Crime Films That Stirred Public Outrage

Description: Based on the true story of Frank Serpico, an honest NYPD officer who went undercover to expose corruption within the police force, this film explores the personal and professional risks of whistleblowing.

Fact: Al Pacino's performance earned him his first Academy Award nomination. The film was directed by Sidney Lumet, known for his gritty, realistic portrayals of urban life.

Description: This classic film follows the investigation by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein into the Watergate scandal, which led to President Nixon's resignation.

Fact: Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford played the real-life journalists. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning four.

Description: This film deals with a nuclear power plant accident and the subsequent cover-up, eerily predicting the Three Mile Island incident which occurred just weeks after its release.

Fact: The film's title refers to a catastrophic nuclear meltdown scenario. It was released just 12 days before the actual Three Mile Island accident.

Description: This film tells the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, a tobacco industry whistleblower, and his struggle against corporate greed and media censorship. It highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals when confronting powerful entities.

Fact: Al Pacino and Russell Crowe both received Academy Award nominations for their roles. The film was based on a Vanity Fair article titled "The Man Who Knew Too Much."

Description: Based on a true story, this film follows a single mother who becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply.

Fact: Julia Roberts won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich. The real Erin Brockovich made a cameo in the film.

Description: Based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska police officer who served as a UN peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia, this film exposes the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation.

Fact: Rachel Weisz's performance was critically acclaimed, though the film itself did not receive widespread commercial success.

Description: Martin Scorsese's film about Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who engaged in corruption and fraud on Wall Street, captures the excesses of the 1990s financial scene and the public's fascination with wealth and excess.

Fact: Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for an Academy Award for his role. The film was based on Belfort's memoir of the same name.

Description: This film explains the complex financial instruments that led to the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on the few who saw it coming and bet against the market. It's a critique of the financial system's opacity and greed.

Fact: The film uses celebrity cameos to explain financial terms, making complex concepts accessible. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Adapted Screenplay.

Description: This film recounts the Boston Globe's investigation into child abuse within the Catholic Church, which led to a global scandal. It showcases the power of journalism in uncovering systemic corruption and abuse.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The real-life journalists portrayed in the film were involved in the production to ensure accuracy.

Description: This film centers on The Washington Post's decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, which exposed government secrets about the Vietnam War, highlighting the tension between press freedom and national security.

Fact: Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks star in this Steven Spielberg-directed film, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.