Musical biopics have been a staple of the film industry for many years, as making a movie about a performer’s life creates the opportunity to use their music within the context of the project. The success of past musicals and the best modern movie musicals is somewhat divisive, as musicals don’t connect with all audiences. However, music biopics are grouped into a class of their own because they have a realistic narrative since they draw from a public figure’s actual life. This also means that biopics have plenty of drama, as the music industry can be a tough business.
Music biopics are a delicate genre, as it’s important to capture a person’s life and legacy with respect and dedication to the truth.
Many exciting upcoming music biopics will likely expand the genre in new and unexpected ways. However, music biopics are a delicate genre, as it’s important to capture a person’s life and legacy with respect and dedication to the truth. Simultaneously, a film has a responsibility to its audience to dramatize and fictionalize certain events and situations to align with the cinematic experience. These pressures make it more difficult than one might realize to make the best possible biopic that satisfies expectations and is as truthful as possible. However, when done right, biopics can be unlike any other genre.
Related 10 Best Biopic Movies Of All Time
The biopic genre is one of the hardest to master, meaning that the greatest stand out above the rest for their detailed & skilled portrayals.
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10 La Bamba (1987)
Directed by Luis Valdez
La Bamba PG-13BiographyDocumentaryDrama Where to Watch
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Director Luis Valdez Release Date July 24, 1987 Cast Lou Diamond Phillips , Esai Morales , Rosanna DeSoto , Elizabeth Peña , Danielle von Zerneck , Joe Pantoliano Runtime 108 minutes
He’s portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips, who brings heart and life to the young musician and weathers the challenges Valens faces as well as the successes.
La Bamba follows the story of Ritchie Valens, the singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the late 1950s and passed away in a plane crash at the height of his career. He’s portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips, who brings heart and life to the young musician and weathers the challenges Valens faces as well as the successes. The film takes its name from the iconic song, “La Bamba,” that Valens popularized with his iteration that paid tribute to his Latino roots while incorporating his love of rock and roll and contemporary music.
The dichotomy between Valens’s family life and his career as a musician is a large part of the film’s conflict, as is the racial discrimination he faced in his private and public lives. However, La Bamba isn’t just special because of its willingness to be in conversation with the social and political topics of the 1950s. La Bamba stands out as a music biopic because it uses Valens’s music to its fullest potential, using it as a metaphor for Valens as a person. Additionally, the film doesn’t lean into melodrama when depicting Valens’s death, which is tactful.
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La Bamba (1987) |
83% |
79% |
9 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Bohemian Rhapsody 2
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Bohemian Rhapsody tells the story of the band Queen and their iconic frontman Freddy Mercury (Rami Malek). A biographical musical drama, Bohemian Rhapsody follows the meteoric rise of Queen from their formation in 1970 and chronicles some of the creative and personal differences that the band was forced to overcome to achieve global success.
Director Bryan Singer , Dexter Fletcher Release Date October 24, 2018 Studio(s) 20th Century Cast Ben Hardy , Aidan Gillen , Gwilym Lee , Mike Myers , Rami Malek , Lucy Boynton , Tom Hollander , Michelle Duncan , Joseph Mazzello , Allen Leech Runtime 2h 14m
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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) |
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While the band Queen is central to the narrative in Bohemian Rhapsody, the story is focused on the life of the lead singer and frontman of the band, Freddy Mercury. The movie takes its name from one of the band’s most famous songs, but it’s hardly the most recognizable number in Bohemian Rhapsody. As time has progressed, Queen has retained its popularity, and the movie tracks this rise to stardom well. The audience witnesses Mercury at all phases of his life and sees him acclimate to fame while accepting his sexuality and pushing creative boundaries.
Rami Malek won Best Actor at the Academy Awards for playing Mercury, and this wasn’t the only accolade the film achieved, as it was nominated for Best Picture and won for Sound Mixing and Editing. However, the real testament to Bohemian Rhapsody is how much it connects with audiences, as it was a massive box office success. Bohemian Rhapsody wasn’t just popular because it contained so many famous and beloved songs but because it humanized an icon and openly discussed aspects of Mercury’s life that weren’t always touched upon during his life.
