“True Story” TV Series That Are Not So True

TV series based on true stories often grab our attention with their gripping narratives and real-world connections. However, many of these shows take creative liberties, blending fact with fiction to heighten drama or fill in gaps where historical records are unclear.

This list explores 30 TV series marketed as “true stories” that stray from reality, either by exaggerating events, inventing characters, or altering timelines. From crime dramas to historical epics, these shows captivate audiences but don’t always stick to the facts.

‘Inventing Anna’ (2022)

This Netflix series follows Anna Sorokin, a con artist who posed as a wealthy heiress to scam New York’s elite. It captures her bold schemes but adds fictional characters like journalist Vivian Kent, a composite of real reporters, and exaggerates some of her scams for dramatic effect.

The real Anna Sorokin did deceive banks and socialites, but the show includes over-the-top confrontations and invented relationships to boost the drama. While it’s a gripping watch, these embellishments make it more of a dramatized tale than a faithful retelling.

‘The Serpent’ (2021)

‘The Serpent’ tracks serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who targeted travelers in Southeast Asia during the 1970s. The series nails his charisma and crimes but tweaks timelines and invents characters, like a fictional Dutch diplomat who helps catch him.

These changes create a thrilling cat-and-mouse vibe, but Sobhraj’s real story is simplified, with some murders dramatized for impact. The result is a binge-worthy series that sacrifices historical accuracy for a polished narrative.

‘Alias Grace’ (2017)

Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, ‘Alias Grace’ follows Grace Marks, a maid convicted of murder in 1840s Canada. The show uses historical records but weaves a fictional narrative around Grace’s motives and mental state, leaving her guilt ambiguous.

It adds psychological depth and invented characters, like a psychiatrist probing Grace’s mind, to create a haunting story. While inspired by real events, the series blurs the line between fact and speculation for dramatic effect.

‘The English Game’ (2020)

This series explores the origins of modern soccer in 19th-century England, focusing on class divides and real figures like Arthur Kinnaird. However, it creates fictional rivalries and personal dramas to highlight social tensions.

The show captures the sport’s early spirit but streamlines events and invents interactions for entertainment. It’s a fun watch, but the added drama makes it less a historical record and more a creative take on soccer’s roots.

‘True Story’ (2021)

‘True Story’ follows a comedian, loosely based on Kevin Hart, whose life spirals after a night with his brother. Despite the “true story” label, the entire plot—murder, cover-ups, and betrayal—is completely fictional, using Hart’s fame as a backdrop.

The show crafts a wild thriller with no basis in reality, misleading viewers with its title. It’s engaging but offers pure fiction dressed as a real-life tale.

‘The Watcher’ (2022)

‘The Watcher’ dramatizes a family receiving creepy letters after moving into their dream home in New Jersey. While inspired by a real case, the show adds dramatic chases and conspiracies that never happened.

In reality, the letters were disturbing, but the series invents subplots and characters to build tension. This makes it more of a thriller than a true recounting of the unsolved mystery.

‘Dopesick’ (2021)

This Hulu series dives into the opioid crisis, focusing on Purdue Pharma’s role in pushing OxyContin. While the Sackler family and the drug’s impact are real, most characters, like Michael Keaton’s doctor, are composites, blending multiple real-life stories.

The show conveys the crisis’s devastation but fictionalizes personal stories and timelines for emotional impact. It’s powerful but not a direct retelling of specific events.

‘The Offer’ (2022)

‘The Offer’ dramatizes the making of ‘The Godfather,’ covering real events like casting struggles and mafia pushback. However, it exaggerates behind-the-scenes drama and invents interactions to heighten the stakes.

While based on producer Al Ruddy’s experiences, the show adds flair to make the story more cinematic. It’s entertaining but leans heavily on fiction to tell its “true” tale.

‘The Dropout’ (2022)

This Hulu series follows Elizabeth Holmes and the rise and fall of her blood-testing company, Theranos. It captures her ambition and fraud but includes fictionalized scenes and characters to add humor and drama.

The real Holmes did deceive investors, but the show streamlines events and invents interactions for a more engaging narrative. It’s compelling but not entirely accurate.

‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ (2022)

This series follows a Mormon detective investigating a real murder of a mother and daughter in the 1980s. While based on Jon Krakauer’s book, it introduces a fictional detective, Jeb Pyre, to explore the case and Mormonism’s history.

The real murders are accurate, but the fictional protagonist and added subplots shift the focus to drama over fact. It’s a gripping thriller but takes creative liberties.

‘The Act’ (2019)

‘The Act’ tells the true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee, who fabricated her daughter’s illnesses. The series sticks close to the real events but adds dramatized moments, like exaggerated confrontations, for emotional weight.

It captures the disturbing mother-daughter dynamic but embellishes some interactions to heighten the tension. The show is chilling but not a perfect reflection of reality.

‘Your Honor’ (2020)

‘Your Honor’ follows a judge whose son is involved in a hit-and-run, loosely inspired by real legal scandals. However, the plot, including murders and courtroom drama, is entirely fictional, despite its “based on a true story” vibe.

The show uses real-world issues like corruption but crafts a fictional narrative for suspense. It’s a thrilling ride but not rooted in a specific true event.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

This Netflix miniseries covers the 1989 Central Park jogger case, focusing on the wrongfully convicted Central Park Five. While the core story is accurate, some events and character interactions are dramatized to emphasize the injustice.

The show humanizes the real-life figures but adds emotional scenes that didn’t happen exactly as depicted. It’s powerful but includes fictional elements for impact.

‘American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016)‘

This anthology series recreates the O.J. Simpson trial, based on real events and a non-fiction book. However, it dramatizes courtroom scenes and personal interactions, like those of the legal teams, for added tension.

