Rock and roll biography movies

’24-Hour Party People’

Maybe the first movie to tackle a city’s era-defining music scene — Manchester, from Gladness Division’s late-’70s hatching of post-punk through say publicly Madchester heyday of rave culture in authority ’90s — this is also the recounting of Factory Records, the label that throb New Order, the Happy Mondays and Felon to the world; it’s also about Second class owner, TV presenter and scene captain Courtly Wilson, played here by Steve Coogan sky a role that introduced him globally.

Chief up the music biopic playbook, Coogan’s Writer breaks the fourth wall throughout the disengage plot; musicians appear as themselves to absorbed the veracity of the film’s plot; ray viewers are nodded into the legendary Hacienda nightclub (painstakingly re-created here). Wilson opened delay club while running his label (eventually, bump into the ground) and DJ culture overtook prestige scene.

Rooted in real events, clear rumors, urban myths and speculation, director Michael Winterbottom’s dizzying nostalgia trip invites you to goodness party and captures an era. — Kevin Dolak

‘8 Mile’

Inspired by Marshall Mathers‘ (aka Eminem) journey from being a struggling rapper spiky Detroit to a music sensation, the tegument casing stars the rapper himself as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith in his first leading role.

Secured by Curtis Hanson, the film doesn’t cease from detailing the gruesome hardships and struggles the rapper faced that would ultimately imbue his edgy music. Alongside Eminem are co-stars MekhiPhifer, Kim Basinger and the late Brittany Murphy. The underdog story received praise give birth to critics and audiences, and Eminem won plug up Academy Award for best original song courier “Lose Yourself.”  — Lexy Perez

‘All Eyez On Me’

Twenty-one years after the death of representation rapper came the big-screen telling of Tupac Shakur’s story starring Demetrius ShippJr., who bears a striking resemblance to Shakur.

Apart overexert their similar looks, Shipp has a inaccessible connection with the late rapper, as his father produced “Toss It Up” for 2Pac’s Goodness Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory notebook. Shipp and Jamal Woolard, who played Amous B.I.G., wore actual replicas of the Nosh-up Coast/West Coast rappers’ clothes.

Woolard reprised his role as B.I.G. after first portraying the rapper in glory 2009 biopicNotorious. The Benny Boom-directed film also stars DanaiGurira, Kat Graham and Dominic L. Santana. — Lexy Perez

‘Back to Black’

Back to Black, from Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars newcomer Marisa Abela as the uplift singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.

It depicts the astonishment and fall of the beloved musician, suffer the loss of her teenage years on the streets position Enfield, north London, all the way clutch the 2008 Grammy-winning record “Rehab” and unit tragic death from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27. The Focus Features biopic also documents Winehouse’s fraught, on-off relationship tally husband Blake Fielder-Civil while the two wrangle with booze-binging and drug addiction, as well orangutan her persistent harassment by the British tabloids.

Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville star since her father and grandmother, respectively. The videotape itself was widely criticized, with Taylor-Johnson confront accusations of exploiting Winehouse’s troubled personal plainspoken, but Abela earned high praise for become known embodiment of who many deem one magnetize the greatest musical talents of the Xxi century.

The actress sang all the facts herself and scored a London Critics’ Ring Film Award nomination on Dec. 19. — Lily Ford

‘Backbeat’

The 1994 movie chronicles the entirely days of The Beatles in Hamburg, Frg, as they search for success in depiction music world. Backbeat, directed by Iain Softley, specifically centers on the relationship between Royalty Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff) and John Lennon (Ian Hart), as Stuart navigates his career put up with love life with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee).

As for the other members, Metropolis Bakewell portrayed Paul McCartney, Chris O’Neill pass for George Harrison, Scot Williams as Pete Outdistance and Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr. Founder Don Was also went on to increase twofold the BAFTA for Anthony Asquith Award awaken Film Music for Backbeat. — Carly Thomas

‘Bob Marley: One Love’

Bob Marley: One Love centers wait the reggae singer and songwriter, played unresponsive to Kingsley Ben-Adir, from his rise to repute in the mid-1970s until he died demonstrate 1981.

The film details a failed begin on his life in his home make happen Kingston, Jamaica, which drove the legend give an inkling of double down on his mission to transport a divided nation together. Reinaldo Marcus Verdant directed the One Love. Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, served as a producer on character project. While speaking with THR at class film’s Los Angeles premiere, he explained dump his father used singing to connect finish off others and overcome adversity.

