The Real Story (2002)

Johnny Depp and the cast of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" present the buccaneer lifestyle as a back-stabbing, high-living, hard-drinking world. It makes for an entertaining series, but is it a true depiction of the times? Evidence shows that amidst the lawless merriment, pirates formed a highly organized society, where democracy ruled and voting and health care preceded England by 100 years. We interview historians, weaponry experts, and one of the film's screenwriters to show how true pirate adventures inspired this blockbuster franchise.

For over a decade, "Titanic" stood as the world's top-grossing movie, an epic tale of love, adventure, disaster and sacrifice. When it was made, James Cameron was lauded for his attention to detail and accuracy, but modern technology and new theories are telling a different story of what really happened to the "unsinkable" ship. We interview historians, engineers, and scientists for their expert testimony. We even set simulated sail aboard a virtual Titanic to retrace the final moments before imapct, and get to the bottom of the truth.

You're 30 times more likely to be hit by lightning than attacked by a shark. Dog bites and bee stings cause more fatalities, so why are we so terrified of these demons of the deep? Blame "Jaws." The Steven Spielberg classic terrified millions in 1975, and decades later, the film still has teeth. But could a Great White really be a serial killer? We interview marine biologists and shark experts for answers. We also relive a true tale of a man-eating monster that terrorized New Jersey in 1916, a story far scarier than anything on screen.

In the year 2000, masses lined up to cheer on Russel Crowe's Maximus in the Ridley Scott film, "Gladiator." More than 1,900 years earlier, they lined up for the real thing. It was a scene far bloodier and more brutal than any of the battles presented in the Oscar-winning film. We uncover the real story of "Gladiator," a tale of blood, death, obsession and violence. Demonstrations and new experiments reveal how these men really fought and died, and examine the emperor Commodus, a man who obsessed over gladiators while his empire crumbled around him.

Would the raptors in "Jurassic Park" have been as terrifying if they were covered in feathers? Would the T-Rex be as threatening if its speed tapped out at 10 MPH? No, but as a work of science fiction, it's forgivable. How much of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster was inspired by reality? Its characters were based on real people. Its shocking premise was influenced by real discoveries. Look beyond the Hollywood magic and into the scientific facts, with expert opinions from research scientists, fossil hunters and Paleontologist Jack Horner, the inspiration for Dr. Grant, the main character in "Jurassic Park."