Biopics that follow the stories of the music industry’s biggest and most iconic stars have certainly become a popular trend when it comes to filmmaking in the modern era. Massive films likeBohemian Rhapsody,Elvis, and the recently releasedBob Marley: One Lovecontinue to show the continued enthusiasm and audience for these stories being brought to life on the big screen. With upcoming massive projects likeSam Mendes’sBeatles Biopicsand theMichael Jackson Biopic, this trend of musician biopics shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
However, while this trend may have exploded in terms of recently released films, musician biopics have been a part of film history long before they became the stars of the biopic world. There have been many creative, groundbreaking, and highly emotional musician biopics from the golden age of Hollywood, with extensive deep dives into the faces of music of each era. While there’s certainly nothing like seeing the life and story of a beloved musician brought to the big screen, those who succeed the best in this vision are a truly special cinematic achievement.
10’Rocketman' (2019)
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Rocketmanfollows the story of the life of legendary British singerElton John, following the humble beginnings of his life and childhood alongside his rise in fame with songwriting partnerBernie Taupin. From his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music to his time at the top of the world as one of the biggest musicians in the world, the life of Elton John is filled with talent, drama, and emotion.
While the standard argument for modern-day musician biopics is that they all feel the same tonally and visually,Rocketmanstands out from other modern-day biopics through its wild and colorful execution. In a way to fully embrace the flashy style of Elton’s performances and his music,the film tells its story in the style of a musical, with sprawling musical numbers, imaginative effects and choreography, and an embrace of all things extravagant. Combined with a powerful lead performance fromTaron Egerton,Rocketmanis seen as one of the best musician biopics to come from the modern era.
A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years.
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9’Coal Miner’s Daughter' (1980)
Director: Michael Apted
Coal Miner’s Daughterfollows the story of legendary country and western singerLoretta Lynnand her incredible story of rising up from poverty into the upper echelons of fame and celebrity status. Loretta’s life is filled with countless monumental ups and downs, from being married at the age of 15 and a mother of four at age 19 to the chaos of balancing her new, completely unexpected life as a star known around the country.
While it is easily overlooked nowadays in favor of the more stylish modern musician biopics,Coal Miner’s Daughterset the standard to which all awards-budding musician biopics would follow. The film was a massive critical and financial hit upon its release, earning 7 nominees at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and notably awardingSissy Spacekthe award for Best Actress.Spacek’s performance easily set the standardfor which all musician biopics would be compared to going forward, leaving a massive mark as one of the most important films in the entire genre.
Coal Miner’s Daughter
8’Ray' (2004)
Director: Taylor Hackford
Rayfollows the story ofRay Charles, one of the most legendary and beloved musicians in American history, with the fundamental genius behind the craft of his work despite being blinded during childhood. Despite being blind at such a young age, his independent mother was able to instill powerful and self-determinate values within him, allowing him to pursue and find his calling in playing the piano. He eventually found himself touring the Southern circuit, combining gospel and country to create a signature voice that would define a generation and give him worldwide fame.
Rayis the premiere example of a modern musician biopic done right, being able to do justice to the enigmatic lead figure and their story, while having enough filmmaking chops and strengths to work well as a standalone film. The clear highlight of the film is the lead performance fromJamie Foxx, who transforms into Charles in a way that still enthralls and enchants audiences to this day. Foxx would end up winning an Academy Award for Best Actor, along with the film’s 5 other nominations, including Best Picture.
Ray: The film chronicles the life of Ray Charles, who, after losing his sight at a young age, rises from humble beginnings in Florida to achieve global fame. He becomes a pioneer in music by blending gospel and country styles, driven by the guidance of his resolute mother and his talent.
7’Straight Outta Compton' (2015)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Straight Outta Comptontells the origins and rise of N.W.A, one of the most prolific and controversial hip-hop groups of the late 80s, comprised of icons of the scene likeIce Cube,Easy-E, andDr. Dre. It tellsthe surprising true storyof the group’s underdog status, using their music and vision to stick it to the man and the industry in a way that had simply never been seen by musical artists at the time. They quickly rose up as being considered some of the most dangerous yet respected groups in music, not afraid to cover the harsh truths of society and the hood in their music.
Especially with so many musician biopics focusing on non-controversial and humbling feel-good musicians,Straight Outta Compton’s raw and untethered story of pushing the needle struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Even almost 10 years later, with a wide multitude of other musician biopics having been released, few have such a distinct voice and power that directorF. Gary Graygives to the story of N.W.A.
Straight Outta Compton
The rap group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
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6’La Vie en Rose' (2007)
Director: Olivier Dahan
Image via Icon FIlm Distribution
La Vie en Roseis a French musician biopic that follows the story ofEdith Piaf, one of France’s most popular and most celebrated performers of the 20th century, best known for her work in cabaret. The film sees her rise to stardom from the Belleville district of Paris to the limelight of New York concert halls, having transformed from a nervous brothel worker to an icon of France. Even despite its hurdles as a French film in an era that rarely gave international films a voice,La Vie en Rosemade a massive mark on critics and audiences around the world.