“Music is organized powerful tool if you use it primacy right way, and that was his tool,” he said. “He kind of sacrificed mortal physically for that message.” — Christy Piña

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

The movie that gave Rami Malek an Honor, 20th Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody zoomed compact on the life and legacy of Queen’s Freddie Mercury (Malek), following the singer evade the formation of the band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance concede defeat Wembley Stadium.

Excellence 2018 film was divisive, and many critics said they were disappointed — THR dubbed it a “conventional PG-13 portrait of minor unconventional band.” But audience members raved riches the impressive recreations of the band’s uttermost epic moments, and the film outperformed position at the box office. In addition house Malek’s Academy Award, the movie took hint best sound mixing, sound editing, film re-examination at that year’s Oscar ceremony.

— Zoe G. Phillips

‘The Buddy Holly Story’

Gary Busey takes on the role of Sidekick Holly in the ‘70sbiopic of the Texas rock star who tragically died in first-class plane crash at age 22. Receiving exceeding Oscar nomination for his portrayal, Busey’s duty reintroduced Buddy’s music to audiences, for depiction film was released during the disco period.

The film’s acclaimed success ultimately led hurt the Buddy Holly Lives greatest hits gathering to rank at No. 55 on interpretation Billboard album charts. — Lexy Perez

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’

Sissy Spacek received an Academy Award fend for best actress for her role as native land icon Loretta Lynn, delivering an exceptional execution as she depicts Lynn’s journey to concerto stardom.

In combining to portraying the singer during her absolutely life in Kentucky and immediate success although a country star, Spacek also lends take five vocals to the film. Rather than cry off Lynn’s voice, Spacek sang all of ethics singer’s songs, landing her at the Maladroit thumbs down d. 2 on the country charts. Tommy Histrion Jones, Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) extort Levon Helm also star.

— Lexy Perez

‘A Accurate Unknown’

Based on the best-selling nonfiction finished, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknown follows Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan when he control arrived in New York at 19. Depiction biopic chronicles his rise to fame, because he grows restless with folk music see makes the controversial choice to switch brand rock.

Along the way, he comes cross many young women, including Suze Rotolo, somewhat fictionalized in the James Mangold film bear portrayed by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). In a THR cover novel, Chalamet revealed that playing Dylan was description most he stretched himself for a part.

“It became advantageous biblical to me in terms of that man’s life and his work that Mad felt if I let my focus break for a second, that I’d be self-loathing about it for years to come,” yes said. — Christy Piña

‘Dreamgirls’

Bill Condon (Kinsey) took on the tall task of adapting presentday directing the popular Broadway musical for prestige big screen, and he did so emergency bringing a cast of all stars ton Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose.

American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson took on the show-stopping carve up of Effie White and proved to befit a breakout star by earning an Institution Award for best supporting actress, one fail the film’s two wins from eight nominations. Loosely inspired by the Motown experiences addict the Diana Ross-led Supremes, the 2006 shoot followed a fictional Detroit girl group titled The Dreams as they make their technique through the music industry and cross paths with shady record executives and personal conflicts.

It finished with $155 million at representation box office, nearly doubling its budget. — Chris Gardner

‘Elvis’

Austin Butler channeled the king medium rock ‘n’ roll for Baz Luhrmann’s noble Elvis, which also starred Tom Hanks. Undeterred by telling Elvis Presley’s story, Hanks’ “Colonel” Tomcat Parker pilots the narrative of Presley’s continue to fame, relationship with Priscilla Presley leading eventual personal and professional demise.

Hanks’ Author refutes his designated role as the criminal of the story throughout his narration, on the contrary audiences can still see how Butler’s Presley artistic and personal freedom were impacted via Parker. For the role, Butler sang compartment the songs for the early part reveal Presley’s career, but his voice was integrated with the icon for the later ability of Presley’s career.

Butler went to unadulterated lengths to portray Presley, with his signally deeper, Presley-sounding voice eventually being a issue of conversation even months after the film was released — Butler cited all the melodic and training for straining his voice. Regardless of the conversations, Butler’s commitment to portraying Presley as accurately as possible — his interpretation also received praise from Priscilla and primacy late Lisa Marie Presley — earned sovereign first Oscar nomination for best actor undecided a leading role during the 2023 College Awards.

— Lexy Perez

‘Get on Up’

Although rectitude James Brown biopic did not have finalize box office returns, Chadwick Boseman’s performance drug the late singer received praise from critics.

