Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the best biographical films about singers and musicians
There are tons of music biopics, but which are the best? This list includes popular movies about real musicians and singers, like What’s Love Got To Do With It, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Walk the Line, and La Bamba. Films have the ability to make us feel. They make us want to believe, be inspired, and live vicariously through the stories we see on screen. Music and musicians has have a similar ability, and we often feel connected to our favorite rock stars, making movies about their lives all the more enchanting. Films that tell the story of Tina Turner, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious, and Ray Charles all tell tales that are fascinating, tumultuous, and likely more violent than our own. It is with a peek into the lives of these individuals that we can understand their motives, and thus their art, that much better. These movies vary in their genre but are all equally fascinating.
122878Walk the Line
Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin PhoenixReleased: 2005
Directed by: James Mangold
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based... more on WikipediaJohnny Cash and June Carter
2213102Ray
Kerry Washington, Jamie FoxxReleased: 2004
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Ray is a biographical film focusing on 30 years in the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray... more on WikipediaRay Charles
![What's Love Got to Do with It]()
316378What's Love Got to Do with It
Angela Bassett, Laurence FishburneReleased: 1993
Directed by: Brian Gibson
What's Love Got to Do with It is a 1993 American biographical film directed by Brian Gibson,... more on WikipediaTina Turner
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15677Straight Outta Compton
O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey HawkinsReleased: 2015
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Straight Outta Compton is a 2015 American biographical film directed by F. Gary Gray. The... more on WikipediaNWA
![The Doors]()
515180The Doors
Meg Ryan, Val KilmerReleased: 1991
Directed by: Oliver Stone
The Doors is a 1991 American biopic about the 1960-70s rock band of the same name which... more on Wikipedia![Coal Miner's Daughter]()
611565Coal Miner's Daughter
Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy SpacekReleased: 1980
Directed by: Michael Apted
Coal Miner's Daughter is a 1980 biographical film which tells the story of country music... more on WikipediaLoretta Lynn
![Amadeus]()
712481Amadeus
Jeffrey Jones, Cynthia NixonReleased: 1984
Directed by: Miloš Forman
Amadeus - Directors Cut is a 1984 biography drama film written by Peter Shaffer and directed... more on WikipediaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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15078La Bamba
Lou Diamond Phillips, Joe PantolianoReleased: 1987
Directed by: Luis Valdez
La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez that follows... more on WikipediaRitchie Valens
![8 Mile]()
91531148 Mile
Eminem, Kim BasingerReleased: 2002
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop biopic film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis... more on WikipediaEminem
![The Buddy Holly Story]()
1010661The Buddy Holly Story
Gary Busey, Buddy MilesReleased: 1978
Directed by: Steve Rash
The Buddy Holly Story is a 1978 biographical film which tells the life story of rock musician... more on Wikipedia![Shine]()
119157Shine
Geoffrey Rush, John GielgudReleased: 1996
Directed by: Scott Hicks
Shine is a 1996 Australian biographical drama film based on the life of pianist David... more on WikipediaDavid Helfgott
![Bohemian Rhapsody]()
1226369Bohemian Rhapsody
Rami Malek, Ben HardyReleased: 2018
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 American-British biographical drama film directed by Bryan Singer.... more on WikipediaFreddie Mercury and Queen
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22395Rocketman
Taron Egerton, Jamie BellReleased: 2019
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Rocketman is a 2019 British-American biographical musical film directed by Dexter Fletcher.... more on WikipediaElton John
![The Temptations]()
148750The Temptations
Smokey Robinson, Bianca LawsonReleased: 1998
Directed by: Allan Arkush
The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC,... more on Wikipedia![Great Balls of Fire!]()
158159Great Balls of Fire!
Alec Baldwin, Winona RyderReleased: 1989
Directed by: Jim McBride
Great Balls of Fire! is a 1989 American biographical film directed by Jim McBride and starring... more on WikipediaJerry Lee Lewis
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12466Selena
Jennifer Lopez, Constance MarieReleased: 1997
Directed by: Gregory Nava
Selena is a 1997 American biographical musical drama film about the life and career of the... more on Wikipedia![Love & Mercy]()
174442Love & Mercy
Elizabeth Banks, Paul GiamattiReleased: 2014
Directed by: Bill Pohlad
A 2013 biopic about the life of Beach Boys' frontman Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
![Get On Up]()
186049Get On Up
Dan Aykroyd, Viola DavisReleased: 2014
Directed by: Tate Taylor
Get on Up is a 2014 American biographical drama film about the life of singer James Brown... more on WikipediaJames Brown
![Jersey Boys]()
196544Jersey Boys
Christopher Walken, Francesca EastwoodReleased: 2014
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Jersey Boys is a 2014 American biographical musical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood... more on WikipediaFrankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
![Cadillac Records]()
206868Cadillac Records
Beyoncé Knowles, Elvis PresleyReleased: 2008
Directed by: Darnell Martin
Cadillac Records is a 2008 musical biopic written and directed by Darnell Martin. The film... more on WikipediaLeonard Chess
![Sid and Nancy]()
216760Sid and Nancy
Courtney Love, Gary OldmanReleased: 1986
Directed by: Alex Cox
Sid and Nancy is a 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox. The film portrays the life of Sid... more on Wikipedia![Notorious]()
225658Notorious
Angela Bassett, Anthony MackieReleased: 2009
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
Notorious is a 2009 American biographical film about the life of Christopher Wallace, an... more on WikipediaBiggie Smalls
![Green Book]()
236935Green Book
Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala AliReleased: 2018
Directed by: Peter Farrelly
Green Book is a 2018 comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. A bouncer (Viggo Mortensen)... more on WikipediaDon Shirley
![The Pianist]()
243336The Pianist
Adrien Brody, Thomas KretschmannReleased: 2002
Directed by: Roman Polanski
The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama film co-produced and directed by Roman Polanski,... more on WikipediaWladyslaw Szpilman
![The Runaways]()
256040The Runaways
Kristen Stewart, Dakota FanningReleased: 2010
Directed by: Floria Sigismondi
The Runaways is a 2010 American drama film about the 1970s all-girl rock band of the same name... more on WikipediaJoan Jett
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