The life of a professional musician is seldom easy. Because of this, many films about musicians end up being rather tragic stories. Of course, that does not stop audiences from flocking to see them. Something about the trials and tribulations of those trying to find success in the music industry is endlessly alluring to viewers; perhaps because of the fascinating contrast between the glamour of achieving fame through music, and the near-impossible path to get there.
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Whether they highlight musicians who skyrocketed to stardom but tragically died young, or gifted artists who never received the recognition they deserved, all of these films portray heartbreaking stories of those who merely sought to bring joy to the world through their songs. All of these films, whether true stories or fictional tales, are bound to break the hearts of audiences over and over again. Nevertheless, it is hard not to admire the inspiring nature of their stories, no matter how sad they may prove to be.
10 Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
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8/10 Inside Llewyn Davis RMusicalComedy
Set in 1961, this black comedy film follows a week in the life of Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk musician trying to balance his pursuit of musical success with his attempts to keep his life together.
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*Availability in US Director Joel Coen Release Date December 6, 2013 Studio(s) StudioCanal Distributor(s) StudioCanal Writers Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Cast Oscar Isaac , Carey Mulligan , John Goodman , Garrett Hedlund , Justin Timberlake , Adam Driver , F. Murray Abraham Runtime 105 minutes Expand
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The Coen brothers’ 2013 feature, Inside Llewyn Davis, is a heart-wrenching slice-of-life story about a struggling folk singer just trying to get by. While it is partially inspired by true events, the film is fictional, though this does not detract from its emotional power in the slightest. Inside Llewyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac as the titular folk singer, whom viewers observe as he goes through a typical week in his life, having nowhere to live and hardly enough money to make it to the next day.
Related Inside Llewyn Davis Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & Inspiration
Inside Llewyn Davis is one of the Coens’ most acclaimed films; here’s a guide to the soundtrack and the man who inspired the main character.
The sadness at the core of Inside Llewyn Davis lies within the singer’s persistent inability to catch a break. Viewers are shown that Davis is an incredibly gifted artist, but an endless stream of unfortunate circumstances continuously prevent him from getting the appreciation and rewards he deserves. Every strained relationship, financial loss, and disappointing venture just continues to pile onto the despair felt by the protagonist. Inside Llewyn Davis is a tragic look at the bitter reality of the music industry for so many individuals.
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9 A Star Is Born (2018)
Directed by Bradley Cooper
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6.2/10 A Star is Born RMusicDramaMusical
The third remake of the original 1937 film, A Star Is Born stars Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, an alcoholic Country musician who discovers and falls in love with a young and aspiring singer named Ally, played by Lady Gaga. As Jack helps Ally become famous, their relationship deepens, but his private demons have devastating consequences on both their lives. The film was also Cooper’s directorial debut.
Director Bradley Cooper Release Date October 5, 2018 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Bradley Cooper , Eric Roth , Will Fetters Cast Michael Harney , Sam Elliott , Bonnie Somerville , Lady Gaga , Anthony Ramos , Dave Chappelle , Bradley Cooper , Andrew Dice Clay Runtime 2h 15m Expand
Though the film has been remade several times over the years, the most recent (and perhaps most popular) iteration of A Star Is Born is the 2018 version, which Bradley Cooper both directed and starred in, alongside Lady Gaga. The film tells the story of an aging musician with an alcohol problem who meets and falls in love with a fellow musical artist, helping her to use her talents to launch a successful music career of her own.Though the story can be viewed as inspiring and romantic, there is an undeniable element of tragedy to it as well.
This Oscar-winning take on the beloved, timeless tale proves that some stories never fail to break the hearts of their listeners, no matter how many times they have been told.
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Without giving away the specifics, the conclusion of A Star Is Born is certainly one of the more emotionally devastating endings to cap off a film about a musician. The pure, uplifting feel of the love story only contributes even further to the tragic nature of the ending. This Oscar-winning take on the beloved, timeless tale proves that some stories never fail to break the hearts of their listeners, no matter how many times they have been told.
8 Last Days (2005)
Directed by Gus Van Sant
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Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant is no stranger to capturing sadness on film, making him an excellent choice to assume the director’s chair for Last Days. As the title suggests, the film follows the melancholy final days of a musician before it is ultimately discovered that he has taken his own life. Though the specific story and characters are fictional, the concept was inspired by the death of Nirvana leading man, Kurt Cobain, whose tragic end is well-known to anyone interested in the music industry.
Last Days achieves its profound sadness through the sheer, depressing believability of its story. Aside from sneaking out of his rehab facility at the very beginning, nothing overly dramatic or unusual happens to the main character. He gets phone calls about his band, avoids people he doesn’t want to talk to, and goes to a rock club at night. None of these events feel particularly unusual, but there is nevertheless a persistent sadness in the air around the character. The perpetual sadness continues through the film’s heartbreaking conclusion, even if audiences already knew what would happen.
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7 La La Land (2016)
Directed by Damien Chazelle
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8.4/10 La La Land PG-13DramaMusicalComedy
Written and directed by Damien Chazzelle, the romantic musical La La Land tells the story of Seb Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and Mia Dolan (Emma Stone), a jazz musician and an aspiring actress pursuing their respective dreams in Los Angeles. The pair meet and fall in love, sharing their passions and hopes with one another as they become closer. J.K. Simmons, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Finn Wittrock appear in supporting roles.
