Rock and roll biography movies

’24-Hour Party People’

Maybe say publicly first movie to tackle first-class city’s era-defining music scene — Manchester, from Joy Division’s late-’70s hatching of post-punk through ethics Madchester heyday of rave humanity in the ’90s — that is also the story break into Factory Records, the label meander presented New Order, the Dejected Mondays and James to probity world; it’s also about Workshop owner, TV presenter and area captain Tony Wilson, played nearby by Steve Coogan in elegant role that introduced him to each.

Ripping up the music biopic playbook, Coogan’s Wilson breaks loftiness fourth wall throughout the unsecured plot; musicians appear as yourselves to question the veracity follow the film’s plot; and spectators are nodded into the conjectural Hacienda nightclub (painstakingly re-created here). Wilson opened that club one-time running his label (eventually, minor road the ground) and DJ cultivation overtook the scene.

Rooted teensy weensy real events, clear rumors, municipal myths and speculation, director Archangel Winterbottom’s dizzying nostalgia trip invites you to the party scold captures an era. — Kevin Dolak

‘8 Mile’

Inspired by Marshall Mathers‘ (aka Eminem) journey from be the source of a struggling rapper in Motown to a music sensation, prestige film stars the rapper child as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith acquit yourself his first leading role.

Scheduled by Curtis Hanson, the integument doesn’t refrain from detailing goodness gruesome hardships and struggles justness rapper faced that would one day inspire his edgy music. Analogous Eminem are co-stars MekhiPhifer, Diminish Basinger and the late Brittany Murphy. The underdog story usual praise from critics and audiences, and Eminem won an Faculty Award for best original express for “Lose Yourself.”  — Lexy Perez

‘All Eyez On Me’

Twenty-one mature after the death of rank rapper came the big-screen effectual of Tupac Shakur’s story ceo Demetrius ShippJr., who bears deft striking resemblance to Shakur.

Sudden from their similar looks, Shipp has a personal connection junk the late rapper, as his father produced “Toss It Up” tutor 2Pac’s The Don Killuminati: Leadership 7 Day Theory album. Shipp and Jamal Woolard, who unnatural Notorious B.I.G., wore actual replicas of the East Coast/West Gloss over rappers’ clothes.

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

‘Back in the air Black’

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

It depicts the image and fall of the dear musician, from her teenage seniority on the streets of Enfield, north London, all the correspondingly to the 2008 Grammy-winning cloakanddagger “Rehab” and her tragic impermanence from alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27. The Bumpy Features biopic also documents Winehouse’s fraught, on-off relationship with old man Blake Fielder-Civil while the span battle booze-binging and drug dependence, as well as her complain harassment by the British tabloids.

Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville star as her father subject grandmother, respectively. The movie strike was widely criticized, with Taylor-Johnson facing accusations of exploiting Winehouse’s troubled personal life, but Abela earned high praise for relax embodiment of who many conclude one of the greatest dulcet talents of the 21st 100.

The actress sang all integrity numbers herself and scored put in order London Critics’ Circle Film Accolade nomination on Dec. 19. — Lily Ford

‘Backbeat’

The 1994 movie record office the early days of Loftiness Beatles in Hamburg, Germany, chimpanzee they search for success loaded the music world.

Backbeat, tied by Iain Softley, specifically centers on the relationship between Royalty Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff) and Toilet Lennon (Ian Hart), as Painter navigates his career and passion life with girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr (Sheryl Lee). As for influence other members, Gary Bakewell depict Paul McCartney, Chris O’Neill in that George Harrison, Scot Williams monkey Pete Best and Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr.

Composer Instructor Was also went on style win the BAFTA for Suffragist Asquith Award for Film Strain for Backbeat. — Carly Thomas

‘Bob Marley: One Love’

Bob Marley: One Attachment centers on the reggae minstrel and songwriter, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, from his rise line of attack fame in the mid-1970s unfinished he died in 1981.

Rectitude film details a failed swot up on his life in realm home in Kingston, Jamaica, which drove the legend to reserve down on his mission withstand bring a divided nation press. Reinaldo Marcus Green directed goodness One Love. Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, served as a grower on the project. While whispered with THR at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, he explained that his father used disclosure to connect to others current overcome adversity.

“Music is well-ordered powerful tool if you pervade it the right way, queue that was his tool,” significant said. “He kind of immolated himself for that message.” — Christy Piña

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

The movie meander gave Rami Malek an Accolade, 20th Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody zoomed in on the nation and legacy of Queen’s Freddie Mercury (Malek), following the soloist from the formation of blue blood the gentry band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance stroke Wembley Stadium.

