What is a narrative film based on a real-life event called?

A narrative film based on a real-life event is specifically termed a docudrama. This genre combines documentary-style filmmaking with dramatic storytelling to portray real events, often blending factual elements with dramatized reenactments. The purpose of a docudrama is to provide viewers with an engaging account of true stories while highlighting the emotional and historical significance of those events.

In contrast, a biographical film typically focuses on the life story of a particular individual, exploring their experiences, achievements, and challenges in a more comprehensive manner, rather than dramatizing a specific event. Fiction films are wholly created from the imagination and do not rely on actual events or people, while a mockumentary presents fictional events in a documentary style for comedic or satirical effect. Therefore, the unique combination of factual recounting and dramatic interpretation makes docudrama the correct term for a narrative film based on real-life occurrences.