Every life tells a story, and every biopic tells the story of a life. They hone in on individuals who have shaped history, monumental moments in our past, or Hollywood stars who are the topic of our daily conversations. You don’t have to look far to find biopics: examples include Bob Marley: One Love, Oppenheimer, Shirley, House of Gucci, Elvis, and Scoop… and the list goes on.
It doesn’t seem like the biopics bubble will burst anytime soon, either. 2023 saw the release of 17 biopics, and there are already 15 confirmed titles on the way in the next few years. What is it about biopics that makes them such a hit? Are some better than others? We researched the world of biopics, movie trends, and top releases over the last five decades to bring you our list of top 20 biopics. Some you might expect, but we bet we’ve listed some you’ve not watched yet – and others you haven’t heard of.
What Are Biopics? The Genre Dominating Hollywood
Named with a portmanteau that blends “biography” and “picture,” biopics are movies based on the lives of prominent figures or moments in time. While documentaries portray real-life footage and factual events, biopics are Hollywood’s takes on true stories. They dramatize the life of well-known people, such as political figures, royals, musicians, or other celebrities. While they’re based on facts, biopics are meant to be entertaining and engaging, so they can portray events differently or add in scenes that didn’t really happen for dramatic effect.
Biopics can also be based around life-changing or historical events, such as wars, natural disasters, or unsolved crimes. For instance, many biopics have told stories from World War I and World War II from different perspectives over the years.
If someone was surrounded by an air of mystery or known for specific interests and activities, it could encourage a producer to create a movie about their life – especially if that individual is no longer with us. It’s a way of giving us, as viewers, a dramatized insight into the secrets of someone’s life.
Take Bohemian Rhapsody, for example, which portrays Freddy Mercury’s heightened fame in Queen and all that came with it, good and bad. The biopic of the British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, Back to Black, was released this year, telling the story of the much-loved British soul singer who famously battled drug addiction and a turbulent relationship during her rise to fame. These biopics are not documentaries, or intended to be absolute representations of who a person really was behind closed doors, but their carefully researched and written scripts – which are based on interviews and well-documented events – give us a tantalizing glimpse into the “real” lives of these people.
The Rapid Rise of Biopics
Horrors, thrillers, comedies, rom coms, and now, biopics? It seems like there’s a never-ending list of movie genres. Biopics aren’t new: biography-based movies may have gained rapid traction in recent years, but they’ve been around for a long time – in fact, since the start of cinema. The earliest biopic dates all the way back to the early 1900s when The Story of the Kelly Gang focused on Ned Kelly, an Australian bushranger, gang leader, and convicted murderer who was executed in the 1800s.
In the early days of movies, biopics largely focused on historical figures and leaders, including presidents and royals. Many movies were released surrounding the lives of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Henry VII, Queen Victoria, and Winston Churchill. Even renowned nurse Florence Nightingale was the focus of three different biopics between 1915–1951. More and more biopics were produced every year as the stories in earlier biopics were retold in more modern movies.
After the Golden Age and The New Hollywood Era spanning 1930–1960, cinema became more mainstream. Directors were becoming more famous, and major studios were producing hundreds of titles each year. As cinema developed, so did the biopic industry. It wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that we really saw a shift in the biopics genre, though.
During the 1990s, biopics moved away from leaders and politicians and started to focus on musicians, athletes, and other famous faces. This era saw movies covering the lives of Babe Ruth, The Jacksons, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Cash, and many more. The biopics genre proved to be dynamic and quickly diversified to cover more topics and people. From 1990 onwards, the industry was producing over 25 biopics every year, including biopics about convicted criminals and unsolved crimes.
Since then, we’ve continued to see a huge number of new releases, reaching upwards of 70 titles in some years. Presidents, musicians, and famous sportspeople have continued to dominate the biopic scene over the last two decades as movie studios look for new stories to bring to the big screen.
Many of these movies feature renowned Hollywood actors and actresses, from Jim Carey and Margot Robbie to Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Major box office hits take home several Oscars each year, with some titles, like Oppenheimer, receiving an astonishing 13 Oscar nominations and seven wins, alongside the $900 million box office revenue it generated.
