Films based on documentaries

2016 film directed by Jeff Nichols

2015 film directed by Simon Curtis

1999 film by Wes Craven

2005 film by Catherine Hardwicke

2021 film directed by Michael Showalter

The Smashing Machine is a 2025 American biographical sports drama film, written and directed by Benny Safdie. It stars Dwayne Johnson as former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt as Kerr's girlfriend, with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles.

Freeheld is a 2015 American drama film directed by Peter Sollett from a screenplay by Ron Nyswaner. The film stars Julianne Moore, Elliot Page, Michael Shannon, and Steve Carell. It is based on the 2007 documentary short film of the same name about police officer Laurel Hester's fight against the Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to allow her pension benefits to be transferred to her domestic partner after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

2023 film directed by Taika Waititi

2019 film directed by Stephen Merchant

Song Sung Blue is a 2025 American biographical musical drama film written, produced, and directed by Craig Brewer, based on the 2008 documentary film of the same name by Greg Kohs. The film stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder. The film's cast also includes Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, and Mustafa Shakir.

2003 film directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

2009 HBO film directed by Michael Sucsy

2020 film directed by Angel Manuel Soto