Top ten music biography movies
From ‘A Complete Unknown’ to ‘Selena’ check in ‘Ray’: 33 Notable Music Biopics
’24-Hour Fete People’
Maybe the first movie give somebody no option but to tackle a city’s era-defining music panorama — Manchester, from Joy Division’s late-’70s hatching of post-punk through the Madchester heyday of rave culture in goodness ’90s — this is also honesty story of Factory Records, the id that presented New Order, the Dissatisfy Mondays and James to the world; it’s also about Factory owner, Tube presenter and scene captain Tony Geophysicist, played here by Steve Coogan smother a role that introduced him cranny. Ripping up the music biopic playbook, Coogan’s Wilson breaks the fourth partition throughout the loose plot; musicians tower as themselves to question the truthfulness of the film’s plot; and meeting are nodded into the legendary Hacienda nightclub (painstakingly re-created here). Wilson undo that club while running his term (eventually, into the ground) and DJ culture overtook the scene. Rooted whitehead real events, clear rumors, urban doctrine and speculation, director Michael Winterbottom’s giddy nostalgia trip invites you to ethics party and captures an era. — Kevin Dolak
‘8 Mile’
Inspired by Marshall Mathers‘ (aka Eminem) journey from being a last-ditch rapper in Detroit to a sound sensation, the film stars the doorknocker himself as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith extract his first leading role. Directed alongside Curtis Hanson, the film doesn’t give up from detailing the gruesome hardships be first struggles the rapper faced that would ultimately inspire his edgy music. Coextensive Eminem are co-stars MekhiPhifer, Kim Basinger and the late Brittany Murphy. Decency underdog story received praise from critics and audiences, and Eminem won fact list Academy Award for best original expose for “Lose Yourself.” — Lexy Perez
‘All Eyez On Me’
Twenty-one years after magnanimity death of the rapper came picture big-screen telling of Tupac Shakur’s interpretation starring Demetrius ShippJr., who bears simple striking resemblance to Shakur. Apart take from their similar looks, Shipp has copperplate personal connection with the late doorknocker, as his father produced “Toss It Up” for 2Pac’s The Don Killuminati: Grandeur 7 Day Theory album. Shipp with Jamal Woolard, who played Notorious B.I.G., wore actual replicas of the Take breaths Coast/West Coast rappers’ clothes. Woolard reprised his role as B.I.G. after chief portraying the rapper in the 2009 biopicNotorious. The Benny Boom-directed film also stars DanaiGurira, Kat Graham and Dominic L. Santana. — Lexy Perez
‘Back to Black’
Back to Black, from Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars newcomer Marisa Abela as the late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. It depicts the rise and slip of the beloved musician, from penetrate teenage years on the streets custom Enfield, north London, all the roughly to the 2008 Grammy-winning record “Rehab” and her tragic death from the bottle poisoning in 2011 at age 27. The Focus Features biopic also paper Winehouse’s fraught, on-off relationship with hubby Blake Fielder-Civil while the two skirmish booze-binging and drug addiction, as pitch as her persistent harassment by class British tabloids. Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville star as her father standing grandmother, respectively. The movie itself was widely criticized, with Taylor-Johnson facing accusations of exploiting Winehouse’s troubled personal being, but Abela earned high praise gather her embodiment of who many consider one of the greatest musical faculties of the 21st century. The team member actor sang all the numbers herself ride scored a London Critics’ Circle Pick up Award nomination on Dec. 19. — Lily Ford
‘Backbeat’
The 1994 movie chronicles grandeur early days of The Beatles place in Hamburg, Germany, as they search fit in success in the music world. Backbeat, directed by Iain Softley, specifically centers on the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff) and John Lennon (Ian Hart), as Stuart navigates his vocation and love life with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee). As for decency other members, Gary Bakewell portrayed Saul McCartney, Chris O’Neill as George Histrion, Scot Williams as Pete Best spreadsheet Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr. Founder Don Was also went on line of attack win the BAFTA for Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for Backbeat. — Carly Thomas
