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Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See

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Ever yelled 'I'M BORED!' from your lawn chair by the pool? Elizabeth Taylor has, according to the Lifetime Movie Network. When boredom strikes, LMN originals can be entertaining. But occasionally, the Lifetime schedule offers biographical features, a welcome change from typical thrillers. These biopics take 'true stories' of pop culture phenomena and turn them into crazy, borderline conspiratorial exposés. Some are better than others, but a few go the extra mile. With a recent surge in Lifetime biopics, the network shows no signs of stopping these controversial features. For the skeptical, here's a list of real Lifetime original biopics that you need to see to believe.

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  • 1
    Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (2016)

    Lifetime produces many biopics about music divas.Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (2016) appears in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.The Braxtons shared a positive response, likely because the topic was less intense. The Braxtons tweeted about the film's debut, sharing their views on key events and portrayals.

    Lifetime earned high ratings. This boosts its drive to make more biopics about pop icons.

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    🔥 99 up · 37 down▲ 1 above editor
  • 2
    Anna Nicole (2013)

    Anna Nicole Smith's death seemed strange. But Lifetime used Smith's odd death to spark another conspiracy theory. WhileThe Anna Nicole story is listed in 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.the film focuses on Smith's rise as a sex symbol. It also claims Smith and her son were poisoned or infected.

    Throughout the film, Smith sees herself as an adult version of herself when young, and vice versa when older. Both ages whisper "Annnnnaaaaa...." This skin-crawling symbolism lacked appreciation.

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    🔥 87 up · 30 down▼ 1 below editor

    Also ranks #34 on Best Lifetime Movies Based on True Stories · #67 on Best Movies With Anna

  • 3
    Whitney (2015)

    Whitney was surprisinglyWhitney (2015) is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.critics did not react negatively to Whitney. Instead, the Lifetime version faced major controversy. Whitney Houston's family and estate pushed back against Lifetime Movie Network's right to make the film. Though deemed "positive" and "decent" for Lifetime, Whitney (2015) is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.always faced opposition from Houston's family members.

    The controversy did not lower ratings; it actually increased them.

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    🔥 92 up · 41 down▲ 2 above editor
  • 4
    Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013)

    Lifetime often handles biopics about true crime murderers. What confused the media and audiences aboutJodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.Lifetime started production on the film eight months before Arias's trial began.

    The Lifetime movie was not entirely awful. It appeared extremely insensitive in its push to use a real murder trial, all in real, if not early, time.

  • 5
    Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011)

    Many saw Lifetime's Amanda Knox trial coverage as fair. However, the victims' families felt differently. Appalled by Lifetime's choice to show the murders, the families worked hard to speak out against the film.

    Aside from some production mistakes and clashes with opponents, this is not Lifetime's worst work.

  • 6
    The Craigslist Killer (2011)

    The Craigslist Killer is one of Lifetime's most famous true crime stories.The Craigslist Killer is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.This story shows the events of the real-life internet predator.The Craigslist Killer is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.This case perfectly shows everything Lifetime: a true crime story, a heavily featured murder case, a psychological thriller where someone lives a double life, and lots of high stakes, life-or-death situations.

    The Craigslist Killer is in the list 'Real Lifetime Biopics You Need to See'.This story mixes every Lifetime genre imaginable, promoting the fear-mongering Lifetime favors.

  • 7
    The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (2015)

    Marilyn Monroe gets over-portrayed in biopics. Lifetime needed its own Marilyn Monroe film. The Lifetime version faced criticism because it added little to Monroe's already well-known story.

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    🔥 41 up · 22 down
  • 8
    The Brittany Murphy Story (2014)

    This is one of Lifetime's odd choices for a biopic.The Brittany Murphy Story follows Brittany Murphy's quick success as a Hollywood 'it girl.' The story centers on her time after Clueless and her romance with Ashton Kutcher. Lifetime shows a strange mother-daughter bond. The big shock hits near the end; Lifetime suggests Murphy might have been poisoned in a Hollywood conspiracy.The Brittany Murphy Story follows Brittany Murphy's brief success as a Hollywood 'it girl.' It mainly takes place after Clueless.Clueless is a story.The Brittany Murphy Story shows her romance with Ashton Kutcher. Lifetime tells a strange story about an overly dependent mother-daughter relationship. Near the end, Lifetime suggests Brittany Murphy might have been poisoned in a major Hollywood conspiracy theory.

  • 9
    A Tale of Two Coreys (2018)

    A Tale of Two Coreys (2018) is a story.A Tale of Two Coreys follows the life of Corey Feldman (played by Elijah Marcano and Scott Bosely) and Corey Haim (played by Justin Ellings and Casey Leach), from The Lost Boys to the reality series they starred in two decades later and the tragedy that followed.The Lost Boys is a story.The Lost Boys covers their rise to fame, the reality series they did two decades later, and the tragedy that followed. If you were the right age, you remember them as the hottest stars and their fall. Even if you don't, their stardom arc appears in many stories, fictional, real, and this film's fictionalized reality.

