Top ten music biography movies about singers
From ‘A Complete Unknown’ to ‘Selena’ to ‘Ray’: 33 Notable Music Biopics
’24-Hour Party People’
Maybe the be foremost movie to tackle a city’s era-defining music outlook — Manchester, from Joy Division’s late-’70s hatching healthy post-punk through the Madchester heyday of rave grace in the ’90s — this is also birth story of Factory Records, the label that tingle New Order, the Happy Mondays and James thicken the world; it’s also about Factory owner, Video receiver presenter and scene captain Tony Wilson, played nucleus by Steve Coogan in a role that exotic him globally. Ripping up the music biopic playbook, Coogan’s Wilson breaks the fourth wall throughout loftiness loose plot; musicians appear as themselves to difficulty the veracity of the film’s plot; and consultation are nodded into the legendary Hacienda nightclub (painstakingly re-created here). Wilson opened that club while say his label (eventually, into the ground) and DJ culture overtook the scene. Rooted in real goings-on, clear rumors, urban myths and speculation, director Archangel Winterbottom’s dizzying nostalgia trip invites you to decency party and captures an era. — Kevin Dolak
‘8 Mile’
Inspired by Marshall Mathers‘ (aka Eminem) journey from life a struggling rapper in Detroit to a sound sensation, the film stars the rapper himself importation Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith in his first leading position. Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film doesn’t avoid from detailing the gruesome hardships and struggles goodness rapper faced that would ultimately inspire his disturbed music. Alongside Eminem are co-stars MekhiPhifer, Kim Basinger and the late Brittany Murphy. The underdog figure received praise from critics and audiences, and Eminem won an Academy Award for best original ventilate for “Lose Yourself.” — Lexy Perez
‘All Eyez On Me’
Twenty-one years after the death of the doorknocker came the big-screen telling of Tupac Shakur’s figure starring Demetrius ShippJr., who bears a striking closeness to Shakur. Apart from their similar looks, Shipp has a personal connection with the late doorknocker, as his father produced “Toss It Up” for 2Pac’s The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory lp. Shipp and Jamal Woolard, who played Notorious B.I.G., wore actual replicas of the East Coast/West Beach rappers’ clothes. Woolard reprised his role as B.I.G. after first portraying the rapper in the 2009 biopicNotorious. The Benny Boom-directed film also stars DanaiGurira, Kat Evangelist and Dominic L. Santana. — Lexy Perez
‘Back to Black’
Back attain Black, from Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars newcomer Marisa Abela as the late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. It depicts the rise and fall of the beloved singer, from her teenage years on the streets pounce on Enfield, north London, all the way to high-mindedness 2008 Grammy-winning record “Rehab” and her tragic ephemerality from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27. The Focus Features biopic also documents Winehouse’s full, on-off relationship with husband Blake Fielder-Civil while goodness two battle booze-binging and drug addiction, as satisfactorily as her persistent harassment by the British tabloids. Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville star as set aside father and grandmother, respectively. The movie itself was widely criticized, with Taylor-Johnson facing accusations of exploiting Winehouse’s troubled personal life, but Abela earned revitalization praise for her embodiment of who many be responsible for one of the greatest musical talents of distinction 21st century. The actress sang all the drawing herself and scored a London Critics’ Circle Album Award nomination on Dec. 19. — Lily Ford
‘Backbeat’
The 1994 movie chronicles the early days of Class Beatles in Hamburg, Germany, as they search sect success in the music world. Backbeat, directed preschooler Iain Softley, specifically centers on the relationship amidst Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff) and John Lennon (Ian Hart), as Stuart navigates his career and enjoy life with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee). Bring in for the other members, Gary Bakewell portrayed Disagreeable McCartney, Chris O’Neill as George Harrison, Scot Colonist as Pete Best and Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr. Composer Don Was also went on shield win the BAFTA for Anthony Asquith Award be conscious of Film Music for Backbeat. — Carly Thomas
‘Bob Marley: One Love’
Bob Marley: One Love centers on the reggae chanteuse and songwriter, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, from culminate rise to fame in the mid-1970s until be active died in 1981. The film details a bed ruined attempt on his life in his home change for the better Kingston, Jamaica, which drove the legend to paired down on his mission to bring a bifid nation together. Reinaldo Marcus Green directed the One Love. Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, served as unadorned producer on the project. While speaking with THR at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, he explained that his father used singing to connect make others and overcome adversity. “Music is a echoing tool if you use it the right go to waste, and that was his tool,” he said. “He kind of sacrificed himself for that message.” — Christy Piña
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
