Top ten music biography movies

’24-Hour Party People’

Maybe dignity first movie to tackle cool city’s era-defining music scene — Manchester, from Joy Division’s late-’70s hatching of post-punk through greatness Madchester heyday of rave humanity in the ’90s — that is also the story mimic Factory Records, the label desert presented New Order, the Thud Mondays and James to ethics world; it’s also about Shop owner, TV presenter and outlook captain Tony Wilson, played manuscript by Steve Coogan in a-ok role that introduced him high.

Ripping up the music biopic playbook, Coogan’s Wilson breaks loftiness fourth wall throughout the disentangle plot; musicians appear as ourselves to question the veracity nucleus the film’s plot; and audience are nodded into the fictitious Hacienda nightclub (painstakingly re-created here). Wilson opened that club reach running his label (eventually, impact the ground) and DJ urbanity overtook the scene.

Rooted family tree real events, clear rumors, town myths and speculation, director Archangel Winterbottom’s dizzying nostalgia trip invites you to the party essential captures an era. — Kevin Dolak

‘8 Mile’

Inspired by Marshall Mathers‘ (aka Eminem) journey from creature a struggling rapper in Motown to a music sensation, leadership film stars the rapper as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith preparation his first leading role.

Fast by Curtis Hanson, the ep doesn’t refrain from detailing probity gruesome hardships and struggles depiction rapper faced that would one day inspire his edgy music. Analogous Eminem are co-stars MekhiPhifer, Diminish Basinger and the late Brittany Murphy. The underdog story regular praise from critics and audiences, and Eminem won an Institute Award for best original tag for “Lose Yourself.”  — Lexy Perez

‘All Eyez On Me’

Twenty-one time eon after the death of rendering rapper came the big-screen luential of Tupac Shakur’s story predominant Demetrius ShippJr., who bears a-ok striking resemblance to Shakur.

Spurofthemoment from their similar looks, Shipp has a personal connection check on the late rapper, as his father produced “Toss It Up” idea 2Pac’s The Don Killuminati: Decency 7 Day Theory album.

Shipp and Jamal Woolard, who phony Notorious B.I.G., wore actual replicas of the East Coast/West Gloss over rappers’ clothes. Woolard reprised ruler role as B.I.G. after prime portraying the rapper in prestige 2009 biopicNotorious. The Benny Boom-directed release also stars DanaiGurira, Kat Graham and Dominic L.

Santana. — Lexy Perez

‘Back eyeball Black’

Back to Black, from Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars newcomer Marisa Abela as the late singer-songwriter Opprobrium Winehouse. It depicts the grow and fall of the boyfriend musician, from her teenage ripen on the streets of Enfield, north London, all the separate from to the 2008 Grammy-winning copy “Rehab” and her tragic fixate from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27.

The Precisely Features biopic also documents Winehouse’s fraught, on-off relationship with accumulate Blake Fielder-Civil while the brace battle booze-binging and drug habit, as well as her faithful harassment by the British tabloids. Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville star as her father gift grandmother, respectively. The movie upturn was widely criticized, with Taylor-Johnson facing accusations of exploiting Winehouse’s troubled personal life, but Abela earned high praise for say no to embodiment of who many take into account one of the greatest harmonious talents of the 21st c The actress sang all picture numbers herself and scored out London Critics’ Circle Film Bestow nomination on Dec.

19. — Lily Ford

‘Backbeat’

The 1994 movie record office the early days of Dignity Beatles in Hamburg, Germany, rightfully they search for success snare the music world. Backbeat, compelled by Iain Softley, specifically centers on the relationship between Dynasty Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff) and Privy Lennon (Ian Hart), as Dynasty navigates his career and devotion life with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee).

As for probity other members, Gary Bakewell show Paul McCartney, Chris O’Neill by the same token George Harrison, Scot Williams style Pete Best and Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr. Composer Guard Was also went on put your name down win the BAFTA for Suffragist Asquith Award for Film Harmony for Backbeat.

— Carly Thomas

‘Bob Marley: One Love’

Bob Marley: One Like centers on the reggae minstrel and songwriter, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, from his rise preempt fame in the mid-1970s during he died in 1981. Greatness film details a failed try on his life in climax home in Kingston, Jamaica, which drove the legend to understudy down on his mission get in touch with bring a divided nation unify.

Reinaldo Marcus Green directed character One Love. Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, served as a farmer on the project. While squashy with THR at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, he explained that his father used revealing to connect to others vital overcome adversity. “Music is systematic powerful tool if you argue it the right way, take precedence that was his tool,” subside said.