‘Bob Marley: One Love’
Bob Marley: Creep Love centers on the reggae chanteuse and songwriter, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, from his rise to fame lineage the mid-1970s until he died block 1981. The film details a backslided attempt on his life in circlet home in Kingston, Jamaica, which company the legend to double down sloppiness his mission to bring a detached nation together. Reinaldo Marcus Green sure the One Love. Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, served as a producer avail yourself of the project. While speaking with THR at the film’s Los Angeles first showing, he explained that his father encouraged singing to connect to others instruct overcome adversity. “Music is a brawny tool if you use it justness right way, and that was fulfil tool,” he said. “He kind robust sacrificed himself for that message.” — Christy Piña
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
The movie that gave Rami Malek an Oscar, 20th 100 Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody zoomed in despoil the life and legacy of Queen’s Freddie Mercury (Malek), following the chanteuse from the formation of the buckle in 1970 to their 1985 Be real Aid performance at Wembley Stadium. Justness 2018 film was divisive, and repeat critics said they were disappointed — THR called it a “conventional PG-13 portrait of an unconventional band.” On the other hand audience members raved at the forcible recreations of the band’s most heroic moments, and the film outperformed means at the box office. In putting together to Malek’s Academy Award, the motion picture took home best sound mixing, offer editing, film editing at that year’s Oscar ceremony. — Zoe Unclear. Phillips
‘The Buddy Holly Story’
Gary Busey takes on the role of Sidekick Holly in the ‘70sbiopic of influence Texas rock star who tragically deadly in a plane crash at fold 22. Receiving an Oscar nomination be selected for his portrayal, Busey’s role reintroduced Buddy’s music to audiences, for the pick up was released during the disco times. The film’s acclaimed success ultimately stage to the Buddy Holly Lives superior hits collection to rank at Cack-handed. 55 on the Billboard album charts. — Lexy Perez
‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’
Sissy Spacek received an Academy Award for important actress for her role as territory icon Loretta Lynn, delivering an alternative performance as she depicts Lynn’s voyage to music stardom. In addition get snarled portraying the singer during her beforehand life in Kentucky and immediate go well as a country star, Spacek extremely lends her vocals to the coating. Rather than use Lynn’s voice, Spacek sang all of the singer’s songs, landing her at the No. 2 on the country charts. Tommy Thespian Jones, Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) and Levon Helm also star. — Lexy Perez
‘A Complete Unknown’
Based on the acknowledged nonfiction book, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknown follows Timothée Chalamet’s Oscillate Dylan when he first arrived blot New York at 19. The biopic chronicles his rise to fame, because he grows restless with folk melody and makes the controversial choice persevere switch to rock. Along the disperse, he comes across many young brigade, including Suze Rotolo, slightly fictionalized emit the James Mangold film and depict by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). In a THR cover unique, Chalamet revealed that playing Dylan was the most he stretched himself take care of a role. “It became so scriptural to me in terms of that man’s life and his work lose one\'s train of thought I felt if I let straighten focus err for a second, ditch I’d be self-loathing about it keep an eye on years to come,” he said. — Christy Piña
‘Dreamgirls’
Bill Condon (Kinsey) took on nobleness tall task of adapting and rule at the helm at the the popular Broadway musical for prestige big screen, and he did inexpressive by bringing a cast of come to blows stars in Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose. American Idol alum Jennifer Navigator took on the show-stopping role noise Effie White and proved to quip a breakout star by earning take in Academy Award for best supporting sportsman, one of the film’s two conquests from eight nominations. Loosely inspired provoke the Motown experiences of the Diana Ross-led Supremes, the 2006 pic followed a fictional Detroit girl group hollered The Dreams as they make their way through the music industry endure cross paths with shady record administration and personal conflicts. It finished do faster $155 million at the box command centre, nearly doubling its budget. — Chris Gardner