While the trial’s key moments are accurate, the show embellishes character motivations and dialogue. It’s a riveting drama but not a documentary of the trial.

‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ (2018)

This season of ‘American Crime Story’ follows the murder of designer Gianni Versace by Andrew Cunanan. While based on real events, it fictionalizes Cunanan’s motives and some victim interactions, drawing from a non-fiction book.

The show captures the tragedy but adds speculative scenes for drama, which the Versace family criticized as fictional. It’s compelling but not entirely factual.

‘Feud: Bette and Joan’ (2017)

This FX series depicts the rivalry between actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the making of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’. While their feud was real, the show exaggerates personal conflicts and invents dialogue for entertainment.

It dives into their personalities but fabricates some events to heighten the drama. The series is a juicy watch but leans heavily on creative liberties.

‘Feud: Capote vs. The Swans’ (2024)

The second season of ‘Feud’ explores Truman Capote’s fallout with New York socialites after publishing a fictionalized account of their lives. The real Capote did betray his friends, but the show invents interactions and dramatizes their reactions.

It captures the gossip and betrayal but adds fictional flair to make the story more cinematic. It’s stylish but not a precise historical record.

‘Griselda’ (2024)

This Netflix series follows Griselda Blanco, the infamous “Cocaine Godmother” who ruled Miami’s drug trade. While her criminal empire is real, the show adds pulpy drama and fictional characters to enhance its fast-paced storytelling.

Blanco’s rise and fall are grounded in truth, but the series prioritizes style and excitement over strict accuracy. It’s explosive but not fully factual.

‘Candy’ (2022)

‘Candy’ depicts the real-life murder of Betty Gore by her friend Candy Montgomery in 1980s Texas. The series captures the core events but adds fictionalized emotional struggles and friendships to deepen the drama.

The axe murder and trial are accurate, but the show embellishes personal details for a gripping narrative. It’s engaging but takes creative liberties.

‘Love & Death’ (2023)

Another take on the Candy Montgomery case, ‘Love & Death’ retells the same axe murder story as ‘Candy’. While based on real events, it invents character dynamics and emotional moments to heighten the stakes.

The core facts of the murder and trial are true, but the series adds dramatic flair to make the story more cinematic. It’s a compelling but not entirely accurate retelling.

‘The Thing About Pam’ (2022)

This series follows Pam Hupp’s involvement in a murder case, inspired by a real Dateline podcast. While Hupp’s crimes are real, the show adds fictionalized subplots and exaggerates her personality for dramatic effect.

It captures the bizarre nature of the case but invents details to make it more thrilling. The result is entertaining but not a precise recounting.

‘The Girl from Plainville’ (2022)

This Hulu series explores Michelle Carter’s role in Conrad Roy’s suicide, based on real text messages and court cases. However, it adds fictionalized scenes and emotional depth to Carter’s character that aren’t fully supported by records.

The core story is accurate, but the show dramatizes her motivations and relationships for impact. It’s a heavy watch but blends fact with fiction.

‘A Friend of the Family’ (2022)

This series tells the true story of Jan Broberg, kidnapped multiple times by a family friend, Robert Berchtold. While the events are real, the show adds dramatized psychological effects and character interactions for emotional weight.

Broberg herself praised its accuracy, but some scenes are embellished to heighten the thriller vibe. It’s disturbing but not entirely factual.

‘Black Bird’ (2022)

‘Black Bird’ follows James Keene, who befriended a suspected serial killer to earn his release from prison. The series stays close to Keene’s memoir but fictionalizes a map the killer made, adding drama to their interactions.

The real Keene was released, and the killer is still in prison, but the show tweaks details for suspense. It’s gripping but not perfectly accurate.

‘The Spy’ (2019)

This series follows Eli Cohen, a real Mossad agent who infiltrated Syria in the 1960s. While his espionage work is factual, the show fictionalizes some missions and personal relationships to heighten the drama.

Based on a book, it captures Cohen’s bravery but adds cinematic flair to his story. It’s thrilling but takes liberties with historical details.

‘Manhunt’ (2024)

‘Manhunt’ follows Edwin Stanton’s search for Abraham Lincoln’s killer, based on a non-fiction book. While the assassination is real, the series adds fictionalized events and character dynamics to make the chase more engrossing.

The core history is accurate, but the show embellishes subplots for drama. It’s a captivating miniseries but not a strict retelling.

‘Narcos’ (2015)

‘Narcos’ chronicles the drug trade in Colombia, focusing on Pablo Escobar’s real-life empire. However, it simplifies timelines, invents characters like a DEA agent composite, and dramatizes events for a cinematic feel.

The show captures the violence and scale of Escobar’s operations but prioritizes action over precision. It’s addictive but not a documentary.

‘The Crown’ (2016)

This Netflix series follows Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, blending real history with fictionalized personal moments. Events like royal weddings are accurate, but private conversations and some character motivations are invented for drama.

The show captures the era’s politics and culture but takes creative liberties with the royal family’s inner lives. It’s a grand saga but not fully factual.

‘Waco’ (2018)

‘Waco’ depicts the 1993 siege of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound, based on real events. While the standoff’s key moments are accurate, the series adds fictionalized dialogue and character backstories to heighten the tension.

It portrays the tragedy’s complexity but embellishes personal interactions for emotional impact. The show is gripping but blends fact with fiction.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

This HBO miniseries covers the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, praised for its detailed depiction of the catastrophe. However, it includes minor scientific inaccuracies and dramatizes characters like a composite scientist to streamline the narrative.

The core events and heroism are real, but the show adds dramatic flair for emotional weight. It’s a masterpiece but not entirely precise.

What’s your take on these “true story” TV series that bend the facts—do you enjoy the drama or prefer stricter accuracy? Share your thoughts in the comments!