Here's a few films that were inspired by real-life criminals:
Public Enemies (2009)
Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp as famed 1930's Chicago bank robber John Dillinger. Through the film, we follow Dillinger's life, his relationship with Billie Frechette, and the group of FBI agents that are dedicated to Dillinger's capture. While Dillinger was eventually shot down (both in the film and in real life), the film was a commercial success, earning $214,104,620 globally as of July 2012.
Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac is based on the unsolved serial killer case of the "Zodiac Killer," who frightened the San Francisco bay area in the 1960's and 70's. Directed by David Fincher, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo, this film grossed $84,785,914 worldwide as of May 2007.
Catch Me if You Can (2002)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and directed by Stephen Speilberg, this film follows Frank Abalgnale Jr., the extremely talented conman. Before he turned 19, Frank Abagnale Jr. made it onto the Most Wanted list for conning millions of dollars worth of checks as a pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor. The film follows the FBI's pursuit of Abagnale, up through his eventual capture and reassignment in service to the U.S. government as an expert in detecting counterfeit checks. The film has grossed $351,112,395 worldwide.
If only real life was like the movies, I might start robbing banks. I wonder what it is about criminals that makes them so juicy to talk about (and make movies about). I've only seen "Catch me if you can" and I loved it. I also love virtually every movie starring Leo, but that's unrelated. In that movie, Abagnale ends up in a pretty unhappy state, or at least it seems. When it comes down to it, criminals never seem to end up very happy. Take Dillinger as an example. Dude got gunned down.
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