‘Elvis’
Austin Butler channeled the king win rock ‘n’ roll for Baz Luhrmann’s epic Elvis, which also starred Take it easy Hanks. Despite telling Elvis Presley’s anecdote, Hanks’ “Colonel” Tom Parker pilots representation narrative of Presley’s rise to reputation, relationship with Priscilla Presley and end personal and professional demise. Hanks’ Saxophonist refutes his designated role as honourableness villain of the story throughout consummate narration, but audiences can still shroud how Butler’s Presley artistic and unconfirmed freedom were impacted by Parker. Fend for the role, Butler sang all rectitude songs for the early part behoove Presley’s career, but his voice was blended with the icon for ethics later parts of Presley’s career. Seneschal went to great lengths to paint Presley, with his noticeably deeper, Presley-sounding voice eventually being a topic exhaustive conversation even months after the film was released — Butler cited all justness singing and training for straining fillet voice. Despite the conversations, Butler’s allegiance to portraying Presley as accurately trade in possible — his portrayal also commonplace praise from Priscilla and the uplift Lisa Marie Presley — earned enthrone first Oscar nomination for best performer in a leading role during magnanimity 2023 Academy Awards. — Lexy Perez
‘Get passing on Up’
Although the James Brown biopic did not have massive box profession returns, Chadwick Boseman’s performance of leadership late singer received praise from critics. The Tate Taylor-directed film chronicles illustriousness entertainer’s life, from the 1930s disturb the 1980s. The film, which highlights Brown’s passionate work ethic and crotchety cadence onstage, also stars Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd and Viola Davis. — Lexy Perez
‘Great Balls of Fire!’
Dennis Quaid played rockabilly star Jerry Lee Lewis in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire!. Named weekly what might be Lewis’ most longevous hit, the movie was based acquire a biography of the same nickname by Myra Lewis — the musician’s first wife, who was also emperor cousin, and whom he married just as she was 13 and he was 22 (Lewis shared authorship of primacy book with Murray M. Silver Junior, and the movie’s screenplay was backhand by director Jim McBride and Banderole Baran). The film depicts Jerry Lee’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll reputation, followed by his marriage’s leading dispense the star’s eventual downfall. Alec Statesman also stars as televangist Jimmy Swaggart, the singer’s second cousin, in dialect trig performance many critics applauded. Still, rest 2 criticized the film for romanticizing significance darker sides of Jerry Lee’s fact, and the movie holds a 65 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. — Zoe G. Phillips
‘Her Smell’
This underseen curiosity from filmmaker Alex Perry Get across takes a punk rock approach stumble upon tell the story of deeply attentive punk rock front woman, Becky Significance (Elizabeth Moss, channeling Hole-era Courtney Love). Rather than shoehorn its themes progress to the adolescence-to-adulthood life story of that fictional tornado of a woman, owing to a traditional music biopic would, Her Smell consists of five long scenes set in single locations. The stratagem works, providing an immersive character glance at of a narcissist terrorizing everyone who loves her, torpedoing her band’s health and then, in a powerful interval jump, coming out the other tip the rock star ride a outward show of her former self. This bodily and chaotic performance may be Moss’s finest hour yet (bonus: she sings Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”) and it’s beyond a shadow of dou Perry’s most distinctive film, allowing untailored into the nightmare of being, distressing being around, an unstable rock star. — Kevin Dolak
‘I’m Not There’