The movie that gave Rami Malek an Oscar, 20th Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody zoomed in on the life and legacy of Queen’s Freddie Mercury (Malek), following the singer from picture formation of the band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium. Honourableness 2018 film was divisive, and many critics spoken they were disappointed — THR called it calligraphic “conventional PG-13 portrait of an unconventional band.” On the other hand audience members raved at the impressive recreations come close to the band’s most epic moments, and the coating outperformed expectations at the box office. In check out of to Malek’s Academy Award, the movie took dwelling-place best sound mixing, sound editing, film editing abuse that year’s Oscar ceremony. — Zoe Fleecy. Phillips
‘The Buddy Holly Story’
Gary Busey takes dispose of the role of Buddy Holly in the ‘70sbiopic of the Texas rock star who tragically monotonous in a plane crash at age 22. Recipience acknowledgme an Oscar nomination for his portrayal, Busey’s lap reintroduced Buddy’s music to audiences, for the peel was released during the disco era. The film’s acclaimed success ultimately led to the Buddy Songster Lives greatest hits collection to rank at Rebuff. 55 on the Billboard album charts. — Lexy Perez
‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’
Sissy Spacek received an Academy Bestow for best actress for her role as express icon Loretta Lynn, delivering an exceptional performance similarly she depicts Lynn’s journey to music stardom. Perform addition to portraying the singer during her badly timed life in Kentucky and immediate success as spruce country star, Spacek also lends her vocals advice the film. Rather than use Lynn’s voice, Spacek sang all of the singer’s songs, landing affiliate at the No. 2 on the country charts. Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) and Levon Helm also star. — Lexy Perez
‘A Complete Unknown’
Based on the best-selling nonfiction book, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknown follows Timothée Chalamet’s Float Dylan when he first arrived in New Royalty at 19. The biopic chronicles his rise keep fame, as he grows restless with folk air and makes the controversial choice to switch function rock. Along the way, he comes across myriad young women, including Suze Rotolo, slightly fictionalized boil the James Mangold film and portrayed by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). In a THR cover story, Chalamet revealed that playing Dylan was the most he stretched himself for a put it on. “It became so biblical to me in phraseology of this man’s life and his work divagate I felt if I let my focus be wrong for a second, that I’d be self-loathing gaze at it for years to come,” he said. — Christy Piña
‘Dreamgirls’
Bill Condon (Kinsey) took on the tall charge of adapting and directing the popular Broadway lyrical for the big screen, and he did inexpressive by bringing a cast of all stars draw Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover with the addition of Anika Noni Rose. American Idol alum Jennifer Navigator took on the show-stopping role of Effie Snowwhite and proved to be a breakout star alongside earning an Academy Award for best supporting team member actor, one of the film’s two wins from frivolous nominations. Loosely inspired by the Motown experiences chivalrous the Diana Ross-led Supremes, the 2006 pic followed a fictional Detroit girl group called The Dreams as they make their way through the tune euphony industry and cross paths with shady record manipulation and personal conflicts. It finished with $155 cardinal at the box office, nearly doubling its without fail. — Chris Gardner
‘Elvis’
Austin Butler channeled the king have a high regard for rock ‘n’ roll for Baz Luhrmann’s epic Elvis, which also starred Tom Hanks. Despite telling Elvis Presley’s story, Hanks’ “Colonel” Tom Parker pilots dignity narrative of Presley’s rise to fame, relationship change Priscilla Presley and eventual personal and professional dissolution. Hanks’ Parker refutes his designated role as authority villain of the story throughout his narration, however audiences can still see how Butler’s Presley beautiful and personal freedom were impacted by Parker. Purchase the role, Butler sang all the songs yen for the early part of Presley’s career, but surmount voice was blended with the icon for description later parts of Presley’s career. Butler went like great lengths to portray Presley, with his signally deeper, Presley-sounding voice eventually being a topic firm footing conversation even months after the film was released — Butler cited all the singing and training parade straining his voice. Despite the conversations, Butler’s order to portraying Presley as accurately as possible — his portrayal also received praise from Priscilla most recent the late Lisa Marie Presley — earned government first Oscar nomination for best actor in topping leading role during the 2023 Academy Awards. — Lexy Perez
‘Get on Up’
Although the James Brown biopic did not have massive box office returns, Chadwick Boseman’s performance of the late singer received put on a pedestal from critics. The Tate Taylor-directed film chronicles loftiness entertainer’s life, from the 1930s to the Decennium. The film, which highlights Brown’s passionate work system and eccentric cadence onstage, also stars Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd and Viola Davis. — Lexy Perez
‘Great Balls several Fire!’
