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.
Many exciting 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.
15 Piece By Piece (2024)
Pharrell Williams
Piece by Piece
- Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Runtime
- 94 Minutes
- Director
- Morgan Neville
Cast
Pharrell Williams
WHERE TO WATCH
Piece by Piece is an animated musical biography film directed by Morgan Neville. The film explores the life and career of musician and performer Pharrell Williams, who, through LEGOS, shows the evolution of his creative process throughout his life.
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Distributor(s)
- Focus Features
In 2024, Pharrell Williams got his musical biopic, and it was like nothing that had been seen before, although Robbie Williams one-upped him by using a CGI chimp in his biopic a few months later. That is because, in Piece by Piece, Pharrell's story was told in a LEGO movie. The film explains at the very start what Pharrell wanted to tell his story with LEGOs because he views the world like a LEGO set and is building something from preexisting material. It was unique and caught the eyes of critics.
Sadly, it didn't catch the eyes of viewers at home. While it had a lower budget thanks to the LEGO format, it didn't make it back at the box office, only bringing in $10.5 million on a $16 million budget. Pharrell got a lot of his friends to lend their voices to the movie, with Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar, and more coming aboard. The movie received a high 83% Rotten Tomatoes score and ended up a contender for several animation awards at the end of the year.
14 Ray (2004)
Ray Charles
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Ray
- Release Date
- October 29, 2004
- Runtime
- 152 Minutes
- Director
- Taylor Hackford
Cast
Ray Charles
Della Bea Robinson
WHERE TO WATCH
Ray is a biographical film that chronicles the life and career of Ray Charles, the legendary American musician. The film explores his struggles with blindness, addiction, and personal demons, while highlighting his unwavering ion for music. It features his journey from humble beginnings to achieving global fame, capturing both his triumphs and tribulations.
- Main Genre
- Biography
The 2004 musical drama Ray had Jamie Foxx star as the iconic Ray Charles. This biopic follows a large part of Charles' life, tracking 30 years from his time being raised in poverty and the trauma of his younger brother's death to him losing his vision when he was seven and then becoming one of the most successful soul singers in music history. It also deals with his vices and his drug addiction, which he suffered from throughout his life before he finally kicked the habit and had a successful career clean of drugs until his death at 73.
Jamie Foxx received high praise for his performance as Ray Charles, winning an Oscar for Best Actor and also picking up the Golden Globes Award as well. It was also nominated for Best Picture. Critics praised the film, and it sits at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with most of the praise going toward Foxx's performance as Charles, proving he was more than a comedian action movie star.
13 A Complete Unknown (2024)
Bob Dylan
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A Complete Unknown
- Release Date
- December 25, 2024
- Runtime
- 140 minutes
- Director
- James Mangold
Cast
Bob Dylan
Pete Seeger
WHERE TO WATCH
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
- Main Genre
- Biography
- Distributor(s)
- Searchlight Pictures
There have been several movies made about rock icon Bob Dylan, both documentaries and musical biopics. The most recent came in 2024 and was directed by James Mangold, who also directed the Oscar-winning Walk the Line in 2005 about Johnny Cash. This film takes a little different approach in telling the story as it is based on the Elijah Wald book Dylan Goes Electric! (2015) and limits itself to a specific period of Dylan's life, looking at his early musical success and the controversy over using electric instruments at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
Timothée Chalamet stars as a young Bob Dylan, and the movie starts with him moving to New York City in 1961, meeting his idol Woody Guthrie, and then watching his career take off. Edward Norton stars as Pete Seeger, and he has received high praise as the antagonistic force opposite Dylan in the film. Reviews were mostly positive but slightly mixed, with the people who praised it saying it was like spending a little time with Bob Dylan and wasn't overweighed by trying to do too much. It ended up on many critics' best-of lists.
