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

Wild, Wild West

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

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The Most Accurate TV Shows About The Wild West

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Melissa Sartore

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

What Really Happened

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

Ghost Ships & Shipwrecks

The Perfect Storm

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

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

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

Anna Lindwasser

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

Myths and Legends

Fact vs. Fiction

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

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

14 Frequently Heard Statistics That Are Actually False

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

Based on a True Story

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

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Movies You Didn't Know Were Based On Real People

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The 16 Movies Surprisingly Based On Real People, Ranked

Molly Weinfurter

Sweatpants at the table; sweatpants while you fistfight your neighbors over slightly discounted TVs. The holidays are here!

Giving Thanks

Weird History

The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is a time for food, football, and family. Celebrations traditionally include meals with turkey, stuffing, and all of the fixings, with lots of yummy leftovers to enjoy for days and days afterward. The entirety of Thanksgiving weekend is a bit of a holiday in and of itself - with Black Friday and Cyber Monday officially kicking off the end-of-the-year shopping season.If you were educated in a school in the United States, a US territory, or anywhere else that might have taught the topic, you likely learned about Pilgrims and Native Americans coming together for a peaceful meal in 1621. With Pilgrims donning buckled hats and shoes alongside indigenous men and women <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-thanksgiving-traditions/jacob-shelton">seated around</a> a plentiful spread, the story of Thanksgiving is one of cooperation and perseverance alike.Much of what has been taught in the years and decades after the arrival of Europeans in North America has skewed the actual history of what people <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unpopular-thanksgiving-opinions/alyssa-mariano">think of as Thanksgiving</a>. When it happened, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/thanksgiving-side-dishes-disgusting/melissa-sartore">what was eaten</a>, and even who was involved have all been mythologized to such an extent the fact blends with fiction.

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Debunking The Myths: The Actual Story Behind Thanksgiving

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

We Will Never Be Royals

Historical Entertainment

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

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The Least Accurate Movies About Historical Royals

The Most Inaccurate Movies About Royals

Setareh Janda

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

Movies That Were Based On The Smallest Grain Of Truth

Lauren Glen

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

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

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Thomas West

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

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Movies That Tell The Same Historical Story From Two Different Perspectives

Mike McGranaghan

Ranking the very best Westerns to hit the small and silver screens.

The Wild West on Screen

The best <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-western-movies-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Wild West movies</a> make you feel like you've been transported back in time for a couple of hours. They do this by creating a sense of realism, which can take many forms. Sometimes the film has costumes and weapons that are authentic to the time period. Other times, sets and locations do the heavy lifting, giving audiences a vibrant setting in which to get lost. From time to time, an actor's performance playing a real-life historical figure is what makes it all click. In the absolute best cases, all of these things are present.&nbsp;Have you ever wondered which of the best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-western-movies-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Old West movies</a> are also the most realistic? That's what this list will determine. Westerns have been around virtually from the dawn of cinema, along with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-accurate-series-about-wild-west/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Western&nbsp;TV shows</a>. Of course, those of the 1920s are much different than those of the 1960s, and they, in turn, are different from those of the 1990s. Regardless of when they were released, a number of Westerns have at least a degree of realism.In each of the below entries, we will look at what the movie in question gets right in terms of historical accuracy and where it falls short. Vote up the top Wild West movies based on which ones you think are the most accurate.&nbsp;

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The Most Accurate Movies About The Wild West

Gladiator

The writers and directors of&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;would probably flunk&nbsp;a history class. If you think the film is based on a true story, you might want to look through this list. Though the film is enjoyable, ridiculously popular, and has held&nbsp;up relatively well since its release in 2000,&nbsp;it often provides entertainment at the expense of fact. When examining the historical facts Gladiator got wrong, the film's tendency to prioritize&nbsp;story – and style –&nbsp;over substance becomes clear. So, what is the level of accuracy in Ridley Scott's films?Known as&nbsp;one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/movies-and-films-directed-by-ridley-scott/reference">Ridley Scott’s best movies</a>,&nbsp;Gladiator was one of the first commercially and critically successful films of the 21st century. And though the movie&nbsp;won Oscars and earned piles of money at the&nbsp;box office,&nbsp;its success meant that audiences became accustomed to a fictionalized ancient Rome. (Of course, this is hardly the first time Hollywood disregarded the historical record to make a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pretty-good-movies-about-roman-empire/melissa-sartore">pretty good Roman movie</a>.) From Marcus Aurelius to Commodus, these are the real facts.From falsely portrayed historical figures to inaccurate social patterns,&nbsp;historical errors in Gladiator abound.&nbsp;The bad history in the film&nbsp;doesn’t make it a bad movie, it just means that viewers should turn to a history book –&nbsp;rather than a sword-and-sandals epic –&nbsp;to learn facts about the Roman world. Check out all the things that are historically inaccurate in&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;below.&nbsp;If you like this movie despite the inaccuracies, be sure to check out our list of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-gladiators-movies-list/all-genre-movies-lists">movies like Gladiator</a>.

