Best Music Biopics
What were the best films made about famous musicians?
List activity
1.3K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
11 titles
- DirectorTaylor HackfordStarsJamie FoxxRegina KingKerry WashingtonThe story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.By far the best biopic I have ever seen. Jamie Foxx was so good you forgot he was acting and believed you were watching Ray Charles.
One of the best films I have ever seen in any category, but the best one about a musician by far. - StarsCharles Malik WhitfieldD.B. WoodsideTerron BrooksBiography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.Very well made with some of that great motown music from one of the best vocal groups ever. The casting varied a lot, Leon was excallent as David Ruffin, But Charles Whitfeid looked nothing like Otis Williams, in fact he should have been Melvin and D B Woodside should have been Otis.
But apart from that and a few inaccuracies this was a very good film. - StarsLawrence Hilton-JacobsAngela BassettHolly Robinson PeeteThe story of the Jackson family and their rise to success.How do you make a film about a musical family without missing lots out? Truth is you can't but over all this was a well made film about one of the most famous musical families and an even more famous Michael.
The actors playing Michael at various ages were all good with the late Wylie Draper was outstanding. - DirectorTate TaylorStarsChadwick BosemanNelsan EllisDan AykroydA chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.Chadwick Boseman does a good job of portaying the complex character of James Brown, especially in later years. Over all good film with some fantastic music.
- DirectorRobert TownsendStarsLeonJenifer LewisCarl LumblyThe story of Little Richard Penniman, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a black singer in the 1950s, to his born-again phase and brief "retirement" from rock and roll.Leon does a passable Little Richard. He doesn't quite capture the brilliant madness of the man. But this is still a reasonably good biopic of the one off that is Little Richard.
- DirectorNeill FearnleyStarsGeorge StanchevL.B. FisherJeff GeddisThe story of the Pre-Fab Four and their fight to be taken seriously as musicians.Some brilliant casting makes this a very good biopic. Sets just the right tone for this film about a manufacturered Band that actually became a very good band producing some great music.
- StarsJonathan Rhys MeyersRose McGowanRandy QuaidA chronicle of the life of Elvis Presley, from his humble beginnings to his rise to international stardom.Jonathan Rhys Meyers does a pretty good Elvis in the TV movie. For my money he just pips Kurt Russel's attempt.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsStephen MacKennaRod CulbertsonJohn AltmanAn account of The Beatles during the Hamburg years, their signing with Brian Epstein and their inevitable rise during the early sixties.I know many Beatles fans didn't rate this and many critics put Nowhere Boy and Backdraft ahead of it, but for me it captured their rise to fame from nobody's to world superstars very well, in fact it does just what teh Title suggests.
Steven Mackenna was outstanding as John Lennon - DirectorMichael SwitzerStarsBruce GreenwoodGreg KeanArlen Dean SnyderDramatization looks at the tumultuous relationship that existed between rock group The Beach Boy's Brian and Dennis Wilson and their father, Murry. It also examines their struggles with drugs and alcohol.I loved this as it showed what was good about this american west coast band who made some of the best music of the 60s.
If you are a Beach Boys fan then this is really worth watching. - DirectorMartha CoolidgeStarsHalle BerryBrent SpinerKlaus Maria BrandauerDorothy Dandridge's way to fame and fortune as a dancer, singer and actress.Halle Berry does a very good job as Dorothy Dandridge who was a black woman trying to make it at a time when being black definately held you back. Good film that shows how things used to be for Black performers, even light skinned ones like Dorothy Dandridge.
- DirectorBrian GibsonStarsLynn WhitfieldRubén BladesDavid DukesBorn poor in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker achieved fame and fortune through her sizzlingly exotic, erotic performances. Starting life on the American Vaudeville circuit, success takes Josephine to Paris where her semi-nude dancing causes an international sensation. Through her marriages to an Italian pseudo-count and an orchestra leader, to her bond with army officer Sydney Williams, Josephine's life is a rollercoaster ride of love and rejection from both her lovers and her country. But semi-nude, or head-to-toes in sequins; in battle fatigues or rags - her beauty and ambition ensured that Josephine Baker will always be remembered as the first, and possibly most loved, truly international star.Just such a well made film about one of the most unusual characters who made it as a black performer in France whenb America rejected her.