8 Elvis (2022)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Elvis 4
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PG-13MusicBiographyDrama Where to Watch
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Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis tells the story of the musician’s meteoric rise to superstardom. Following Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) from his time as a young up-and-coming musician, Elvis chronicles how the titular artist met Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), his infamous agent and business partner. Elvis documents the King’s rise to the top, his subsequent career slump, his triumphant return, and his tragic end.
Director Baz Luhrmann Release Date June 24, 2022 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Cast Austin Butler , Helen Thomson , Richard Roxburgh , Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Natasha Bassett , Tom Hanks , David Wenham , Luke Bracey , Olivia DeJonge , Xavier Samuel Runtime 159 minutes
Elvis
was made to be as explosive and creatively experimental as the artist’s career, with his music interwoven throughout the film.
Baz Luhrmann is known for directing smash-hit blockbusters, and his adaptation of the rock star Elvis’s life was no exception. Austin Butler gave a career-defining performance as the king of rock and roll, and though there are campy aspects of the film that viewers and critics poked fun at, the sheer spectacle of the project can’t be denied. With enormous set pieces and recreations of Elvis’s biggest musical moments, Elvis is a modern epic that follows in the footsteps of the over-the-top style of the man himself.
Sofia Coppola’s biopic about the life of Priscilla Presley sparked debate over whether Elvis or Priscilla was a better movie. However, the projects are so different it’s difficult to compare them. Elvis was made to be as explosive and creatively experimental as the artist’s career, with his music interwoven throughout the film. Conversely, Priscilla contrasts this evocative style in every way, allowing them to occupy different niches. Elvis should be praised for its production value, the Butler’s dedication to the role, and the cohesive stylized approach that immerses the viewer.
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Elvis (2022) |
74% |
94% |
7 Rocketman (2019)
Directed by Dexter Fletcher
Rocketman 3
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A biopic about legendary British rockstar Elton John, Rocketman is a somewhat romanticized chronicle of John’s life, from his childhood and turbulent homelife to his first foray into music and how stardom effected him. The film is centered around John’s journey to sobriety, with the narrative framed by John telling his life story in an AA meeting during his time in rehab. Taron Egerton stars as John, with a cast that includes Richard Madden, Jamie Bell, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Director Dexter Fletcher Release Date May 31, 2019 Studio(s) New Republic Pictures , Marv Films , Rocket Pictures Cast Bryce Dallas Howard , Tate Donovan , Jamie Bell , Gemma Jones , Charlie Rowe , Stephen Graham , Jess Radomska , Taron Egerton , Richard Madden Runtime 121 Minutes
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Rocketman (2019) |
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Though Elton John is a well-known figure in music and film, Rocketman revealed a lot about his early career and struggles with addiction. Like most music biopics, Rocketman doesn’t follow the beats of John’s life with detailed accuracy but prioritizes the emotional plot points to tell a narratively tight story. As John, Taron Egerton showed a different side of himself, having previously gained fame from action films like Kingsman: The Secret Service. However, he proved himself to be more than worthy of taking on the role of John, as the movie tackles some of the most fraught moments of the singer’s life.
Rocketman has been praised for the way it discusses John’s addiction and openly accepts John’s sexuality and relationships with men throughout his life. Aesthetically, Rocketman is just as playful and bombastic as John, and the way the movie seamlessly incorporates the musical numbers is likely part of the reason it was such a hit with audiences. Additionally, the sheer popularity and notoriety of John’s music lent itself to the film’s success. Though Rocketman came out during the late 2010s boom of music biopics, it’s one of the most notable from this period.
6 Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Straight Outta Compton 1
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Straight Outta Compton chronicles the rise of the hip hop group NWA from Compton, California. The film tells the story of the formation of the band, the controversy surrounding gangsta rap, police brutality, and the tragic death of Eazy-E. Straight Outta Compton stars Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. as his father, Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, Neil Brown Jr. as DJ Yella, and Aldis Hodge as MC Ren.
Director F. Gary Gray Release Date August 14, 2015 Cast Corey Hawkins , Neil Brown Jr. , O’Shea Jackson Jr. , Aldis Hodge , keith stanfield , Paul Giamatti , Jason Mitchell Runtime 147minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures
While
Straight Outta Compton
was a hit when it was released, its storytelling and how it skillfully tracks the lives of all the men ensures that the film will be a classic of the genre for years to come.