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'Gladiator' Might Be One of The Most Historically Inaccurate Movies Ever

Everything The Movie Gladiator Got Completely Wrong About History

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

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

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

300 (2006)

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/300-behind-the-scenes/jim-rowley">The film 300</a> is an adaptation of a comic book based on historical events, but it makes no pretense of being historically accurate. However, the battle of Thermopylae was a real event, with 300 Spartans at the center of the story. Quite a few little details from the film have a basis in fact; for example, many of the iconic lines, such as, "We will fight in the shade," or, "Come and get them," were based on real quotations, as was the Persian demand of "earth and water." So what would happen if the film were to more closely resemble the real story of the battle of Thermopylae?This list looks at some of the biggest deviations from the real story and the changes necessary&nbsp;to make the film more historically accurate. In some cases, the filmmakers' choices were clearly to the benefit of the movie, but there are a few cases where, if anything, the movie undersells the true drama and brutality of the Greco-Persian Wars.&nbsp;

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What A Historically Accurate Version Of '300' Would Actually Be Like

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

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18 Netflix Movies Based On Gripping True Stories, Ranked

18 Netflix Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked

Lists about the year-end holiday that lifts spirits and brings good tidings.

A Wonderful Christmas Time

Most people have heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas, even if they're not entirely sure what that means. The term “Twelve Days of Christmas” actually refers to multiple things. Aside from movie titles and the like, the period of time referred to as the “Twelve Days of Christmas” is part of the Christian liturgical calendar, while the song of the same name is among <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/secretly-dark-christmas-songs/erin-mccann">one of the classics sung</a> every holiday season.Parsing out the history of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” necessarily draws in Christianity. But while <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/But_Do_You_Recall_25_Days_of_Christmas_C/S9CkCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=12+days+of+christmas+catechism&amp;pg=PA117&amp;printsec=frontcover">it wasn't developed</a>, as has been argued, as a song used to teach young Catholics about the faith - &nbsp;it has become one in some contexts. According to the Second Council of Tours<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DqmlzjMYMRAC&amp;q=twelfth+night+christmas+6+January&amp;pg=PA27#v=snippet&amp;q=twelfth%20night%20christmas%206%20January&amp;f=false"> in 567</a>, the period between Christmas and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Quick_Look_at_Christian_History/8C1uCQAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=second+council+of+tours+epiphany&amp;pg=PA43&amp;printsec=frontcover">the Epiphany</a> was the Twelve Days of Christmas. This time period was meant to be celebratory, full of festivities and devoid of fasting. It also means that, despite some confusion, the days do not take place in the lead-up to Christmas.Even with that, there remains some confusion as to when the Twelve Days really start. If they start the day after Christmas, on December 26th, the last day falls on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsweek.com/epiphany-christian-holiday-feast-twelfth-night-christmas-tree-1480586">the Epiphany</a>, or January 6th. If Christmas is the first day, then January 5th - or the day before the Epiphany - is the 12th day. And it's with all of this in mind that the sixth of January is celebrated as the Twelfth Night.&nbsp;The time of year for the Twelve Days of Christmas is more or less clear. But, what about the gifts traditionally given each day in the well-known song? What are they? What do they mean? How much <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/twelve-days-of-christmas-ranked/brenna-zedan">would they cost</a>?&nbsp;To understand any of that, it's important to know more about the song itself. What festive crooners sing now traces back to the late 18th century<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015065002621&amp;seq=74"> in melody</a> and verbiage alike, although there have been variations of specific words and phrases that developed over time. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is considered a cumulative song, with each verse building upon the previous verses. This also means that as each day progresses, the previous days items are given with the new gifts. By the end, the recipient in the song possesses 364 gifts: 12 Partridges in a Pear Tree, 22 Turtle Doves, 30 French Hens, 36 Calling Birds, 40 Golden Rings, 42 Geese A-Laying, 42 Swans A-Swimming, 40 Maids A-Milking, 36 Ladies Dancing, 30 Lord A-Leaping, 22 Pipers Piping, and 12 Drummers Drumming.So, with the modern gifts in mind, let's deep-dive into how they got there and what they mean.

History And Myth: A Guide To 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas'

Lists about customs, rituals, and daily life in Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic, which ruled the Mediterranean from 8th Century BC until its spectacular collapse in 476 AD.

Rome If You Want To

Due in large part to popular Hollywood films like&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ben-Hur, there are plenty of misconceptions about ancient Rome and the way Romans lived. The ancient Romans wore togas, but not very often.&nbsp;They had several&nbsp;leaders who were&nbsp;certainly ineffectual, brutal, and careless, but they weren't necessarily insane -&nbsp;nor did they sing a sad song while the city of Rome burned down.&nbsp;There were gladiatorial fights, but they weren't nearly as bloody&nbsp;as we've been led to believe.So, which of these ancient Romance stories and legends are false? When it comes to the details of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/roman-sex-facts/aaron-edwards">Roman relations</a>,&nbsp;gluttonous dinner&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-roman-party-facts/aaron-edwards">parties</a>,&nbsp;and daily life, our understanding of ancient Rome is rife with inaccuracies.

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Myths About Ancient Rome, Debunked

Ancient Rome Myths Debunked

Hannah Gilham

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

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Fact vs. Fiction lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Fact vs. Fiction lists and rankings.