Honesty Tate Taylor-directed film chronicles the entertainer’s being, from the 1930s to the 1980s. Say publicly film, which highlights Brown’s passionate work system 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 Lee Lewis in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire!. Named for what force be Lewis’ most long-lasting hit, the skin was based on a biography of nobleness same name by Myra Lewis — rendering musician’s first wife, who was also tiara cousin, and whom he married when she was 13 and he was 22 (Lewis shared authorship of the book with Classicist M.

Silver Jr., and the movie’s dramatic art was written by director Jim McBride become peaceful Jack Baran). The film depicts Jerry Lee’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll fame, followed by his marriage’s leading to the star’s eventual downfall. Alec Baldwin also stars trade in televangist Jimmy Swaggart, the singer’s second cousin-german, in a performance many critics applauded.

Come up for air, others criticized the film for romanticizing grandeur darker sides of Jerry Lee’s story, instruction the movie holds a 65 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘Her Smell’

This underseen curiosity from filmmaker Alex Perry Ross takes a punk rock in thing to tell the story of deeply pestered punk rock front woman, Becky Something (Elizabeth Moss, channeling Hole-era Courtney Love).

Rather pat shoehorn its themes into the adolescence-to-adulthood convinced story of this fictional tornado of well-organized woman, as a traditional music biopic would, Her Smell consists of five long scenes set in single locations. The gimmick shop, providing an immersive character study of dexterous narcissist terrorizing everyone who loves her, torpedoing her band’s success and then, in natty powerful time jump, coming out the subsequent end the rock star ride a botchup of her former self.

This physical abide chaotic performance may be Moss’s finest period yet (bonus: she sings Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”) and it’s certainly Perry’s most distinctive ep, allowing us into the nightmare of essence, or being around, an unstable rock enfant terrible. — Kevin Dolak

‘I’m Not There’

Paying reverence to Bob Dylan, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic features an eclectic cast of Hollywood stars who each portray a different aspect hold sway over Dylan’s life.

From Dylan’s youth (portrayed inured to Marcus Carl Franklin) to his emergence return New York (Christian Bale), the unconventional forcible of the various facets of the singer-songwriter is captured for the biographical drama. Primacy film also stars Richard Gere, Heath Journal, CateBlanchett and Ben Whishaw.

Blanchett earned far-out Golden Globe Award best supporting actress illustrious was nominated for an Academy Award result in best supporting actress. — Lexy Perez

‘I Wanna Flash With Somebody’

Kasi Lemmons’sbiopic of the typical Whitney Houston starred Naomi Ackie in nobleness leading role with the film celebrating goodness singer’s life and legacy a decade tail her death.

The 2022 film, produced run off with the backing of Houston’s family and capital as well as Houston’s longtime music processor Clive Davis, also starred Stanley Tucci kind Davis and Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brownish. Throughout the film, viewers watch Tucci’s Jazzman work alongside Houston from the beginning addendum her career, her rise to fame wallet tragic ending while exploring the trials don tribulations she experienced both personally and professionally.

“It will tell you about her thirst. It will tell you about her craving to drugs. It will tell you agricultural show she and I worked together,” Davis told THRat the time of how the film allows the audience to learn more about who Houston was, also noting that the pick up “celebrates the music” they created together.

Conj albeit Ackie sings in some scenes of depiction film, the music keeps Houston’s voice. — Lexy Perez

‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’

Based throw away Katherine Jackson’s 1990 autobiography, My Family, distinction miniseries chronicles the rise of one returns music’s most infamous families.

From their indeed days of “ABC” to the solo employment of Michael and shocking allegations against glory King of Pop, the two-part mini, which aired on ABC, attempts to unveil magnanimity unknown story of the musical family.

— Lexy Perez

‘Jimi: All Is by Out of your depth Side’

Director John Ridley’s feature centers think the start of Jimi Hendrix’s career renovation he leaves New York City behind financial assistance London. André Benjamin portrays Hendrix, with Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots and Ruth Negga misestimation out the cast.

Hendrix’s estate did war cry grant permission to use the musician’s designing songs, with the film instead opting leverage covers that he performed at that offend. THR’s review noted that the movie admiration “both thoughtful and convincing, sympathetic but gather together flattering to a man who had belligerent three years after this period’s end justify make himself immortal.” After premiering at Fracas in 2013, Jimi: All Is by Wooly Side hit theaters from XLrator Media closing stages Sept.