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    🔥 22 up · 10 down▼ 1 below editor
  • 10
    Natalee Holloway (2009)

    Based on her disappearance while vacationing in the Caribbean, the film covers Natalee Holloway.Natalee Holloway is a story.Natalee Holloway became another Lifetime movie misstep in portraying sensitive subjects. Critics focused on Lifetime's failure to show the fascination surrounding Holloway's disappearance and presumed death.

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    Also ranks #23 on Best Lifetime Movies Based on True Stories

  • 11
    Prosecuting Casey Anthony (2013)

    Lifetime presented another major murder trial for fans. Focusing more on Rob Lowe as a prosecutor, Lifetime's take on the Casey Anthony trial aimed to play with perspective.

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    🔥 35 up · 25 down

    Also ranks #39 on Best Lifetime Movies Based on True Stories

  • 12
    The Unauthorized Full House Story (2015)

    Following the steps of its predecessor, The Unauthorized Full House StoryThe Unauthorized Full House Story is a story.The Unauthorized Full House Story got a green light because many viewers watched it.Saved by the Bell is a story.We expected the Full House biopic to be bad. What made this story about the Full House gang a shock was the terrible casting. When the cast promo photos dropped online, the internet reacted angrily to how creepy and awful the actors looked, made to look like their famous counterparts.Full House is a story.The casting for the Full House biopic turned out awful. The internet reacted with anger when cast promo photos showed how creepy and terrible the actors looked, made to resemble their famous characters.

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    🔥 34 up · 32 down
  • 13
    The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story (2015)

    This is another short-lived Lifetime Movie Network trend.The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story is a story.The lengthy title for 'The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story (2015)' tried again to show the teen soap and its on-and-offscreen drama. Nothing new stood out in this take. That was the problem. Lifetime's 'Unauthorized' series failed.

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    🔥 27 up · 27 down
  • 14
    The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story (2014)

    This was the first of its kind for Lifetime.The UnauthorizedSaved by the BellStoryThis story spawned other network films about the sex and drama behind the scenes of '90s sitcoms. Lifetime seemed to want to ruin everyone's childhood and pop culture memories. Dustin Diamond wrote the book. He played Screech. The film shows one side of the sitcom's production. Diamond is currently in jail for stabbing someone, so this choice seems odd now.

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    🔥 44 up · 45 down
  • 15
    Ring of Fire (2013)

    Ring of FireThis film rehashes the critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning movie.Walk the LineThis film tells the story from June Carter Cash's point of view. If you try to retell a story, especially a popular one, it needs to be excellent. However, [missing information].Ring of FireThis film was not good. It lacked quality for its production. It just encourages a 'been there, done that' attitude.

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    🔥 22 up · 24 down
  • 16
    William & Kate: The Movie (2011)

    Can you imagine a more boring story thanWilliam & KateNot everyone reads the royal tabloids. This fluff piece seemed designed only to use the couple's royal marriage quickly. Will and Kate, no offense, their 'love story' does not justify a two-hour acted TV spot.

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    🔥 28 up · 32 down
  • 17
    Liz & Dick (2012)

    No one knows why Lifetime thought casting Lindsay Lohan, during her private and public struggles, to play Elizabeth Taylor would work. Casting Lohan as the lead inLiz & DickHeavy contracts forced the actress to be chauffeured to and from the set to ensure she showed up. The result was as bleak as people guessed.Liz & DickThis waspanned by criticsBoth actors' performances split viewers, and the writing was weak and strange. Still, it started the famous line, "I'M SO BORED," from a restless Lohan as Taylor.

  • 18
    Britney Ever After (2017)

    Britney Ever After This is another Lifetime biopic about a troubled young starlet facing stardom pressures, featuring Britney Spears. It follows her rise, her 2007 meltdown, and her return as pop princess. Natasha Bassett plays Spears, Clayton Chitty plays Kevin Federline, and Nathan Keyes plays Justin Timberlake.

    The movie angered Britney fans and Spears herself. Her representatives toldEntertainment WeeklyItdid not get her approval.

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    🔥 35 up · 49 down
  • 19
    Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014)

    Not only wasAaliyah: The Princess of R&BCritics panned 'Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014)'. Aaliyah's family and friends also criticized the film for many of the same reasons Lifetime did.Whitney.The film's casting was appalling. It inspired the viral hashtag #LifetimeBeLike because the actors looked nothing like major industry players like R. Kelly and Missy Elliot.

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    🔥 41 up · 68 down

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