Biopics Celebrating Record Breakers

Description: This film portrays the life of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survived the Holocaust by hiding in the ruins of Warsaw, playing his music in silence to keep his sanity.

Fact: Adrien Brody learned to play the piano for the role and lost significant weight to portray Szpilman's emaciated condition. He also won an Oscar for Best Actor.

Description: This film tells the story of the undersized racehorse Seabiscuit, who became an unlikely champion during the Great Depression, setting records and lifting spirits.

Fact: The film used real racehorses, and the horse playing Seabiscuit was named Popcorn Deelites. The movie was also nominated for seven Academy Awards.

Description: This film is about Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a massive stroke leaving him with locked-in syndrome, yet managed to write a memoir by blinking his left eye, setting a record for perseverance.

Fact: The film was shot from the perspective of Bauby, with the camera often representing his point of view, especially in scenes where he can only move his eye.

Description: While not strictly about a record, this film tells the story of Chris Gardner, who overcame homelessness to become a successful stockbroker, setting a personal record of resilience and determination.

Fact: Will Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in the movie, mirroring their real-life relationship. The film's title misspells "happiness" intentionally, reflecting a typo in a mural seen by Gardner.

Description: This biopic follows the life of Michael Oher, an African-American youth who was taken in by a wealthy family and went on to become an All-American football player, breaking records in the sport.

Fact: Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy. The film was based on the book by Michael Lewis, who also wrote "Moneyball."

Description: This documentary follows the intense rivalry between two men vying for the world record score in the arcade game Donkey Kong. It's a tale of obsession, competition, and the quest for video game glory.

Fact: The film was initially intended to be a short documentary but was expanded due to the compelling nature of the story. It has since become a cult classic in the gaming community.

Description: This film delves into the creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg, detailing the legal battles and personal conflicts that accompanied its rise to becoming a global phenomenon.

Fact: The film was shot in just 67 days, and the script was written by Aaron Sorkin, known for his fast-paced dialogue. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three.

Description: This film chronicles the intense rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 season, culminating in one of the most dramatic championship battles in racing history.

Fact: The film was shot in 3D, which was unusual for a biographical sports drama at the time. Also, both actors, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, underwent extensive training to authentically portray their characters.

Description: This biopic explores the life of physicist Stephen Hawking, focusing on his relationship with his wife Jane and his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics, despite his battle with motor neuron disease.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking, won an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance. The film was also praised for its accurate depiction of Hawking's scientific work.

Description: Based on Philippe Petit's memoir, this film recounts his daring high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974, an act that broke all records for high-wire walking.

Fact: The film was shot in 3D to give viewers a vertigo-inducing experience. Joseph Gordon-Levitt trained for months to master the art of high-wire walking for his role.