Among the many movie genres out there, the a musical biopic is a movie that tells the true story of someone's life, while also including musical elements. This typically includes choreographed musical numbers, musical performances, and just music in general. Musical biopics allow audiences to get a glimpse inside an artist's life through their music.
Something particularly interesting about musical biopics is that they rarely look the same. Where some musical biopics are flashy and fantastical, like Elton John's Rocketman, others are more subdued and focused on the artist's life. The inclusion of music is another place where movies may vary. A musical number like one would see on Broadway is quite different from a rock concert. The following musical biopics may differ in of tone and format, yet they all share the same genre, and thus, are all worth checking out for those who love true stories and music.
8 I Am Woman (2019)
The Story Of Helen Reddy
I Am Woman
- Release Date
- September 11, 2020
- Runtime
- 96 Minutes
- Director
- Unjoo Moon
Cast
Tilda Cobham-HerveyHelen Reddy
Jeff Wald
Danielle MacdonaldLilian Roxon
Artie Mogull
WHERE TO WATCH
I Am Woman is a biographical drama directed by Unjoo Moon, capturing the life and career of singer Helen Reddy. Tilda Cobham-Hervey stars as Reddy, who rises to fame in the 1970s with her hit anthem "I Am Woman," becoming a voice for the women's movement. The film also features Evan Peters as her manager and husband Jeff Wald and Danielle Macdonald as fellow singer Lillian Roxon.
- Writers
- Emma Jensen
A musical biopic that many may not have heard of is 2019's I Am Woman. This movie tells the story of Australian singer Helen Reddy, who moves to New York to pursue her music dreams, but quickly finds that she may not be what the music world wants. The film begins in 1966, and progresses through the rise and fall of Reddy's career. As evidenced by the movie's title, I Am Woman focuses particularly on Reddy's iconic song, "I Am Woman," which became a feminist anthem.
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The last two decades of music biopics have seen box office flops and Academy Award winners, with the late 2010s introducing several blockbusters.
I Am Woman may not be the most well-known musical biopic, but if anything, this makes it even more worth the watch. The movie stars incredible talent such as Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Evan Peters, and Danielle Macdonald. Furthermore, it garnered a solid 66% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics noting that Cobham-Hervey is irresistible as Reddy. Even when the movie around her falters, the actress manages to maintain a strong performance. All in all, I Am Woman offers a sneak peek into a significant, if overlooked, portion of music history.
7 Diana: The Musical (2021)
Princess Diana's Life Through Music
A more unexpected entry among Netflix's musical biopics is Diana: The Musical. This movie follows the life of Princess Diana of Wales as she becomes engaged to Prince Charles at the age of 19 and enters the limelight, for better and worse. Unlike the other films on this list, Diana: The Musical is not exactly a movie, but a recording of an actual on-stage musical. Regardless, because of its content as a true story and a musical, this project still fits into the musical biopic category.
Diana: The Musical was not super well-received upon its release. In fact, it has a rather disappointing 12% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, this shouldn't completely deter viewers from checking it out. It is rare for musicals to be filmed and made readily available to audiences, and Diana: The Musical allows audiences to bring the theater into their homes. On top of that, Diana's story is definitely worth knowing about, and through music, Diana: The Musical brings a new perspective to her tale that no one else has explored before.
6 The Dirt (2019)
The Rise of Mötley Crüe
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The Dirt is a 2019 biographical drama release from director Jeff Tremaine that outlines the band Motley Crue and their rise to stardom in the 1980s. Although the film covers a lot of the hit releases from the band's tenure, the real core of the movie speaks to the troubling situations faced by each member as they formed the iconic group.
- Writers
- Rich Wilkes
For those who prefer rock to musical theater, Netflix has the ideal movie to watch: The Dirt. In this 2019 film, audiences see the rise of Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx during the 1980s in their iconic band, Mötley Crüe. As a musical biopic should, The Dirt gets into the true nitty gritty of being a rock superstar. From wild parties to horrible accidents, The Dirt delves deep into the hilarious and troubling story of these rock icons.
To say the least, The Dirt is a rollercoaster of a film. It does not pull punches when it comes to the more questionable actions of Mötley Crüe, and it does a good job of summarizing the day-to-day of a rockstar. Plus, has some exciting cast , including Douglas Booth and Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly. Though critics weren't too crazy about The Dirt, giving it a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences ranked it much higher, at a 94%. Thus, this is a musical biopic for the people, rather than for the movie critic.
5 Maestro (2023)
The Personal Life Of Leonard Bernstein
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Maestro
- Release Date
- December 20, 2023
- Runtime
- 129 Minutes
- Director
- Bradley Cooper
Cast
Carey Mulligan
WHERE TO WATCH
Maestro is a biographical drama about the famous composer Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein and also wrote and directed the film. The movie chronicles Bernstein's life from 1946, when he met Felicia Montealegre, through his two engagements and three children. Maya Hawke, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Silverman, and Matt Bomer star alongside Cooper.