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*Availability in US Director Damien Chazelle Release Date December 9, 2016 Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Damien Chazelle Cast Hemky Madera , meagen fay , J. K. Simmons , Sonoya Mizuno , Rosemarie DeWitt , John Legend , Ryan Gosling , Finn Wittrock , Ashley Caple , Josh Pence , Emma Stone , Jason Fuchs Runtime 128 Minutes Expand
Sometimes the greatest sadness only comes after the greatest happiness. This appears to be the case for La La Land, the six-time Oscar-winning hit from Damien Chazelle. The film stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as Mia and Sebastian, an aspiring actress and an aspiring jazz musician (respectively). The two meet and begin a fairy tale Hollywood romance, only for it to gradually fall apart as they each pursue their dreams.
While
La La Land
begins as a bright, optimistic film, the tone begins to shift as Mia and Sebastian slowly realize that neither of them can fully pursue their dreams while still tied to the other person.
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The film morphs from an upbeat musical to a more bleak (but nonetheless impressive) commentary on the true cost of success. The complex, vibrant ending of La La Land packs a massive emotional punch, especially for viewers who thought Mia and Sebastian would come back together.
6 Selena (1997)
Directed by Gregory Nava
Fans of Latin music will know that a biographical film about the life of Selena Quintanilla-Perez (better known as simply Selena) is bound to end with massive heartbreak. Directed by Gregory Nava, Selena explores the life of the popular singer, all the way from her humble beginnings to her tragic death.
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The majority of the film is deeply inspiring and beautiful, tenderly depicting the closeness of Selena’s family and her friends throughout her rise to fame. Selena was killed at only 23 years old, having been shot by her friend and former manager, Yolanda Saldivar, over a dispute regarding the management of the artist’s finances.
Related 15 Highest-Grossing Music Biopics, Ranked By Box Office Success
The last two decades of music biopics have seen box office flops and Academy Award winners, with the late 2010s introducing several blockbusters.
While much of the film, Selena, focuses on Selena’s career and relationships prior to the tragic incident, it does not shy away from the grim realities of how her life came to an end. The final scenes of Selena are heartbreaking, a feeling amplified by the knowledge that the film is a true story.
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5 The Pianist (2002)
Directed by Roman Polanski
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The Pianist RBiographyDramaMusic
The Pianist is a historical drama directed by Roman Polanski, featuring Adrien Brody as Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist in Warsaw during World War II. The film follows Szpilman’s harrowing journey of survival amidst the horrors of the Holocaust, capturing his struggles and resilience. The Pianist showcases the impact of war on individuals and art, emphasizing themes of perseverance and human spirit.
Director Roman Polanski Release Date March 28, 2003 Writers Ronald Harwood , Wladyslaw Szpilman Cast Adrien Brody , Thomas Kretschmann , Frank Finlay , Emilia Fox , Michal Zebrowski , Ed Stoppard , Maureen Lipman , Jessica Kate Meyer Runtime 150 Minutes Main Genre Biography Expand
Adrien Brody won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in the 2002 biographical film, The Pianist. Szpilman was a Polish-Jewish piano player, forced to endure years of unimaginable hardship during the Holocaust. The eye-opening film offered a brutally realistic depiction of the horrors that plagued Poland during the 1940s.
The audience is reminded of this by his final, powerful performance at the conclusion of the film.
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Even when practically everything else in his life had been taken away or destroyed, Szpilman never abandoned his ties to music. His musical gifts prove to be part of what kept him alive in spite of the immeasurable loss all around him. The audience is reminded of this by his final, powerful performance at the conclusion of the film. The Pianist demonstrates the role of music in even the darkest chapters of history by depicting the heartbreaking true story of a man who, like so many others, lost everything during World War II.
4 Love & Mercy (2014)
Directed by Bill Pohlad
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Love and Mercy PG-13DramaMusicBiography
Love and Mercy is a biographical drama focused on the life of Brian Wilson, the co-founder of the Beach Boys. Directed by Bill Pohlad, the film alternates between two timeline arcs: one featuring Wilson’s rise to fame in the 1960s and his struggles with mental health, and the other set in the 1980s, portraying his relationship with Melinda Ledbetter, who helps him confront his troubled past.
Director Bill Pohlad Release Date June 19, 2015 Writers Oren Moverman , Michael A. Lerner Cast John Cusack , Joanna Going , Paul Giamatti , Erin Darke , Elizabeth Banks , Paul Dano Main Genre Drama
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Alternating back and forth between two distinct stages of the singer’s life, Love & Mercy explores the complicated life and career of Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys. Portrayed at different times by Paul Dano and John Cusack, the film dives into Wilson’s mental struggles, depicting his severe panic attacks as well as his tense relationship with his manipulative therapist. The film offers an insightful glimpse into the difficult life that inspired many iconic songs.
