurrecting the Champ2007Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited as based on the article "Fighting a Two-Front War" by Kevin M. Hymel, and the article is the first and only work in the chain, so origin matches source. Its publication venue and date are not confirmed here; it may have appeared in a National Archives periodical such as Prologue, but I could not verify that, so the scope and outlet are left Unknown.
The Watcher is a Netflix limited series (not a film) that Netflix presents as 'inspired by true events' and, as I recall, does not credit Reeves Wiedeman's article, so the fidelity and credited-source fields are my best reading rather than confirmed from the credits.
The Watcher2022 · scripted seriesA married couple moving into their dream home, become threatened by terrifying letters of a stalker, signed only as, "The Watcher." (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Hand-set source: Leif Reigstad's Texas Monthly feature (May 13, 2019), in place of the seed's 'American Animals' by Robert Moor.
Joe vs. Carole2022 · scripted seriesCarole Baskin, a big-cat rescuer, sets out to end roadside zoo operator Joe Exotic's animal shows and cub-breeding business, inciting a bitter 10-year feud that threatens both of their livelihoods. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is generally reported as loosely based on Scott Anderson's Esquire piece, but the excerpt gives no publication, and I am working from recollection on the magazine and the credit wording, so both the outlet and the credit type are uncertain. I classed it Loose because the film heavily fictionalizes the article's events. The article could also have been reprinted in a Anderson collection, which would make the book the source rather than the first publication.
The Hunting Party2007A young journalist, a seasoned cameraman and a discredited war correspondent embark on an unauthorized mission to find the No.1 war criminal in Bosnia. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Eli Saslow's Washington Post article, a newspaper narrative feature with no book or magazine stage before it. The Post is a national-reach paper, but the rubric lists metro dailies as Local, so the scope is uncertain. The Direct fidelity rests on my recollection of the film's credits, which I have not verified.
The named work is itself the first publication (Outside, 2019-07-24), so the origin is the same piece. Fidelity is marked Direct based on the lead and Wikipedia's based_on field, but I did not verify the exact on-screen credit wording.
Last Days2025A 26-year-old missionary journeys to the remote North Sentinel Island, determined to convert an isolated tribe, while authorities attempt to intervene before potential harm occurs. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits Susan Orlean's article "Life's Swell" (Women Outside, September 1998), which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null; the screenplay is heavily reworked from the article's brief surfer-girl sketches, so Direct reflects the credit rather than a close adaptation, and the outlet scope is inferred from Outside's national circulation.
Blue Crush2002As a hard-core surfer girl prepares for a big competition, she finds herself falling for a football player. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is a Union Leader newspaper feature, so it is also the first publication and origin; I classed the Manchester, NH daily as Local, though its statewide reach could justify Regional. The film's credit and the lead both say it is based on the article, but the screenplay heavily dramatizes the real rescue, so Loose is a plausible alternative.
Infinite Storm2022When a climber gets caught in a blizzard, she encounters a stranded stranger and must get them both down the mountain before nightfall. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The excerpt and the Wikipedia lead both identify the source as the Rolling Stone feature by David Kushner, and the film is credited as based on that article, so the named work is also the first publication. The publication date is unknown in the seed notes; I believe it ran around 2014, but I have not verified this. The Wikipedia infobox also lists a book titled "Dead End on Silk Road" by Kushner, which I could not confirm as a separate work, so the film's credited source could be either the article or a later book.
Silk Road2020Philosophical twenty-something Ross Ulbricht creates Silk Road, a dark net website that sells drugs, while DEA agent Rick Bowden goes undercover to bring him down. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed gives only a generic 'series of articles' with no headline or date, so the specific Rolling Stone pieces are unverified. I assumed the film's credit names the articles and that the screenplay heavily fictionalizes them, both of which could be wrong.
Perfect1985A female aerobics instructor meets a male reporter doing a story on health clubs, but it isn't love at first sight. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film credits Stephen King's short story "Trucks" (Cavalier, 1973), which is also its first publication, so no separate origin is needed. Fidelity is Direct because it is credited, though the film's ensemble truck-stop comedy departs substantially from the story and could arguably be Loose.
Kenneth Li's 'Racer X' (Vibe, May 1998) is the first published work and is the widely cited inspiration for the 2001 film, but the film's credits do not name it, so this is Inspired_By; the exact degree of the article's influence on the screenplay is not documented here.
