Is American Made based on a true story? Explained

American Made is a 2017 action-comedy film directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise as the infamous Barry Seal, a former TWA pilot who became entangled in smuggling for the Medellín Cartel, later becoming a DEA informant in the 1980s.

Cruise's captivating performance was praised in Taiwan on August 18, 2017, and in the US on September 29, 2017. American Made, available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, shows Barry Seal's turbulent life.

American Made is based on a true story — but with some notable deviations. Inspired by Seal's real-life events and attempts to show his participation in covert government operations and smuggling, director Doug Liman of American Made notes that some of its elements were fictionalized or overdone to provide a more exciting cinematic experience.

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Is American Made based on a true story?

Inspired by Barry Seal's path from a commercial airline pilot to a CIA-recruited smuggler and DEA informant engaged in the infamous Medellín Cartel, American Made tracks Seal's actual life, which is both similar and different from the way the movie presents, even if it shows his life in broad strokes.

The movie dramatizes certain incidents, incorporating fictional characters like Monty Schafer, who recruits Seal in the film. In reality, Seal's recruitment by the CIA likely occurred years before he had joined TWA as a commercial pilot.

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The recruitment of Barry Seal

Barry Seal’s initial introduction to smuggling began as early as the late 1950s, well before he had become a TWA pilot. In the film, the character Monty Schafer, portrayed by Domhnall Gleeson, recruits Seal to perform CIA reconnaissance missions.

However, the real-life Seal started assisting various government agencies during his time with the Civil Air Patrol, where he became acquainted with figures involved in covert operations. While Seal did indeed work with the CIA, the timeline and events were modified in American Made for storytelling purposes.

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Barry Seal and the Medellín Cartel

Is American Made based on a true story? Explained (Image via Universal Pictures)

The film shows Barry Seal's relationship with Pablo Escobar and other cartel leaders as being direct and friendly. However, in reality, Seal’s involvement with the Medellín Cartel was more transactional than depicted.

Seal was a major drug smuggler for the cartel but didn't establish close relationships with cartel leaders like Escobar. His smuggling operations, which involved dropping duffel bags of drugs into rural areas, made him a significant player in the cocaine trade, but the film amplifies his interactions with cartel figures.

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The move to Arkansas

Following law enforcement in Louisiana's attention, the real Barry Seal moved his activities to Mena, Arkansas, in line with what American Made shows. Using private airstrips to evade discovery, Seal's smuggling operations centered on this little regional airport.

By moving to Arkansas, Seal was able to keep his smuggling operation running and take advantage of the less watched area to momentarily avoid authorities.

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Seal’s role in the Iran-Contra affair

While American Made hints at Seal’s involvement in covert missions for the U.S. government, particularly during the Iran-Contra affair, historical accounts reveal that Seal’s role in the affair remains unconfirmed. The movie suggests that Seal worked directly with the CIA to fly guns to Nicaraguan Contras, but these connections are more speculative than fact-based.

Author Del Hahn, who documented Seal’s life, argued that there was minimal evidence supporting Seal’s deep involvement with CIA operations related to the Contras, but Seal did become an informant for the DEA.

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Barry Seal as an informant

As depicted in American Made, Seal offered to work with the DEA after facing a substantial prison sentence. His insider knowledge of cartel activities led to multiple indictments, including those against prominent figures like Escobar.

In the film, Seal’s role as an informant comes with dangers and eventually costs him his life. In reality, his cooperation with the DEA led to high-stakes missions, which placed him at risk from both the cartel and his own government’s exposed operations.

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Production and direction

Doug Liman directed the film with a specific tone in mind — balancing drama and action with comedic elements. Liman’s father, Arthur L. Liman, played a role in investigating the Iran-Contra affair, influencing Liman’s interest in Seal’s story.

The director said that the movie intentionally took liberties to create an engaging narrative, calling it:

"a fun lie based on a true story."

The film’s unique blend of action and dark humor showcases Liman’s cinematic style, further heightened by Cruise’s energetic performance.

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Cast of the movie

Tom Cruise led the ensemble of American Made, giving Barry Seal charismatic and energetic performance. Alejandro Edda was Jorge Ochoa, Domhnall Gleeson was Monty Schafer, while Sarah Wright was Seal's wife Lucy.

Every actor helped to vividly depict Seal's life; Cruise's performance especially won praise for capturing Seal's risk-taking attitude. Although the characters were occasionally fictionalized, the cast gave their roles life and complexity the storytelling needed.

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American Made is inspired by the real-life exploits of Barry Seal, with numerous elements grounded in truth yet dramatized for cinematic impact. Although Seal's relationships with the CIA and the Medellín Cartel are well known, the movie strengthens these ties to create an exciting story.

American Made presents a rather interesting but not totally accurate picture of Seal's life by combining fact and fiction. Eventually, the film is a high-energy homage to an enigmatic person that transports viewers into the convoluted and sometimes dangerous world Seal lived in.

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