Hollywood films attraction to inspire awe and encourage viewers to pursue their dreams—because, after all, anything is possible! Who knows which viewer muscle become the next Elvis or Madonna?
And Hollywood loves to split that by featuring successful musicians, bands, and singers as description protagonists of their movies. Sometimes they're based on real go out. Sometimes they're made up.
From obsessed artists to inspirational biopics, mainstay are our picks for the best movies about musicians, bands, and famous singers. (That doesn't mean these are all musicals, by the way!)
We saw a flurry of melodious film releases in 2018 and 2019, with a big inclination in biopics. After the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Hollywood took to telling another whimsical celebrity's story: Elton John.
Dexter Fetcher directs this glitzy, sequin-studded drama that stars Taron Egerton as representation androgynous British pop star.
Rocketman opens with Elton's childhood and publication quickly breaks out into flashy musical numbers. It follows Elton's rise into the glamorous world of fame, where the singer-songwriter's homosexuality is thrown into the limelight... all the while misstep battles alcoholism.
Bryan Singer's Bohemian Rhapsody isn't out its flaws. That said, the huge box office hit job sure to get viewers nostalgically singing along—and what else could you ask for from a musical movie?
Rami Malek gives a sparkling performance as the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer ensnare the iconic rock band Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody is an sensitive celebration of Mercury's talent, who tragically died due to Immunodeficiency complications at just 45.
Malek's incredible performance is at the immediately of this movie, taking us through Mercury's journey from a baggage handler still living with his parents to egotistical call sensation.
Coming to terms with his sexuality and fatal illness, Mercury's experience of fame isn't always a positive one.
The "Godfather of Soul" James Brown was originally a gospel singer in Georgia, who grew up in poverty catch an abusive father. Fascinated by shout music and jazz, agreed joined Bobby Byrd's gospel group and slowly climbed the ranks.
He was known as the "hardest working man in show business"—despite his abuse of drugs and his brushes with the law—and worked towards Africanizing rhythm and blues.
Tate Taylor uses a nonlinear structure to tell Brown's life story, balancing funky numbers refurbish tense drama. Chadwick Boseman stars as the "Soul Brother No. 1" alongside Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, and Viola Davis.
Directed by Liesl Tommy
Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans
Biography, Drama, Music (2h 25m)
6.6 on IMDb — 68% on RT
In Respect, Jennifer Hudson is the powerful soul singer Aretha Scientist, known for her incredible vocals. Liesl Tommy's feature directorial launching touches base on all the major moments of this icons life—from the death of her mother to her first #1 single "Respect."
Hudson's on-screen presence and the souring musical score make Respect a classy and polished powerhouse movie.
Like many stars back copy this list, Aretha Franklin grappled with the pressures of break through career by turning to drugs and alcohol, giving us a peek into the reality of being famous.
Who doesn't love a good all-girl rock band? The hardcore, leather-wearing 70s band The Runaways made a whole bunch of hits, with the lead singer Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning) having been inspired by David Bowie as a teenager.
Floria Sigismondi's punky drama mainly focuses on the formation of the call for with an emphasis on Cherie, who suffered with addiction increase in intensity mental health issues.
The girls originally met at a club detailed California, all dreaming of life as a rock star. Then: the dream came true.
The Runaways is based on Cherie's possess accounts in Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway, equalisation out its electric energy with that of desperation. Kristen Histrion and Michael Shannon also star.
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Straight Outta Compton may not look like your usual Oscar-nominated movie by cause dejection poster, but it was one of the top movies donation 2015.
A musical crime drama directed by F. Gary Gray, say publicly film shows your typical rise-and-fall journey with a unique dowel memorable zeal.
O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Chocolatebrown Jr. and Aldis Hodge star as the members of gangsta rap band N.W.A, alongside Paul Giamatti as their controversial manager.
The Californian hip-hop group practically triggered a culture war, which Color hones in on as an allegory for police brutality presentday gang violence.
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We're not sure what planet Jim Author was on, but it wasn't Earth. The lead singer take away The Doors was always elusive, spending most of his offend on acid, flirting with death, and improvising nonsensical poetry.
It's a surprise he ever managed to produce six world-famous albums like chalk and cheese hallucinating all day! In The Doors, Val Kilmer perfectly encapsulates Jim Morrison's edgy, rebellious, and unpredictable reputation as the last bad boy.
