The Best Movies About Music Icons

Directed and co-written by Oliver Stone, “The Doors” is about the life of singer and songwriter Jim Morrison, played by Val Kilmer. It portrays his rock-and-roll and counterculture lifestyle, including his drug use.

“Selena” is about the life and career of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who was murdered at the age of 23. It stars Jennifer Lopez in her breakout role.

“I’m Not There” is a musical drama based on the life and music of Bob Dylan. The artist is depicted by six actors in the film – a different actor for a different stage of his career.

The late Chadwick Boseman as the Godfather of Soul – James Brown – in this film, which uses a nonlinear narrative, following Brown’s stream of consciousness as he recalls events from his life.

The 1972 film “Lady Sings the Blues,” starring Diana Ross, is the story of Billie Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan – one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, and a major influence on both jazz and pop vocalists who came after her. She struggled with drug abuse, and died of cirrhosis at the age of 44.

This British biographical drama is about the teenage years of future Beatle and music legend John Lennon. The film focuses on Lennon’s relationships with his mother and aunt and the formation of his first band.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” tells the story of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (played by Rami Malek), from the formation of the band up to the 1985 Live Aid performance at London’s Wembley Stadium. The year after his death from AIDS in 1991, a major benefit concert in his honor, benefiting AIDS awareness, was held at the same venue.

“Respect” is a musical drama based on the life of Aretha Franklin. The singer is played by Jennifer Hudson, who was handpicked by Franklin herself for the role. The film follows Franklin’s life from her childhood as a musical prodigy to the recording of the live album “Amazing Grace.”

“Born To Be Blue” is loosely based on the musical comeback of legendary West Coast jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker. Set in the late 1960s, the film reimagines Baker’s affair with an actress as he tries to rise to the top of the industry again.

“La Bamba” features Lou Diamond Phillips as Chicano rock-and-roll star Ritchie Valens, who died in the 1959 plane crash that also claimed the life of Buddy Holly.

Based on Woody Guthrie’s 1943 autobiography of the same name, “Bound for Glory ‘ focuses on the folk singer’s early years as a struggling musician making his way from Oklahoma to Southern California and becoming politically active.

“Sid & Nancy” is a biographical drama portraying the destructive relationship between Sid Vicious, bassist and singer for the iconic punk rock band Sex Pistols and his girlfirend, Nancy Spungen, whom he stabbed to death in a drug-fueled haze at Manhattan’s legendary Chelsea Hotel..

Forest Whitaker stars as the troubled legendary jazz musician Charles “Bird” Parker. Moving back and forth in time, the film covers Parker’s life from his childhood in Kansas City to his death from a heroin overdose at age 34.

“Behind The Candelabra” follows the last 10 years of megastar singer and pianist Liberace, focusing mostly on his tumultuous love affair with the much younger Scott Thorson. The film is based on Thorson’s memoir about his life with the larger-than-life personality.

“La Vie en Rose” is about the life of iconic French singer Edith Piaf. Marion Cotillard’s performance as Piaf received critical acclaim and won her an Academy Award for Best Actress – the first time an Oscar had been given for a French-language role.

Critics lauded the performance of two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange, who received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance as the legendary country music singer Patsy Cline. Janet Maslin of the New York Times said Lange “makes herself a perfect physical extension of the vibrant, changeable, enormously expressive woman who can be heard on these recordings.”

James Stewart stars as the famous swing-era bandleader Glenn Miller. The movie covers Miller’s life from his early years as a struggling trombone player dreaming of making it big and working to start his own band to his death over the English Channel during a period when he was entertaining troops during World War II. Louis Armstrong, drummer Gene Krupa, and other top musicians of the era put in cameo performances.

“Ray” stars Jamie Foxx as the legendary blind rhythm and blues singer and pianist Ray Charles. Foxx won an Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as Golden Globe, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice awards for his performance.

Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths were nominated for an Oscar for playing Jackie du Pre, an elite cellist, and her sister, Hilary du Pre, a flutist. The film tells the story of the much more famous Hilary from the point of view of her less accomplished sister.

The biographical figure in “24 Hour Party People” – a comedy drama about the pop music scene in Manchester, England – isn’t a musician, but rather a TV reporter and record company head, Tony Wilson, though it also deals with the careers of famed Manchester groups like New Order and Joy Division.

“Coal Miner’s Daughter” tells the story of Loretta Lynn, from her youth “in a cabin on a hill in Butcher Holler” through her rise to country superstardom. Sissy Spacek, who in 1983 would release her own country music album, won an Oscar for her portrayal of Lynn. In 2019, the movie was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

“Love & Mercy” is about Beach Boys co-founder and leader Brian Wilson as he faces mental illness while creating ground-breaking music. It stars Paul Dano and John Cusack as the young and middle-aged Wilson, respectively. The title comes from a 1988 song by Wilson.

“The Buddy Holly Story” chronicles the life and short career of early rock and roll musician Buddy Holly. The film focuses on his quick rise to fame and his marriage. Gary Busey was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Holly, who died in a plane crash at age 22.

“Elvis” is about the life of music icon Elvis Presley – from his childhood to his evolution into an international music and film superstar. The story is told through the prism of Presley’s relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), over the span of two decades.

“Rocketman” is a musical fantasy drama based on the life of Elton John, named after his 1972 hit “Rocket Man.” It stars Taron Egerton as John and Bryce Dallas Howard as his mother, Sheila Eileen.

This musical biopic about the life of composer George M. Cohan won Oscars for Best Music, Best Sound, and Best Actor – for star James Cagney. It was later selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry and included on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 greatest American movies of all time.

“Walk the Line” is based on two autobiographies by singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, “Man in Black” and “Cash: The Autobiography.” It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his wife June Carter Cash, and focuses heavily on their relationship.

A biographical musical about the rise of comedian and Broadway star Fanny Brice, “Funny Girl” details her struggles with the industry’s beauty standards and her marriage to professional con artist and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

“Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould” is what the title says – an anthology film of short films about famous 20th century pianist Glenn Gould. The film includes both real interviews with people who knew Gould and fictional reenactments of his life.

“Control” is set in the 1970s, as Ian Curtis was rising to fame as the lead singer of the Manchester band Joy Division. The biopic shows how Curtis deals with being a young superstar as well as a father and a husband and depicts his worsening epilepsy and eventual suicide.

Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne received Oscar nominations for playing Tina and Ike Turner, respectively, in this gripping biopic. It chronicles their torrid marriage and Tina’s struggle to break free as an independent woman and artist.

Geoffrey Rush stars as Australian concert pianist David Helfgott, who suffers a mental breakdown as a result of the pressures of his fame, and spends years in various institutions, eventually playing a critically acclaimed return concert, reviving a career that continues to this day.

F. Gary Gray’s film is about how the influential rap group NWA came out of the hardscrabble streets of Compton, California, to bring hip-hop music to the cultural forefront. Powerful performances by O’Shea Jackson Jr. (son of NWA member Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins, and Jason Mitchell helped the film win an Oscar nomination.

Based on Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play of the same name, this account of the life and successes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – told through the eyes of his rival, Antonio Salieri – dominated the 1985 Oscars, winning eight awards, including those for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.