Musical biopics: real lives that took the spotlight on the big screen

Musical biopics dive deeper than the fame and spotlight — they’re stories of talent, pain, ambition, and resilience that helped shape pop culture. We’ve gathered a list of movies based on real-life artists who left their mark on entire generations, with a spotlight on Girl You Know It's True, the biopic about the duo that became a symbol of scandal in the music industry. Like what you see? We’ve also put together another list of behind-the-scenes music movies you can watch right now.

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Girl You Know It's True

Girl You Know It's True

7.1/10
2h4min
NR
2023
Drama
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This movie boldly unpacks the rise and rapid fall of the Milli Vanilli phenomenon, driven by producers obsessed with fame at any cost. Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan were catapulted to global stardom—and crushed by the very machine that created them. Director Simon Verhoeven takes the audience behind the scenes of a scandal that shocked the music industry, raising the uncomfortable question: who was really deceived?

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Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody

7.9/10
2h14min
PG-13
2018
Drama
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It’s impossible to resist Freddie Mercury’s brilliance, and Rami Malek captures every move, excess, and vulnerability of the Queen frontman in a magnetic performance. The band’s journey plays out like an epic, culminating in the unforgettable Live Aid performance — a scene that sends chills even to those who’ve watched it a hundred times. A dazzling spectacle that leaves you singing — and truly grasping the scale of Freddie’s legacy.

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Respect

Respect

6.6/10
2h25min
PG-13
2021
Drama
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Jennifer Hudson doesn’t just play Aretha Franklin — she embodies her with a force that leaps off the screen. The movie powerfully captures both the triumphs and the pain of the Queen of Soul, navigating racism, toxic relationships, and an industry that tried to silence her. What emerges is a moving portrait of a woman who changed music — and found her voice while the world tried to take it from her.

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Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton

7.8/10
2h26min
R
2015
Drama
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As explosive as N.W.A.’s beats, this movie does more than tell a story — it throws you right into the storm that was N.W.A., exposing the raw talent of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E, along with the inner tensions that shaped (and tore apart) the group. More than a biopic, it’s a raw look at racism, power, and rebellion that redefined music forever.

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Ray

Ray

7.7/10
2h32min
PG-13
2004
Drama
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Jamie Foxx completely disappears into the role of Ray Charles, delivering one of the most jaw-dropping performances in cinema — a role that earned him an Oscar. The movie dives deep into Ray’s genius and struggles, portraying racial segregation and the profound losses that shaped his music. A gripping drama that moves to the beat of Ray himself.

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