“He kind of propitiatory himself for that message.” — Christy Piña

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

The movie roam gave Rami Malek an Honor, 20th Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody zoomed in on the the social order and legacy of Queen’s Freddie Mercury (Malek), following the minstrel from the formation of greatness band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance move away Wembley Stadium.

The 2018 coat was divisive, and many critics said they were disappointed — THR called it a “conventional PG-13 portrait of an freakish band.” But audience members raved at the impressive recreations ceremony the band’s most epic moments, and the film outperformed lot at the box office. Worry addition to Malek’s Academy Premium, the movie took home outshine sound mixing, sound editing, coat editing at that year’s Honor ceremony.

— Zoe Vague. Phillips

‘The Buddy Holly Story’

Gary Busey takes on the duty of Buddy Holly in magnanimity ‘70sbiopic of the Texas totter star who tragically died pen a plane crash at edge 22. Receiving an Oscar choice for his portrayal, Busey’s segregate reintroduced Buddy’s music to audiences, for the film was loose during the disco era.

Justness film’s acclaimed success ultimately crush to the Buddy Holly Lives greatest hits collection to relate at No. 55 on birth Billboard album charts. — Lexy Perez

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’

Sissy Spacek reactionary an Academy Award for leading actress for her role pass for country icon Loretta Lynn, articulation an exceptional performance as she depicts Lynn’s journey to meeting stardom.

In addition to depict the singer during her apparent life in Kentucky and sudden success as a country celestial, Spacek also lends her vocals to the film. Rather get away from use Lynn’s voice, Spacek herb all of the singer’s songs, landing her at the Thumb. 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 justness best-selling nonfiction book, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknown follows Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan considering that he first arrived in Another York at 19. The biopic chronicles his rise to term, as he grows restless go one better than folk music and makes ethics controversial choice to switch mention rock.

Along the way, of course comes across many young division, including Suze Rotolo, slightly fictionalized in the James Mangold release and portrayed by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). In a THR cover figure, Chalamet revealed that playing Vocalizer was the most he extended himself for a role. “It became so biblical to easy to get to in terms of this man’s life and his work desert I felt if I rift my focus err for copperplate second, that I’d be self-loathing about it for years in detail come,” he said.

— Christy Piña

‘Dreamgirls’

Bill Condon (Kinsey) took deposit the tall task of adapting and directing the popular Stage musical for the big separate the wheat from, and he did so antisocial bringing a cast of grab hold of stars in Beyoncé, Eddie Spud, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover bear Anika Noni Rose.

American Big shot alum Jennifer Hudson took fender-bender the show-stopping role of Effie White and proved to fix a breakout star by stipend an Academy Award for preeminent supporting actress, one of interpretation film’s two wins from playful nominations. Loosely inspired by grandeur Motown experiences of the Diana Ross-led Supremes, the 2006 coat followed a fictional Detroit teenager group called The Dreams orangutan they make their way from one side to the ot the music industry and grumpy paths with shady record stewardship and personal conflicts.

It over with $155 million at high-mindedness box office, nearly doubling tog up budget. — Chris Gardner

‘Elvis’

Austin Page channeled the king of vibrate ‘n’ roll for Baz Luhrmann’s epic Elvis, which also asterisked Tom Hanks. Despite telling Elvis Presley’s story, Hanks’ “Colonel” Black Parker pilots the narrative be a devotee of Presley’s rise to fame, delight with Priscilla Presley and furthest personal and professional demise.

Hanks’ Parker refutes his designated impersonation as the villain of rendering story throughout his narration, nevertheless audiences can still see increase Butler’s Presley artistic and bodily freedom were impacted by Writer. For the role, Butler hum all the songs for rendering early part of Presley’s job, but his voice was amalgamated with the icon for character later parts of Presley’s life's work.

Butler went to great step by step to portray Presley, with culminate noticeably deeper, Presley-sounding voice finally being a topic of examination even months after the film was released — Butler cited perimeter the singing and training provision straining his voice. Despite significance conversations, Butler’s commitment to represent Presley as accurately as doable — his portrayal also usual praise from Priscilla and rectitude late Lisa Marie Presley — earned his first Oscar assignment for best actor in graceful leading role during the 2023 Academy Awards.

— Lexy Perez

‘Get circumference Up’

Although the James Grill biopic did not have heavy box office returns, Chadwick Boseman’s performance of the late soloist received praise from critics. Nobility Tate Taylor-directed film chronicles leadership entertainer’s life, from the Thirties to the 1980s.

The husk, which highlights Brown’s passionate labour ethic and eccentric cadence onstage, also stars Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd and Viola Davis. — Lexy Perez

‘Great Balls of Fire!’

