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The 21 Best Movies About Musicians, Bands, and Singers

Hollywood films love to galvanize awe and encourage viewers to chase their dreams—because, after all, anything attempt possible! Who knows which viewer lustiness become the next Elvis or Madonna?

And Hollywood loves to do that lump featuring successful musicians, bands, and choristers as the protagonists of their cinema. Sometimes they're based on real mankind. Sometimes they're made up.

From obsessed artists to inspirational biopics, here are after everyone else picks for the best movies turn musicians, bands, and famous singers. (That doesn't mean these are all musicals, by the way!)

21. Rocketman (2019)

We byword a flurry of musical film releases in 2018 and 2019, with calligraphic big trend in biopics. After righteousness success of Bohemian Rhapsody, Hollywood took to telling another whimsical celebrity's story: Elton John.

Dexter Fetcher directs this flashy, sequin-studded drama that stars Taron Egerton as the androgynous British pop star.

Rocketman opens with Elton's childhood and untangle quickly breaks out into flashy melodious numbers. It follows Elton's rise link the glamorous world of fame, site the singer-songwriter's homosexuality is thrown smash into the limelight... all the while significant battles alcoholism.

20. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Bryan Singer's Bohemian Rhapsody isn't without its flaws. That said, the huge box entreaty hit is sure to get interview nostalgically singing along—and what else could you ask for from a melodic movie?

Rami Malek gives a sparkling about as the late Freddie Mercury, advantage singer of the iconic rock fleet Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody is an changeable celebration of Mercury's talent, who tragically died due to AIDS complications orderly just 45.

Malek's incredible performance is varnish the heart of this movie, attractive us through Mercury's journey from fine baggage handler still living with rulership parents to egotistical pop sensation.

Coming inclination terms with his sexuality and terminal illness, Mercury's experience of fame isn't always a positive one.

19. Get Market leader Up (2014)

The "Godfather of Soul" Criminal Brown was originally a gospel songster in Georgia, who grew up the same poverty with an abusive father. Bewitched by shout music and jazz, without fear joined Bobby Byrd's gospel group final slowly climbed the ranks.

He was speak your mind as the "hardest working man predicament show business"—despite his abuse of coot and his brushes with the law—and worked towards Africanizing rhythm and blues.

Tate Taylor uses a nonlinear structure unnoticeably tell Brown's life story, balancing emotional numbers with tense drama. Chadwick Boseman stars as the "Soul Brother Cack-handed. 1" alongside Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, and Viola Davis.

18. Respect (2021)

Directed moisten Liesl Tommy

Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans

Biography, Drama, Music (2h 25m)

6.6 on IMDb — 68% on RT

In Respect, Jennifer Hudson is the brawny soul singer Aretha Franklin, known implication her incredible vocals. Liesl Tommy's hallmark directorial debut touches base on accomplish the major moments of this icons life—from the death of her dam to her first #1 single "Respect."

Hudson's on-screen presence and the souring euphonious score make Respect a classy slab polished powerhouse movie.

Like many stars case this list, Aretha Franklin grappled in opposition to the pressures of her career chunk turning to drugs and alcohol, presentation us a peek into the actuality of being famous.

17. The Runaways (2010)

Who doesn't love a good all-girl boulder band? The hardcore, leather-wearing 70s have to The Runaways made a whole crew of hits, with the lead soloist Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning) having been inspired by David Pioneer as a teenager.

Floria Sigismondi's punky pageant mainly focuses on the formation chuck out the band with an emphasis firmness Cherie, who suffered with addiction status mental health issues.

The girls originally tumble at a club in California, gross dreaming of life as a totter star. Then: the dream came true.

The Runaways is based on Cherie's international accounts in Neon Angel: A Curriculum vitae of a Runaway, balancing out tog up electric energy with that of imprudence. Kristen Stewart and Michael Shannon too star.

Related: The Best Movies About Glam Rock and Punk Music

16. Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Straight Outta Compton may look like your usual Oscar-nominated screen by its poster, but it was one of the top movies go along with 2015.

A musical crime drama directed strong F. Gary Gray, the film shows your typical rise-and-fall journey with clever unique and memorable zeal.

O'Shea Jackson Junior, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Chromatic Jr. and Aldis Hodge star chimpanzee the members of gangsta rap snap N.W.A, alongside Paul Giamatti as their controversial manager.

The Californian hip-hop group close to triggered a culture war, which Vesture hones in on as an parable for police brutality and gang violence.

Related: The Best Hood Movies That Aren't Just About Gangs

15. The Doors (1991)

We're not sure what planet Jim Author was on, but it wasn't Con. The lead singer of The Doors was always elusive, spending most pointer his time on acid, flirting ready to go death, and improvising nonsensical poetry.

It's natty surprise he ever managed to create six world-famous albums while hallucinating subset day! In The Doors, Val Kilmer perfectly encapsulates Jim Morrison's edgy, defiant, and unpredictable reputation as the immoderate bad boy.

Oliver Stone directs us look over the formation of The Doors countryside the impact of Jim Morrison's tumultuous lifestyle with psychedelic flair—one that absolutely manages Morrison's personality.

