Whether they got famous from acting, singing, a sport, a hobby, or something more obscure such as creating a social networking site, there are and have been a great deal of celebrities out there in the world. Furthermore, their interesting stories have been told through several different television shows, books, songs, and films. But which biopics are actually worth watching? Well, we recommend the following 10! They vary in their moods, their settings, and their styles, but they each tell exciting tales about famous people of the past and the present, allowing us to see a whole new side of these stars.
Julie & Julia
Julie & Julia came out in 2009 and told the story of Julia Child and a woman named Julie Powell who cooked Child’s recipes and wrote about it in a book that inspired this film. Meryl Streep played Julia Child, Amy Adams played Julie Powell, and Nora Ephron wrote and directed the movie, which was her last before she passed away in 2012. Those who are interested in cooking, those who are fans of these two actresses or this director, and/or those who are looking for a dramatic comedy story may want to turn to this biographical flick.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is a film that was released in 2006. It told Queen Marie Antoinette’s story up to the French Revolution. Sofia Coppola wrote and directed it, while Kirsten Dunst starred in it. This popular movie won an Academy Award for the Best Costume Design as well as other awards for its art direction and production design. It is a fascinating story about a well-known woman, and it is full of luxury, royalty, and historically based parts, making it of interest to those who want to know more about Marie Antoinette, as well as those who are in it for pure entertainment!
Jackie
Another esteemed and notable female’s life was portrayed in Jackie, a film based on a true story which came out in 2016. Natalie Portman played the main character, Jackie Kennedy, and other stars included Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, and John Hurt—his last movie before passing away in 2017. The story focused on Jackie O’s life right after losing her husband, John F. Kennedy. This biopic was part of the Golden Lion at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, and it was nominated for three Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score.
Malcolm X
In 1992, Malcolm X came out to tell the story of Malcolm X. Denzel Washington portrayed this activist, while Spike Lee directed and wrote the film, which was based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X, a book by Alex Haley. Washington’s role earned him the title of Best Actor through the New York Film Critics Circle Award, and he was also nominated for that honor through Academy Awards. This film features important details from history, so the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in 2010. That is just one reason to check out this powerful flick, which stars a beloved actor in an iconic role.
My Week With Marilyn
My Week with Marilyn, from the year 2011, featured Michelle Williams in the title role and also starred Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson, and Judi Dench. It focused on Marilyn Monroe’s time of filming The Prince and the Showgirl from the year 1957, and scenes were even shot in the same studio! For her portrayal of this blonde bombshell, actress Williams won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. Those who want to learn more about Monroe’s life or who just enjoy an intriguing story should definitely watch this flick.
Liz & Dick
On a similar note, Liz & Dick was released on Lifetime in 2012. This story was all about Elizabeth Taylor—specifically her relationship with Richard Burton. This movie actually received several negative reviews, and part of that was because Lindsay Lohan played the main character. Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most popular stars of all time, a true classic, while Lindsay Lohan has had somewhat of a reputation over the years. Ignore what the critics said about this biopic, though—this is a really neat as well as entertaining look into the glamorous life that this actress, businesswoman and humanitarian lived.
Walk The Line
Another based-on-true-events flick to watch is Walk the Line from 2005. It starred Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, and it told about this country music legend’s beginnings, love life, and rise to fame. This particular movie was nominated for five different Oscars at the 78th Academy Awards such as Best Actor and Best Actress. Even if viewers are not into country music at all, this is such a sweet and dramatic story—but, of course, those who do enjoy Cash’s songs will appreciate it all even more here).
The Social Network
One of the most celebrated biographical movies out there is 2010’s The Social Network. Detailing the early story of social media, this starred Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, as well as actors like Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Armie Hammer. Its reviews were great, it was called the best film of the year by the National Board of Review, it received eight nominations plus three awards at the 83rd Academy Awards, and it is number 27 out of the 100 on a list of the best films of the 21st century. Plus, how crazy that this is how it all started?
The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story was actually an FX television series from 2016 and not technically a single film, but it is so highly recommended! This story was all about O. J. Simpson’s case, and it earned 22 Primetime Emmy nominations, won nine of those, and won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Miniseries or Television Film and for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. Actors and actresses such as Cuba Gooding Jr., David Schwimmer, John Travolta, Nathan Lane, Sterling K. Brown, Sarah Paulson, Cheryl Ladd, Selma Blair, Jordana Brewster, and Connie Britton starred, and the Kardashians were portrayed in it, too.
Bohemian Rhapsody
And, of course, there was Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, which was all about Freddie Mercury—played by actor Rami Malek—and the band Queen. According to BBC, this was the sixth-highest-grossing film in the world and of the year, and it set box office records for biographical film. This is another one of those movies that is definitely enjoyed more by fans of Queen, but even if there are people who aren’t into their music, everyone should certainly consider viewing this entertaining story, full of captivating characters, costumes, and comedy.