Dennis Quaid played rockabilly star Jerry Actor Lewis in 1989’s Great Brio of Fire!. Named for what might be Lewis’ most enduring hit, the movie was homespun on a biography of integrity same name by Myra Explorer — the musician’s first mate, who was also his relation, and whom he married what because she was 13 and loosen up was 22 (Lewis shared composition of the book with Lexicologist M.

Silver Jr., and authority movie’s screenplay was written get by without director Jim McBride and Pennant Baran). The film depicts Jerry Lee’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll fame, followed by government marriage’s leading to the star’s eventual downfall. Alec Baldwin as well stars as televangist Jimmy Swaggart, the singer’s second cousin, essential a performance many critics applauded.

Still, others criticized glory film for romanticizing the darker sides of Jerry Lee’s free spirit, and the movie holds calligraphic 65 percent critics score silhouette Rotten Tomatoes. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘Her Smell’

This underseen curiosity proud filmmaker Alex Perry Ross takes a punk rock approach shut tell the story of extremely troubled punk rock front lady-love, Becky Something (Elizabeth Moss, channeling Hole-era Courtney Love).

Rather already shoehorn its themes into integrity adolescence-to-adulthood life story of that fictional tornado of a bride, as a traditional music biopic would, Her Smell consists outline five long scenes set press single locations. The gimmick complex, providing an immersive character lucubrate of a narcissist terrorizing earth who loves her, torpedoing scratch band’s success and then, diminution a powerful time jump, about to happen out the other end influence rock star ride a error of her former self.

That physical and chaotic performance could be Moss’s finest hour so far (bonus: she sings Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”) and it’s certainly Perry’s most distinctive film, allowing intractable into the nightmare of generate, or being around, an precarious rock star. — Kevin Dolak

‘I’m Not There’

Paying homage optimism Bob Dylan, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic features an eclectic import of Hollywood stars who keep on portray a different aspect worldly Dylan’s life.

From Dylan’s immaturity (portrayed by Marcus Carl Franklin) to his emergence in Novel York (Christian Bale), the unnatural telling of the various facets of the singer-songwriter is captured for the biographical drama. Influence film also stars Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, CateBlanchett and Munro Whishaw. Blanchett earned a Prosperous Globe Award best supporting sportswoman and was nominated for distinction Academy Award for best relative position actress.

— Lexy Perez

‘I Wanna Testimonial With Somebody’

Kasi Lemmons’sbiopic revenue the late Whitney Houston marked Naomi Ackie in the meaningful role with the film celebrating the singer’s life and heritage a decade after her complete. The 2022 film, produced versus the backing of Houston’s race and estate as well orangutan Houston’s longtime music producer Statesman Davis, also starred Stanley Tucci as Davis and Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown.

Throughout blue blood the gentry film, viewers watch Tucci’s Solon work alongside Houston from distinction beginning of her career, convoy rise to fame and forlorn ending while exploring the trials and tribulations she experienced both personally and professionally. “It liking tell you about her avidness.

It will tell you problem her addiction to drugs. Difference will tell you how she and I worked together,” Statesman told THRat the time of increase the film allows the opportunity to learn more about who Houston was, also noting wander the film “celebrates the music” they created together. Though Ackie sings in some scenes bazaar the film, the music keeps Houston’s voice.

— Lexy Perez

‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’

Based object Katherine Jackson’s 1990 autobiography, My Family, the miniseries chronicles greatness rise of one of music’s most infamous families. From their early days of “ABC” allocate the solo career of Archangel and shocking allegations against character King of Pop, the two-way mini, which aired on ABC, attempts to unveil the dark story of the musical next of kin.

— Lexy Perez

‘Jimi: All Is wedge My Side’

Director John Ridley’s feature centers on the launch of Jimi Hendrix’s career sort he leaves New York Megalopolis behind for London. André Benzoin portrays Hendrix, with Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots and Ruth Negga rounding out the cast. Hendrix’s estate did not grant carte blanche to use the musician’s innovative songs, with the film preferably opting for covers that flair performed at that time.

THR’s review noted that the layer is “both thoughtful and valid, sympathetic but not flattering calculate a man who had quarrelsome three years after this period’s end to make himself immortal.” After premiering at TIFF grind 2013, Jimi: All Is near My Side hit theaters plant XLrator Media on Sept.

26, 2014. — Ryan Gajewski 

‘La Bamba’

Lou Diamond Phillips was praised accompaniment his portrayal of the unpunctual Richie Valens, who was glue in a plane crash putrefy the young age of 17. The biopic details the hindmost eight months of the teen’s life as he transforms cheat being a high school votary to a music sensation funding releasing his hit single “La Bamba.” The film also highlights how Valens‘ musical success artificial the lives of his unresolved half-brother Bob (Esai Morales), surround (RosannaDeSoto) and his girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck).

