Even though there isn't much to feel guilty about, Lifetime movies have mastered the art of guilty pleasure. They may be corny, overly dramatic, and produced on a tiny budget, but they are wildly amusing to watch nonetheless! The most fantastic type of Lifetime movies are those based on true stories. These gripping dramas will keep you glued to your seat.
However, if you were looking for new Lifetime movies, you won't find any here. Today, we are all about 90s Lifetime movies based on true stories. You’ll need an entire bucket of popcorn and a comfy couch to watch these suspenseful and dramatic films. Try to clear your schedule to binge-watch them. Don’t wait for Friday or Saturday to indulge in these thrilling old Lifetime movies based on true stories.
Luckily, we’ve made things easier by assembling a list of the best Lifetime movies based on true stories. Let us know which one you like the most by upvoting and commenting with more suggestions. Also, if you’re a hardcore ‘90s fan or are feeling a little under the weather and need a laughter prescription, check out the funniest movies from the ‘90s!
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#21 Selena
1997 | 2 hours 7 minutes | Directed by Gregory Nava
Starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos
This is a biographical musical drama about the Mexican singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. She had a promising career and family life, but Yolanda Saldívar murdered her at the age of 23. You can find this full Lifetime movie based on a true story on many streaming sites. But be prepared for some heavy moments during it!
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4points
#22 Willing To Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story
1992 | 2 hours | Directed by David Greene
Starring Lesley Ann Warren and Tess Harper
This story is about Wanda Holloway from Texas, who was found guilty of conspiring to kill the mother of her daughter’s cheerleading competitor. She was driven by jealousy and came up with this murder plan to secure her daughter a spot as a cheerleader on the squad. Even though it sounds made-up, this is an unbelievable true story.
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3points
#23 Empty Cradle
1993 | 1 hour 36 minutes | Directed by Paul Schneider
Starring Kate Jackson
This Lifetime movie is based on the creepy true story of an evil woman who can't have a child. She fakes a pregnancy to make her boyfriend stay. To turn this fiction into a reality, she surgically removes a pregnant woman’s baby by cesarean and abducts it. This story is detailed in the book “Masking Evil” by Carol Anne Davis. It was about Norma Jean, who drugged Mary Childs and cut her baby out, claiming that it was her own.
Starring Kate Jackson
This Lifetime movie is based on the creepy true story of an evil woman who can't have a child. She fakes a pregnancy to make her boyfriend stay. To turn this fiction into a reality, she surgically removes a pregnant woman’s baby by cesarean and abducts it. This story is detailed in the book “Masking Evil” by Carol Anne Davis. It was about Norma Jean, who drugged Mary Childs and cut her baby out, claiming that it was her own.
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3points
#24 Murder Of Innocence
1993 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Directed by Tom McLoughlin
Starring Stephen Caffrey and Valerie Bertinelli
The story follows the life of Laura Wade, whose whole life gets turned upside down due to her psychotic behavior. She occasionally has a mental breakdown and engages in murderous behavior. She eventually discovers what is happening, but it is too late. This is based on the true story of Laurie Dann, who killed one boy and wounded two girls in an elementary school in 1988.
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3points
#25 For The Love Of Nancy
1994 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Paul Schneider
Starring Tracey Gold, Jill Clayburgh, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar
This Lifetime movie is based on the chilling true story of Nancy Walsh, who is anxious about her future after graduating. She hides the dirty little secret about her anorexia, but eventually, her parents confront her about her condition. The story centers around their battle to protect her from herself.
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1point
#26 Love, Lies And Murder
1991 | 4 hours | Directed by Robert Markowitz
Starring Clancy Brown, Sheryl Lee, and Moira Kelly
This Lifetime true story movie is about Cinnamon Brown, who kills her stepmother by shooting her. Even though she confessed to the crime, the police weren’t able to find enough evidence to support the motive. They delved deeper and found that there was more than met the eye. This miniseries is based on the murder of Linda Bailey Brown in 1985.
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1point
#27 Too Young To Die
1990 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Directed by Robert Markowitz
Starring Juliette Lewis, Brad Pitt, and Dean Abston
This true crime story follows Amanda Bradley, who is a 15-year-old homeless prostitute. She comes in contact with Billy Canton, who is a comfort but also uses her. Eventually, Amanda kills a man while on drugs and lands in jail. She becomes one of the youngest people ever to get sentenced to death. The movie is loosely based on Attina Marie Cannaday, who killed Ronald Wojcik with a knife in 1982.
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0points
#28 Moment Of Truth: Cradle Of Conspiracy
1994 | 1 hour 36 minutes | Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont
Starring Danica McKellar, Dee Wallace, and Carmen Argenziano
This is one of the most terrifying movies based on true stories about a missing child. It is the scary true crime story of a young woman under much pressure from her parents. She finds support from a man named Kenny, who has secret plans to impregnate her and sell her baby for money.
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0points
#29 When Innocence Is Lost
1997 | 1 hour 27 minutes | Directed by Bethany Rooney
Starring Keri Russell and Jill Clayburgh
This Lifetime original movie is based on the real story of Jennifer Ireland, who had her daughter Maranda at 16. It centers around the character Erica French, who keeps the baby she conceived in high school. She ends up in a long-drawn custody battle with the child’s father, Scott. Scott eventually realizes that something is wrong and that the child has mysterious injuries and bruises, leading to a startling discovery.
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0points
#30 Moment Of Truth: Stalking Back
1993 | 1 hour 36 minutes | Directed by Corey Allen
Starring Shanna Reed, Paul Rudd, and LuAnne Ponce
This movie from Lifetime follows a woman who tries to protect her daughter from a deranged admirer. When the law lets her down, she has to take matters into her own hands. It is based on the story of 14-year-old Laurisa Annello, stalked by her Little League Umpire, Bruce Raines.
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0points
#31 Ultimate Deception
1999 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Richard A. Colla
Starring Yasmine Bleeth and Richard Grieco
This movie recounts the story of Bobby Woodkin, a con artist who had a vasectomy and couldn’t have children. He killed a young mother and stole her 3-month-old baby to please his wife, Terry. This Lifetime movie is based on the true story of Woodkin, who is serving a life sentence in prison. The film is a dramatization of the case that took place in 1991 in Denver and Topeka.
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0points
Which True Story Shocked You the Most?
These Lifetime movies are intriguing, exciting, and thrilling. It’s no wonder that you can’t stop yourself from binge-watching them. Until we come up with a list of shocking 80s Lifetime movies based on true stories, you can check out this list of nostalgic 80s movies.
If you loved these shocking and interesting real movies, you might also enjoy these absurd true stories that might seem hard to believe at first but will undoubtedly earn an upvote.