Part of what makes Love & Mercy such a sad film is the realization of how strongly Wilson’s actual life differed from much of the music he made with his band. The Beach Boys are most commonly known for their upbeat, harmony-filled tracks, such as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” While these songs are fun, dance-worthy tunes, the reality of Wilson’s life was much darker. Love & Mercy serves as a powerful reminder that the lives of musicians are often much more complex than the songs they are known for.
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3 Sound of Metal (2019)
Directed by Darius Marder
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7/10 Sound of Metal RMusicDrama
Sound of Metal is an Amazon Original movie written and directed by Darius Marder. Starring Riz Ahmed, the plot follows the struggles of a drummer in a Metal band that ends up losing his hearing.
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*Availability in US Director Darius Marder Release Date November 20, 2020 Studio(s) Amazon Studios Distributor(s) Amazon Studios Writers Darius Marder , Abraham Marder Cast Shaheem Sanchez , Riz Ahmed , Paul Raci , Jeremy Stone , Mathieu Amalric , Olivia Cooke , Lauren Ridloff , Chelsea Lee Runtime 130 minutes Expand
Darius Marder’s Oscar-winning 2019 film, Sound of Metal, shines a light on an issue that affects many people around the world, particularly musicians. The film follows a heavy metal drummer named Ruben Stone as he discovers that he is losing his hearing. This leads to Ruben reevaluating every aspect of his life, including his career, his relationships, and even his own identity. The film effectively captures the intense emotions of a musician who is forced to question whether he can continue doing what he loves.
Related 10 Behind-The-Scenes Details About Sound Of Metal
Did you know all these behind-the-scenes facts and details about the Sound of Metal?
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The deep sadness of Sound of Metal lies in the idea of potentially having to completely restructure your life because of something you had hardly any control over. As an audience, it is difficult not to put yourself in Ruben’s shoes, and imagine how you would have responded to the same news. The film offers a very down-to-earth portrayal of individuals pursuing their musical dreams, making Ruben’s pain and sadness all the more believable.
2 Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda
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8/10 tick, tick… BOOM! PG-13BiographyDramaMusical
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his feature directorial debut with tick, tick…BOOM!, an adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent. The film follows Jon (Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Andrew Garfield), a young theater composer waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. Days before he’s due to showcase his work in a make-or-break performance, Jon is feeling the pressure from everywhere: from his girlfriend Susan, who dreams of an artistic life beyond New York City; from his friend Michael, who has moved on from his dream to a life of financial security; amidst an artistic community being ravaged by the AIDS epidemic.
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*Availability in US Director Lin-Manuel Miranda Release Date November 12, 2021 Studio(s) Netflix Distributor(s) Netflix Writers Steven Levenson Cast Alexandra Shipp , Joshua Henry , Judith Light , Bradley Whitford , Robin de Jesús , Vanessa Hudgens , Tariq Trotter , Andrew Garfield , Mj Rodriguez Runtime 115 minutes Expand
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Based on Jonathan Larson’s stage show of the same name, Tick, Tick… Boom! is a musical film about the life of Larson himself, highlighting the musician/composer’s desperate attempts to find success on a Broadway stage. Though filled with lively musical numbers, the film maintains a sad overall tone, highlighting Larson’s professional rejections and strained relationships, while also touching on the widespread influence of the AIDS crisis in America.
The overarching sadness of the Tick, Tick… Boom! is boosted by the knowledge of Larson’s all-too-short life, which inspired the movie. Larson did eventually find success on Broadway with his Tony and Pulitzer-winning musical, Rent, which permanently changed the world of musical theater. Tragically, Larson passed away at only 35 years old, just before Rent could have its Broadway debut. The film constantly reminds its audience of how little time all humans are given on Earth (with some getting even less than others).
1 Once (2007)
Directed by John Carney
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Once (2007) R
A street musician in Dublin meets a young Czech immigrant, and their shared passion for music sparks a deep connection. They collaborate on songs that reflect their personal struggles and aspirations, forming a bond that transcends their circumstances.
Director John Carney Release Date March 23, 2007 Cast Glen Hansard , Marketa Irglova , Hugh Walsh , Gerard Hendrick , Alaistair Foley Runtime 85 Minutes
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Before he could make the optimistic musical film, Sing Street, John Carney wrote and directed a movie that explored the idea of a music-driven romance in a much more dramatic sense. Once follows the story of two characters, Guy and Girl, who meet and fall in love in Dublin. They spend the film creating music together, bonding over their shared gifts. In a surprising turn, though, the characters do not end up together at the end; Guy heads to London to reunite with his ex-girlfriend, and Girl reunites with her previously absent husband
Related 10 Lesser Known Must-Watch Movie Musicals
Be it an “aquamusical” from the 1950s or a surreal anime musical extravaganza, some movie musicals don’t deserve to stay under the radar.
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The conclusion of Once is dreadfully sad, as audiences spend the entire movie up until that point watching the bond between them grow. Then, unexpectedly, they head their separate ways, with it seeming unlikely that they will ever see each other again. The sadness is compounded by the fact that the pair are unable to even say their goodbyes. Their tender romance simply disappears as easily as it arrived. Though a touching story from beginning to end, viewers ought to be prepared for moments of real heartbreak when watching Once.