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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider These intriguing movies and TV series on Lionsgate Play are inspired by real events

These intriguing movies and TV series on Lionsgate Play are inspired by real events

Dive into dramatic retellings of historical thrills with exciting titles exclusively on Lionsgate Play

Published Feb 8, 2024 07:46 am

At A Glance

  • These shows and films let the past unfold on the screen in a captivating blend of entertainment and historical accuracy that will have you glued to your seats (and even falling into Internet rabbit holes afterward).

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Lionsgate Play’s best blasts from the past are sure to pique anyone’s interest. Get lost in stories about political intrigues, surviving a natural disaster, and the lives of extraordinary individuals you won’t soon forget. These shows and films let the past unfold on the screen in a captivating blend of entertainment and historical accuracy that will have you glued to your seats (and even falling into Internet rabbit holes afterward). So buckle up and prepare for an unforgettable journey through time.

Gaslit (2022)

Gaslit is a fresh look into the 1972 Watergate scandal, a major political scandal involving President Richard Nixon, which eventually led to his resignation. It focuses on the untold story of Martha Mitchell (Julia Roberts), the wife of John Mitchell (Sean Penn), Nixon’s Attorney General who played a role in the scandal. Robbie Pickering’s political thriller is also based on the podcast Slow Burn by Leon Neyfakh and is a gripping tale of a brave woman standing her ground amidst political lies. Roberts’ gripping performance got her nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Watch Gaslit on Lionsgate Play.

The Impossible (2014)

An idyllic vacation takes a nightmarish turn in disaster-drama film The Impossible. Maria Bennett (Naomi Watts) and her husband Henry Bennett (Ewan McGregor) are enjoying a Christmas holiday at a Thai resort when a tsunami sweeps the peaceful resort and breaks their family apart. In the following chaos, Maria desperately finds a way to reunite her family. The film is based on the real-life story of the Belon-Alvarez family, miraculous survivors of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Watch The Impossible on Lionsgate Play.

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Papillon (2017)

This 2017 drama tells the story of real-life French convict Henri Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a Parisian safecracker known in the underworld as "Papillon" (butterfly). In 1933, he was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana. He allies with another convict, counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek), as they attempt daring escapes. Papillon is based Charrière's international best-selling autobiographical books Papillon and Banco. Watch Papillon on Lionsgate Play.

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Hotel Mumbai (2019)

Hotel Mumbai is an action-thriller film inspired by the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace in India. A storm of terror erupts after the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization launches coordinated attacks across the city, including the hotel. Meanwhile, a humble waiter, Arjun (Dev Patel), rises above his duties and risks everything to guide terrified patrons to safety, especially a British heiress, her husband, and their infant. Watch Hotel Mumbai on Lionsgate Play.

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Green Book (2018)

In 1960s southern America, an Afrian-American pianist (Mahershala Ali) about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South recruits an Italian American bouncer (Viggo Mortensen) to drive him through his venues. Throughout the journey, the pair develop an unlikely bond, confronting racism and prejudice while discovering the value of friendship beyond social barriers. Watch Green Book on Lionsgate Play.

The Final Score (2022)

Pablo Gonzales’ The Final Score chronicles Colombian soccer defender Andres Esobar’s (Juan Pablo Urrego) illustrious life that tragically ended in 1994. The six-part layered mini-series delves into the complicated relationship of several Colombian national team players, mired with drug trafficking and culminating in the 1994 World Cup goal and Escobar’s murder. Watch The Final Score on Lionsgate Play.

Immerse yourself in these captivating titles only on Lionsgate Play on PLDT Home

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