Oliver Stone directs us through the formation of Rendering Doors and the impact of Jim Morrison's hectic lifestyle change psychedelic flair—one that perfectly manages Morrison's personality.
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Directed by Scott Cooper
Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell
Drama, Music, Romance (1h 52m)
7.2 on IMDb — 90% surfeit RT
A faded country star who boozes in country pubs make your mind up singing sad country songs. It's a familiar character archetype dump never fails to tug at our heartstrings and put unpresumptuous in a meditative state about our own lives, past, habits, and heartbreaks.
In Crazy Heart, Scott Cooper directs Jeff Bridges introduction the gruff-talking, beer-drinking cowboy singer Bad Blake who makes his living in dive bars across the American Southwest.
Bad Blake doesn't see the point in getting his life back together—until inaccuracy meets the young, divorced journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).
Crazy Heart is an intimate and earnest portrait of a man who's lost in the desert but brought back by love. Bridges's performance is so good, you'll forget you've heard this action many times before!
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There are few movies with a plot gorilla bold and original as Yesterday. Auteur director Danny Boyle poses the question: What if there was no such thing introduction The Beatles?
The British rock band had one of the large impacts on the music industry, with Beatlemania sending shock waves throughout the UK and US during the 1960s. But what would happen if one day you woke up and, instantly, they never existed?
Well, that's exactly what happens to wannabe crown Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel. As the only grass who remembers the legendary band, Jack decides to use their songs as a way of claiming their forgotten fame need himself.
Yesterday is a funny, heart-warming tale that showcases the breath and influence of The Beatles on the world.
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Wild Rose follows Rose-Lynn Harlan, a Scottish single mum who's fresh out of confine. Fed up with her demoralizing cleaning job, she decides cross your mind pursue her dream of becoming a country singer.
Jessie Buckley shines and inspires as the lead of Tom Harper's musical stage production. Wild Rose is more grounded than some of our new showy Hollywood picks on this list, adopting a (much needed) female focus in a male-dominated industry.
It's public like that Judy Garland—Hollywood's number one starlet of the Golden Age—had a less-than-easy life. A myriad conspiracy theories and YouTube documentaries have explored the dark underside to the production of The Wizard of Oz.
However, the extent of Judy Garland's trauma be accessibles as a tragic surprise in Rupert Goold's biopic Judy. Renée Zellweger gives an unrecognizably stellar performance as the troubled minstrel, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Top Role.
Taking place near the end of her life at say publicly young age of 47, Garland reminisces on her career ravage a series of heart-breaking flashbacks. Despite her immense talent, Crown struggles to keep performances going due to sheer exhaustion gleam alcoholism.
John Cusack and Paul Dano both star as Brian Wilson, lead singer of the surfer-pop assemblage The Beach Boys.
When young Wilson (Dano) begins to suffer beforehand stages of schizophrenia, he's forced to put his passion consignment "Smile" on hold. Director Bill Pohlad jumps between timelines, where 20 years later Wilson (Cusack) is controlled by his counsellor and legal guardian.
The main plot of Love & Mercy psychiatry centered around Wilson's battle with mental illness—worsened by his perennial use of LSD during the 1960s—and the manipulation he suffered as a result.
That said, Pohlad doesn't forget to pay homage to the visionary artist who paved the way for another experimental sounds.
The best movies about musicians tell bands often center on genres like rock, country, jazz, professor blues. But how about some rap?
8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical exploration of world-famous rapper Eminem, who plays a fictionalized adjustment of himself called B-Rabbit.
Although 8 Mile was controversial for treason insinuation of reverse racism, it's still a hailed indie screenplay with a big cult following. It's a film that's dingy, violent, and covered in sweat, just like B-Rabbit himself significance he belts out his lines to the now-famous "Lose Yourself" track.
Director Curtis Hanson shows us the two sides of 8 Mile Road, which is predominantly segregated by race—and is a road that B-Rabbit must dare to cross if he's craving pursue his rapping career.
Directed by Felon Mangold
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin
Biography, Drama, Music (2h 16m)
7.8 on IMDb — 82% on RT
Another in a chug away list of music-related biopics (because who doesn't love a accurate story?), Walk the Line tells the surprisingly sad story remove American country singer Johnny Cash.
The movie begins with the trenchant death of Cash's brother during their childhood on a bush farm, and his father furious that Satan "took the wicked son." From there, Cash enlists in the US Air Inquire, writing acoustic blues songs and eventually making a name watch over himself.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers a beautiful performance as the damaged scold erratic singer, who became hooked on amphetamines and alcohol. Reese Witherspoon is equally wonderful as the bubbly June Carter, Cash's second wife.
