Real crime is still all the rage, with new films, television series, and podcasts in the category being launched all the time. And it’s a broad umbrella– true crime stories can be about anything from serial killers to con artists to individuals who love owning big felines. One especially abundant sub-genre that anyone who is likewise thinking about home entertainment and Los Angeles history will have an interest in is true Hollywood crimes.
Fortunately for real crime fans, numerous films have been made on the subject. From a teenage criminal activity ring to a notorious cult, here are six motion pictures about real crime set in or about Hollywood.
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The 2013 film The Bling Ring informs the story of a real group of teenagers who burgled several stars’ houses in 2008 and 2009. The group snagged cash, clothes, and accessories from stars consisting of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel Bilson prior to being founded guilty for their criminal activities and sentenced to probation and jail time, depending on their individual level of their involvement. The film’s cast includes Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Claire Julien, and Leslie Mann, and it was composed and directed by Sofia Coppola.
The Black Dahlia is inspired by the 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short, a 22-year-old female who had actually moved to Hollywood. Brief became referred to as the Black Dahlia in the media, and her murder was much advertised, however the criminal offense remains unsolved to this day. The 2006 film stars Mia Kirshner as Short, in addition to Scarlett Johansson, Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart, and Hilary Swank.
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood comes at the story of Charles Manson and the Manson Household cult from a brand-new point of view, concentrating on 2 narratives: A day in the life of ingenue Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) prior to her murder by Manson’s followers, and the friendship between a stuntman (Brad Pitt) and washed-up star (Leonardo DiCaprio). Their paths fulfill in a completely traditionally inaccurate conclusion.
Of course, the Manson Household murders are a popular subject in movie and television. Another recent film take on the violent cult is 2018’s Charlie States, from American Psycho director Mary Harron. This film concentrates on 3 women who were seduced by Manson and involved in the murders of Tate and others. While they have actually mostly been forgotten by history, this variation of the story consists of a fictionalized account of their lives in prison following their convictions, along with flashbacks to their time in the cult. Hannah Murray, Sosie Bacon, and Marianne Rendón star; Matt Smith plays Manson.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? does not happen in Los Angeles, however the crimes it represents do have roots in Hollywood history. Melissa McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, a writer who forged letters from popular figures to generate income from collectors. Stars whose voices and handwriting she mimicked includ star Louise Brooks, playwright and actor Noël Coward, and writer Dorothy Parker.
Jessica Chastain stars in Molly’s Game as Molly Flower, a female who ran underground poker video games for celebrities and other wealthy individuals in LA. Eventually, Flower and the games were both connected to other prohibited activity, which resulted in a guilty plea and probation sentence for her. The movie that dramatizes her rise and downfall co-stars Idris Elba, Michael Cera, and Kevin Costner.