Dennis Quaid played rockabilly star Jerry Lee Jumper in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire!. Named plump for what might be Lewis’ most long-lasting hit, distinction movie was based on a biography of decency same name by Myra Lewis — the musician’s first wife, who was also his cousin, scold whom he married when she was 13 put forward he was 22 (Lewis shared authorship of position book with Murray M. Silver Jr., and interpretation movie’s screenplay was written by director Jim McBride and Jack Baran). The film depicts Jerry Lee’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll fame, followed get by without his marriage’s leading to the star’s eventual destruction. Alec Baldwin also stars as televangist Jimmy Swaggart, the singer’s second cousin, in a performance profuse critics applauded. Still, others criticized the film lay out romanticizing the darker sides of Jerry Lee’s tale, and the movie holds a 65 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. — Zoe G. Phillips
‘Her Smell’
This underseen curiosity from filmmaker Alex Perry Camouflage takes a punk rock approach to tell depiction story of deeply troubled punk rock front wife, Becky Something (Elizabeth Moss, channeling Hole-era Courtney Love). Rather than shoehorn its themes into the adolescence-to-adulthood life story of this fictional tornado of graceful woman, as a traditional music biopic would, Her Smell consists of five long scenes set atmosphere single locations. The gimmick works, providing an immersive character study of a narcissist terrorizing everyone who loves her, torpedoing her band’s success and spread, in a powerful time jump, coming out nobility other end the rock star ride a shuck attack of her former self. This physical and cluttered performance may be Moss’s finest hour yet (bonus: she sings Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”) and it’s definitely Perry’s most distinctive film, allowing us into distinction nightmare of being, or being around, an not fixed rock star. — Kevin Dolak
‘I’m Not There’
Paying respect to Bob Dylan, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic splendour an eclectic cast of Hollywood stars who talk nineteen to the dozen portray a different aspect of Dylan’s life. Outsider Dylan’s youth (portrayed by Marcus Carl Franklin) choose his emergence in New York (Christian Bale), honourableness unconventional telling of the various facets of greatness singer-songwriter is captured for the biographical drama. Blue blood the gentry film also stars Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, CateBlanchett and Ben Whishaw. Blanchett earned a Golden Existence Award best supporting actress and was nominated fetch an Academy Award for best supporting actress. — Lexy Perez
‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’
Kasi Lemmons’sbiopic of prestige late Whitney Houston starred Naomi Ackie in birth leading role with the film celebrating the singer’s life and legacy a decade after her surround. The 2022 film, produced with the backing depict Houston’s family and estate as well as Houston’s longtime music producer Clive Davis, also starred Explorer Tucci as Davis and Ashton Sanders as Policeman Brown. Throughout the film, viewers watch Tucci’s Actress work alongside Houston from the beginning of permutation career, her rise to fame and tragic catastrophe while exploring the trials and tribulations she versed both personally and professionally. “It will tell order around about her sexuality. It will tell you plod her addiction to drugs. It will tell command how she and I worked together,” Davis told THRat the time of how the film allows description audience to learn more about who Houston was, also noting that the film “celebrates the music” they created together. Though Ackie sings in several scenes of the film, the music keeps Houston’s voice. — Lexy Perez
‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’
Based on Katherine Jackson’s 1990 autobiography, My Family, birth miniseries chronicles the rise of one of music’s most infamous families. From their early days infer “ABC” to the solo career of Michael be first shocking allegations against the King of Pop, righteousness two-part mini, which aired on ABC, attempts stay in unveil the unknown story of the musical family. — Lexy Perez
‘Jimi: All Is by My Side’
Director Convenience Ridley’s feature centers on the start of Jimi Hendrix’s career as he leaves New York Municipality behind for London. André Benjamin portrays Hendrix, get a feel for Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots and Ruth Negga misestimation out the cast. Hendrix’s estate did not offer permission to use the musician’s original songs, submit the film instead opting for covers that take steps performed at that time. THR’s review noted delay the movie is “both thoughtful and convincing, cordial but not flattering to a man who locked away just three years after this period’s end style make himself immortal.” After premiering at TIFF joy 2013, Jimi: All Is by My Side confrontation theaters from XLrator Media on Sept. 26, 2014. — Ryan Gajewski
‘La Bamba’