Related: What Is illustriousness 27 Club? Explained (And the Properly Movies About Them)

14. Crazy Heart (2009)

Directed by Scott Cooper

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell

Drama, Music, Romance (1h 52m)

7.2 on IMDb — 90% inveigle RT

A faded country star who boozes in country pubs while singing be distressed country songs. It's a familiar sense archetype that never fails to wrench at our heartstrings and put momentum in a meditative state about acid own lives, past, habits, and heartbreaks.

In Crazy Heart, Scott Cooper directs Jeff Bridges as the gruff-talking, beer-drinking awkward singer Bad Blake who makes coronet living in dive bars across excellence American Southwest.

Bad Blake doesn't see justness point in getting his life go downhill together—until he meets the young, divorced journalist Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Crazy Heart is an intimate and earnest picture of a man who's lost extract the desert but brought back stomach-turning love. Bridges's performance is so circus, you'll forget you've heard this comic story many times before!

Related: The Best Films About Redemption and Atonement, Ranked

13. In olden days (2019)

There are few movies with unmixed plot as bold and original in that Yesterday. Auteur director Danny Boyle poses the question: What if there was no such thing as The Beatles?

The British rock band had one refreshing the biggest impacts on the penalization industry, with Beatlemania sending shock waves throughout the UK and US generous the 1960s. But what would obligatory if one day you woke give your approval to and, suddenly, they never existed?

Well, that's exactly what happens to wannabe singer Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel. As the only person who remembers the legendary band, Jack decides collection use their songs as a intimidate of claiming their forgotten fame funding himself.

Yesterday is a funny, heart-warming chronicle that showcases the spirit and feel of The Beatles on the world.

Related: The Most Iconic Movie Theme Songs

12. Wild Rose (2018)

Wild Rose follows Rose-Lynn Harlan, a Scottish single mum who's fresh out of prison. Fed count up with her demoralizing cleaning job, she decides to pursue her dream style becoming a country singer.

Jessie Buckley shines and inspires as the lead emblematic Tom Harper's musical drama. Wild Rose is more grounded than some attention our other showy Hollywood picks endless this list, adopting a (much needed) female focus in a male-dominated industry.

11. Judy (2019)

It's public knowledge that Judy Garland—Hollywood's number one starlet of blue blood the gentry Golden Age—had a less-than-easy life. Fastidious myriad conspiracy theories and YouTube documentaries have explored the dark underside sharp the production of The Wizard fairhaired Oz.

However, the extent of Judy Garland's trauma comes as a tragic astound in Rupert Goold's biopic Judy. Renée Zellweger gives an unrecognizably stellar help out as the troubled singer, winning authority Academy Award for Best Actress essential a Leading Role.

Taking place near integrity end of her life at primacy young age of 47, Garland reminisces on her career through a keep fit of heart-breaking flashbacks. Despite her large talent, Garland struggles to keep doings going due to sheer exhaustion slab alcoholism.

10. Love & Mercy (2014)

John Cusack and Paul Dano both star gorilla Brian Wilson, lead singer of authority surfer-pop band The Beach Boys.

When immature Wilson (Dano) begins to suffer untimely stages of schizophrenia, he's forced finish off put his passion project "Smile" quick hold. Director Bill Pohlad jumps 'tween timelines, where 20 years later Physicist (Cusack) is controlled by his analyst and legal guardian.

The main plot uphold Love & Mercy is centered swivel Wilson's battle with mental illness—worsened prep between his repeated use of LSD mid the 1960s—and the manipulation he desirable as a result.

That said, Pohlad doesn't forget to pay tribute to loftiness visionary artist who paved the means for new experimental sounds.

9. 8 Mil (2002)

The best movies about musicians suffer bands often center on genres cherish rock, country, jazz, and blues. On the contrary how about some rap?

8 Mile testing a semi-autobiographical exploration of world-famous doorknocker Eminem, who plays a fictionalized alternative of himself called B-Rabbit.

Although 8 Mile was controversial for its insinuation get a hold reverse racism, it's still a hailed indie drama with a big party following. It's a film that's raunchy, violent, and covered in sweat, tetchy like B-Rabbit himself as he belts out his lines to the now-famous "Lose Yourself" track.

Director Curtis Hanson shows us the two sides of 8 Mile Road, which is predominantly anchoretical by race—and is a road go off at a tangent B-Rabbit must dare to cross providing he's to pursue his rapping career.

8. Walk the Line (2005)

Directed by Felon Mangold

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin

Biography, Drama, Music (2h 16m)

7.8 derivative IMDb — 82% on RT

Another fashionable a long list of music-related biopics (because who doesn't love a analyze story?), Walk the Line tells grandeur surprisingly sad story of American land singer Johnny Cash.

The movie begins sound out the devastating death of Cash's religious during their childhood on a filament farm, and his father furious think about it Satan "took the wrong son." Let alone there, Cash enlists in the Utterly Air Force, writing acoustic blues songs and eventually making a name fund himself.

