Top 8 Best Music Biopics

Elvis offers a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest music legends of the 20th century - Elvis Presley. Set against the backdrop of a socially turbulent era, Elvis is not just a film about the inspiring journey of a star. The satirical view of the affluent and chaotic society has been brilliantly portrayed by Baz Luhrmann through The Great Gatsby. And with Elvis, he doesn't stop at simply telling Presley's legendary story. The enthusiastic crowd chanting Elvis's name begins to plunge into chaos, and that chaotic scene is just one of the many evidences of a troubled society back then.

Two characters play crucial roles in the film: Tom Parker (Tom Hanks in the role), the longtime manager who helped turn young Elvis into a star, and Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge), the woman who inspired the music king endlessly. Austin Butler portrays Elvis Presley remarkably, with every song, gesture, action, expression... bringing the star back to life.

IMDb Rating: 7.8
Tomatometer Score: 78%

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) narrates the life of Freddie Mercury (portrayed by Malek), the lead vocalist and soul of the legendary rock band Queen - one of the most iconic rock groups with over 300 million records sold worldwide. Many of their songs have become classics and entered mainstream culture in Europe and America.

Bohemian Rhapsody begins from the formation of Queen to their peak in 1985. Following a chronological sequence, the group's milestones are depicted on screen. Freddie meets two band members, Brian May (played by Gwilym Lee) and Roger Taylor (played by Ben Hardy), to join the band in 1970. They later recorded the album A Night at the Opera in 1975, experiencing various ups and downs before their outstanding performance at Live Aid in 1985. Additionally, the story explores Freddie's personal struggles with his homosexuality, loneliness, and AIDS.

The highlight of the film is Rami Malek's portrayal. To embody the British character, the Egyptian-American actor put in tremendous effort during filming. He learned pronunciation, went to England to learn singing and piano. Furthermore, he and movement coach Polly Bennett studied videos of Freddie to mimic the singer's gestures accurately. Malek's performance received widespread acclaim from most European and American critics upon the film's release. He vividly recreated the habits, gestures, and aura of the late singer. In the climax scene - the Live Aid event, Malek left a strong impression with his posture, hand and foot movements, then gracefully walking across the stage and handling the microphone, syncing perfectly with the rhythm, captivating thousands of audiences...

IMDb Rating: 7.9

Metacritic Score: 49

Tomatometer Score: 60%

Rocketman (2019) delves into the legendary singer Elton John's life story. It not only succeeds as a music biopic but also serves as a narrative of Elton John's life, a story he wanted to tell for two decades, allowing Rocketman to authentically unveil his darkest corners - things carefully hidden beneath colorful costumes and energetic tunes.

Portraying and embodying Elton John is actor Taron Egerton - whose uncanny resemblance to Elton John is striking. With natural acting prowess, Taron Egerton brilliantly embodies the multifaceted Elton John, from innocence in youth to arrogance at the peak of fame, and the bitterness of admitting that his life is slowly falling apart, piece by piece.

Rocketman evokes special emotions through its songs, especially the musical numbers. More than just a music biopic, Rocketman serves as a thread connecting lonely souls, emphasizing the importance of caring and sharing among individuals, and also serves as an encouragement to those facing difficulties.

IMDb Rating: 7.3

Metacritic Score: 69

Tomatometer Score: 89%

Love & Mercy paints an intimate and refreshing portrait of Brian Wilson, a singer-songwriter, and the founding member of the Beach Boys. Departing from Wilson's groundbreaking music career and emblematic of an era, the film delves into the personal journey and late-life redemption of a cultural icon who paid a heavy price for success, suffering immense personal loss.

With wholehearted collaboration from the artist himself and his wife, Love & Mercy offers an unprecedented look at Wilson, the musical prodigy who co-authored numerous upbeat pop hits like “Suffer Girl” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” along with profound masterpieces that deeply influenced contemporary music such as “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows” before disappearing from the public eye for years.