There are aspects of Straight Outta Compton that are true and that are fictionalized, but the entirety of the film added up to a memorable and popular project. The film follows the story of the rap group N.W.A., which included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Straight Outta Compton is an incredible ensemble piece, as the actors who took on the roles of the revolutionary musicians O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., and Aldis Hodge all disappear into their roles and capture the nuances of the group’s dynamic.
Since Straight Outta Compton deals with such recent history, its story and conflicts are still relevant today, especially when it comes to the racial prejudice and police brutality discussed in the movie. While Straight Outta Compton was a hit when it was released, its storytelling and how it skillfully tracks the lives of all the men ensures that the film will be a classic of the genre for years to come. The film also pays tribute to the setting, fully rooting itself in Southern Los Angeles. It acknowledges the personal experiences instrumental in creating their innovative style of rap.
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5 Amadeus (1984)
Directed by Miloš Forman
Amadeus 1
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Telling the fictionalized story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life, Amadeus is adapted by Peter Shaffer from his 1979 stage play of the same name. Set in 18th Century Vienna, Austria, the biopic follows the legendary composer from when he left Salzburg, through his disastrous rivalriy with Antonio Salieri.
Director Milos Forman Release Date September 19, 1984 Cast F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hulce , Elizabeth Berridge , Simon Callow , Roy Dotrice , Christine Ebersole Runtime 160 minutes
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Amadeus is one of the least historically accurate music biopics, as it invents much of the central conflict between Mozart and Salieri for dramatic effect. However, the result is an incredibly entertaining film about the devastating quest for perfection that can destroy an artist. The film is as much about Salieri’s jealousy of Mozart’s genius as it is about how Mozart recklessly wielded his power. F. Murray Abraham plays Salieri, and Tom Hulce is Mozart, and both actors were praised for their work in the film. Though their characters couldn’t be more different, the two men maintain a brilliant dynamic.
Classical music is not as popular today as it once was, but Mozart’s legacy has sustained itself over the centuries, and movies like Amadeus are a reminder of how the myths and truths of his life have been intermingled. Winning Best Picture, Best Actor for Abraham, and Best Director at the Academy Awards, the response to Amadeus is undeniable and is an example of a biopic that shines because of its inaccuracies, not in spite of them.Amadeus is as fantastical and imaginative as the music that inspired it.
4 La Vie En Rose (2007)
Directed by Olivier Dahan
La Vie en Rose cast Marion Cotillard as Édith Piaf, and by the end of the film, it’s clear that no one but Cotillard could have captured each phase of Piaf’s life with so much dignity and sadness. Beginning with her childhood and following her entire life leading up to the moment of her passing, La Vie en Rose bounces between different points in time, showing Piaf at her height of popularity, juxtaposing this with her slow decline in health. Cotillard won the award for Best Actress at the Oscars as well as the César Awards.
The recurring motif of one of her most iconic songs, “Non, je ne regrette rien,” is a moving throughline.
It remains one of the most successful French films on an international scale and is part of the reason why Cotillard broke into film roles in Hollywood. However, outside the critical performance by Cotillard, there is still much to recommend La Vie en Rose. The story takes Piaf and the audience all over the world, from Paris to New York and California, giving insight into the glamour and pain of fame and artistry in the mid-twentieth century. The recurring motif of one of her most iconic songs, “Non, je ne regrette rien,” is a moving throughline.
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3 Funny Girl (1968)
Directed by William Wyler
Funny Girl (1968) GBiographyComedyDrama Where to Watch
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Barbra Streisand shines in her debut film role as Fanny Brice, a talented but insecure New York City singer who rises to fame while struggling with her relationship with the gambler Nicky Arnstein.