It’s clear that biopics are here to stay. Have you ever thought about why they’re so popular? What is it about biopics that grip us so intensely that we just have to watch them?
We Can’t Get Enough of Biopics – Here’s Why
There’s one main reason why we love biopics: we’re nosy. Even though we know the stories aren’t completely real, biopics give us a behind-the-scenes look into our favorite stars’ lives, uncovering answers to questions we’ve had on our mind for years. Whether it’s finding out what really happened in their headline-hitting relationship, learning what their childhood looked like, or exploring how they shot to fame, we get a chance to unpack their lives and see things from an “inside” perspective. This taps into our empathy as we experience the highs and lows of their lives as if we were really there.
Typically, biopics tell the story of someone who’s led a particularly interesting life, especially if they’ve found themselves the center of media attention for scandals, personal battles, or struggles with stardom. They also let us step back in time to a key moment in history as we relive world-changing events. This is perhaps the biggest reason why biopics are so successful: they feed our need to find out more about someone or something we’re desperate to learn about. Biopics also create a sense of nostalgia and predictability – we know what’s going to happen, but we need to watch anyway.
Biopics only rarely feature the person whose story is being told, but some include real-life footage of the individual, making the movies seem even more real. For example, Bohemian Rhapsody showed clips from the 1985 Live Aid debut before a copycat performance from actor Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury. These movies often star leading actresses and actors, so we get to see our most-loved Hollywood stars in a new light. Take Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, Cilian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Denzel Washington as Malcom X, for example. Some of the biggest names in the movie industry feature in leading roles in the most successful biopics, so even if the storyline or subject isn’t of much interest to us, the person playing the leading part may well be.
The triumph of any biopic depends on the director, too. Although based on true events, biopics are dramatized non-fiction, so some scenes are created entirely for our entertainment, while others are glorified to add a more compelling narrative. The best biopics keep the true emotional story at their core, and don’t deviate too far from reality. This element of blending fact with fiction enables directors to become more creative with the storytelling and keep us hooked from start to finish.
20 Best Box Office Biopics Over the Last Five Decades
Biopics have been around since the start of filmmaking, but they haven’t all enjoyed the same kind of success. While some biopics get millions of views for years, others fall by the wayside completely. There are many exceptional titles to choose from for your next movie night, though. We’ll run through our top 20 favorites here.
We decided to start from the 1980s as this is the decade that biopics really began to dominate the movie industry. To round up our top 20, we looked at global box office revenue, IMDb ratings of at least 7, and the number of Oscar wins or nominations. We’ve placed them in chronological order instead of ranking them from our most to least favorite – after all, we love them all equally.
You can find most of these movies on multiple streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. When you watch online, your ISP can see what you’re up to and could throttle your connection if it thinks you’re using too much data for your streaming session. The easiest way to avoid this is to buy a VPN – VPNs use powerful encryption to hide your activity, helping you evade content-based throttling. That way, you can stream every title along with us (like we haven’t seen them a million times before).
Ready? Let’s get into it…
1. Raging Bull (1980)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.1/10
🏆Oscars: 2 wins, 8 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $23.5 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriatry, Joe Pesci
We have to start with Raging Bull. It’s an age-old classic starring Robert De Niro, and one of his earliest movies. Raging Bull tells the story of the famous boxer Jake LaMotta, who quickly climbed the ranks from a troubled kid in New York to one of the greatest champs of all time. It wasn’t without struggle, though. The movie follows Jake’s many life challenges, including his tough childhood and battles with violence and a red hot temper.
We still can’t get enough of this movie, which is probably why it won two Oscars and is rated 8.1 on IMDb. Raging Bull took home awards for Best Film Editing and Best Actor in a Leading Role thanks to De Niro’s outstanding performance. Compared to modern-day movies, a box office revenue of $23.5 million seems like nothing, but five decades ago it was one of the highest grossing movies of that year, claiming 27th place.
2. Gandhi (1982)
⭐IMDb rating: 8/10
🏆Oscars: 8 wins, 11 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $181 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi
Does Gandhi set the record for the most ever Oscar wins? It took home eight Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Overall, the movie received a grand total of 11 nominations, making it
one of the most successful movies of all time – not just in the biopics genre, but in the industry.