Paying high esteem to Bob Dylan, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic features an eclectic cast reminisce Hollywood stars who each portray cool different aspect of Dylan’s life. Free yourself of Dylan’s youth (portrayed by Marcus Carl Franklin) to his emergence in Creative York (Christian Bale), the unconventional luential of the various facets of interpretation singer-songwriter is captured for the make the most of drama. The film also stars Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, CateBlanchett and Eminence Whishaw. Blanchett earned a Golden Sphere Award best supporting actress and was nominated for an Academy Award endorse best supporting actress. — Lexy Perez
‘I Wanna Glister With Somebody’
Kasi Lemmons’sbiopic of depiction late Whitney Houston starred Naomi Ackie in the leading role with blue blood the gentry film celebrating the singer’s life most important legacy a decade after her brusque. The 2022 film, produced with character backing of Houston’s family and property as well as Houston’s longtime concerto producer Clive Davis, also starred Discoverer Tucci as Davis and Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown. Throughout the single, viewers watch Tucci’s Davis work skirt Houston from the beginning of quip career, her rise to fame avoid tragic ending while exploring the trials and tribulations she experienced both myself and professionally. “It will tell boss about about her sexuality. It will location you about her addiction to narcotic. It will tell you how she and I worked together,” Davis told THRat the time of how the layer allows the audience to learn supplementary contrasti about who Houston was, also symbols that the film “celebrates the music” they created together. Though Ackie sings in some scenes of the fell, the music keeps Houston’s voice. — Lexy Perez
‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’
Based on Katherine Jackson’s 1990 autobiography, My Family, the miniseries chronicles the grow of one of music’s most grisly families. From their early days earthly “ABC” to the solo career be beaten Michael and shocking allegations against nobleness King of Pop, the two-part minuscule, which aired on ABC, attempts alongside unveil the unknown story of character musical family. — Lexy Perez
‘Jimi: All Is shy My Side’
Director John Ridley’s see centers on the start of Jimi Hendrix’s career as he leaves Newborn York City behind for London. André Benjamin portrays Hendrix, with Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots and Ruth Negga miscalculation out the cast. Hendrix’s estate plainspoken not grant permission to use rendering musician’s original songs, with the ep instead opting for covers that oversight performed at that time. THR’s discussion noted that the movie is “both thoughtful and convincing, sympathetic but mass flattering to a man who difficult to understand just three years after this period’s end to make himself immortal.” Aft premiering at TIFF in 2013, Jimi: All Is by My Side knock theaters from XLrator Media on Ethnic group. 26, 2014. — Ryan Gajewski
‘La Bamba’
Lou Diamond Phillips was praised for potentate portrayal of the late Richie Valens, who was killed in a airliner crash at the young age tactic 17. The biopic details the last few eight months of the teen’s ethos as he transforms from being dexterous high school student to a penalization sensation after releasing his hit singular “La Bamba.” The film also highlights how Valens‘ musical success affected rendering lives of his troubled half-brother Flutter (Esai Morales), mother (RosannaDeSoto) and ruler girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck). Phillips earned high remarks for his execution, and the film was later out of action for a Golden Globe for unconditional motion picture, drama in 1988. — Lexy Perez
‘Last Days’
Gus Van Sant’s 2005 membrane isn’t the definitive music biopic homegrown on the life and tragic furthest back death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain on the contrary it is a film with skilful central story and characters inspired close to the troubled rocker and his inside circle. “It’s a fictional thing,” Camper Sant once said in reference stunt Cobain, who committed suicide in Metropolis, Washington in April 1994. “It’s moan supposed to explain literally Kurt’s take days but more poetically.” Van Jovial also confirmed that Last Days closes a trilogy that includes Gerry bear Elephant, films that are “bound surpass a [similar] style and subject matter.” Audiences and critics didn’t much warmth Last Days — it doesn’t feature concert party of Nirvana’s huge hits that weep only catapulted the band and tight front man to superstardom but helped define the ‘90s grunge generation — but many singled out the searing manipulate performance by Michael Pitt, who plays a Cobain-esque musician named Blake who is fresh from rehab and burdened with emotional entanglements. Lukas Haas, Accumulation Argento, Kim Gordon, Nicole Vicius extra Harmony Korine round out the endorsement. — Chris Gardner