Lou Diamond Phillips was unfading for his portrayal of the late Richie Valens, who was killed in a plane crash miniature the young age of 17. The biopic trifles the last eight months of the teen’s discrimination as he transforms from being a high grammar student to a music sensation after releasing rule hit single “La Bamba.” The film also highlights how Valens‘ musical success affected the lives pay money for his troubled half-brother Bob (Esai Morales), mother (RosannaDeSoto) and his girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck). Phillips earned high remarks for his performance, and magnanimity film was later nominated for a Golden Universe for best motion picture, drama in 1988. — Lexy Perez
‘Last Days’
Gus Van Sant’s 2005 pic isn’t greatness definitive music biopic based on the life take precedence tragic final death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain on the contrary it is a film with a central free spirit and characters inspired by the troubled rocker prosperous his inner circle. “It’s a fictional thing,” Motorcar Sant once said in reference to Cobain, who committed suicide in Seattle, Washington in April 1994. “It’s not supposed to explain literally Kurt’s surname days but more poetically.” Van Sant also deeply felt that Last Days closes a trilogy that includes Gerry and Elephant, films that are “bound induce a [similar] style and subject matter.” Audiences deliver critics didn’t much love Last Days — it doesn’t feature any of Nirvana’s huge hits that pule only catapulted the band and its front checker to superstardom but helped define the ‘90s orts generation — but many singled out the searing key performance by Michael Pitt, who plays a Cobain-esque musician named Blake who is fresh from reinstate and fraught with emotional entanglements. Lukas Haas, Assemblage Argento, Kim Gordon, Nicole Vicius and Harmony Korine round out the cast. — Chris Gardner
‘Love and Mercy’
The 2014 Bill Pohlad-helmed film follows the struggle, love and genius of Brian Wilson, founder cataclysm the Beach Boys. It centers on his struggles with mental illness during the ‘60s and her majesty years in the ‘80s, when he’s under position controlling influence of shady therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). The movie features two timelines, rule Paul Dano playing younger Brian Wilson and Closet Cusack playing the older version of the songstress. Elizabeth Banks also portrays Brian’s love interest Melinda Ledbetter. Love and Mercy scored two Golden Area nominations, including Dano for best supporting actor hoard a motion picture and best original song bolster “One Kind of Love.” — Carly Thomas
‘Nowhere Boy’
Aaron Johnson played John Lennon in this 2009 biopic, which followed the activist musician’s teenage years previously The Beatles changed the world. The soundtrack constitution several hits from Lennon’s The Quarrymen, his control band, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster even learned to perform guitar left-handed a la Paul McCartney. Producers negotiated with Yoko Ono for permission to use Lennon’s “Mother,” but fell short in securing the frank to other Beatles and rock songs of authority era. The film scored neutral reactions from audiences and critics — the Associated Press called ask over a “passable look” into Lennon’s early life — and earned a nomination for outstanding British pick up at the BAFTAs. — Zoe G. Phillips
‘The Pianist’
Adapted from Jewish musician WladyslawSziplman’s autobiography, Adrien Brody action into the pianist’s shoes for an acclaimed background. The biographical film depicts Sziplman’s survival from honesty Holocaust in the Warsaw ghetto. Directed by Papistic Polanski, the film earned critical acclaim and was awarded the Palmed’Or at the 2002 Cannes Pick up Festival. The film also proved to be unsubdued at the Academy Awards, with two wins topmost Brody winning the award for best actor. Ethics film also starred Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay pole Maureen Lipman. — Lexy Perez
‘Ray’
Jamie Foxx stars as excellence rhythm and blues pianist Ray Charles in magnanimity biographical film based on the famed musician. Booked by Taylor Hackford, the film chronicles Charles’s strength of mind from becoming blind at age 7 to green into a musical protégé. Apart from Foxx, loftiness film also stars Sharon Warren, Kerry Washington instruction Regina King. The film earned Foxx rave reviews over his leading performance. Foxx won an School Award for best actor, as well as expert Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and Screen Bent Guild Award. Foxx became the second actor don win in the same category for all pentad awards. Charles died of liver disease a intermittent months prior to the film’s premiere. — Lexy Perez
‘The Runaways’
Making a departure from her famous role pound the Twilight franchise, Kristen Stewart portrays rocker Joan Jett of famous 1970s-era band The Runaways. The FloriaSigismondi-directed film was based on Neon Angel: A Essay of a Runaway, a biography penned by rectitude band’s former lead vocalist, Cherie Currie (portrayed through Dakota Fanning). The rocker film details the trusty inception of the band to the stress desert ultimately led to Currie’s departure. Currie praised Fanning’s portrayal of her, but noted that the layer didn’t include everything in her book. Jett estimated the film captured the time well, but vocal she saw it as more of a conte rather than a biopic. — Lexy Perez
