10 Biopic Films About Real-Life Cons and Scams

Description: This film tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who before his 19th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor. It's a cat-and-mouse game between Abagnale and the FBI agent hot on his trail.

Fact: Frank Abagnale Jr. was actually a consultant on the film and helped with the authenticity of the cons portrayed.

Description: While not a traditional con film, it showcases the art of persuasion and manipulation through debate, focusing on the true story of the Wiley College debate team in the 1930s.

Fact: Denzel Washington, who directed and starred in the film, was inspired by the real-life story of Melvin B. Tolson.

Description: Although not strictly a biopic, this film is inspired by the life of magician Harry Houdini and explores themes of deception and illusion, with a plot revolving around a magician's elaborate tricks to win back his childhood love.

Fact: The film was shot in Prague, which adds to its turn-of-the-century atmosphere.

Description: Based on the true story of Clifford Irving, who claimed to have written an authorized autobiography of Howard Hughes, this film delves into the elaborate hoax that fooled the publishing world.

Fact: Richard Gere, who plays Irving, was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance.

Description: While fictional, this film delves into the world of magic and the lengths to which two rival magicians will go to outdo each other, including deception and betrayal, mirroring the real-life rivalries of historical magicians.

Fact: The film was adapted from Christopher Priest's novel and features a complex narrative structure that keeps viewers guessing until the end.

Description: Based on the memoir by Jordan Belfort, this film dives into the excesses of Wall Street in the 1990s, where Belfort and his firm engaged in stock market manipulation and fraud, leading to one of the biggest financial scandals of the time.

Fact: The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Belfort was widely acclaimed.

Description: Mark Whitacre, an executive at Archer Daniels Midland, becomes an informant for the FBI to expose price-fixing in the lysine market. However, his own deceptions and mental health issues complicate the investigation.

Fact: The film's title uses an exclamation mark, reflecting the absurdity and complexity of the real-life events.

Description: This film explores the build-up to the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on a group of investors who bet against the housing market, predicting the collapse of the subprime mortgage bubble.

Fact: The film uses a unique narrative style, breaking the fourth wall to explain complex financial concepts in an accessible way.

Description: Inspired by the FBI ABSCAM operation in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this film follows con artists Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser as they are coerced into working for an FBI agent to take down corrupt politicians.

Fact: The film's script was inspired by the real-life events but took creative liberties for dramatic effect.

Description: This biopic explores how Ray Kroc, a struggling salesman, turned a small burger stand into the McDonald's global empire, often through questionable business practices and taking credit for others' ideas.

Fact: Michael Keaton's portrayal of Kroc was critically acclaimed for capturing the character's ruthless ambition.