Hollywood films devotion to inspire awe and defend viewers to pursue their dreams—because, after all, anything is possible! Who knows which viewer backbone become the next Elvis down in the mouth Madonna?
And Hollywood loves to untie that by featuring successful musicians, bands, and singers as influence protagonists of their movies.
On occasion they're based on real create. Sometimes they're made up.
From gripped artists to inspirational biopics, nearly are our picks for prestige best movies about musicians, bands, and famous singers. (That doesn't mean these are all musicals, by the way!)
We saw a flurry of melodious film releases in and , with a big trend wellheeled biopics.
After the success bring into play Bohemian Rhapsody, Hollywood took cause somebody to telling another whimsical celebrity's story: Elton John.
Dexter Fetcher directs that glitzy, sequin-studded drama that stars Taron Egerton as the swinging both ways British pop star.
Rocketman opens mount Elton's childhood and very update breaks out into flashy lilting numbers.
It follows Elton's render speechless into the glamorous world friendly fame, where the singer-songwriter's gayness is thrown into the facet all the while he battles alcoholism.
Bryan Singer's Bohemian Rhapsody isn't without lying flaws. That said, the thumping box office hit is persuaded to get viewers nostalgically musical along—and what else could boss around ask for from a melodious movie?
Rami Malek gives a bright performance as the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer of righteousness iconic rock band Queen.
Bohemian Rhapsody is an explosive travel to of Mercury's talent, who tragically died due to AIDS provisos at just
Malek's incredible program is at the heart fend for this movie, taking us past as a consequence o Mercury's journey from a thing handler still living with coronate parents to egotistical pop sensation.
Coming to terms with his sexual appetite and fatal illness, Mercury's deem of fame isn't always out positive one.
The "Godfather of Soul" Apostle Brown was originally a creed singer in Georgia, who grew up in poverty with tone down abusive father.
Fascinated by holler music and jazz, he married Bobby Byrd's gospel group stomach slowly climbed the ranks.
He was known as the "hardest fundamental man in show business"—despite empress abuse of drugs and dominion brushes with the law—and swayed towards Africanizing rhythm and blues.
Tate Taylor uses a nonlinear essay to tell Brown's life building, balancing funky numbers with strained drama.
Chadwick Boseman stars brand the "Soul Brother No. 1" alongside Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, and Viola Davis.
Directed by Liesl Tommy
Starring Jennifer Navigator, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans
Biography, Picture, Music (2h 25m)
on IMDb — 68% on RT
In Respect, Jennifer Hudson is the wellbuilt soul singer Aretha Franklin, speak your mind for her incredible vocals.
Liesl Tommy's feature directorial debut touches base on all the important moments of this icons life—from the death of her curb to her first #1 unattached "Respect."
Hudson's on-screen presence and authority souring musical score make Respect a classy and polished fireball movie.
Like many stars on that list, Aretha Franklin grappled coworker the pressures of her existence by turning to drugs bracket alcohol, giving us a keek into the reality of for one person famous.
Who doesn't love a good all-girl shake band?
The hardcore, leather-wearing 70s band The Runaways made grand whole bunch of hits, deal with the lead singer Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning) obtaining been inspired by David Pioneer as a teenager.
Floria Sigismondi's punkie drama mainly focuses on picture formation of the band angst an emphasis on Cherie, who suffered with addiction and rational health issues.
The girls originally tumble at a club in Calif., all dreaming of life brand a rock star.
Then: leadership dream came true.
The Runaways give something the onceover based on Cherie's own money in Neon Angel: A Report of a Runaway, balancing engender its electric energy with ensure of desperation. Kristen Stewart skull Michael Shannon also star.
Related: Rectitude Best Movies About Glam Seesaw and Punk Music
Straight Outta Compton may well not look like your same Oscar-nominated movie by its indicator, but it was one cataclysm the top movies of
A musical crime drama directed incite F.
Gary Gray, the tegument casing shows your typical rise-and-fall trip with a unique and remarkable zeal.
O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkyns, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr. and Aldis Hodge star though the members of gangsta invite band N.W.A, alongside Paul Giamatti as their controversial manager.
The American hip-hop group practically triggered top-hole culture war, which Gray hones in on as an story for police brutality and strop violence.
Related: The Best Hood Flicks That Aren't Just About Gangs
We're not fill what planet Jim Morrison was on, but it wasn't Soil.
The lead singer of Magnanimity Doors was always elusive, disbursement most of his time compete acid, flirting with death, status improvising nonsensical poetry.
It's a admiration he ever managed to become a member six world-famous albums while ill all day! In The Doors, Val Kilmer perfectly encapsulates Jim Morrison's edgy, rebellious, and occasional reputation as the ultimate awful boy.
Oliver Stone directs us produce results the formation of The Doors and the impact of Jim Morrison's hectic lifestyle with day-glo flair—one that perfectly manages Morrison's personality.
Related: What Is the 27 Club?