The film Radio (2003) is credited as based on Gary Smith's Sports Illustrated feature "Someone to Lean On" (Dec. 16, 1996), which is the first publication, so no separate origin exists. Some doubt remains about whether the on-screen credit wording is exactly 'based on the article', and the film fictionalizes some details of James Robert Kennedy's life.
Radio2003The story of a high school coach and the developmentally challenged man who he took under his wing. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The named work is a long-form Atavist Magazine feature, which is first published, so the origin repeats it; I'm not certain the film credits it, since I recall only a 'based on a true story' credit, and I couldn't confirm the original publication date.
White Boy Rick2018The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Sofia Coppola's film is widely reported to be based on Nancy Jo Sales's March 2010 Vanity Fair feature, but I am not certain the screen credits name the article, so fidelity is coded Inspired_By and credited_source_type is Unknown. Sales's later book of the same name (2013) came out around the film's release and is not the origin.
The Bling Ring2013Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is an original screenplay by Ted Griffin that appears to take its premise from Frey's 1996 article without crediting it on screen, so fidelity is Inspired_By; I'm less certain about the lack of credit than about the article being the origin.
Pushing Tin1999A feud develops between two air traffic controllers: one cocky and determined while the other is restrained and laidback, which inevitably affects their lives. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The 1984 film credits Stephen King's short story, first published in Penthouse in March 1977, but it expands and substantially changes the story, so I rated it Loose rather than Direct. Penthouse is a national magazine, and the story is the first publication, so origin_title is null.
Children of the Corn1984A young couple is trapped in a remote town where a dangerous religious cult of children believes that everyone over age 18 must be killed. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to the 1995 New Yorker piece by Michael Korda, which is itself the first publication, so the origin is the same work with no separate origin title. I chose Loose because the film is credited but heavily fictionalized, though the source credit is taken from the lead and Wikipedia seed notes rather than verified against the screen credits.
Isn't She Great2000Bette Midler and Nathan Lane star in this comedy about Jacqueline Susann, the ambitious woman of dubious talent who wrote Valley of the Dolls, a best-selling novel that became a sensation. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Michael McAlary's 1997 Esquire article "Mark of a Murderer" with no book in between, which makes it the first published work; I chose Loose fidelity because the film heavily fictionalizes the case, but I did not verify the exact credit wording, so the fidelity rating is the least certain part.
City by the Sea2002Vincent Lamarca, whose father was executed for a 1950s kidnapping of a child, grew up to become a police officer, only to see his own son become a murder suspect. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The row names Junger's 1994 Outside article "The Storm" as the source, but the 2000 film credits his 1997 book The Perfect Storm, which expanded the article, so the article itself is uncredited and fidelity is Inspired_By; the film also dramatizes beyond the book, so the chain is only approximate.
The film is credited to Pete Collins' three-part Miami New Times series 'Pain & Gain' (1999), which is itself the first publication, so origin equals source with no separate origin title. Fidelity is Loose rather than Direct because the film substantially dramatizes and fictionalizes the events; I am less certain of the exact wording of the on-screen credit.
Pain and Gain2013A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The 1975 story was first published in the men's magazine Cavalier, which I treat as a national outlet. The film credits King's short story but substantially fictionalizes it, so Loose fits. Short_Fiction is a negative class, but it is the correct type here. Confidence is reduced slightly by uncertainty over how the film's credit wording is phrased.
The named work is itself the first publication (Vanity Fair, May 1998), so the origin is the same and origin_title is null. Fidelity is Loose because the film is credited to the article but its kidnapping and negotiation story is heavily fictionalized. The excerpt is a Mmegi reprint, but the original publication is Vanity Fair, and I am relying on my recollection of the film's credits for the 'based on the article' wording.
Proof of Life2000Alice hires a professional negotiator to obtain the release of her engineer husband, who has been kidnapped by anti-government guerrillas in South America. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The seed notes say the film is based on Gornstein's 2004 LA Times article, but the film's on-screen credits are not confirmed here, so fidelity is set to Inspired_By with the credit status uncertain (credited_source_type is a best guess from the Wikipedia-style credit). The LA Times is a big-city metro daily, hence Local, and the first published work is the article itself, so origin_title is null.
