Music biopics have always been a popular genre of film, with recent projects like Elvis, which got great audience reviews for its portrayal of the rock legend, adding to the list of successful projects.
However, not all musical biopics are actually based on real people. Some bands/artists are completely made up, and some musicians even fictionalize themselves to convey their true feelings through film. Through the years, there have been some genuinely unique movies about musicians who may not be “real,” but their music most certainly is.
Liz and The Blue Bird (2018)
Liz and The Blue Bird follows the story of two friends who each find purpose in their high school life through the school band program. Mizore Yoroizuka is a shy and withdrawn student who gets pulled out of her shell by her friend, Nozomi Kasaki. The crux of the movie centers around the titular poem Liz and The Blue Bird, a poem that strikes too close to home for the pair’s relationship.
Liz and The Blue Bird, as expected of the legendary Kyoto Animation Studio, is a beautifully crafted movie with gorgeously melancholy visuals, solid character writing, and of course, fantastic music. It’s a coming-of-age story with a beautifully subtle romance that brews between the two young women, as they sort out their feelings through the music they play together.
Purple Rain (1984)
Purple Rain is “fictional” in the broadest of definitions. For all intents and purposes, this movie is basically Prince writing fanfiction about himself. The story follows The Kid, the lead singer of a Minneapolis rock band known as The Revolution, who must traverse the troubles of rising stardom.
The movie's writing and acting were not well-received, but it's still an interesting project. However, none of that matters when Purple Rain’s soundtrack is one of the best music albums of all time. Purple Rain is a purely creative endeavor of a very self-absorbed, arrogant, but legendary musician, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
This Is Spinal Tap proclaims itself as “one of the greatest rockumentaries of all time,” painting a picture of what life was like for “not-so-popular” rock bands in the early 80s. In truth, This Is Spinal Tap is a hilarious mockumentary that pokes fun at the egos and drug-fueled hedonism of rock stars. Despite all that, it still gives proper respect to the genre.
Its heart makes it a cult classic amongst rock fans, and though they may skewer glam rock, they appreciate the real craftsmanship behind the actual music. The movie was so convincingly shot that many actually thought Spinal Tap was a real band. The creators chose to capitalize on that hype and made the fictional band real, releasing three albums.
A Star Is Born (2018)
The fourth incarnation of the romantic musical classic, Bradley Cooper’s version casts the incredibly talented Lady Gaga in the role of Ally. A singer down on her luck in a nightclub, she finds herself embroiled in a romance with veteran musician Jackson Maine. The story explores two musicians at different points in their lives and how that affects their music.
A Star Is Born may showcase the glamour of rising stardom, but it also unflinchingly shows the strain and aftermath of such a life. The complex relationship between Ally and Jackson, two musicians on vastly different paths, gives the song strong emotional weight. It’s no wonder the film swept the awards circuit.
Soul (2020)
Soul is a deeply personal film about the pursuit of ions and how much that can overshadow the rest of a person’s life.
Its lessons, surprisingly, are more catered towards adults than kids. Adults who have had decades to ponder what it is they want out of life. How much of it do they want to spend actually living? Pixar’s trademark beautiful visuals meld well with a gorgeous score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails.
School of Rock (2003)
School of Rock is a rock comedy starring Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who pretends to be a substitute teacher for music to eke out a decent living. Although abrasive and egotistical at first, he soon connects with the class and pushes them to pursue their ions. All under the strict disapproval of the principal and the children’s parents.
School of Rock is a childhood classic and gave many kids the idea to pursue music. It’s a simple story of a jaded man rediscovering his ions by introducing them to a new generation. It also helps that Jack Black is a hilariously entertaining musician in his own right, and it gives an air of authenticity to the role.
8 Mile
8 Mile is a hip-hop drama film that follows the fictionalized version of Eminem’s early years as a rapper in a scene that's famously difficult to break into. The film follows Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith Jr. and his struggles to make it in the music world while struggling with inner demons. B-Rabbit is essentially what Eminem would have been having if he never got a record deal.
It is a phenomenal film with several cameos from influential rappers such as Wu-Tang Clan and Biggie Smalls. What sets it apart from Purple Rain is that while both are semi-autobiographical, 8-Mile is far more realistic. The single “Lose Yourself” is the first hip-hop song to ever receive an Academy Award. Funny enough, Eminem truly believed he wouldn’t win it, so he just slept in on the day he won the award (per Variety).
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers was the first SNL skit to ever be turned into a movie, and what a way to peak early. The Blues Brothers follow the titular Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood, as they try to find a way to save the orphanage they were raised in. What follows is one of the most hilarious musical movies ever made, all set to a bop of a soundtrack that remains iconic to this day.
What makes The Blues Brothers so good is the sheer talent of all involved. Backed by SNL writers, directed by John Landis, and scored by the Blues Brothers themselves. It also, famously, has one of the best car chase scenes ever put to film, for no other reason than they could. It’s a memorable romp of a movie that fully deserves its cult classic status.
Almost Famous
Almost Famous follows William Miller, a teenage rock journalist who is set on proving himself as a legitimate force in the industry. He follows the band Stillwater and gets an unfiltered view of what life was truly like for these seemingly glamorous figures of pop culture. It’s an unabashedly ionate movie about music, and that’s in part thanks to director Cameron Crowe’s past being a core part of the movie.
William Miller is essentially a fictionalized version of Cameron Crowe, and Stillwater is simply the amalgamation of musicians he encountered throughout his life. Despite showing how much the industry can destroy people, it also gives nothing but love to the music they create. The unbridled emotions have let this movie remain popular more than two decades after its release.
Coco
For some, music is a matter of life and death, and it influences every aspect of their lives. Coco laser focuses on that mindset and the pros and cons it brings to people’s personal lives. When a young boy named Miguel somehow ends up in the afterlife, he seeks to find his ancestor, Ernesto De La Cruz, to validate his own ion for music. Both his living and dead family do not approve of his music, but that doesn’t stop him from playing his heart out.
Coco is a classic coming-of-age story about family, elevated by the genuine love of Mexican culture it has in every facet of its production. The Land of the Dead is beautifully realized in vivid colors, and the music is immersed in the stylings of famous Mexican musicians. It’s the perfect showcase of how music keeps culture alive, not just figuratively, but literally.