26, 2014. — Ryan Gajewski 

‘La Bamba’

Lou Diamond Phillips was praised for his version of the late Richie Valens, who was killed in a plane crash at goodness young age of 17. The biopic trivia the last eight months of the teen’s life as he transforms from being expert high school student to a music kick after releasing his hit single “La Bamba.” The film also highlights how Valens‘ harmonious success affected the lives of his anxious half-brother Bob (Esai Morales), mother (RosannaDeSoto) remarkable his girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck).

Phillips earned high remarks for his performance, plus the film was later nominated for great Golden Globe for best motion picture, picture in 1988. — Lexy Perez

‘Last Days’

Gus Advance guard Sant’s 2005 pic isn’t the definitive congregation biopic based on the life and depressing final death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain on the contrary it is a film with a principal story and characters inspired by the to be decided rocker and his inner circle.

“It’s precise fictional thing,” Van Sant once said coach in reference to Cobain, who committed suicide guaranteed Seattle, Washington in April 1994. “It’s call supposed to explain literally Kurt’s last times but more poetically.” Van Sant also rooted that Last Days closes a trilogy roam includes Gerry and Elephant, films that industry “bound by a [similar] style and thesis matter.” Audiences and critics didn’t much liking Last Days — it doesn’t feature any rule Nirvana’s huge hits that not only catapulted the band and its front man just about superstardom but helped define the ‘90s soil generation — but many singled out the boiling lead performance by Michael Pitt, who plays a Cobain-esque musician named Blake who abridge fresh from rehab and fraught with lively entanglements.

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

‘Love and Mercy’ 

The 2014 Bill Pohlad-helmed film follows the walk, love and genius of Brian Wilson, founding father of the Beach Boys. It centers aver his struggles with mental illness during position ‘60s and his years in the ‘80s, when he’s under the controlling influence closing stages shady therapist, Dr.

Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). The movie features two timelines, with Unpleasant Dano playing younger Brian Wilson and Ablutions Cusack playing the older version of significance musician. Elizabeth Banks also portrays Brian’s fondness interest Melinda Ledbetter. Love and Mercy scored two Golden Globe nominations, including Dano shadow best supporting actor in a motion drawing and best original song for “One Pitiless of Love.” — Carly Thomas

‘Nowhere Boy’

Aaron Lexicographer played John Lennon in this 2009 biopic, which followed the activist musician’s teenage eld before The Beatles changed the world.

Rendering soundtrack features several hits from Lennon’s Magnanimity Quarrymen, his first band, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster even learned to play guitar left-handed pure la Paul McCartney. Producers negotiated with Yoko Ono for permission to use Lennon’s “Mother,” but fell short in securing the candid to other Beatles and rock songs weekend away the era.

The film scored neutral reactions from audiences and critics — the Proportionate Press called it a “passable look” stimulus Lennon’s early life — and earned wonderful nomination for outstanding British film at significance BAFTAs. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘The Pianist’

Adapted evacuate Jewish musician WladyslawSziplman’s autobiography, Adrien Brody proceed into the pianist’s shoes for an eminent performance.

The biographical film depicts Sziplman’s relic from the Holocaust in the Warsaw ghetto. Directed by Roman Polanski, the film deserved critical acclaim and was awarded the Palmed’Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Magnanimity film also proved to be victorious dress warmly the Academy Awards, with two wins weather Brody winning the award for best human being.

The film also starred Thomas Kretschmann, Candid Finlay and Maureen Lipman. — Lexy Perez

‘Ray’

Jamie Foxx stars as the rhythm and doldrums pianist Ray Charles in the biographical vinyl based on the famed musician. Directed by means of Taylor Hackford, the film chronicles Charles’s vitality from becoming blind at age 7 ought to growing into a musical protégé.

Apart from Foxx, the film also stars Sharon Warren, Kerry Washington and Regina Persistent. The film earned Foxx rave reviews bulk his leading performance. Foxx won an School Award for best actor, as well despite the fact that a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA final Screen Actors Guild Award. Foxx became dignity second actor to win in the changeless category for all five awards.

Charles properly of liver disease a few months former to the film’s premiere.

— Lexy Perez

‘The Runaways’

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

The cardinal film details the early inception of righteousness band to the stress that ultimately outside to Currie’s departure. Currie praised Fanning’s rendering of her, but noted that the skin didn’t include everything in her book. Jett believed the film captured the time spasm, but said she saw it as addition of a narrative rather than a biopic.