The Possession2012A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Philip K. Dick's short story "The Golden Man" (If, April 1954), which is the first publication, but the film substantially rewrites the premise, so Loose fidelity fits; I am less certain of the exact credit wording and of the scope classification for this digest-format SF magazine.
Next2007A Las Vegas magician who can see into the future is pursued by FBI agents seeking to use his abilities to prevent a nuclear terrorist attack. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
Biker Boyz*Michael GougisNew Times Los Angeles2000-04
Origin
magazine feature
Credited
unknown
Scope
alt weekly
Fidelity
direct (Wikipedia wording)
Chain
article → film
Seeds
wikipedia_list, wikipedia_category, imdb_list
Classifier note
The named work is Michael Gougis's April 2000 feature in New Times Los Angeles, which is also the first publication, so origin_title is null. I'm not certain the film's credits explicitly say 'based on the article', so Direct fidelity and the Magazine_Feature credited type are inferred from the seed notes rather than verified against the credits.
Biker Boyz2003A son of the leader of a legendary group of an urban biker gang tries to retain his championship title. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The film is credited to Grann's 2008 New Yorker article 'True Crime: A Postmodern Murder Mystery' (per the seed's based_on note), but its detective and plot are heavily fictionalized, so Loose fits; the article is the first publication, so no separate origin title is needed.
The 2003 film credits Philip K. Dick's short story, which first appeared in the science-fiction magazine Imagination, but the film substantially changes the plot, so Loose fits. The date given (1952-07-31) conflicts with the commonly cited December 1953 publication, which I could not verify, and the scope of a pulp SF magazine is a judgment call.
The film credits Elizabeth Gilbert's GQ piece, but the screenplay substantially fictionalizes it into a new protagonist's story, so Loose fits. Confidence is moderate because I am working from the seed notes and the excerpt rather than verifying the exact screen credit wording.
Coyote Ugly2000Aspiring songwriter Violet Sanford, after getting a job at a women-run NYC bar that teases its male patrons, comes out of her shell. (IMDb)Wikipedia · IMDb · Rotten Tomatoes
The excerpt's 'A REPORTER AT LARGE' label points to Daniel Lang's New Yorker feature, probably from 1973 or 1974, but the publication date and outlet are not confirmed in the row. Fidelity assumes the film credits the article, which I could not verify, so it could be Inspired_By.
The CaptorJan-Erik Olsson and an accomplice take four hostages in a Stockholm bank in August 1973, and after six days of tense standoff with police, Olsson surrenders when officers fill the vault with tear gas. (generated from the article)
Sorted by score: each title's IMDb rating and Tomatometer are first weighted by their vote and review counts (IMDb's weighted-rating formula, which pulls a score from few votes toward the table's mean), then turned into percentiles across the table and averaged with Rotten Tomatoes counted twice; a title with only one of the two takes that one. Click a column heading to sort; click again to reverse. Listed: journalism, local / regional / alt-weekly outlets and short fiction; books, podcasts and unsourced rows are only in the CSV. * = article URL found by web search on the outlet's own domain. Italic rows are negatives (book, short fiction or podcast origin). AI Notes holds the classifier's origin, credit, scope and fidelity calls, the source chain, review flags and its note.
Published lists seeded this collection, and the table below names each one and counts what it contributed. Wikidata, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes supplied the years, ratings and links, and the figures further down summarize the result.
IMDb: Favorite Movie Based on a Magazine Article (Part 2)https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540838468/Saved from a browser into raw/imdb/ (IMDb blocks automated fetches).
Listed: rows in this table that the list named, after dedupe (a row named by several lists counts for each). Journalism: those whose origin is journalism.
v0.1 · generated 2026-10-22 · 202 rows
135 journalism positivesby origin: the first publication in the chain is journalism
44 negativesbook, short fiction or podcast origin (labeled, kept)
21 unsourcedno source named · 2 other or unknown · 202 rows in all
35 local / regional / alt-weekly26% of journalism
99% IMDb linked200 rows: Wikidata P345, else an exact OMDb title + year match
61% archived124 rows · 95% of rows with a URL
82% Tomatometer166 critic scores · 190 RT pages
100% synopsis198 from IMDb or RT · 3 generated
81 review queueflagged, no IMDb link, or an article with no archive