Actors Paul Dano and John Cusack portray the seasoned artist, defining “California-style music” with lavish harmonies and endless summer imagery of sand and waves. The film's music is impeccably curated, blending seamlessly with the narrative to evoke audience emotion in the face of the power of music.

IMDb Rating: 7.4

Metacritic Score: 80

Tomatometer Score: 89%

Straight Outta Compton unfolds over two decades ago, depicting the era of the hip-hop group N.W.A with members like Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, MC Ren... (all portrayed by relatively unknown actors). Originating from the streets of Compton, California, N.W.A revolutionized hip-hop culture with their music and the messages it conveyed.

During its opening week, theaters in major cities across the U.S. hired extra security to tighten security measures to prevent potential disturbances caused by the audience, leading to violence. Nevertheless, the film still grossed $56.1 million, officially surpassing “American Pie 2” to become the most successful R-rated debut in August in history.

With society's prejudice against people of color as its backdrop, N.W.A utilized their genuine anger and frustration to create timeless music. Beneath the raw and sometimes controversial lyrics lay soulful and empathetic storytelling.

IMDb Rating: 7.8

Metacritic Score: 72

Tomatometer Score: 89%

Ray Charles - one of the most gifted musicians in the history of American music. From a young age, he lost his beloved younger brother and forever lost sight of the sun. Refusing to succumb to fate, Ray found solace in melodies, eventually becoming a legendary artist whose songs resonate deeply with people's hearts. Watching Ray, you'll uncover the harsh realities of the artist's life; behind timeless tunes lie tragedies that perhaps not everyone can endure.

Audiences are swept away as Jamie Foxx fully embodies his character. Foxx underwent physical transformation and rigorous training to become the music icon Ray Charles, portraying the highs and lows of his life with heartfelt emotion through his timeless songs. Through dedication and passion, Foxx garnered accolades for his career and etched into the public's memory the image of an artist both resilient and transcendent.

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Tomatometer Score: 79%

The Enigmatic Life of Édith Piaf recounts the life of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf, known as the Little Sparrow, from her childhood struggles to her triumphs and hardships on the journey from the small town of Belleville to New York City. It's a turbulent fate, unveiling the soul of an artist and the heart of a discreet yet fiercely resilient woman.

Édith Piaf endured a difficult childhood, living in shelters and singing on the streets to survive, where her talent was discovered. When Piaf sang, she wasn't just singing for others but for herself, her voice both seductive and pure, embracing life. Music became Édith's wings, allowing her to escape the harshness of life, intensifying her longing for life and spreading it to her listeners.

At the peak of her career, Édith Piaf succumbed to pressure, addiction to alcohol and drugs draining the vitality of a woman not yet 50 years old. In the film, Marion Cotillard delivered an unforgettable performance as Édith, deserving every award and praise for flawlessly embodying every action, gesture, and glance of the French Little Sparrow - Édith.

IMDb Rating: 7.6

Metacritic Score: 66

Tomatometer Rating: 74%

Detroit Rhymes is a film that delves into the underground hip-hop world in America. It follows the story of Jimmy Smith Jr., a talented but struggling young man who moves to the north side of 8 Mile to live with his mother in a trailer park. In the minds of Detroit's residents, 8 Mile is the city's border, also serving as the psychological boundary separating Jimmy Smith Jr. from his dreams.

Detroit Rhymes takes inspiration from the artist's biography rather than being a mere retelling like other films in this list. In typical music biopics, there are performances of the artist's hits that contribute to their fame, but in Detroit Rhymes, the music mostly consists of rap tracks written by Eminem during breaks between scenes, with Eminem even freestyling when the film crew only asked him to lip-sync. This authenticity sets Detroit Rhymes apart.

One standout track in the film is the soundtrack 'Lose Yourself,' which achieved immense success. Recognized as Eminem's signature song, 'Lose Yourself' garnered numerous awards and nominations at major ceremonies, including winning the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2003, becoming the first rap song in history to do so, alongside a Golden Globe nomination in a similar category. The song also received five Grammy nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, winning two awards for Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance...

IMDb Rating: 7.1

Metacritic Score: 77

Tomatometer Rating: 75%