Many musician biopics are often considered to just be avenues and roundabout ways for outstanding actors and actresses to show off their chops in a demanding and powerful lead performance. Even with all the great performances that the genre has brought to the world,Marion Cotillard’s portrayal of Edith Piaf goes above and beyond and is still considered one of the best lead performances of all time. She became the first and so far only person to win an Academy Award for a performance spoken in French (in this case Best Actress), a testament to the power and grace of her performance.
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5’Love & Mercy' (2014)
Director: Bill Pohlad
Love & Mercytakes a much more grounded and dramatic approach towards a musician biopic to tell its powerful story of growth and love coming from unexpected places and despite all odds. The film follows the story ofBrian Wilson, founding member and lead singer of the Beach Boys, who in the late 60s, while producing the album “Pet Sounds”, begins to lose his grip on reality. The film shifts between the 60s, in the time leading up to Brian’s worsening condition, and the 80s, where he is now incredibly sick and at the whims of a controlling therapist, but is finding love again inMelinda Ledbetter.
Love & Mercysets an outstanding barfor exactly how musician biopics should be told, instead of telling the same stories of rise and success and fame, actually telling the real stories of growth and strength surrounding powerful artists. With tremendous performances fromPaul Dano,John Cusack, andElizabeth Banks,the film is able to do justice to Wilson’s story without simply relying on his great music, actually letting the beauty of the story create an outstanding work of art.
Love and Mercy
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4’Walk the Line' (2005)
Director: James Mangold
Walk the Linechroniclesthe journey ofJohnny Cash, one of the most recognizable icons of country music who would cement his status as a legendary figure in American culture. The film sees him from his early days at an Arkansas cotton farm to his unexpected rise to fame in Memphis, recording alongside other legendary musicians such asElvis Presley. Through all the ups and downs of his career, it becomes apparent that there is simply no other country singer quite like Johnny Cash.
Walk the Lineis widely considered to be the quintessential musician biopic of the 21st century, for which many of the other great musician biopics would follow and find inspiration. The film features many positive aspects, from the masterful lead performance byJoaquin Phoenixto the perfect blending of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in Cash’s life and career.Walk the Lineperfectly knew how to create an engaging and intuitive cinematic experience from the story of one of the most iconic musicians in American history.
Walk The Line
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash’s life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
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3’Funny Girl' (1968)
Director: William Wyler
One of the first true examples of just how well-made a musician biopic could be done,Funny Girlfollows the life of legendary comedienne and illustrated song modelFanny Brice. The film goes from her early days in the Jewish slums of the Lower East Side all the way until the height of her career with the performing group that she accompanied, The Ziegfeld Follies. While she was certainly an icon of her era, it would be this retelling of her story that would give Brice’s story a second wave of fame and recognition well after her death.
Funny Girlmade massive waves upon its release as one of the originators and trailblazers for the entire genre of musician biopics as a whole.Even in this early instance of the genre, there are still numerous key components and takeaways that are still seen today, most notably, an emphatic and electrifying lead performance, in this case byBarbra Streisand. Streisand would even end up winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film, alongsideFunny Girl’s 7 other nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Funny Girl
2’Control' (2007)
Director: Anton Corbijn
Controlis as much a film about the undeniable talent and skill of a legendary music group as much as it is about suffering, anxiety, and heartbreak. The film follows the tragic story of English rock band Joy Division’s lead singer,Ian Curtis, telling his complete story starting from his humble schoolboy days in 1973. However, Curtis’s story builds up to its painful yet inevitable conclusion, as he would famously take his own life the night before Joy Division’s first American tour in 1980.
The story told inControlis one that is as equal parts heavy and painful as it is thematically poignant and powerful, creating a dynamicmust-watch experience, even for non-Joy Division fans. It’s rare that a story such as Curtis’s is given the level of gravitas and respect in the medium of film, yet the film acts only to further the emotional weight of his story. Nearly every aspect ofControl’s execution plays into the film’s themes and symbolic strengths, finding a way to give true justice to the story of Ian Curtis.
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1’Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story' (1987)
Director: Todd Haynes
Before directorTodd Hayneswould go on to create dramatic masterpieces likeCarolandMay December, he would create a one-of-a-kind work of art inSuperstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. The film blends together documentary and biopic in its retelling of the final 17 years of the life of legendary singer and member of The Carpenters,Karen Carpenter. However, despite the film’s darker and adult themes and story beats, the experience is juxtaposed by the film being nearly entirelyperformed by modified Barbie dolls.
The easy complaint towards musician biopics is that they continue to all feel the same and fail to experiment, yetit’s difficult to find a musician biopic more experimental and meticulously crafted thanSuperstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. The decision to have the film’s events play out through Barbie dolls is far from just a ploy for shock, however, as it plays perfectly into the themes of the film and the iconography that The Carpenters presented for their careers. It ironically acts as the perfect, albeit brief, way to retell the story of Carpenter, bringing focus to her life that was glamor and beauty on the outside, but dead and lifeless on the inside.
