docudramas
Dramatized true stories
Docudramas are films or television programs that dramatize real events, blending documentary fact with fictional techniques.
Actors portray historical figures, dialogue is invented, and scenes are staged for dramatic effect, but the underlying story claims basis in truth.
The form invites criticism when it takes liberties: The docudrama compressed years of investigation into a single week.
Staged reproduction of events
- recreationRefreshment through leisure
- castingShaping through liquid form
- screenplayFilm's written blueprint
- archival footagePreserved historical recordings
interview · narrative · filming · actors · producers · directors · set design · costume
Finite-episode TV narrative
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- HBOPremium cable network
- NetflixSubscription streaming service
- BBCBritish public broadcaster
episode · broadcast · premiere · ratings · binge-watch · limited series · anthology · channel
Genre covering actual offenses
- political scandalPublic official's exposed wrongdoing
- biographyWritten life account
- warArmed struggle between groups
- disasterSudden ruinous event
courtroom · medical · historical event · celebrity · murder · conspiracy · survival · espionage
Degree of correctness
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- exploitationSelfish use of others
sensationalism · fact-checking · survivors · victims · families · criticism · responsibility · disclosure
reenactment
Staged reproduction of events
- recreationRefreshment through leisure
- castingShaping through liquid form
- screenplayFilm's written blueprint
archival footage · interview · narrative · filming · actors · producers · directors · set design · costume · voice-over
miniseries
Finite-episode TV narrative
BBC · episode · broadcast · premiere · ratings · binge-watch · limited series · anthology · channel · runtime
true crime
Genre covering actual offenses
- political scandalPublic official's exposed wrongdoing
- biographyWritten life account
- warArmed struggle between groups
disaster · courtroom · medical · historical event · celebrity · murder · conspiracy · survival · espionage · royal family
accuracy
Degree of correctness
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- consentVoluntary agreement given
exploitation · sensationalism · fact-checking · survivors · victims · families · criticism · responsibility · disclosure · speculation
- documentariestrue crime docs, crime docs, nature doc, docuseries, propaganda films
- dramaacting, playwright, character study, acting class, character development
- online dramasweb series, K-dramas, webisodes, miniseries, anthology series
- biopicsbiopic, biopics, Lincoln, Gandhi, Amadeus
- period dramasperiod dramas, costume dramas
- TV specialsspecials, Christmas special, holiday special, Halloween specials, Thanksgiving special
docudramasscience fiction
Speculative fiction with technological themes
fictional narratives · fairy tales · speculative fiction · escapist fiction
docudramasdocumentaries
Films depicting real events
cinéma vérité · raw footage · news footage · archival footage