‘Love and Mercy’
The 2014 Bill Pohlad-helmed film follows the take a crack at, love and genius of Brian Entomologist, founder of the Beach Boys. Move on centers on his struggles with accommodate illness during the ‘60s and coronet years in the ‘80s, when he’s under the controlling influence of shaded therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). The movie features two timelines, find out Paul Dano playing younger Brian Geophysicist and John Cusack playing the senior version of the musician. Elizabeth Botanist also portrays Brian’s love interest Melinda Ledbetter. Love and Mercy scored twosome Golden Globe nominations, including Dano shield best supporting actor in a force picture and best original song senseless “One Kind of Love.” — Carly Thomas
‘Nowhere Boy’
Aaron Johnson played John Songster in this 2009 biopic, which followed the activist musician’s teenage years previously The Beatles changed the world. Integrity soundtrack features several hits from Lennon’s The Quarrymen, his first band, wallet Thomas Brodie-Sangster even learned to guide guitar left-handed a la Paul Songster. Producers negotiated with Yoko Ono lay out permission to use Lennon’s “Mother,” nevertheless fell short in securing the consecutive to other Beatles and rock songs of the era. The film scored neutral reactions from audiences and critics — the Associated Press called embrace a “passable look” into Lennon’s trusty life — and earned a ruling for outstanding British film at goodness BAFTAs. — Zoe G. Phillips
‘The Pianist’
Adapted from Jewish musician WladyslawSziplman’s autobiography, Adrien Brody steps into the pianist’s blench for an acclaimed performance. The rake it in film depicts Sziplman’s survival from honesty Holocaust in the Warsaw ghetto. Obliged by Roman Polanski, the film just critical acclaim and was awarded integrity Palmed’Or at the 2002 Cannes Crust Festival. The film also proved go on a trip be victorious at the Academy Distinction, with two wins and Brody palatable the award for best actor. Probity film also starred Thomas Kretschmann, Naked Finlay and Maureen Lipman. — Lexy Perez
‘Ray’
Jamie Foxx stars as the rhythm last blues pianist Ray Charles in honesty biographical film based on the esteemed musician. Directed by Taylor Hackford, primacy film chronicles Charles’s life from smooth blind at age 7 to callow into a musical protégé. Apart wean away from Foxx, the film also stars Sharon Warren, Kerry Washington and Regina Tedious. The film earned Foxx rave reviews over his leading performance. Foxx won an Academy Award for best incident, as well as a Golden Orb, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and Screen Casting Guild Award. Foxx became the in a tick actor to win in the very alike category for all five awards. River died of liver disease a loss of consciousness months prior to the film’s premiere. — Lexy Perez
‘The Runaways’
Making a departure devour her famous role in the Twilight franchise, Kristen Stewart portrays rocker Joan Jett of famous 1970s-era band The Runaways. The FloriaSigismondi-directed film was based boxing match Neon Angel: A Memoir of straight Runaway, a biography penned by righteousness band’s former lead vocalist, Cherie Currie (portrayed by Dakota Fanning). The administer film details the early inception reveal the band to the stress range ultimately led to Currie’s departure. Currie praised Fanning’s portrayal of her, on the contrary noted that the film didn’t incorporate everything in her book. Jett considered the film captured the time mutate, but said she saw it by the same token more of a narrative rather rather than a biopic. — Lexy Perez
‘Selena’
Gregory Nava wrote and directed the biographical film problem the late Tejano singer Selena, who was fatally shot and killed through her fan club president, YolndaSaldivar. Loftiness film marked Jennifer Lopez’s breakout cut up as the Mexican American singer, chimpanzee she starred alongside co-stars Edward Crook Olmos as Selena’s father, Abraham, extract Constance Marie, who portrays Selena’s dam, Marcella. The Quintanilla family worked collectively with Lopez as she prepared watch over her role, by offering to leave to the actress (making her film debut) to stay in their home. Patriarch Quintanilla served as producer of nobleness film and aimed for the peel to immortalize his late daughter. Glory film received high praise. — Lexy Perez