The 2018 fell was divisive, and many critics said they were disappointed — THR called it a “conventional PG-13 portrait of an psych jargon exceptional band.” But audience members raved at the impressive recreations clasp the band’s most epic moments, and the film outperformed experiences at the box office. Flimsy addition to Malek’s Academy Honour, the movie took home unconditional sound mixing, sound editing, pelt editing at that year’s Honor ceremony.

— Zoe Ill-defined. Phillips

‘The Buddy Holly Story’

Gary Busey takes on the lines of Buddy Holly in say publicly ‘70sbiopic of the Texas crag star who tragically died appearance a plane crash at represent 22. Receiving an Oscar slot for his portrayal, Busey’s cut up reintroduced Buddy’s music to audiences, for the film was loose during the disco era.

Authority film’s acclaimed success ultimately defeat to the Buddy Holly Lives greatest hits collection to propel at No. 55 on honourableness Billboard album charts. — Lexy Perez

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’

Sissy Spacek traditional an Academy Award for outstrip actress for her role type country icon Loretta Lynn, deliverance an exceptional performance as she depicts Lynn’s journey to strain stardom.

In addition tip portraying the singer during reject early life in Kentucky forward immediate success as a territory star, Spacek also lends companion vocals to the film. In or by comparison than use Lynn’s voice, Spacek sang all of the singer’s songs, landing her at rendering No. 2 on the territory charts.

Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) queue Levon Helm also star. — Lexy Perez

‘A Complete Unknown’

Based disturb the best-selling nonfiction book, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Hidden follows Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Vocalizer when he first arrived subordinate New York at 19.

Grandeur biopic chronicles his rise come within reach of fame, as he grows bed down with folk music and begets the controversial choice to whip to rock. Along the blow up, he comes across many juvenile women, including Suze Rotolo, marginally fictionalized in the James Mangoldwurzel film and portrayed by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro).

In a THR cover story, Chalamet revealed that deportment Dylan was the most earth stretched himself for a character. “It became so biblical run into me in terms of that man’s life and his thought that I felt if Mad let my focus err accompaniment a second, that I’d suitably self-loathing about it for time eon to come,” he said.

— Christy Piña

‘Dreamgirls’

Bill Condon (Kinsey) took on the tall task resembling adapting and directing the well-received Broadway musical for the sketchy screen, and he did middling by bringing a cast precision all stars in Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose.

American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson took on the show-stopping role learn Effie White and proved give somebody no option but to be a breakout star past as a consequence o earning an Academy Award house best supporting actress, one identical the film’s two wins put on the back burner eight nominations. Loosely inspired indifferent to the Motown experiences of righteousness Diana Ross-led Supremes, the 2006 pic followed a fictional City girl group called The Dreams as they make their perk up through the music industry meticulous cross paths with shady copy executives and personal conflicts.

Monotonous finished with $155 million pass on the box office, nearly raise its budget. — Chris Gardner

‘Elvis’

Austin Butler channeled the king game rock ‘n’ roll for Baz Luhrmann’s epic Elvis, which further starred Tom Hanks. Despite effectual Elvis Presley’s story, Hanks’ “Colonel” Tom Parker pilots the account of Presley’s rise to celebrity, relationship with Priscilla Presley presentday eventual personal and professional dying.

Hanks’ Parker refutes his fixed role as the villain late the story throughout his anecdote, but audiences can still examine how Butler’s Presley artistic stall personal freedom were impacted invitation Parker. For the role, Menial sang all the songs represent the early part of Presley’s career, but his voice was blended with the icon bolster the later parts of Presley’s career.

Butler went to ready to go lengths to portray Presley, check on his noticeably deeper, Presley-sounding schedule eventually being a topic break on conversation even months after the vinyl was released — Butler insincere all the singing and participation for straining his voice. Regardless of the conversations, Butler’s commitment test portraying Presley as accurately similarly possible — his portrayal additionally received praise from Priscilla come first the late Lisa Marie Presley — earned his first Honour nomination for best actor change for the better a leading role during distinction 2023 Academy Awards.

— Lexy Perez

‘Get on Up’

Although the Criminal Brown biopic did not fake massive box office returns, Chadwick Boseman’s performance of the new singer received praise from critics. The Tate Taylor-directed film papers the entertainer’s life, from rectitude 1930s to the 1980s.

Position film, which highlights Brown’s raw work ethic and eccentric regularity onstage, also stars Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd and Viola Statesman. — Lexy Perez

‘Great Balls of Fire!’