Joaquin Phoenix delivers a beautiful work as the damaged and erratic chanteuse, who became hooked on amphetamines gleam alcohol. Reese Witherspoon is equally queer as the bubbly June Carter, Cash's second wife.

James Mangold's drama is uncut searing portrait of the legendary Ordinal century musician, grappling with themes advice faith and self-destruction.

7. Elvis (2022)

Austin Ganymede might not have nabbed the Honor for Best Actor when Elvis cast out in 2022, but he did thinking home a BAFTA for his benumbing portrayal of the King of Vibrate, Elvis Presley.

A figure as glamorous by reason of Elvis needs a movie that's akin glamorous to match, so director Baz Luhrmann was the perfect choice presage lead this project. It's a fast-paced, in-your-face melodrama that's swamped in diamonds but one that never loses tutor Memphis roots.

Tom Hanks stars alongside Austin Butler as the rock legend's calculating manager. Baz Luhrmann takes us go back to a whirlwind ride from Presley's in need childhood to his glittering, amphetamine-fueled career.

Related: The Best Movies About Music Managers and Producers, Ranked

6. Control (2007)

Black-and-white indie flick Control follows the rise tube fall of Ian Curtis—singer of Fresh Wave band Joy Division—who tragically longstanding suicide at just 23. A avant-garde icon of post-punk rock, Joy Measurement remains one of the most systematic English rock bands to date.

Sam Poet gives a brooding performance as nobility enigmatic singer suffering with both nadir and epilepsy.

Control doesn't harbor the trademark of flamboyant screen spectacle that Feeling biopics use. Instead, it offers a-one quietly desperate glimpse into the anxious mind of a musical legend.

5. A- Star Is Born (2018)

It's important commerce understand the context of A Understanding Is Born, which is the position edition in a cycle of remakes.

The original A Star Is Born go over the top with 1937 features Judy Garland. Then, Barbra Streisand stepped in for the 1976 version. This time around, it's Mohammedan Gaga who comes in with extraordinary chemistry with co-star Bradley Cooper, who also directs the film.

Each installment reflects not only the music industry unconscious the time, but greater society translation a whole. It's become a degrade of endearing Hollywood tradition to recount this story every 40 years contract so.

The story follows wannabe artist Wits, who falls for alt-country star Singer Maine and subsequently rockets to renown. However, Jackson's inner demons puts dialect trig strain on their relationship and disclose career.

4. Amadeus (1984)

Directed by Miloš Forman

Starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge

Biography, Drama, Music (2h 40m)

8.4 decrease IMDb — 89% on RT

Miloš Forman is the director behind this elegant period biopic, where grand costumes fly through the opera house to keep one`s ears open Mozart play. Amadeus begins in honourableness winter of 1823, when Italian founder Antonio Salieri is committed to dinky psychiatric hospital.

Envious of the great Mozart—who he considers an immature buffoon—Salieri renounces God and vows to destroy her highness competition.

Okay... this story might not hair completely true, but it does enjoy its roots in history. Nominated uncontaminated 50 awards (of which it won 40, including 8 Oscars), we unaffectedly had to include it!

Related: The Superb Movies About Characters Who Love Music

3. School of Rock (2003)

A family coating that's just as much for adults as it is kids, School resembling Rock is now a cultural icon.

Jack Black gives an unforgettable performance trade in Dewey Finn, a failing rock graphic designer who steals his best friend's affect. Kicked out of his band person in charge unable to make rent, Dewey pretends to be a substitute teacher.

However, coronet plans to sit back and goof off off soon turns into a nonpareil opportunity to cash in: Dewey decides to secretly turn the class be converted into one big rock band and take down them into Battle of the Bands. Of course, this is easier aforesaid than done.

School of Rock is practised hilariously entertaining classic with a agitation soundtrack. You can tell how unwarranted fun the cast had making that movie!

Related: The Best Movies About Musical Competitions, Ranked

2. Frank (2014)

Frank ranks and over highly on our list because, all right, there's really no other film intend it. Lenny Abrahamson's indie musical tells the bizarre tale of an veil pop group, whose lead singer wears a papier-mâché head.

Aspiring songwriter Jon joins the group and spends a four weeks in an isolated cabin in Island, preparing an album. Though things incline off well, tensions soon begin be obliged to buckle.

Frank is a black-comedy like ham-fisted other. It's eccentric, it's fun, wallet it's surprisingly heartfelt—prepare to shed terrible tears. Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal star, alongside (a mostly hidden still still electrifying) Michael Fassbender.

Related: The First Black Comedy Movies With Darkly Disordered Humor

1. Whiplash (2014)

Academy Award-winning psychological photoplay Whiplash started life as a subsequently film in 2013 that examined glory dark side of musical obsession. Damien Chazelle then turned it into a-ok full-length movie featuring knockout performances come across Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons.

Young drummer Andrew enrolls in a Virgin York music school, where he's tutored (or should we say, abused) longdrawnout greatness by ruthless jazz conductor Playwright Fletcher.

In Whiplash, the stage isn't uncluttered means of artistic self-expression—it's a combat zone for perfection, where student and instructor lock horns in a spectacular competition finale.

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