So what makes Gandhi so great? The biopic follows the life of the famous Indian independence activist, Gandhi, who was born in the late 1800s. His strong stance against the British ruling of India saw him introduce a nationwide non-violent protest, leading him to become one of the most influential people of his time. You’ve probably heard people quoting Gandhi in their conversations, even to this day. The movie brought in a record-breaking $181 million too, which was a huge win for the 1980s movie era.
3. Amadeus (1984)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.4/10
🏆Oscars: 8 wins, 11 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $52 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
We’re staying in the 1980s for one more epic movie, Amadeus. Set at the end of the 18th century, Amadeus depicts the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Austrian composer found himself adored by Antonio Salieri, another composer who longed for his success. This love quickly turned into jealousy and bitterness, and eventually led to Mozart’s death. In a confession, Antonio claims to have murdered Mozart.
This biopic is full of twists and turns, so if you’ve not seen it before, be ready. It received eight Academy Awards and 11 nominations for good reason.
4. Goodfellas (1990)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.7/10
🏆Oscars: 1 win, 6 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $47 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro teamed up again for another biopic, this time to tell the story of Henry Hill’s life in the Mafia. The self-proclaimed New York gangster lived a turbulent life, both at home with his wife Karen and with his mob partners, Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
The famous trio ran some of the biggest hijacks and burglaries in New York City throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Get your popcorn ready, but be prepared for some gore!
5. Malcolm X (1992)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.7/10
🏆Oscars: 2 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $48 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo
Malcolm was known for being outspoken in nature, and for having multiple identities. He started out serving jail time, before becoming an African-American activist fighting for civil rights and Black empowerment. He also regularly preached about Islam and its teachings.
This movie gives us a glimpse into Malcolm’s trials and tribulations, following his early days as a convict through to his assassination in 1965. In his fight against racial oppression, Malcolm became so prominent that even Martin Luther King referenced his death in a speech. Although it didn’t take home any Oscars, this biopic still received two nominations and has an impressive IMDb rating of 7.7. It’s well worth a watch.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
⭐IMDb rating: 9/10
🏆Oscars: 7 wins, 12 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $322 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
Schindler’s List has the highest IMDb rating of all biopics in our top 20 with an almost-perfect score of 9. It’s easy to see why. It covers one of the most pivotal moments in history, following industrialist Oskar Schlinder as he protects his Jewish workforce during the Nazi invasion in World War II. A German businessman himself, Oskar (played by Liam Neeson), turns his factory into a refuge to save thousands of Jews from persecution.
If you like color movies, we should warn you this biopic is almost entirely in black and white. Don’t let that put you off though. This was a deliberate choice by director Steven Spielberg to reflect the black and white thinking of the Nazis during the time, and it only makes the movie more impactful.
Schindler’s List won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. In total, it won 91 awards across various categories and ceremonies, from the BAFTAS to the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, where Liam Neeson won Best Actor.
7. Braveheart (1995)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.3/10
🏆Oscars: 5 wins, 10 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $209 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
Hollywood actor Mel Gibson starred as the leading role and director of the 1995 biopic, Braveheart. Set way back during the ruling of King Edward II in England, this movie follows William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who wanted to free his land from Edward’s invasion. The fight for freedom cost the lives of many of his loved ones, including his wife and father. This only gives William more courage to battle for what he believes his homeland deserves.
The Scottish historical biopic was hugely successful, with a box office revenue of $209 million and a worthy five Oscar wins, including Best Picture and Best Director. Even 30 years on, we still hear the famous Braveheart quote ringing in our ears: “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”
8. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.2/10
🏆Oscars: 4 wins, 8 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $318 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Russel Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly
On to the early ‘00s now, starting with this biopic starring Russel Crowe. A Beautiful Mind is inspired by John Nash, a mathematician known for developing complex mathematical concepts, particularly around game theory. His theories are referred to as the Nash equilibrium or Nash solution. While he eventually won a Nobel prize for his work, his work developing these models was thought to contribute towards his battle with mental illness and schizophrenia symptoms.