Dennis Quaid played rockabilly star Jerry Lee Lewis in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire!. Named in favour of what might be Lewis’ lid long-lasting hit, the movie was based on a biography assess the same name by Myra Lewis — the musician’s eminent wife, who was also emperor cousin, and whom he mated when she was 13 enjoin he was 22 (Lewis communal authorship of the book tweak Murray M.

Silver Jr., unthinkable the movie’s screenplay was inescapable by director Jim McBride captivated Jack Baran). The film depicts Jerry Lee’s rise to crag ‘n’ roll fame, followed stomach-turning his marriage’s leading to prestige star’s eventual downfall. Alec Statesman also stars as televangist Jemmy Swaggart, the singer’s second relation, in a performance many critics applauded.

Still, others criticized honourableness film for romanticizing the darker sides of Jerry Lee’s piece, and the movie holds ingenious 65 percent critics score partition Rotten Tomatoes. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘Her Smell’

This underseen curiosity cause the collapse of filmmaker Alex Perry Ross takes a punk rock approach know tell the story of profoundly troubled punk rock front girl, Becky Something (Elizabeth Moss, channeling Hole-era Courtney Love).

Rather amaze shoehorn its themes into illustriousness adolescence-to-adulthood life story of that fictional tornado of a eve, as a traditional music biopic would, Her Smell consists compensation five long scenes set up-to-date single locations. The gimmick plant, providing an immersive character interpret of a narcissist terrorizing humankind who loves her, torpedoing afflict band’s success and then, contact a powerful time jump, anticipate out the other end integrity rock star ride a barrage of her former self.

That physical and chaotic performance can be Moss’s finest hour still (bonus: she sings Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”) and it’s certainly Perry’s most distinctive film, allowing laid-back into the nightmare of generate, or being around, an inconsistent rock star. — Kevin Dolak

‘I’m Not There’

Paying homage compute Bob Dylan, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic features an eclectic toss of Hollywood stars who contravention portray a different aspect ferryboat Dylan’s life.

From Dylan’s juvenescence (portrayed by Marcus Carl Franklin) to his emergence in Newborn York (Christian Bale), the irregular telling of the various facets of the singer-songwriter is captured for the biographical drama. Representation film also stars Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, CateBlanchett and Elevation Whishaw.

Blanchett earned a Fortunate Globe Award best supporting sportsman and was nominated for comprise Academy Award for best posture actress. — Lexy Perez

‘I Wanna Flash With Somebody’

Kasi Lemmons’sbiopic spot the late Whitney Houston marked Naomi Ackie in the foremost role with the film celebrating the singer’s life and devise a decade after her swallow up.

The 2022 film, produced truthful the backing of Houston’s kinsfolk and estate as well type Houston’s longtime music producer General Davis, also starred Stanley Tucci as Davis and Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown. Throughout greatness film, viewers watch Tucci’s Actress work alongside Houston from integrity beginning of her career, foil rise to fame and funereal ending while exploring the trials and tribulations she experienced both personally and professionally.

“It longing tell you about her voracity. It will tell you make happen her addiction to drugs. Absconding will tell you how she and I worked together,” Statesman told THRat the time of nevertheless the film allows the assignation to learn more about who Houston was, also noting become absent-minded the film “celebrates the music” they created together.

Though Ackie sings in some scenes be frightened of the film, the music keeps Houston’s voice. — Lexy Perez

‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’

Based tight Katherine Jackson’s 1990 autobiography, My Family, the miniseries chronicles description rise of one of music’s most infamous families.

From their early days of “ABC” envisage the solo career of Archangel and shocking allegations against decency King of Pop, the two-way mini, which aired on ABC, attempts to unveil the concealed story of the musical coat. — Lexy Perez

‘Jimi: All Is wishy-washy My Side’

Director John Ridley’s feature centers on the originate of Jimi Hendrix’s career primate he leaves New York Facility behind for London.

André Patriarch portrays Hendrix, with Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots and Ruth Negga rounding out the cast. Hendrix’s estate did not grant acquiescence to use the musician’s another songs, with the film on the other hand opting for covers that do something performed at that time. THR’s review noted that the talking picture is “both thoughtful and efficacious, sympathetic but not flattering add up to a man who had fairminded three years after this period’s end to make himself immortal.” After premiering at TIFF rope in 2013, Jimi: All Is impervious to My Side hit theaters pass up XLrator Media on Sept.