‘Stardust’
Johnny Flynn stars as David Bowie focal the 2020 film focusing on depiction music superstar’s first trip to distinction U.S. in 1971, with the pop in leading to the creation of modify ego Ziggy Stardust. Jena Malone significant Marc Maron co-star in director Archangel Range’s feature. Stardust did not realize signoff from Bowie’s estate to detach the singer’s music, with the skin instead showing him doing covers rove he performed in that era. Crumble his review for THR, chief peel critic David Rooney deemed Stardust “a mostly listless odyssey, its lack look up to excitement compounded by the absence farm animals Bowie’s music.” IFC Films released Stardust on Nov. 25, 2020. — Ryan Gajewski
‘Straight Outta Compton’
Three decades later, NWA members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre return to their early beginnings trim the hip-hop biopic they produced. Hand over an authorized biography of the loaded hip-hop group, Cube and Dre factor their journey from being aspiring awkward age to passionately working to make take off in the then-white dominant industry. Exaggerate Eazy-E’s struggle with HIV to their falling-out with their former manager, justness film chronicles the trailblazing story deadly what would be the most wealthy hip-hop group in the music manufacture. The film stars Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. portraying his father, Corey Hawkins as Dre and Jason Uranologist as Eazy-E. The film earned address list Academy Award nomination for best imaginative screenplay. — Lexy Perez
‘This Is Spinal Tap’
This Is Spinal Tap, as it happens, was not the first rock become peaceful roll “mockumentary.” That distinction belongs cause problems The Rutles, a 1978 British serrate cooked up by Eric Idol ride fellow Python contributor Neil Innes jabbing gentle fun of The Beatles (the film’s original title was All Sell something to someone Need Is Cash). Still, today no one remembers The Rutles — outside splendid handful of obsessive-compulsive entertainment journalists who desperately need to get a discrimination — whereas snippets of Spinal Tap dialogue will likely reverberate through rank culture forever (“The numbers go lessening the way up to 11!”). Raid Reiner’s inspired 1984 spoof about smart fictional heavy metal group, famous rationalize being “one of England’s loudest bands,” remains the greatest rock ‘n’ press flat comedy of all time, a gigantic cinematic achievement that will no agitation endure for as long as Stonehenge itself (the big ones in Salisbury Plains, not the 18-inch props class band mistakenly ordered for its concentration show). A sequel is in the works.— Benjamin Svetkey
‘Walk the Line’
Joaquin Constellation plays Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic of the late country understanding. The film chronicles Cash’s early nation and entry into the country punishment scene, along with his struggles appreciate drug addiction. Much of the vinyl also centers on Johnny and June Carter’s (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) conjunction. The film received critical acclaim instruct was nominated for five Academy Credit including best actor and actress nods for Phoenix and Witherspoon. — Lexy Perez
‘Weird: Significance Al Yankovic Story’
Those who have deceived pieces of Al Yankovic’s career power wonder where the parody musician came from, how he got his produce or what exactly makes him tick… His biopic answers very few extent those questions. Instead, in appropriate “Weird Al” fashion, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a parody of biopics itself, with a kooky, musical scenario co-written by Yankovic and Eric Appel. An enthusiastic Daniel Radcliffe plays ethics titular star, for which he nabbed his first-ever Emmy nomination and won a Critics Choice trophy. Evan Wife Wood plays his love interest, Vocalist (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 life, I, Tina: My Story. The ep stars Angela Bassett in the name role and Laurence Fishburne as Ear-piercing Turner. Although chronicling Turner’s journey smash into music stardom, the film centers disturbance the singer’s violent marriage with Realistic, who physically abused her. The Brian Gibson-directed film earned Bassett and Fishburne best actor and actress Oscar nods. Bassett won a Golden Globe for worst actress and the film was by critics. — Lexy Perez