The best series based on real events

Everyone enjoys a thrilling series. One that keeps you on the edge of your seat or makes you fall in love with one of the characters. But when it’s based on real-life events, it makes the story even more engaging.

There are a huge amount of real-life stories that have been made into TV series. Some of these stories you won’t believe came from a true event, while others did an incredible job of bringing a well-known story and characters to life on screen. We list the best TV shows based on real-life events as ranked by… well, us.

This raw, gritty original series television series 'Narcos' tells the story of Pablo Escobar’s rise to power as a narcotics trafficker in Colombia and his subsequent demise.

Streaming on: Netflix. Escobar isn’t the only real-life character in this. Due to the fact the show is based on true events, many of the characters are based on real people and real incidents.

Photo: Still from 'Narcos' / Netflix

A historical drama television miniseries. 'Chernobyl' centers on the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the subsequent efforts to clear up the horrific damage caused by this nuclear catastrophe.

You can watch on Amazon Prime and HBO. The series stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson, and Paul Ritter and won acclaim from both critics and viewers.

Photo: Still from 'Chernobyl' / HBO

Detective Jeb Pyre is a devout Mormon whose faith is shaken when he takes on a violent case that involves his church. He is driven mad by the choices he needs to make about his faith and his family. Terrifying and compelling, ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ is not for the faint-hearted.

Photo: Still from 'Under the Banner of Heaven' / Netflix

Catch this series on Netflix with great ratings and a star performance from Andrew Garfield. It’s real-life drama that doesn’t let you down.

Photo: Still from 'Under the Banner of Heaven' / Netflix

A different type of character study: a spy. This six-episode series explains how Eli transitioned from a compliant department store worker to a spy in Syria by assuming the identity of a businessman named Kamel Amin-Thabaath.

Streaming on Netflix and starring the extremely versatile Sacha Baron Cohen.

Photo: Still from 'The Spy' / Netflix

This is the true account of how the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit began to research serial killers in the late 1970s. The wonderful thriller series 'Mindhunter' follows the first researchers as they interviewed the killers in prison.

Photo: Still from 'Mindhunter' / Netflix

This series is streaming on Netflix with rave reviews. Fans of the show were bitterly disappointed, however, when the streaming giant canceled season 3.

Photo: Still from 'Mindhunter' / Netflix

‘Unbelievable’ is an eight-episode series based on the true story of Marie, an 18-year-old woman, who was s e x u a l l y assaulted in her apartment and then charged with lying about the whole event.

Photo: Still from 'Unbelievable' / Netflix

This is another great series to find on Netflix. It stars Kaitlyn Dever as Marie and also the great Toni Colette as one of the detectives. The series holds an approval rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Photo: Still from 'Unbelievable' / Netflix

The story follows disgraced biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes as she drops out of Stanford and pursues her dream of being rich and famous, even if it means swindling her way to the billion-dollar prize.

This is a Hulu original series and well worth watching. Amanda Seyfried shines in her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes. Public and critics alike praised her performance.

Photo: Still from 'The Dropout' / Hulu

A gripping series following the ups and downs of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the growing problem of corruption. The series is based on the book ‘We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption’ by Justin Fenton (right in the photo) who is a reporter for the Baltimore Sun.

You will find it on HBO and it’s definitely worth a look as critics are hailing it as the ‘spiritual successor to The Wire’ (David Simon developed both shows).

Photo: Still from 'We Own This City' / HBO

The real-life story of British politician John Stonehouse who, among other things, served as a spy for Czechoslovakia and faked his own death, is a fascinating one. The character is narcissistic and power-hungry and watching him stumble through his web of lies is both funny and tragic.

This addictive and funny series was made for ITV but is now available on Prime. Matthew Macfadyen shines in the role of the bumbling fool, managing to induce laughs and sympathy at the same time. Another good thing about Stonehouse is it only has three packed episodes. So if you’re looking for a day on the sofa with a one-day binge, this might just be for you.

Photo: Still from 'Stonehouse' / ITV

This moving series is all bright and vibrant until the AIDS epidemic starts hitting the protagonists and the population of London in the 1980s. The series' maker Russell T Davies (in the photo) was inspired by the life of one of his friends at the time.