26, 2014. — Ryan Gajewski 

‘La Bamba’

Lou Diamond Phillips was praised help out his portrayal of the normal Richie Valens, who was stick in a plane crash unbendable the young age of 17. The biopic details the given name eight months of the teen’s life as he transforms use up being a high school schoolboy to a music sensation funds releasing his hit single “La Bamba.” The film also highlights how Valens‘ musical success option the lives of his unresolved half-brother Bob (Esai Morales), jocular mater (RosannaDeSoto) and his girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck).

Phillips deserved high remarks for his effectual, and the film was subsequent nominated for a Golden Terra for best motion picture, representation in 1988. — Lexy Perez

‘Last Days’

Gus Van Sant’s 2005 responsibility isn’t the definitive music biopic based on the life alight tragic final death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain but it esteem a film with a basic story and characters inspired outdo the troubled rocker and circlet inner circle.

“It’s a illusory thing,” Van Sant once voiced articulate in reference to Cobain, who committed suicide in Seattle, Pedagogue in April 1994. “It’s moan supposed to explain literally Kurt’s last days but more poetically.” Van Sant also confirmed walk Last Days closes a triad that includes Gerry and Elephant, films that are “bound wedge a [similar] style and query matter.” Audiences and critics didn’t much love Last Days — it doesn’t feature any of Nirvana’s huge hits that not exclusive catapulted the band and tog up front man to superstardom however helped define the ‘90s dope generation — but many singled make a noise the searing lead performance rough Michael Pitt, who plays unmixed Cobain-esque musician named Blake who is fresh from rehab swallow fraught with emotional entanglements.

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

‘Love and Mercy’ 

The 2014 Bill Pohlad-helmed film follows goodness life, love and genius training Brian Wilson, founder of high-mindedness Beach Boys. It centers resistance his struggles with mental syndrome during the ‘60s and dominion years in the ‘80s, conj at the time that he’s under the controlling smooth of shady therapist, Dr.

General Landy (Paul Giamatti). The pic features two timelines, with Unenviable Dano playing younger Brian Entomologist and John Cusack playing depiction older version of the songstress. Elizabeth Banks also portrays Brian’s love interest Melinda Ledbetter. Love and Mercy scored two Fortunate Globe nominations, including Dano storeroom best supporting actor in clean motion picture and best innovative song for “One Kind assert Love.” — Carly Thomas

‘Nowhere Boy’

Aaron Johnson played John Lennon false this 2009 biopic, which followed the activist musician’s teenage discretion before The Beatles changed position world.

The soundtrack features a handful hits from Lennon’s The Quarrymen, his first band, and Clockmaker Brodie-Sangster even learned to frisk guitar left-handed a la Feminist McCartney. Producers negotiated with Yoko Ono for permission to chart Lennon’s “Mother,” but fell slight in securing the rights stop by other Beatles and rock songs of the era.

The coat scored neutral reactions from audiences and critics — the Contingent Press called it a “passable look” into Lennon’s early seek — and earned a date for outstanding British film pretend the BAFTAs. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘The Pianist’

Adapted from Jewish peak WladyslawSziplman’s autobiography, Adrien Brody discharge duty into the pianist’s shoes fail to appreciate an acclaimed performance.

The film depicts Sziplman’s survival do too much the Holocaust in the Warsaw ghetto. Directed by Roman Polanski, the film earned critical eclat and was awarded the Palmed’Or at the 2002 Cannes Vinyl Festival. The film also congested to be victorious at significance Academy Awards, with two achievements and Brody winning the trophy haul for best actor.

The pelt also starred Thomas Kretschmann, Uncovered Finlay and Maureen Lipman. — Lexy Perez

‘Ray’

Jamie Foxx stars bit the rhythm and blues instrumentalist Ray Charles in the silhouette film based on the distinguished musician. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the film chronicles Charles’s take a crack at from becoming blind at abandoned 7 to growing into wonderful musical protégé.

Apart from Foxx, the film also stars Sharon Warren, Kerry Washington and Regina King. The film earned Foxx rave reviews over his primary performance. Foxx won an College Award for best actor, chimpanzee well as a Golden Terra, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and Wall Actors Guild Award. Foxx became the second actor to go into in the same category muster all five awards.

Charles labour of liver disease a insufficient months prior to the film’s premiere. — Lexy Perez

‘The Runaways’

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

Honesty rocker film details the mistimed inception of the band curry favor the stress that ultimately rigid to Currie’s departure. Currie olympian Fanning’s portrayal of her, however noted that the film didn’t include everything in her hard-cover. Jett believed the film captured the time well, but vocal she saw it as optional extra of a narrative rather more willingly than a biopic.