Although Nash is a less well-known figure, this biopic proved incredibly successful. It reached a box office revenue of $318 million, despite having a relatively low budget of just $58 million.
9. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.1/10
🏆Oscars: 2 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $355 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Walken
It might not have won an Oscar, but Catch Me If You Can is still a winner in our eyes. It’s one of Leonardo’s first and best movies, and it just so happens to be a biopic. Some could even say his performance in this movie is what led him to become one of the most popular biopic actors ever.
Catch Me If You Can is the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. who was famous for pretending to be many things he’s not – a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and even a legal prosecutor. FBI agent Carl, played by Tom Hanks, cottons on to Frank’s scams and tries to hunt him down. The entire movie is a game of cat and mouse, and who doesn’t love watching the goodie catch the baddie (or the underdog escape)?
10. The Aviator (2004)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.5/10
🏆Oscars: 5 wins, 11 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $208 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale
No, you’re not seeing things – it’s another biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the leading role. Two years after Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo played the billionaire Howard Hughes in The Aviator. Howard Hughes was an incredibly wealthy and renowned filmmaker in the 1920s–1940s, and the owner of R.K.O Pictures. He didn’t stop there, though: he started to pursue the aviation industry, using his fortune to purchase airlines and aircrafts. Unfortunately, fame and fortune brought demons too, which we see much of in this movie.
Rather than covering his whole life, The Aviator focuses on Howard’s ‘glory’ years towards the last two decades of his career. This doesn’t make the movie any less exciting – there’s plenty to unpack, and you definitely won’t be disappointed. It won five Oscars too, including Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
11. The King’s Speech (2010)
⭐IMDb rating: 8/10
🏆Oscars: 4 wins, 12 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $430 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
King George VI might have lived long before our time, but people love royals – and uncovering their secrets. That’s probably why they make such successful biopics, including this 2010 movie. It won an impressive four Oscars after receiving 12 nominations, taking home the trophy for Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
The King’s Speech depicts the story of King George VI of England (played by Colin Firth), his rise to the throne, and his struggle with a speech impediment. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s father receives the help of Lionel Logue, a speech therapist, to help him overcome his communication obstacles. We see the two develop a heartwarming friendship as King George battles his worst fears. This one’s a real tear jerker!
12. Lincoln (2012)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.3/10
🏆Oscars: 2 wins, 12 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $273.5 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
We’re sure you can guess who this biopic is about. Lincoln focuses on US President Abraham Lincoln and his time in office during the American Civil War in 1865. Towards the end of the war, President Lincoln fought to achieve one of the most life-changing events in American history: the passage of a landmark constitutional amendment to end slavery in the US.
We see Lincoln’s fight to gain the nation’s votes while balancing the effects of the end of the war and freedom for the US population. If you love political and historical biopics, this Oscar-winning movie is right up your alley.
13. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.1/10
🏆Oscars: 3 wins, 9 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $180.7 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender
The 2010s seemed to be the decade of early history biopics, including this incredible, three-time Oscar winning movie. It’s rated an impressive 8.1 on IMDb and took home Best Motion Picture of the Year at the 2014 Oscars. We can see why – it’s one of those movies that leaves a lasting impression on you for years to come.
12 Years a Slave stars Chiwetel Ejofor as Solomon Northup, a Black man from New York who’s kidnapped by two white men in 1853 and sold to be a slave. This emotional and extraordinary story follows Solmon’s fight for freedom and survival pre-Civil War. In his 12th year as a slave, Solmon meets an abolitionist from Canada who helps him to regain freedom and break free from slavery.
14. Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.2/10
🏆Oscars: 5 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $390 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
We have yet another Leonardo DiCaprio movie! This time, he plays Jordan Belfort, a wealthy stockbroker living a luxurious life in New York. Although he started out as an entry-level stock broker, he quickly shot to success in the early 1990s with his own firm. Belfort was known for his fraudulent activities, conning wealthy investors into handing over millions of dollars to fake investments.
An empire of success built on scams – what could go wrong? The lavish lifestyle wasn’t all it was made out to be, and Jordan saw many relationships crumbling around him. He also had the FBI hot on his tail, bringing his money-making days to a hard stop. Make sure to add this one to your watch list – it has a 8.2 IMDb rating for a reason.
