So, we get what you are thinking, and you are right, The Martian has clearly not happened… at least not yet. The film, based on the novel by Andy Weir, tells the story of an astronaut who is left behind on Mars when a mission goes wrong and must survive on that inhospitable planet alone until he can be rescued.
We do believe that this film belongs on this list, because although the story is completely fictional, the science behind it is not. NASA experts and engineers were involved with the story from day one, explaining exactly how they would deal with the situation if it arose.
Rush
The movie "Rush," directed by Ron Howard, does its best to depict the rivalry between F1 racecar drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda in the 1970s. Most of the events in the film and the look and feel of the races themselves are fairly accurate, while Howard took dramatic license with the relationship between Hunt and Lauda, making them intense rivals.
The website, Information is Beautiful stated the film was 82.9% accurate, summarizing that there was "a little staging to get Lauda and Hunt in the same locations sometimes, but otherwise true".
Jackie
Natalie Portman takes on the iconic role of Jackie Kennedy in the 2016 biopic, "Jackie." Director Pablo Larraín and writer Noah Oppenheim tried to make the film as true to her life as possible.
The most accurate part of the film is the televised White House tour that Jackie gives to the country. Despite a few murmurs about inaccuracy in the portrayal of Jackie’s relationship with Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, the film was well-received.
Milk
Director Gus Van Sant directed the 2008 biopic about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California history, with accuracy in mind. He used Milk’s own recorded oral history as voice-overs in the film, the production worked closely with LGBT activist Cleve Jones who was close to Milk, and writer Dustin Lance Black.
The film uses a lot of archive footage and most of it was shot on location in San Francisco, the crew even recreated Milk’s Castro Camera store by using old photos and consulting with his friends.
Come and See
Despite what some war movies will have you believe, war is not cinematic and organized, it is a brutal, messy business. That feeling shines through in this film, which gives audiences a glimpse into the horrifying reality of World War II as seen by a Belarusian whose village is massacred.
It was important to director Elem Klimov to show the true story behind Russia’s involvement in the Second World War. Historians gave the film high marks for its honest portrayal of death camps, resistance fighters, and difficult emotions.