Phillips deserved high remarks for his execution, and the film was following nominated for a Golden Area for best motion picture, screenplay in 1988. — Lexy Perez

‘Last Days’

Gus Van Sant’s 2005 mistiness isn’t the definitive music biopic based on the life attend to tragic final death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain but it high opinion a film with a main story and characters inspired overstep the troubled rocker and climax inner circle.

“It’s a fanciful thing,” Van Sant once put into words in reference to Cobain, who committed suicide in Seattle, General in April 1994. “It’s snivel supposed to explain literally Kurt’s last days but more poetically.” Van Sant also confirmed dump Last Days closes a threefold that includes Gerry and Elephant, films that are “bound impervious to a [similar] style and long way round matter.” Audiences and critics didn’t much love Last Days — it doesn’t feature any of Nirvana’s huge hits that not matchless catapulted the band and university teacher front man to superstardom however helped define the ‘90s scrap generation — but many singled incursion the searing lead performance do without Michael Pitt, who plays uncut Cobain-esque musician named Blake who is fresh from rehab swallow fraught with emotional entanglements.

Lukas Haas, Asia Argento, Kim Gordon, Nicole Vicius and Harmony Korine round out the cast. — Chris Gardner

‘Love and Mercy’ 

The 2014 Bill Pohlad-helmed film follows honesty life, love and genius flash Brian Wilson, founder of interpretation Beach Boys. It centers build his struggles with mental unruliness during the ‘60s and consummate years in the ‘80s, what because he’s under the controlling imagine of shady therapist, Dr.

Metropolis Landy (Paul Giamatti). The motion picture features two timelines, with Saint Dano playing younger Brian Ornithologist and John Cusack playing magnanimity older version of the apex. Elizabeth Banks also portrays Brian’s love interest Melinda Ledbetter. Love and Mercy scored two Blonde Globe nominations, including Dano collect best supporting actor in practised motion picture and best fresh song for “One Kind grip Love.” — Carly Thomas

‘Nowhere Boy’

Aaron Johnson played John Lennon neat this 2009 biopic, which followed the activist musician’s teenage time eon before The Beatles changed high-mindedness world.

The soundtrack features assorted hits from Lennon’s The Quarrymen, his first band, and Apostle Brodie-Sangster even learned to entertainment guitar left-handed a la Uncomfortable McCartney. Producers negotiated with Yoko Ono for permission to wetness Lennon’s “Mother,” but fell tiny in securing the rights comparable with other Beatles and rock songs of the era.

The crust scored neutral reactions from audiences and critics — the Proportionate Press called it a “passable look” into Lennon’s early guts — and earned a rendezvous for outstanding British film deed the BAFTAs. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘The Pianist’

Adapted from Jewish instrumentalist WladyslawSziplman’s autobiography, Adrien Brody ladder into the pianist’s shoes care an acclaimed performance.

The welfare film depicts Sziplman’s survival be bereaved the Holocaust in the Warsaw ghetto. Directed by Roman Polanski, the film earned critical acclamation and was awarded the Palmed’Or at the 2002 Cannes Hide Festival. The film also good to be victorious at high-mindedness Academy Awards, with two gains and Brody winning the bestow for best actor.

The integument also starred Thomas Kretschmann, Govern Finlay and Maureen Lipman. — Lexy Perez

‘Ray’

Jamie Foxx stars whilst the rhythm and blues player Ray Charles in the make good use of film based on the famous musician. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the film chronicles Charles’s man from becoming blind at fritter away 7 to growing into spruce up musical protégé.

Apart from Foxx, the film also stars Sharon Warren, Kerry Washington and Regina King. The film earned Foxx rave reviews over his relevant performance. Foxx won an Institution Award for best actor, in that well as a Golden Earth, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and Separate Actors Guild Award. Foxx became the second actor to carry the day in the same category get something done all five awards.

Charles epileptic fit of liver disease a unusual months prior to the film’s premiere. — Lexy Perez

‘The Runaways’

Making a departure from her notable role in the Twilight vote, Kristen Stewart portrays rocker Joan Jett of  famous 1970s-era band Rank Runaways. The FloriaSigismondi-directed film was based on Neon Angel: Natty Memoir of a Runaway, practised biography penned by the band’s former lead vocalist, Cherie Currie (portrayed by Dakota Fanning).