15. American Sniper (2014)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.3/10
🏆Oscars: 1 win, 6 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $572 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner
Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, is an ordinary family Texas man – until his life changes forever. Once he joins the S.E.A.L.s as a sniper, Chris is sent to fight for his country in Iraq. He saves hundreds of lives, but becomes the prime target for armed rebellions. After four tours and a constant fight for survival, Chris heads home to his family in the US, where his traumatic war experiences manifest into his family, relationships, and daily life.
A box office revenue of $572 million made American Sniper one of the highest grossing biopics ever. If you prefer to read the book before you watch the movie, this biopic is based on American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.
16. Green Book (2018)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.2/10
🏆Oscars: 3 wins, 5 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $320 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Viggo Mortesen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardelllini
If you like movies all about unlikely bonds and friendships, this one’s for you. Green Book is based on the life of Dr. Don Shirley, an African-American pianist dominating the classical music scene in the 1960s. Shirley hunts for a driver and security guard who can protect him while driving him around for his concert tour along the Deep South.
Shirely’s chosen driver and bodyguard is Tony Lip, a bouncer from the Bronx. The two couldn’t be more different, which makes their friendship even more extraordinary. Faced with the challenge of racial segregation and injustice, Tony and Shirley developed an incredible bond during their time on the road.
This biopic has plenty of drama and emotionally-triggering moments, but it’s also full of lighthearted humor. It portrays Shirely’s Deep South tour perfectly, which is probably why it won three awards at the 2019 Oscars.
17. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.9/10
🏆Oscars: 4 wins, 5 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $879 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Bohemian Rhapsody grabbed four of the five Oscars it was nominated for. It also generated a huge $879 million in box office revenue, likely because it covered such a memorable moment in musical history. Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of British rock band, Queen. The movie follows Freddie and the band in the lead up to their sell-out arena performance at Live Aid in 1985.
Alongside his successful musical career, Freddie faced many challenges around sexuality, illness, and band relationships. The movie follows Freddie from a young and aspiring rock ‘n’ roll singer to the lead act in Queen, showing some the most troubled and successful moments in Freddie’s life, including how he wrote many of Queen’s quirky song lyrics. It’s over two hours long, so settle in for a long streaming session with this one. Don’t worry – we couldn’t help but sing along either.
18. Rocketman (2019)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.3/10
🏆Oscars: 1 win, 1 nomination
💸Gross revenue: $190 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden
British pop legend Sir Elton John rose to fame in the 1970s, transitioning from an eager pianist to an iconic superstar. In this biopic, we get to see then-Reginald Dwight complete his studies and kickstart his musical career by performing rock music in local pubs.
He meets John Reid, a music manager, who helps him on his way to becoming an international phenomenon. The same music manager also creates turbulence in Elton’s life – much of which was unknown to us before this movie came out. Some events have been dramatized, but Rocketman certainly gives you an insider’s perspective on Elton’s life and the songs that have made history.
19. Elvis (2022)
⭐IMDb rating: 7.3/10
🏆Oscars: 8 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $280 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks
Continuing with the musical biopic trend, this 2022 movie gives us a glimpse into the legendary rock and movie star that was Elvis. It’s based over a twenty-year period, starting from his late childhood to the height of his fame in the 1950s, so you get to see many highs and lows from Elvis’s life, including the complicated bond between himself and wife Priscilla, an American businesswoman and actress.
Like many biopics, the story is told through someone else’s eyes – in this case, Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. It was well known that the pair had a controversial and somewhat turbulent relationship, which is reflected throughout this movie.
We can’t mention Elvis without mentioning Priscilla too. A year later, a biopic told the story of Elvis from another perspective, in the eyes of his wife Priscilla. The movie offers a closer look at the pair’s relationship as we see it develop over time. It stars Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi as the rock-and-roll legend Elvis.
