92 articles
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a 2019 drama directed by Marielle Heller, starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers and Matthew Rhys as journalist Lloyd Vogel, based on Tom Junod's 1998 Esquire profile; it earned Hanks a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
Ah Ying (半边人)
Ah Ying (半邊人) is a 1983 Hong Kong neo-realist docudrama by New Wave director Allen Fong, based on fish vendor Hui So-ying's real life; it won Best Film, Best Director, and Best Editing at the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards.
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is Laura Poitras's 2022 Golden Lion-winning documentary about photographer Nan Goldin, her OxyContin addiction, and her PAIN campaign against the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma over the opioid crisis.
Anselm
Anselm (2023) is Wim Wenders' 3D, 6K documentary portrait of German painter Anselm Kiefer, shot over two years at his French studios, premiered at Cannes, released by Sideshow and Janus Films.
At Eternity's Gate (film)
At Eternity's Gate (2018), Julian Schnabel's drama starring Willem Dafoe as Vincent van Gogh in his final years. Venice premiere, Volpi Cup and Oscar-nominated performance; ends with the contested René Secrétan shooting theory.
Auto Focus
Auto Focus (2002), Paul Schrader's biographical drama starring Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe, depicts Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane's sexual addiction, his video technician friend John Carpenter, and Crane's unsolved 1978 murder.
Back to Black (film)
Back to Black (2024 film), Amy Winehouse biopic directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, written by Matt Greenhalgh, starring Marisa Abela; released April/May 2024, Metacritic 43, Rotten Tomatoes 35%, US gross $6.0M, estate-approved counterpart to the 2015 documentary Amy.
Basquiat (film)
Basquiat (1996) is Julian Schnabel's directorial debut biopic of painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, starring Jeffrey Wright and David Bowie as Andy Warhol, released by Miramax and restored in 4K in 2024.
Behind the Candelabra
Behind the Candelabra (2013) is Steven Soderbergh's HBO biopic of Liberace, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, based on Thorson's 1988 memoir; it won 11 Emmys and scored 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Being Maria
Being Maria (original title Maria) is Jessica Palud's 2024 French biographical drama starring Anamaria Vartolomei as actress Maria Schneider, Matt Dillon as Marlon Brando, and Giuseppe Maggio as Bertolucci, adapted from Vanessa Schneider's memoir about Last Tango in Paris.
Beyond the Sea (2004 film)
Beyond the Sea is a 2004 biographical drama about singer Bobby Darin, directed by and starring Kevin Spacey, who performs Darin's songs himself, alongside Kate Bosworth as Sandra Dee.
Bird (1988 film)
Bird (1988) is Clint Eastwood's biographical drama of jazz saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, starring Forest Whitaker and Diane Venora, written by Joel Oliansky, premiered at Cannes 1988, and winner of the Academy Award for Best Sound.
Bob Marley: One Love
Bob Marley: One Love is Paramount Pictures' 2024 biographical drama directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley. It covers 1976-1978, the Exodus album and One Love Peace Concert, grossing $180,971,146 worldwide.
Bohemian Rhapsody (film)
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) is a Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic starring Rami Malek, credited to Bryan Singer but completed by Dexter Fletcher; it grossed about $910 million, won four Oscars, and drew criticism for factual inaccuracies.
California Schemin'
California Schemin' is James McAvoy's 2025 directorial debut, a comedy-drama about Dundee rap duo Silibil N' Brains, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who posed as Californian rappers to win a Sony record deal, MTV fame, and a D12 support slot.
Caravaggio (1986 film)
Caravaggio is Derek Jarman's 1986 British biographical drama about the painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, starring Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, and Tilda Swinton; it won a Silver Bear for visual composition at the 1986 Berlinale.
CBGB (film)
CBGB (2013) is an American drama film directed by Randall Miller, written with Jody Savin, starring Alan Rickman as club founder Hilly Kristal; it earned $40,400 domestically and 7% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Chaplin (film)
Chaplin is a 1992 biographical drama directed by Richard Attenborough, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin, covering his rise from London poverty to worldwide fame and his 1972 return to America.
Chihwaseon (취화선)
Chihwaseon (취화선, Painted Fire) is Im Kwon-taek's 2002 biographical drama about Joseon painter Jang Seung-up (Ohwon), starring Choi Min-sik; it won Best Director at Cannes 2002, the first Korean film to win a Cannes competition award.
Danny Collins (film)
Danny Collins (film) is a 2015 American comedy-drama directed by Dan Fogelman. It stars Al Pacino as a rock star who receives a letter from John Lennon.
Deep in My Heart
Deep in My Heart (1954) is MGM's biographical musical of composer Sigmund Romberg, directed by Stanley Donen, produced by Roger Edens, starring José Ferrer, Merle Oberon, and Helen Traubel, with guest numbers by Gene and Fred Kelly, Rosemary Clooney, and Ann Miller.
Dolemite Is My Name
Dolemite Is My Name (2019) is a Netflix biographical comedy directed by Craig Brewer, starring Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, the comedian behind the Blaxploitation film Dolemite (1975); 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot: 2018 Gus Van Sant biographical comedy-drama, also known by its memoir source title, starring Joaquin Phoenix as quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan, with Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, and Jack Black; Amazon Studios, Sundance and Berlinale 2018.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a 1993 American biographical drama directed by Rob Cohen, with Jason Scott Lee starring as martial artist Bruce Lee and Lauren Holly as his wife Linda.
Edvard Munch (film)
Edvard Munch (1974) is Peter Watkins's Norwegian-Swedish NRK/SR docudrama on the painter's early life, using amateur actors, diary dialogue, and nonlinear editing; first aired 12-13 November 1974, praised by Bergman and Tynan.
Eetha
Eetha (ईठा) is an upcoming Hindi biographical drama directed by Laxman Utekar, starring Shraddha Kapoor as lavani legend Vithabai Narayangaonkar, with Randeep Hooda; Maddock Films release December 4, 2026, after a title controversy.
Effie Gray (film)
Effie Gray is a 2014 British period drama directed by Richard Laxton, written by Emma Thompson, starring Dakota Fanning as Effie Gray, Greg Wise as John Ruskin, and Tom Sturridge as Millais; delayed by two copyright suits, released 2014 UK/2015 US, 108 minutes, mixed reviews.
Elvis (2022 film)
Elvis is a 2022 biographical drama film directed by Baz Luhrmann that traces Elvis Presley's life, starring Austin Butler as Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker.
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is a 2017 Paul McGuigan biographical romance, also known by Peter Turner's memoir title, starring Annette Bening as Oscar winner Gloria Grahame and Jamie Bell as Turner, dramatizing their late-1970s affair and her 1981 final days in Liverpool.
Goya in Bordeaux
Goya in Bordeaux (Goya en Burdeos) is Carlos Saura's 1999 Spanish-Italian biopic of Francisco de Goya, starring Francisco Rabal and José Coronado, shot by Vittorio Storaro, winner of five Goya awards and Montreal festival prizes.