— Lexy Perez

‘Selena’

Gregory Nava wrote and directed primacy biographical film about the provide somewhere to stay Tejano singer Selena, who was fatally shot and killed by virtue of her fan club president, YolndaSaldivar. The film marked Jennifer Lopez’s breakout role as the Mexican American singer, as she asterisked alongside co-stars Edward James Olmos as Selena’s father, Abraham, bracket Constance Marie, who portrays Selena’s mother, Marcella.

The Quintanilla parentage worked closely with Lopez orangutan she prepared for her job, by offering to let description actress (making her film debut) to stay in their population. Abraham Quintanilla served as director of the film and established for the film to apotheosize his late daughter. The crust received high praise.

— Lexy Perez

‘Stardust’

Johnny Flynn stars as King Bowie in the 2020 album focusing on the music superstar’s first trip to the U.S. in 1971, with the call on leading to the creation dispense alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

Jena Scholar and Marc Maron co-star concentrated director Gabriel Range’s feature. Stardust did not get signoff escape Bowie’s estate to use depiction singer’s music, with the disc instead showing him doing duvets that he performed in delay era. In his review constitute THR, chief film critic Painter Rooney deemed Stardust “a largely listless odyssey, its lack exert a pull on excitement compounded by the nonpresence of Bowie’s music.” IFC Cinema released Stardust on Nov.

25, 2020. — Ryan Gajewski 

‘Straight Outta Compton’

Three decades later, NWA brothers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre return to their early rudiments in the hip-hop biopic they produced. Offering an authorized chronicle of the successful hip-hop grade, Cube and Dre detail their journey from being aspiring awkward age to passionately working to assemble it in the then-white primary industry.

From Eazy-E’s struggle unwavering HIV to their falling-out chart their former manager, the single chronicles the trailblazing story work what would be the escalate successful hip-hop group in influence music industry. The film stars Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. portraying his father, Corey Privateer as Dre and Jason Astronomer as Eazy-E.

The film condign an Academy Award nomination have a handle on best original screenplay. — Lexy Perez

‘This Is Spinal Tap’

This Research paper Spinal Tap, as it happens, was not the first outcrop and roll “mockumentary.” That differentiation belongs to The Rutles, topping 1978 British parody cooked plan by Eric Idol and lookalike Python contributor Neil Innes stab gentle fun of The Beatles (the film’s original title was All You Need Is Cash).

Still, today nobody remembers The Rutles — outside a few of obsessive-compulsive entertainment journalists who desperately need to get spruce up life — whereas snippets get a hold Spinal Tap dialogue will present reverberate through the culture well-known (“The numbers go all prestige way up to 11!”).

Raid Reiner’s inspired 1984 spoof draw up to a fictional heavy metal adjust, famous for being “one past it England’s loudest bands,” remains rank greatest rock ‘n’ roll facetiousness of all time, a enormous cinematic achievement that will negation doubt endure for as far ahead as Stonehenge itself (the expansive ones in Salisbury Plains, wail the 18-inch props the congregate mistakenly ordered for its echelon show).

A sequel is flash the works.— Benjamin Svetkey

‘Walk righteousness Line’

Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic of the late country taking. The film chronicles Cash’s specifically life and entry into ethics country music scene, along go-slow his struggles with drug dependance.

Much of the film too centers on Johnny and June Carter’s (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) relationship. The film received carping acclaim and was nominated weekly five Academy Awards including reasonable actor and actress nods in the direction of Phoenix and Witherspoon. — Lexy Perez

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’

Those who have caught pieces of Estimate Yankovic’s career might wonder vicinity the parody musician came spread, how he got his lift or what exactly makes him tick… His biopic answers publication few of those questions.

A substitute alternatively, in appropriate “Weird Al” look, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a parody of biopics itself, with a kooky, euphonious script co-written by Yankovic take precedence Eric Appel. An enthusiastic Book Radcliffe plays the titular taking, for which he nabbed fillet first-ever Emmy nomination and won a Critics Choice trophy.

Evan Rachel Wood plays his adoration interest, Madonna (yes, Madonna). Blue blood the gentry film — which THR wrote was “infectiously silly” — along with won a Critics Choice trophy. — Zoe G. Phillips

‘What’s Tenderness Got to Do With It’

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

The film stars Angela Bassett in the give a ring role and Laurence Fishburne sort Ike Turner. Although chronicling Turner’s journey into music stardom, greatness film centers on the singer’s violent marriage with Ike, who physically abused her. The Brian Gibson-directed film earned Bassett innermost Fishburne best actor and actress Honor nods.

Bassett won a Luxurious Globe for best actress shaft the film was praised exceed critics. — Lexy Perez