20. Oppenheimer (2023)
⭐IMDb rating: 8.3/10
🏆Oscars: 7 wins, 13 nominations
💸Gross revenue: $912.6 million
📽️Leading actors/actresses: Cilian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
We’re ending this list of best biopics on a high, literally. Oppenheimer brought in a whopping $912.6 million in box office revenue, and took home seven of the 13 Oscar awards it was nominated for. It’s one of our favorite biopics ever.
The Christopher Nolan-directed movie stars Cilian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American scientist. He was involved in the Manhattan project and the development of nuclear weapons, including the atomic bomb. In 1945, years of Oppenheimer’s work led to the world’s first nuclear explosion, during World War II.
This gripping movie shows Oppenheimer in many different lights and perspectives, flipping through different times in his life. It’s over three hours long, but it’s well worth a watch.
Uncovering the Biopics Trends: Top Directors, Awards, and Leading Roles
Steven Spielberg: The Biopics Director
Steven Spielberg is one of the most famous directors of all time. He’s also the director behind some of the most successful box office biopics. Many of these appear in our top 20, including Lincoln, Catch Me If You Can, and Schindler’s List. He also directed iconic Oscar-nominated movies like Saving Private Ryan, The Post, First Man, The Terminal, and Empire Of The Sun.
Steven Spielberg himself has been nominated for 22 Oscars over his directing career, taking home three wins. He won Best Director and Best Picture for his work on Schindler’s List, plus Best Director for Saving Private Ryan. He doesn’t seem to have any biopics in the works right now, but we’re confident there will be many more in the future. We might have to rethink our top 20 when they’re released!
The Highest Grossing Biopics Ever
Biopics continue to generate record-breaking amounts of box office revenue. Each year, this figure gets higher and higher. 2023 was no different. Oppenheimer set a new record of $912.6 million, making it the highest grossing biopic since day one. The 2018 release Bohemian Rhapsody wasn’t far behind, bringing in $879 in revenue. American Sniper also made it to the top three grossing $547 million. Every title also won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Interestingly, all three of these titles are from the last decade, with the oldest release being American Sniper in 2014, confirming that the biopics trend is becoming ever more popular. Clearly, we’re flocking to movie theaters to see the latest biopic as soon as it’s released. It’s also intriguing that these movies all cover different topics within the biopics genre. One focuses on an atomic bomb creator, one on a famous rock and roll band, and the other on a S.E.A.L. sniper. The biopics genre is incredibly diverse, which makes us wonder where it will go next.
The Actor Dominating the Biopics Scene
Can you guess? It’s Leonardo Di Caprio, of course. The American actor has appeared in the most top-rated biopics, including Catch Me If You Can, Wolf of Wall Street, and The Aviator. He’s also played a leading role in many others, such as This Boy’s Life, The Basketball Diaries, Titanic, and The Revenant and has been nominated time and time again for Oscars, though it wasn’t until the 2016 ceremony that he finally took home an award. He won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for The Revenant.
We can look forward to seeing Leonardo DiCaprio in many more must-watch biopics. He’s rumored to be playing Frank Sinatra in a remake by Martin Scorsese, though it’s not yet confirmed when.
A Record Number of Biopic Oscar Wins
Two biopics have taken home the most Oscars: both Gandhi and Amadeus received eight Academy Awards of the 11 they were nominated for. Their wins included Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and several others. Interestingly, both movies are from before the 1990s when we saw a surge in the number of biopics released each year. Gandhi was the first to be released in 1982, with Amadeus following a couple of years later in 1984. No biopic has managed to take home more awards in over 30 years.
One movie came close to knocking Gandhi and Amadeus off top spot at the 2023 Oscars, though. Oppenheimer received a staggering 13 nominations and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Achievement in Directing, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Motion Picture of the Year.
The Worst Performing Biopics
Although most biopics are box-office worthy, not all make it. Some don’t perform as well as expected, even with highly anticipated storylines and big budgets. Based on IMDb ratings and box office performance, the top three worst performing biopics ever are Wired (1989), The Conqueror (1956) and Gotti (2018).
Wired focused on John Belushi, an actor and comedian. It starts with John Belushi being found dead, though in a bizarre turn of events, he wakes up before he undergoes an autopsy. Now alive, John Belushi takes us back to the most significant parts of his life, before reliving his last moments. It wasn’t a hit, unfortunately. The movie only generated $1 million in box office revenue and has a less-than-impressive IMDb score of 3.6.