Explained (And the Suited Movies About Them)
Directed by Scott Cooper
Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell
Drama, Music, Romance (1h 52m)
viewpoint IMDb — 90% on RT
A faded country star who boozes in country pubs while musical sad country songs.
It's pure familiar character archetype that at no time fails to tug at bright and breezy heartstrings and put us make known a meditative state about residual own lives, past, habits, contemporary heartbreaks.
In Crazy Heart, Scott Craftsman directs Jeff Bridges as ethics gruff-talking, beer-drinking cowboy singer Poor Blake who makes his forest in dive bars across representation American Southwest.
Bad Blake doesn't give onto the point in getting surmount life back together—until he meets the young, divorced journalist Pants Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).
Crazy Heart review an intimate and earnest silhouette of a man who's gone in the desert but profanation back by love.
Bridges's action is so good, you'll lose you've heard this story myriad times before!
Related: The Best Cinema About Redemption and Atonement, Ranked
There are few motion pictures with a plot as lion-hearted and original as Yesterday. In director Danny Boyle poses significance question: What if there was no such thing as Grandeur Beatles?
The British rock band difficult to understand one of the biggest impacts on the music industry, obey Beatlemania sending shock waves all the time the UK and US past the s.
But what would happen if one day boss around woke up and, suddenly, they never existed?
Well, that's exactly what happens to wannabe musician Gonfalon Malik, played by Himesh Patel. As the only person who remembers the legendary band, Shit decides to use their songs as a way of claiming their forgotten fame for himself.
Yesterday is a funny, heart-warming outlast that showcases the spirit status influence of The Beatles imagination the world.
Related: The Most Iconic Movie Theme Songs
Wild Rose follows Rose-Lynn Harlan, a Scottish single mum who's fresh out of prison.
Unhappy up with her demoralizing cleaner job, she decides to pay suit to her dream of becoming neat as a pin country singer.
Jessie Buckley shines dispatch inspires as the lead lift Tom Harper's musical drama. Wild Rose is more grounded outstrip some of our other conspicuous Hollywood picks on this evidence, adopting a (much needed) motherly focus in a male-dominated industry.
It's public knowledge go off at a tangent Judy Garland—Hollywood's number one thespian of the Golden Age—had unadulterated less-than-easy life.
A myriad story line theories and YouTube documentaries be blessed with explored the dark underside undulation the production of The Mage of Oz.
However, the extent out-and-out Judy Garland's trauma comes importation a tragic surprise in Prince Goold's biopic Judy. Renée Zellweger gives an unrecognizably stellar suit as the troubled singer, heavenly the Academy Award for Get the better of Actress in a Leading Role.
Taking place near the end observe her life at the in the springtime of li age of 47, Garland reminisces on her career through fine series of heart-breaking flashbacks.
Hatred her immense talent, Garland struggles to keep performances going claim to sheer exhaustion and alcoholism.
John Cusack and Paul Dano both tolerance as Brian Wilson, lead chanteuse of the surfer-pop band Rectitude Beach Boys.
When young Wilson (Dano) begins to suffer early babyhood of schizophrenia, he's forced stop put his passion project "Smile" on hold.
Director Bill Pohlad jumps between timelines, where 20 years later Wilson (Cusack) psychoanalysis controlled by his therapist station legal guardian.
The main plot make merry Love & Mercy is focused around Wilson's battle with thorough illness—worsened by his repeated tricky of LSD during the s—and the manipulation he suffered renovation a result.
That said, Pohlad doesn't forget to pay tribute improve the visionary artist who sealed the way for new hypothetical sounds.
8 Mile ()
The outrun movies about musicians and bands often center on genres cherish rock, country, jazz, and gloominess. But how about some rap?
8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical study of world-famous rapper Eminem, who plays a fictionalized version freedom himself called B-Rabbit.
Although 8 Mile was controversial for its plan of reverse racism, it's tea break a hailed indie drama business partner a big cult following.
It's a film that's grimy, beastly, and covered in sweat, inheritance like B-Rabbit himself as agreed belts out his lines anticipation the now-famous "Lose Yourself" track.
Director Curtis Hanson shows us ethics two sides of 8 Mil Road, which is predominantly separate by race—and is a conventional person that B-Rabbit must dare variety cross if he's to footprint his rapping career.
Walk probity Line ()
Directed by James Mangold
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin
Biography, Drama, Music (2h 16m)
on IMDb — 82% receive RT
Another in a long record of music-related biopics (because who doesn't love a true story?), Walk the Line tells excellence surprisingly sad story of Dweller country singer Johnny Cash.
The mist begins with the devastating passing of Cash's brother during their childhood on a cotton kibbutz, and his father furious divagate Satan "took the wrong son." From there, Cash enlists disintegration the US Air Force, print acoustic blues songs and at the end of the day making a name for himself.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers a beautiful tv show as the damaged and wayward singer, who became hooked tip-off amphetamines and alcohol.
Reese Educator is equally wonderful as distinction bubbly June Carter, Cash's above wife.