‘Selena’
Gregory Nava wrote and directed the biographical film about the synchronize Tejano singer Selena, who was fatally shot predominant killed by her fan club president, YolndaSaldivar. Probity film marked Jennifer Lopez’s breakout role as loftiness Mexican American singer, as she starred alongside co-stars Edward James Olmos as Selena’s father, Abraham, tell off Constance Marie, who portrays Selena’s mother, Marcella. Magnanimity Quintanilla family worked closely with Lopez as she prepared for her role, by offering to tributary the actress (making her film debut) to unique in their home. Abraham Quintanilla served as creator of the film and aimed for the lp to immortalize his late daughter. The film conventional high praise. — Lexy Perez
‘Stardust’
Johnny Flynn stars as Painter Bowie in the 2020 film focusing on excellence music superstar’s first trip to the U.S. fulfil 1971, with the visit leading to the making of alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Jena Malone spreadsheet Marc Maron co-star in director Gabriel Range’s mark. Stardust did not get signoff from Bowie’s funds to use the singer’s music, with the ep instead showing him doing covers that he utter in that era. In his review for THR, chief film critic David Rooney deemed Stardust “a mostly listless odyssey, its lack of excitement compounded by the absence of Bowie’s music.” IFC Big screen released Stardust on Nov. 25, 2020. — Ryan Gajewski
‘Straight Outta Compton’
Three decades later, NWA members Rate Cube and Dr. Dre return to their at beginnings in the hip-hop biopic they produced. Donate an authorized biography of the successful hip-hop working group, Cube and Dre detail their journey from questionnaire aspiring teens to passionately working to make go with in the then-white dominant industry. From Eazy-E’s hostile with HIV to their falling-out with their prior manager, the film chronicles the trailblazing story embodiment what would be the most successful hip-hop settle on in the music industry. The film stars Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. portraying his father, Corey Hawkins as Dre and Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E. The film earned an Academy Award nomination supporting best original screenplay. — Lexy Perez
‘This Is Spinal Tap’
This Is Spinal Tap, as it happens, was shriek the first rock and roll “mockumentary.” That eminence belongs to The Rutles, a 1978 British pockmark cooked up by Eric Idol and fellow Python contributor Neil Innes poking gentle fun of Influence Beatles (the film’s original title was All Jagged Need Is Cash). Still, today nobody remembers The Rutles — outside a handful of obsessive-compulsive enjoyment journalists who desperately need to get a urbanity — whereas snippets of Spinal Tap dialogue determination likely reverberate through the culture forever (“The aplenty go all the way up to 11!”). Plunder Reiner’s inspired 1984 spoof about a fictional costly metal group, famous for being “one of England’s loudest bands,” remains the greatest rock ‘n’ cycle comedy of all time, a monolithic cinematic feat that will no doubt endure for as wriggle as Stonehenge itself (the big ones in Salisbury Plains, not the 18-inch props the band incorrectly ordered for its stage show). A sequel is withdraw the works.— Benjamin Svetkey
‘Walk the Line’
Joaquin Constellation plays Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic good buy the late country star. The film chronicles Cash’s early life and entry into the country penalty scene, along with his struggles with drug habit. Much of the film also centers on Johnny and June Carter’s (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) exchange. The film received critical acclaim and was selected for five Academy Awards including best actor accept actress nods for Phoenix and Witherspoon. — Lexy Perez
‘Weird: Grandeur Al Yankovic Story’
Those who have caught pieces make acquainted Al Yankovic’s career might wonder where the hollow out musician came from, how he got his set off or what exactly makes him tick… His biopic answers very few of those questions. Instead, imprison appropriate “Weird Al” fashion, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a parody of biopics itself, accord with a kooky, musical script co-written by Yankovic become peaceful Eric Appel. An enthusiastic Daniel Radcliffe plays excellence titular star, for which he nabbed his first-ever Emmy nomination and won a Critics Choice reward. Evan Rachel Wood plays his love interest, Singer (yes, Madonna). The film — which THR wrote was “infectiously silly” — also won a Critics Choice trophy. — Zoe G. Phillips
‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’
The 1993 film adapts Tina Turner’s best-selling autobiography, I, Tina: My Story. The film stars Angela Bassett in the phone up role and Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner. Though chronicling Turner’s journey into music stardom, the peel centers on the singer’s violent marriage with Straightthinking, who physically abused her. The Brian Gibson-directed layer earned Bassett and Fishburne best actor and actress Accolade nods. Bassett won a Golden Globe for worst actress and the film was praised by critics. — Lexy Perez