— Lexy Perez

‘Selena’

Gregory Nava wrote and tied the biographical film about the late Tejano singer Selena, who was fatally shot highest killed by her fan club president, YolndaSaldivar.

The film marked Jennifer Lopez’s gaolbreak role as the Mexican American singer, similarly she starred alongside co-stars Edward James Olmos as Selena’s father, Abraham, and Constance Marie, who portrays Selena’s mother, Marcella. The Quintanilla family worked closely with Lopez as she prepared for her role, by offering stay at let the actress (making her film debut) to stay in their home.

Abraham Quintanilla served as producer of the film take aimed for the film to immortalize fulfil late daughter. The film received high flatter. — Lexy Perez

‘Stardust’

Johnny Flynn stars as Painter Bowie in the 2020 film focusing standup fight the music superstar’s first trip to picture U.S.

in 1971, with the visit luminous to the creation of alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Jena Malone and Marc Maron co-star in director Gabriel Range’s feature. Stardust frank not get signoff from Bowie’s estate have knowledge of use the singer’s music, with the vinyl instead showing him doing covers that inaccuracy performed in that era.

In his regard for THR, chief film critic David Rooney deemed Stardust “a mostly listless odyssey, university teacher lack of excitement compounded by the deficiency of Bowie’s music.” IFC Films released Stardust on Nov. 25, 2020. — Ryan Gajewski 

‘Straight Outta Compton’

Three decades later, NWA members Sentence Cube and Dr.

Dre return to their early beginnings in the hip-hop biopic they produced. Offering an authorized biography of ethics successful hip-hop group, Cube and Dre specific their journey from being aspiring teens peak passionately working to make it in decency then-white dominant industry. From Eazy-E’s struggle eradicate HIV to their falling-out with their one-time manager, the film chronicles the trailblazing tale of what would be the most prosperous hip-hop group in the music industry.

Rank film stars Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. portraying his father, Corey Hawkins as Dre and Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E. The album earned an Academy Award nomination for outdistance original screenplay. — Lexy Perez

‘This Is Spinal Tap’

This Is Spinal Tap, as it happens, was not the first rock and press flat “mockumentary.” That distinction belongs to The Rutles, a 1978 British parody cooked up through Eric Idol and fellow Python contributor Neil Innes poking gentle fun of The Beatles (the film’s original title was All Boss about Need Is Cash).

Still, today nobody remembers The Rutles — outside a handful remark obsessive-compulsive entertainment journalists who desperately need prefer get a life — whereas snippets several Spinal Tap dialogue will likely reverberate be diagnosed with the culture forever (“The numbers go conclude the way up to 11!”).

Rob Reiner’s inspired 1984 spoof about a fictional dense metal group, famous for being “one hint England’s loudest bands,” remains the greatest crag ‘n’ roll comedy of all time, trig monolithic cinematic achievement that will no by all means endure for as long as Stonehenge strike (the big ones in Salisbury Plains, moan the 18-inch props the band mistakenly businesslike for its stage show).

A sequel go over in the works.— Benjamin Svetkey

‘Walk the Line’

Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny Cash in representation 2005 biopic of the late country reception. The film chronicles Cash’s early life vital entry into the country music scene, far ahead with his struggles with drug addiction.

Wellknown of the film also centers on Johnny and June Carter’s (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) relationship.

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’

Those who have caught pieces of Al Yankovic’s life might wonder where the parody musician came from, how he got his start most uptodate what exactly makes him tick… His biopic answers very few of those questions.

In lieu of, in appropriate “Weird Al” fashion, Weird: Class Al Yankovic Story is a parody dominate biopics itself, with a kooky, musical calligraphy co-written by Yankovic and Eric Appel. Alteration enthusiastic Daniel Radcliffe plays the titular skill, for which he nabbed his first-ever Laurels nomination and won a Critics Choice confer.

Evan Rachel Wood plays his love alarmed, Madonna (yes, Madonna). The film — which THR wrote was “infectiously silly” — further won a Critics Choice trophy. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘What’s Love Got to Do Narrow It’

The 1993 film adapts Tina Turner’s best-selling autobiography, I, Tina: My Story.

Decency film stars Angela Bassett in the caption role and Laurence Fishburne as Ike Cookware. Although chronicling Turner’s journey into music distinction, the film centers on the singer’s brutal marriage with Ike, who physically abused other.

The Brian Gibson-directed disc earned Bassett and Fishburne best actor and sportsman Oscar nods. Bassett won a Golden Existence for best actress and the film was praised by critics. — Lexy Perez