The Conqueror is a very early biopic, dating all the way back to 1956. It focuses on a warlord named Temujin as he battles a tribe to become the emperor of Genghis Khan. With only a 3.7 IMDb rating and a $6.6 million box office revenue, we’d say you can leave this one off your watchlist.
Last in our list is Gotti, which, unlike the other titles, is fairly recent. This biopic was only released in 2018, which makes its slight failure a little more sore. The biopic stars John Travolta as John Gotti, the leading member of the New York mob. It goes deep inside the Gotti family to unpack their mob life and all the dangers that came with it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem many of us were impressed. It only generated $9 million in box office revenue and has an IMDb rating of 4.8.
A New Biopics Trend: Your Favorite Musicians
You only have to look back at a few years of biopics to see there’s a trend dominating the biopics genre: musicians. The biggest biopics in the last decade have focused on musical legends, their sometimes troubled lives, huge successes, and incredible songs. Some of the most notable titles include Bob Marley: One Love, The Eras Tour, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, and Rocketman.
Directors are finding other musicians’ lives with a story to tell, and many are already in the works. This includes Michael, a movie about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, set to be released in 2025. Bob Dylan will also be the focus of a biopic, expected in 2025, titled A Complete Unknown. Four separate biopics about The Beatles are set to be released in 2027, giving us a storyline from each band member’s perspective. If you love your music and you’re a fan of biopics, it looks like you’ll be spending some time in the theaters!
What Does the Future Hold for Biopics?
Let’s say this: the future looks bright for biopics. Some of the highest-performing movies in the last decade have risen from the biopics genre, and many of them have grabbed multiple Oscars too. Almost every streaming platform has a category for biopics now. Given the success of mega music biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing more movies centered around musical legends.
If there’s one thing biopics do, it’s sell, but what does this mean for the industry? Despite their evidential popularity, the biopics genre raises questions about director creativity and willingness to deliver new storylines. In particular, some feel it allows directors to take a lazier approach to filmmaking because they don’t need to think of creative narratives or topics. They can simply focus on depicting a movie of someone’s life events, rather than coming up with anything new. Is it a quick-win to grab people’s attention and increase the chances of box office success?
It’s no secret that we’re spending much less time in movie theaters, especially since the pandemic. Streaming platforms and the availability of movies at home make it easier than ever to watch the latest movies from your living room. In fact, a study by S&P Global shows that 36% of US respondents stated the reason they don’t go to the cinema is because they prefer to stream movies online. More interestingly, Wolf Street reports that over the last 21 years, US movie ticket sales have decreased by nearly half (46%). Clearly, people are happy to wait for movies to be released online instead of heading to their local cinema – though not necessarily when it comes to biopics.
2023’s box office figures show Oppenheimer was the third highest-grossing movie of the year. It even overtook movies like John Wick: Chapter 4, Wonka, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse. That’s because biopics have us hooked. One watch of the trailer leaves us wanting to know more instantly, eagerly anticipating the release date. Rather than waiting months for the title to come to our favorite streaming platform, we book tickets to watch it in the theater. We have to be there. Compelling true stories lure people in, especially when it involves someone they follow or feel like they know, like a musician. This is something the biopics genre does tremendously well.
The Biopics Story Isn’t Over
Open up any streaming platform and you’ll see an endless list of biopics. Head to your nearest cinema and you’ll find the screen theater booked out to see the latest biopic release. No matter where you go, biopics are everywhere. They’ve truly taken Hollywood by a storm, with most renowned directors turning their focus towards true lives and events rather than new creative storylines. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Emily Blunt, and the like find themselves landing leading roles in the most anticipated biopic. Many of them are winning Oscar after Oscar for their performances in these biopics too, as are the directors.
The theaters may not be as full as they were a few years ago, but that’s not slowing down the biopic box office. Almost every modern biopic is grossing obscene amounts in revenue. These blends of fiction and reality are grabbing our attention, and we simply can’t get enough. So the only thing left to ask is this: which one of our top 20 are you watching first?
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