The Best Biopics About Real Comedians

There is a surprising dearth of quality biopics about comedians. There are, however, a handful of movies that masterfully capture the magnetic personalities and dynamic lives both onstage and off of some great comic performers. With rumors swirling about a Richard Pryor biopic directed by Lee Daniels, here are the best comedian biopics.

Trailblazer, rebel, and criminal Lenny Bruce is portrayed brilliantly by Dustin Hoffman in the film Lenny. Directed by Bob Fosse, the film received six Oscar nominations and stands as the most accurate and acclaimed comedian biopic to date. Jim Carrey’s turn as the eccentric and reclusive Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon gives Hoffman's Lenny a run for its money. Carrey perfectly channels the manic energy of Kaufman, while also capturing his striking vulnerability.