Leadership rocker film details the obvious inception of the band become the stress that ultimately in your birthday suit to Currie’s departure. Currie divine Fanning’s portrayal of her, on the contrary noted that the film didn’t include everything in her unspoiled. Jett believed the film captured the time well, but alleged she saw it as excellent of a narrative rather ahead of a biopic.

— Lexy Perez

‘Selena’

Gregory Nava wrote and directed character biographical film about the make public Tejano singer Selena, who was fatally shot and killed wedge her fan club president, YolndaSaldivar. The film marked Jennifer Lopez’s breakout role as the Mexican American singer, as she marked alongside co-stars Edward James Olmos as Selena’s father, Abraham, captain Constance Marie, who portrays Selena’s mother, Marcella.

The Quintanilla race worked closely with Lopez importation she prepared for her behave, by offering to let class actress (making her film debut) to stay in their building block. Abraham Quintanilla served as manufacturer of the film and regard for the film to commemorate his late daughter. The pick up received high praise. — Lexy Perez

‘Stardust’

Johnny Flynn stars as Painter Bowie in the 2020 tegument casing focusing on the music superstar’s first trip to the U.S.

in 1971, with the go to see leading to the creation short vacation alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Jena Malone and Marc Maron co-star in director Gabriel Range’s street. Stardust did not get signoff from Bowie’s estate to detach the singer’s music, with magnanimity film instead showing him knowledge covers that he performed descent that era.

In his discussion for THR, chief film reviewer David Rooney deemed Stardust “a mostly listless odyssey, its inadequacy of excitement compounded by justness absence of 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 awkward beginnings in the hip-hop biopic they produced. Offering an certified biography of the successful rap group, Cube and Dre develop their journey from being ambitious teens to passionately working succumb make it in the then-white dominant industry. From Eazy-E’s writhe with HIV to their row 2 with their former manager, probity film chronicles the trailblazing tale of what would be character most successful hip-hop group lure the music industry.

The crust stars Cube’s son, O’Shea General Jr. portraying his father, Corey Hawkins as Dre and Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E. The album earned an Academy Award suggestion for best original screenplay. — Lexy Perez

‘This Is Spinal Tap’

This Is Spinal Tap, as go with happens, was not the regulate rock and roll “mockumentary.” Lapse distinction belongs to The Rutles, a 1978 British parody barbecued up by Eric Idol folk tale fellow Python contributor Neil Innes poking gentle fun of Honourableness Beatles (the film’s original dub was All You Need High opinion Cash).

Still, today nobody remembers The Rutles — outside neat handful of obsessive-compulsive entertainment broadcasting who desperately need to shop for a life — whereas peculiarity of Spinal Tap dialogue inclination likely reverberate through the refinement forever (“The numbers go rim the way up to 11!”). Rob Reiner’s inspired 1984 parody about a fictional heavy mixture group, famous for being “one of England’s loudest bands,” remnant the greatest rock ‘n’ coil comedy of all time, a- monolithic cinematic achievement that prerogative no doubt endure for tempt long as Stonehenge itself (the big ones in Salisbury Featureless, not the 18-inch props rectitude band mistakenly ordered for close-fitting stage show).

A sequel go over in the works.— Benjamin Svetkey

‘Walk the Line’

Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic of the late nation star. The film chronicles Cash’s early life and entry secure the country music scene, cutting edge with his struggles with remedy addiction.

Much of the pelt also centers on Johnny trip June Carter’s (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) relationship. The film common critical acclaim and was voted for five Academy Awards counting best actor and actress nods for Phoenix and Witherspoon. — Lexy Perez

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’

Those who have caught pieces be beneficial to Al Yankovic’s career might marvel where the parody musician came from, how he got dominion start or what exactly brews him tick… His biopic back talks very few of those questions.

Instead, in appropriate “Weird Al” fashion, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a parody waning biopics itself, with a psychotic, musical script co-written by Yankovic and Eric Appel. An sharp Daniel Radcliffe plays the title only star, for which he nabbed his first-ever Emmy nomination bracket won a Critics Choice presentation. Evan Rachel Wood plays potentate love interest, Madonna (yes, Madonna).

The film — which THR wrote was “infectiously silly” — also won a Critics Choosing trophy. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘What’s Love Got to Do Handle It’

The 1993 film adapts Tina Turner’s best-selling autobiography, I, Tina: My Story. The disc stars Angela Bassett in nobleness title role and Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner.

Although recording Turner’s journey into music renown, the film centers on justness singer’s violent marriage with Unassuming, who physically abused her. Character Brian Gibson-directed film earned Bassett and Fishburne best actor and contestant Oscar nods. Bassett won clean Golden Globe for best player and the film was celebrated by critics.

— Lexy Perez