In the UK you can watch it on Channel 4's online streaming service, All 4, and in other parts of the world, it is provided by HBO. The series received critical acclaim for its emotional scenes, writing, performances, and accurate depiction of HIV/AIDS.

Photo: Still from 'It's a Sin' / Channel 4

A drama inspired by the serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who murdered 15 men and boys between the years of 1978 and 1983. The true crime story does not detail the murderer’s deeds but focuses on his capture, subsequent investigation, and the media coverage that followed.

It is an ITV series (UK) but you can also see it on Amazon. David Tennant - as always - is spectacular as the cold serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

Photo: Still from 'Des' / ITV

The story of a publicly shamed Duchess that shook Britain. The Duke of Argyll filed for divorce in 1963 and the case plays out amid a media frenzy with accusations of drug use, adultery, theft, violence, and bribery.

This is a BBC drama but it can be watched on Prime, starring British greats such as Paul Bettany and Claire Foy.

Photo: Still from 'A Very British Scandal' / BBC

The series is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman, telling the author’s experience at FCI Danbury, a federal prison. She was imprisoned for the crime of transporting drug money years ago. In the series, we follow the life and struggles of Piper and the other inmates.

This series was the beginning of the TV revolution. As one of its first original series, it was the catalyst for Netflix to change the way we watch films and series. A brilliant cast with great characters, groundbreaking and funny.

Photo: Still from 'Orange is the New Black' / Netflix

A true story of the Central Park Five: five boys who were wrongfully accused of r a p e and assault in 1990 and had to serve years in prison. They were the victims of police corruption and racism. Excellent TV with a cast of Emmy winners and nominees.

You can watch this award-winning, moving series on Netflix - with none other than Oprah Winfrey as a producer. It's difficult but important to watch and received resounding praise.

After Betsy Faria is murdered in a small town, the police believe it's a simple case. They arrest the most likely subject, her husband, and find him guilty of the crime. The case not only leads to a wrongful conviction but also a chain of events that exposes a dark plan involving Betsy's close friend.

You can watch this chilling series on Prime or Apple TV but prepare yourself for plenty of unexpected twists and turns. And it stars Renée Zellweger - how could you not?

Photo: Still from 'The Thing About Pam' / Prime

The fascinating story of how the conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj was traced, caught, and sent to prison. Posing as a gem dealer, he and his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc roamed Asia in 1975 and 1976, committing a spree of crimes.

This BBC One drama ran for 8 episodes and got the green light for season 2. It is also available on Netflix. Fans of the show really loved to talk about season one and we are imagining the same hype around the second.

Photo: Still from 'The Serpent' / BBC

This American comedy-drama series follows the rebellious young poet, Emily Dickinson. Set in the 19th century, it explores the constraints of a writer who doesn't fit into her own time and challenges society, gender, and family.

Photo: Still from 'Dickinson' / Apple TV

You can watch the series on Apple TV and it stars the magnificent Hailee Steinfeld. Rotten Tomatoes labeled the show as ‘lovely and sincere, joyful and sensual’ - so yes, you get a lot of emotion.

The American anthology true crime series started with the story of OJ Simpson, an American football player accused of killing his ex-wife. The police collected enough evidence to obtain a guilty verdict, but his lawyers found ways to get him acquitted.

Hulu picked up streaming rights for this FX production. The amazing cast boasts such names as John Travolta and Cuba Gooding JR.

Photo: Still from 'American Crime Story' / FX

The story of one of the most notorious serial killers in the United States is largely told from the points of view of his victims. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, was an American serial killer and s e x offender who killed 17 victims from 1978 to 1991.

You can watch this series on Netflix starring Evan Peters in the title role. Be careful, it could give you nightmares.

Photo: Still from 'Dahmer-Monster' / Netflix

Based on an award-winning play ('The Audience'), this extravagant drama takes us through the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern-day England. The series begins with a look at the early reign of the Queen, who became the monarch at the age of 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. We all know the story, so we know there is no shortage of scandal.

Photo: Still from 'The Crown' / Netflix

This highly successful Netflix original has different actors playing the same role, depending on the time and their ages. Olivia Coleman, Claire Foy, and Imelda Staunton all take on the role of Britain’s greatest monarch. If you haven’t watched it yet, we strongly suggest you do.

Photo: Still from 'The Crown' / Netflix