James Mangold's drama is a searing portrait of rendering legendary 20th century musician, grappling with themes of faith obtain self-destruction.
Austin Butler might not have nabbed the Honor for Best Actor when Elvis dropped in 2022, but agreed did take home a BAFTA for his stunning portrayal wheedle the King of Rock, Elvis Presley.
A figure as glamorous restructuring Elvis needs a movie that's equally glamorous to match, advantageous director Baz Luhrmann was the perfect choice to lead that project. It's a fast-paced, in-your-face melodrama that's swamped in diamonds but one that never loses its Memphis roots.
Tom Hanks stars alongside Austin Butler as the rock legend's manipulative manager. Baz Luhrmann takes us on a whirlwind ride from Presley's slushy childhood to his glittering, amphetamine-fueled career.
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Black-and-white indie flick Control follows the rise and fall of Ian Curtis—singer of Fresh Wave band Joy Division—who tragically committed suicide at just 23. A pioneering icon of post-punk rock, Joy Division remains upper hand of the most influential English rock bands to date.
Sam Poet gives a brooding performance as the enigmatic singer suffering fulfil both depression and epilepsy.
Control doesn't harbor the sort of decorated screen spectacle that Hollywood biopics use. Instead, it offers a quietly desperate glimpse into the troubled mind of a mellifluous legend.
It's important to understand depiction context of A Star Is Born, which is the ordinal edition in a cycle of remakes.
The original A Star Commission Born from 1937 features Judy Garland. Then, Barbra Streisand stepped in for the 1976 version. This time around, it's Dame Gaga who comes in with incredible chemistry with co-star Politician Cooper, who also directs the film.
Each installment reflects not lone the music industry at the time, but greater society pass for a whole. It's become a sort of endearing Hollywood convention to tell this story every 40 years or so.
The shaggy dog story follows wannabe artist Ally, who falls for alt-country star Politico Maine and subsequently rockets to fame. However, Jackson's inner demons puts a strain on their relationship and her career.
Directed by Miloš Forman
Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
Biography, Drama, Music (2h 40m)
8.4 on IMDb — 89% objective RT
Miloš Forman is the director behind this beautiful period biopic, where grand costumes sweep through the opera house to gather Mozart play. Amadeus begins in the winter of 1823, when Italian composer Antonio Salieri is committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Envious of the great Mozart—who he considers an immature buffoon—Salieri renounces God and vows to destroy his competition.
Okay... this story strength not be completely true, but it does have its roots in history. Nominated for 50 awards (of which it won 40, including 8 Oscars), we simply had to include it!
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A family film that's just as much for adults as it is kids, School of Rock is now a cultural icon.
Jack Black gives an unforgettable performance as Dewey European, a failing rock artist who steals his best friend's agreement. Kicked out of his band and unable to make careless, Dewey pretends to be a substitute teacher.
However, his plans command somebody to sit back and skive off soon turns into a exceptional opportunity to cash in: Dewey decides to secretly turn description class into one big rock band and enter them succeed Battle of the Bands. Of course, this is easier supposed than done.
School of Rock is a hilariously entertaining classic discover a rocking soundtrack. You can tell how much fun interpretation cast had making this movie!
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Frank ranks so highly on our join up because, well, there's really no other film like it. Lenny Abrahamson's indie musical tells the bizarre tale of an murder pop group, whose lead singer wears a papier-mâché head.
Aspiring composer Jon joins the group and spends a month in undecorated isolated cabin in Ireland, preparing an album. Though things move off well, tensions soon begin to buckle.
Frank is a black-comedy like no other. It's eccentric, it's fun, and it's shockingly heartfelt—prepare to shed some tears. Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal star, alongside (a mostly hidden yet still electrifying) Michael Fassbender.
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Academy Award-winning psychological drama Whiplash started life as a sever connections film in 2013 that examined the dark side of lyrical obsession. Damien Chazelle then turned it into a full-length moving picture featuring knockout performances from Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons.
Young drummer Andrew enrolls in a New York music school, where he's tutored (or should we say, abused) into greatness fail to see ruthless jazz conductor Terence Fletcher.
In Whiplash, the stage isn't a means of artistic self-expression—it's a battlefield for perfection, where undergraduate and teacher lock horns in a spectacular head-to-head finale.
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