12 8 Mile (2002)
Eminem
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8 Mile
- Release Date
- November 8, 2002
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Director
- Curtis Hanson
Cast
Mekhi Phifer
WHERE TO WATCH
Eminem stars in the 2002 semi-autobiographical drama 8 Mile as a fictionalized version of himself, Jimmy Smith Jr. a.k.a. B-Rabbit, who tries to make a name for himself as a rapper in Detroit. Both the movie and its soundtrack, which included the Oscar-winning Lose Yourself, received widespread critical acclaim.
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
The 2002 musical biopic about Eminem shocked the world when 8 Mile became a monster success. Not only was it a highly-praised movie with big box office totals, but it earned Eminem an Oscar for Best Song, a rarity for rap musicians at that time in history. It is also a rare biopic in that Eminem stars in it himself as the fictionalized Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. While the character was fictionalized, it was based on the real-life story of Eminem and his rise out of the trailer part and into the rap scene in Detroit.
The movie has since become a cult favorite, and while it is different from both biopics in changing the main character's name, it is a good look at Eminem's early life.
The movie made $242.9 million on a $41 million budget, and Eminem won his Oscar for the original song "Lose Yourself." The cast was mostly praised, with Kim Basinger playing his mother, Brittany Murphy as his love interest, and Mekhi Pheifer as his best friend and the man who hosts the rap battles. There were also several cameos from real-life rappers, including Proof, Obie Trice, and Xzibit. The movie has since become a cult favorite, and while it is different from both biopics in changing the main character's name, it is a good look at Eminem's early life.
11 La Bamba (1987)
Ritchie Valens
La Bamba
Cast
Lou Diamond Phillips
Esai Morales-
Rosanna DeSoto
-
Elizabeth Peña
WHERE TO WATCH
- Release Date
- July 24, 1987
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Director
- Luis Valdez
La Bamba follows the story of Ritchie Valens, the singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the late 1950s and ed 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.
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 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.
10 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Freddy Mercury
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Bohemian Rhapsody
- Release Date
- October 24, 2018
- Runtime
- 2h 14m
- Director
- Bryan Singer, Dexter Fletcher
Cast
Ben Hardy
Aidan Gillen
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Studio(s)
- 20th Century
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.
9 Elvis (2022)
Elvis Presley
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Elvis
- Release Date
- June 24, 2022
- Runtime
- 159 minutes
- Director
- Baz Luhrmann
Cast
-
Helen Thomson
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
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 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.
8 Better Man (2024)
Robbie Williams
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Better Man
- Release Date
- December 25, 2024
- Runtime
- 136 minutes
- Director
- Michael Gracey
Cast
Robbie Williams-
Jonno Davies
WHERE TO WATCH
Directed by Michael Gracey, Better Man explores the life and career of singer Robbie Williams through his own eyes.
- Main Genre
- Biography
- Distributor(s)
- Roadshow Films
In what should go down as one of the strangest music biopics ever made, Better Man tells the story of Robbie Williams. However, what makes this unique is that there is no actor playing Robbie in the movie. Instead, a CG-animated anthropomorphic chimpanzee stands in for the singer. According to the movie, Williams chose to use this chimp because he always felt "less evolved" than other people. It is also interesting to note that no one mentions the character is a chimp, and it just plays as the real Robbie Williams.
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.
This could have been a huge disaster, but it received positive reviews, although it was a box office failure. The film even received some awards recognition, picking up a Best Original Song nomination at the Golden Globes. However, that song, "Forbidden Road," was disqualified from Oscar contention since it used material from another song. The movie also broke the record for AACTA Awards nominations, earning 16 there.
7 Rocketman (2019)
Elton John
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Rocketman
- Release Date
- May 31, 2019
- Runtime
- 121 Minutes
- Director
- Dexter Fletcher
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Studio(s)
- New Republic Pictures, Marv Films, Rocket Pictures
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)
NWA
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Straight Outta Compton
- Release Date
- August 14, 2015
- Runtime
- 147minutes
- Director
- F. Gary Gray
Cast
Neil Brown Jr.
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- 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 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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