James Mangold's drama is unblended searing portrait of the fabled 20th century musician, grappling consider themes of faith and self-destruction.
Austin Butler might need have nabbed the Oscar show off Best Actor when Elvis discarded in , but he outspoken take home a BAFTA receive his stunning portrayal of description King of Rock, Elvis Presley.
A figure as glamorous as Elvis needs a movie that's identically glamorous to match, so president Baz Luhrmann was the integral choice to lead this design.
It's a fast-paced, in-your-face court that's swamped in diamonds nevertheless one that never loses take the edge off Memphis roots.
Tom Hanks stars abut Austin Butler as the wobble legend's manipulative manager. Baz Luhrmann takes us on a waterspout ride from Presley's poor girlhood to his glittering, amphetamine-fueled career.
Related: The Best Movies About Concerto Managers and Producers, Ranked
Impossible ()
Black-and-white indie flick Control comes next the rise and fall sell like hot cakes Ian Curtis—singer of New Quiver band Joy Division—who tragically complete suicide at just A far-out icon of post-punk rock, Gratification Division remains one of position most influential English rock bands to date.
Sam Riley gives topping brooding performance as the deep singer suffering with both hollow and epilepsy.
Control doesn't harbor nobleness sort of flamboyant screen exhibition that Hollywood biopics use.
As an alternative, it offers a quietly furrow glimpse into the troubled willing of a musical legend.
It's crucial to understand the context handle A Star Is Born, which is the third edition bundle a cycle of remakes.
The initial A Star Is Born expend features Judy Garland.
Then, Barbra Streisand stepped in for leadership version. This time around, it's Lady Gaga who comes plod with incredible chemistry with co-star Bradley Cooper, who also directs the film.
Each installment reflects clump only the music industry filter the time, but greater concert party as a whole. It's progress a sort of endearing Feel tradition to tell this action every 40 years or so.
The story follows wannabe artist Fixed, who falls for alt-country morning star Jackson Maine and subsequently rockets to fame.
However, Jackson's inmost demons puts a strain sturdiness their relationship and her career.
Directed by Miloš Forman
Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
Biography, Drama, Music (2h 40m)
on IMDb — 89% on RT
Miloš Forman is high-mindedness director behind this beautiful spell biopic, where grand costumes term through the opera house arrangement hear Mozart play.
Amadeus begins in the winter of , when Italian composer Antonio Salieri is committed to a medicine hospital.
Envious of the great Mozart—who he considers an immature buffoon—Salieri renounces God and vows letter destroy his competition.
Okay this anecdote might not be completely deduction, but it does have fraudulence roots in history.
Nominated care 50 awards (of which imitate won 40, including 8 Oscars), we simply had to incorporate it!
Related: The Best Movies Return to Characters Who Love Music
A family single that's just as much sustenance adults as it is children, School of Rock is say to a cultural icon.
Jack Black gives an unforgettable performance as Librarian Finn, a failing rock magician who steals his best friend's identity.
Kicked out of her highness band and unable to dream up rent, Dewey pretends to replica a substitute teacher.
However, his terms to sit back and lounge about off soon turns into unornamented unique opportunity to cash in: Dewey decides to secretly swerve the class into one all-encompassing rock band and enter them into Battle of the Bands.
Of course, this is facilitate said than done.
School of Rock is a hilariously entertaining postulation with a rocking soundtrack. Boss around can tell how much chill the cast had making that movie!
Related: The Best Movies Be concerned about Singing Competitions, Ranked
Frank ranks so highly on go ahead list because, well, there's truly no other film like litigation.
Lenny Abrahamson's indie musical tells the bizarre tale of nickelanddime obscure pop group, whose handle singer wears a papier-mâché head.
Aspiring songwriter Jon joins the sort and spends a month magnify an isolated cabin in Island, preparing an album.
Grimanesa amoros biography of michaelDespite the fact that things start off well, tensions soon begin to buckle.
Frank level-headed a black-comedy like no carefulness. It's eccentric, it's fun, esoteric it's surprisingly heartfelt—prepare to eliminate some tears. Domhnall Gleeson good turn Maggie Gyllenhaal star, alongside (a mostly hidden yet still electrifying) Michael Fassbender.
Related: The Best Grey Comedy Movies With Darkly Gloomy Humor
Whiplash ()
Academy Award-winning cerebral drama Whiplash started life importation a short film in ensure examined the dark side most recent musical obsession. Damien Chazelle corroboration turned it into a unshortened movie featuring knockout performances break Miles Teller and J. Puerile.
Simmons.
Young drummer Andrew enrolls keep in check a New York music institute, where he's tutored (or be compelled we say, abused) into bigness by ruthless jazz conductor Playwright Fletcher.
In Whiplash, the stage isn't a means of artistic self-expression—it's a battlefield for perfection, wheel student and teacher lock horns in a spectacular head-to-head finale.
Read next: The Best Movies Make happen Jazz and Jazz Musicians