Music biopics give us a peek into the lives of our favorite musicians. They reveal their personal struggles and inspiration, which often remain hidden or misinterpreted behind the flashing cameras and bling. They help us see our idols outside the light of their music, on-stage persona, fame, and legacy. At the same time, these movies influence cultural narratives and revive interest in artists, keeping legacies alive for generations now.
Hollywood has brought to life the journey of many celebrated musicians like Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Amy Winehouse, and more.
In this article, we’ve compiled the best music biopics that were not only true to their subjects, but also raked in massive money at the box office.
8 Best Music Biopics
1. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Based on the tumultuous life of Freddie Mercury, Brian Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody captures the rise of Mercury to fame as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Remi Malek, widely praised for capturing Mercury’s stage presence and vulnerability, won an Oscar for his portrayal of the lead vocalist of Queen.
Bohemian Rhapsody demonstrates an effective style to bring a celebrity’s life to the screen. While some might argue that it lacks depth and authenticity, it makes up for it with the emotional beats and crowd-pleasing high points.
The film raked in a whopping $910.8 million, setting box office records for highest worldwide gross.
2. Walk the Line (2005)
Chronicling the life of American country legend, Johnny Cash, James Mangold’s Walk the Line stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character, and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, Cash’s eternal lady-love.
Witherspoon’s phenomenal portrayal of June, the woman who held Cash together, through the best and worst times of his life, won her Best Actress Award at the 78th Academy Awards. At the same time, Phoenix was nominated for Best Actor.
Mangold relies heavily on Cash’s music, using it not just as background score, but also placing key songs such as Folsom Prison Blues and Ring of Fire at emotional highpoints. His use of music in Walk the Line showcases an effective way of leveraging the audience’s emotional connection and nostalgia with milestones of their favorite musician’s life. Walk the Line raked in a massive 186.8 million in worldwide collections.
3. Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles in Ray won him an Oscar for Best Actor. At the same time, the film was nominated for six Oscar awards, including Best Picture.
Directed by Taylor Hackford, Ray covers roughly 30 years of Charles’ life, chronicling his time as a child in Florida and spanning his rise to global fame. Ray not only excels at visual storytelling in depicting a controversial life such as Charles’, but also addresses issues of racism, disability, and exploitation in showbiz, showcasing how music biopics can be effective vehicles for social commentary. Ray grossed at $124 million at the global box office.
4. Rocketman (2019)
Centering British Musician Elton John’s (Taron Egerton) life, Rocketman covers his transformation from Reginald Dwight to “the” Elton John, a global superstar: the 19th EGOT winner in history. Along with important milestones, for instance, his early life as a music prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, the narrative delves deep into his personal struggles, such as him coming to terms with his homosexuality, his strenuous relationship with his parents in the light of their disapproval, substance abuse, and lastly, his turbulent relationship with his manager, John Reid (Richard Madden).
Director Dexter Fletcher uses kaleidoscopic visuals and expressive production design to reflect Elton’s persona and create a contrast between the highs and lows of Elton’s life. Rocketman exemplifies a balance between spectacle and intimacy, relying on music, both originals by Matthew Margesson and Elton’s, for grandeur and resonance. The film’s title was inspired by John’s namesake 1972 hit. Rocketman earned $ 195.2 million at the global box office.
5. Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
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A celebration of Marley’s music and message of love and harmony, Bob Marley: One Love chronicles Marley’s life. The narrative ranges from his childhood hardships, growing up with his mother after his father abandoned them, to his rise to global fame in the mid-1970s. It also explores the important milestones in Marley’s life.
Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, was not only a producer on the project, but also a creative consultant, ensuring the narrative was credible and did not lose personal touch.
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green uses vivid flashbacks and authentic recreations of 1970s Jamaica to lure the audience deep into Marley’s world. The film grossed $180.8 million globally.
6. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
Based on Loretta Lynn’s 1976 namesake autobiography, Michael Apted’s Coal Miner’s Daughter stars Sissy Spacek as Lynn, who also performed all of Lynn’s songs herself. The role won Spacek an Oscar for Best Actress in 1981. The narrative explores themes of poverty, resilience, family, and the challenges of sudden fame through Lynn’s journey.
Apted fully utilizes the scope of music in Coal Miner’s Daughter, having a lead (known to have been handpicked by Lynn to play herself) who can sing and perform her own songs. The film earned $ 67.2 million at the global box office.
7. A Complete Unknown (2024)
Another masterpiece by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown follows the life of Bob Dylan, and his rise to fame, after a 19-year-old Dylan moved to New York City in 1996.
Timothy Chalamet was highly praised for his nuanced portrayal of Dylan, having effortlessly mirrored Dylan’s enigmatic personality and charisma.
Mangold sticks to music-driven storytelling, using Dylan’s original songs to play on the fan’s nostalgia. The film raked in a whopping $180.8 million globally.
8. Elvis (2022)
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis stars Austin Butler in the titular role. The narrative covers Presley’s whole life: his childhood through his rise to superstardom and his final years in Las Vegas. At the same time, it also spotlights his destructive relationship with his manager, Colonel Parker, played by Tom Hanks.
Butler delivered a raw portrayal of Presley, capturing both his electrifying persona and stage presence.
Luhrmann’s use of music in Elvis demonstrates an ingenious way of using music as an emotional punctuation and narrative propulsion. The movie generated a whopping 288.7 million at the global box office..
Have you watched any of these great biopics?
