6 Best Ghostwriter and Literary Fraud Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 16, 2026

The murky ethics of hidden authorship, stolen words, and literary deception have powered some of cinema’s sharpest dramas about writing and truth. In Trumbo (2015): A blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter continues working in secret under other writers’ names during the Red Scare. Just as strong is Shattered Glass (2003): A rising young journalist’s celebrated career unravels after editors discover his stories are largely fabricated.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A struggling biographer turns to forging letters from famous deceased authors to pay her bills.

Directed by Marielle Heller · 1h 46m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Trumbo (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter continues working in secret under other writers' names during the Red Scare.

Directed by Jay Roach · 2h 04m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Eyes (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A painter discovers her husband has been taking credit for her enormously successful artwork for years.

Directed by Tim Burton · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Words (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A struggling novelist's decision to publish a stranger's manuscript as his own brings fame and crushing guilt.

Directed by Brian Klugman & Lee Sternthal · 1h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Essential · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ghost Writer (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A ghostwriter hired to complete a former prime minister's memoirs uncovers a dangerous conspiracy.

Directed by Roman Polanski · 2h 08m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Shattered Glass (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 92% Metacritic 73

A rising young journalist's celebrated career unravels after editors discover his stories are largely fabricated.

Directed by Billy Ray · 1h 34m · Rated PG-13

11 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Ghostwriter and Literary Fraud Movies

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

Trumbo (2015)

Big Eyes (2014)

The Words (2012)

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Shattered Glass (2003)

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