Director William Wyler Release Date September 19, 1968 Cast Barbra Streisand , Omar Sharif , Kay Medford , Anne Francis , Walter Pidgeon , Lee Allen , Mae Questel , Gerald Mohr , Frank Faylen , Mittie Lawrence , Gertrude Flynn , Penny Santon , John Harmon , Ruth Clifford Runtime 155 Minutes
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Funny Girl (1968) |
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Barbra Streisand wouldn’t be the icon of the stage and screen she is today without her film debut in Funny Girl, in which she reprised her role of Fanny Brice from the theatrical musical. Though Streisand would go on to star in many amazing movies and play several recognizable characters, she will always be linked to Brice and Funny Girl because of how it transcends the musical genre and is simply a fantastic work of cinema. The original music from the stage version perfectly lends itself to the cinematic adaptations that make the numbers even more sweeping in scale.
Brice’s unique position as a Vaudeville star and female comic makes her the perfect subject for a musical biopic like Funny Girl, and even though her life has now become synonymous with Streisand’s rise to fame, Brice’s legacy is well-remembered. The movie captures the era and humor of the early 20th century and provides insight into the fraught relationship between Brice and her husband, Nicky Arnstien, played by an equally compelling Omar Sharif. Widely considered one of the best movie musicals of all time, Funny Girl will never fade from the cultural memory.
2 I’m Not There (2007)
Directed by Todd Haynes
I’m Not There 1
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An innovative biographical film that reimagines the life of Bob Dylan through six distinct characters, each symbolizing a different phase of his career and personality. Portrayed by a diverse cast including Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, and Heath Ledger, these characters navigate through the various transformations of Dylan’s life—from his early days as a folk singer to his electric phase and beyond.
Director Todd Haynes Release Date October 1, 2007 Cast Cate Blanchett , Ben Whishaw , Christian Bale , Richard Gere , Marcus Carl Franklin , Heath Ledger Runtime 135 minutes
Most notably, Cate Blanchett plays the Jude Quinn archetype, who grapples with being the face of folk music while being accused of being a false messiah and sellout.
There are many exciting things about Timothée Chalamet’s upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. However, the film already starts at a disadvantage when compared to the first film to tackle Dylan’s legacy. The experimental I’m Not There, directed by Todd Haynes, features several actors portraying figures that represent the many facets of Dylan at different points in his career. Most notably, Cate Blanchett plays the Jude Quinn archetype, who grapples with being the face of folk music while being accused of being a false messiah and sellout.
I’m Not There is in conversation with art in general and the experience of a musician who reaches the fame and notoriety of Dylan. The expectations of who he is versus who he should be are central throughlines in the conflict and vignettes of the piece. Touching upon the events and changes of the latter half of the twentieth century, especially the folk scene and rise of the Beat generation, I’m Not There looks at the elements that came together to create the elusive figure of Dylan.
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I’m Not There (2007) |
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69% |
Related 10 Best Movies About Music, Ranked
From heartwarming stories of fictional bands to real-life legends in musical biopics, the best movies about music have enthralled audiences.
1 Walk The Line (2005)
Directed by James Mangold
Walk The Line (2005) PG-13DramaMusicRomance Where to Watch
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Walk the Line is a biographical drama film that tells the story of Johnny Cash, a legendary musician, and his tumultuous relationship with June Carter, a country singer. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as Carter, and explores their romance, as well as Cash’s struggles with addiction and fame.
Director James Mangold Release Date September 13, 2005 Studio(s) Mars Media Beteiligungs , Tree Line Films , Konrad Pictures , Catfish Productions , Fox 2000 Pictures Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Reese Witherspoon , Ginnifer Goodwin , Robert Patrick , Dallas Roberts Runtime 136 Minutes
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Walk The Line (2005) |
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Johnny Cash and the popularization of country music in America go hand in hand, and Walk The Line depicts a man struggling amid a groundbreaking career. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon both give career-best performances as Cash and his wife, June Carter, during the period of Cash’s life when he faced the realities of fame and grappled with addiction. Witherspoon won the award for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her turn as June, and both actors contributed to making Walk The Line an empathetic and touching tribute to the couple.
Few genres of music or musicians are as synonymous with the U.S. as country or Cash. This indicates why the movie was such a hit with critics and audiences alike. Musical biopics rely heavily on the use of the artist’s work, but Phoenix manages to put his own spin on the performances while maintaining a clear connection to Cash. Phoenix emulates the nuance of Cash’s life and star power, but he doesn’t try to imitate the one-of-a-kind figure perfectly.