- Writers
- Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
One musical biopic that is definitely more on the artistic side of things is Maestro. Directed by Bradley Cooper, this movie follows the intimate life of composer Leonard Bernstein. In particular, the film dives into his loving yet difficult relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre, and his struggles to remain faithful and sober in the face of mounting fame. Cooper not only directed the film, but stars as Bernstein himself from the 1940s until the late 1980s, alongside Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and more.
Additionally, Mulligan's portrayal deserves quite a bit of praise, as she brings grace and power to the role of Felicia.
Though Maestro is much more biopic than it is musical, music plays an integral role in this film. One especially unforgettable scene is when Bernstein conducts Mahler's Resurrection Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra in the Ely Cathedral. The performance is awe-inspiring, and proves just how incredible Bernstein was. Additionally, Mulligan's portrayal deserves quite a bit of praise, as she brings grace and power to the role of Felicia. Ultimately, this movie tries its best to honor Bernstein, regardless of his faults and mistakes.
4 Maria (2024)
The Final Days Of Maria Callas
The most recent entry on this list is the musical biopic, Maria. Starring Angelina Jolie as the titular Maria Callas, the movie focuses on the opera singer's final week of life in 1977, as she escaped to Paris to avoid the limelight and reflect on her career. Notably, this film was directed by Pablo Larraín, who previously directed two other movies centering on important historical women: Jackie and Spencer. Callas is known as one of the best opera singers in the world.
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Maria is yet another musical biopic that relies more on drama than it does musical performances, though the amount of music is never lacking. Maria includes a number of classical opera songs, sung by Callas herself. In reality, what makes Maria special is that it is focused on a very specific point in Callas' life. Rather than trying to capture her entire existence, the movie endeavors to show audiences a very small yet important piece of her life. In general, it succeeds at being compelling, even occasionally melodramatic.
3 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
A True Story Within A Play Within A Movie
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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Release Date
- December 18, 2020
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Director
- George C. Wolfe
Cast
Glynn Turman
WHERE TO WATCH
Set in 1927 Chicago, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom focuses on Ma Rainey, the real-life trailblazing jazz singer who had a successful music career from 1899 to 1939. The George C. Wolfe-directed film stars Viola Davis as Ma Rainey and also marks Chadwick Boseman's last film released after his tragic ing in 2020.
- Writers
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson
One musical biopic that deserves way more attention is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Released in 2020, this movie is based on a play of the same name by August Wilson, which in turn, is based on the real career of blues singer, Ma Rainey. In the film, Ma has recently been given a recording deal by white producers. On a momentous day in 1927, Ma and her band arrive to record their album, and find themselves clashing with each other and the producers, leading to overwhelming tensions which may bubble over into serious danger.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is full of incredible stars, from Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman to Colman Domingo and Glynn Turman. This movie not only provides an interesting look at Ma Rainey's career, but goes even further by delving into the racial tensions and prejudices that existed in the music business in the 1920s. With a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie is sure to have an effect on anyone who watches it, and will leave them thinking long and hard about the blues long after they finish watching.
2 Judy (2019)
A Brief Glimpse Into The Life Of Judy Garland
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Judy
- Release Date
- September 27, 2019
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Director
- Rupert Goold
Cast
-
Diana Alexandra Pocol
WHERE TO WATCH
Directed by Rupert Goold, Judy is a 2019 biopic about The Wizard of Oz star Judy Garland. The film takes place in the winter of 1968 when she headlined several sold-out concerts. Judy starred Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland, who won an Oscar for her performance at the 2020 Academy Awards.
- Writers
- Tom Edge
Musical biopics often explore the lives of musical legends, but none may be as well-known and beloved as Judy Garland. In 2019's Judy, it has been decades since Garland took on the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, and now, she is in London performing sold-out shows as a singer. While there, Garland reflects on her identity and her career, while also becoming closer with her soon-to-be fifth husband, Mickey Deans.
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What really sets Judy apart from other musical biopics is Renée Zellweger's performance as the wonderful Garland. Zellweger completely transforms in this role, bringing such grace and accuracy to her portrayal. Furthermore, Judy does Garland a service by centering on a piece of the actress's life that may not be too familiar to audiences. Judy emphasizes that Garland was much more than Dorothy Gale, and proves that her talent was evocative to countless people. It's no wonder the film has an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, and that Zellweger won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
1 Tick Tick...Boom! (2021)
A Musical Portrayal Of Jonathan Larson
Finally, one of the most engaging and heartfelt musical biopics on Netflix right now is Tick Tick...Boom! Based on the autobiographical musical of the same name by Jonathan Larson, this movie follows Larson as he navigates turning 30 at a time when he is still searching for success as a writer and artist. Rooted in New York 1990, this movie captures Larson's fighting spirit and creativity, while also exploring difficult topics such as the AIDs crisis and prejudice.
Tick Tick...Boom! is a perfect example of a traditional musical biopic. Aided by incredible choreographed musical numbers, the film reveals the personal struggles of Larson with both incredible light and deep emotion. Audiences will quickly become attached to Larson, despite his faults, and will be rooting for him until the very end. On top of that, this movie includes cameos from countless Broadway stars, which is a fantastic treat. All in all, this is a musical biopic that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
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